Who to Call When You Have Questions About an Inmate at Dakota County Jail

If your question is about a court time you saw listed for someone in custody, Dakota County points you to District Court - not the jail. Court times shown in the inmate search are estimates, and multiple people can be set for the same start time, which can change. For specific questions about court times, contact Dakota County District Court at 651-377-7188.

Need to know when someone's custody status changes? Dakota County directs people to Minnesota VINE (Victim Information and Notification Everyday) through the Minnesota Department of Public Safety. Register once, and you'll get automatic alerts about status, location, or release changes - no need to keep calling around hoping to catch the right moment.

Dakota County's inmate search page comes with a clear warning: the information shouldn't be relied upon for legal action. The Sheriff's Office can't guarantee it's current, accurate, or complete - and people sometimes provide false identification. If you need something you can act on legally, verify through proper channels rather than treating the search page as an official record.

Here's a common point of confusion: the county explains that identity can only be confirmed through fingerprint comparison. A name on a listing isn't the same as a verified identity match, especially when false information is possible. Keep that limitation in mind when reading search results.

Quick Faq

• ✓ I need up-to-date custody status or release updates - register with Minnesota VINE to check custody status and get notifications of changes in status, location, or release.

• ✓ I have a question about a court time I saw listed - call Dakota County District Court at 651-377-7188.