Penmate Inmate Support Guides

Daily Life Inside Dakota County Jail: Counts, Lockdown Hours, Razors, and Showers

If you can't reach someone in jail, it's often because the unit is on a routine schedule you can't see from the outside. Here are a few Dakota County Jail basics from the inmate handbook that affect when your loved one is available and what daily life looks like.

• 1 min read Verified from official sources

Scheduled Counts

  • ✓ Scheduled standing count: 7:00 a.m.
  • ✓ Scheduled standing count: 3:00 p.m.
  • ✓ Scheduled standing count: 11:00 p.m.
  • ✓ Standing counts also happen periodically throughout the day (not just at the scheduled times).

During a count, inmates have to stand in front of their cell door, behind the center line. If you're waiting on a call, a message, or any other response, counts are one of the most common reasons for delays. Everyone has to stop what they're doing and follow count procedures until it's complete.

Dakota County Jail's overnight lockdown runs from 11:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. During that stretch, expect limited movement and fewer opportunities for someone to handle day-to-day tasks.

  1. Request a razor at the morning issue time. Razors are issued at 5:30 a.m.
  2. Do not miss the request window. If an inmate fails to request a razor, they have to wait until the next day to receive one.

Reminder: Razors are returned immediately after use.

According to the inmate handbook, inmates are required to shower at least three times per week.

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More from Dakota County Jail

Before Your First Visit to Dakota County Jail: What to Bring, What to Expect, and Who Can't Visit Yet

Your first visit to Dakota County Jail goes smoother when you know the basics ahead of time. Here's what to bring, how scheduling works by housing pod, what the search process looks like, and why someone who was just arrested may not be able to have visitors yet.

Daily Routines at Dakota County Jail: Counts, Lockdown Hours, and Razor Distribution

Daily schedules in jail can feel unpredictable from the outside. But a few routine events shape when your loved one can move around, make calls, and handle basic hygiene. Here's what the Dakota County Jail handbooks say about standing counts, overnight lockdown, and razor distribution - plus how those routines affect phone access.

Phone & Messaging

How to Contact an Inmate at Dakota County Jail, MN (MN)

Staying in touch with someone at Dakota County Jail typically comes down to three channels: phone calls, money deposits, and mail. Phone service runs through Securus Technologies. You can set up a prepaid calling account, use Direct Bill (monthly billing), or accept traditional collect calls. To put spending money on an inmate's books, you can make a credit card deposit into their canteen account so they can buy necessities and other items through the Inmate Canteen. Mail is also an option, though the jail has specific rules about what's allowed. They accept letters, photos, greeting cards, and money orders. Certain common items, however, will be returned to sender or placed in the inmate's property.