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.
Staff at Dakota County Jail run standing counts throughout the day to confirm everyone is where they're supposed to be. According to the English inmate handbook, set count times are 7:00 a.m., 3:00 p.m., and 11:00 p.m. If a call didn't come through or your loved one suddenly had to pause what they were doing, counts are one of the most common reasons.
The Spanish inmate handbook lists the same general approach - counts taken periodically throughout the day - but with a different afternoon time: 7:00 a.m., 3:30 p.m., and 11:00 p.m. Since the English and Spanish versions don't match on that afternoon count (3:00 vs. 3:30), plan for a window in the afternoon rather than a single precise minute.
- ✓ Present at the front of your cell door for count
- ✓ Stay behind the center line during count
- ✓ Remain standing until staff dismiss the count
Overnight lockdown is when everyone is secured for the night. The English inmate handbook says it runs from 11:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. This window shapes when your loved one can move around and when the unit settles down.
The Spanish inmate handbook lists a different end time: 11:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. Since the two versions conflict on morning release, assume early mornings may be limited until the unit is fully out of overnight lockdown.
Note: If you’re trying to time something closely - like when to expect a morning call - confirm the current overnight lockdown hours directly with the facility.
Razors follow a set schedule. According to the inmate handbook, they're issued at 5:30 a.m. Miss that window, and you wait until the next day. Shaving isn't something inmates can decide to do at any random time - it's tied to that morning distribution.
Once issued, razors have to be returned immediately after use. That quick turnaround is how the jail controls sharp items, and it means shaving time is usually brief.
The handbook also sets a baseline for hygiene: inmates must shower at least three times per week. If your loved one sounds frustrated about timing, remember that showers - like many basics - happen according to unit routines, not on demand.
Phone access is built into daily life in the housing units. Dakota County Jail provides collect call phones in all general living units, so your loved one doesn't need to be moved somewhere special just to place a call.
Even when phones are available, time is limited. Personal calls have a 15-minute cap, which helps rotate access among everyone in the unit. If a call ends abruptly, it might just be the time limit kicking in.
Note: Telephone privileges are suspended during lockdown status, so calls can stop during overnight lockdown or other lockdown periods.
Lockdown isn't the only reason calls can dry up. The jail also notes that telephone privileges may be suspended as part of disciplinary action. If you suddenly can't reach your loved one and it doesn't line up with normal routine times, this is another possibility to consider.
Note: Because the English and Spanish handbooks list different times for the afternoon count and the end of overnight lockdown, verify the current schedule with the facility before you plan a visit or build expectations around call timing.
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