How to visit, scheduling, dress code, and visitor requirements
Visitation at Dakota County Jail is by appointment, with the schedule posted in each inmate pod. The inmate must call ahead to set up the visit, so your first step is coordinating with the person you want to see about their pod's instructions. You'll generally need an approved visitor application before scheduling, and approval can take several weeks. Applications typically require a full-face photo plus photo ID. Bring a valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID when you arrive for check-in. All visitors and items are subject to search, and inmates are searched before entering the visitation area. Scheduling systems can vary by pod, so ask the inmate whether their pod uses on-site kiosks or a vendor app.
Search for a loved one and send messages and photos in minutes.
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.
Visiting someone at Dakota County Jail takes some planning. The key thing: you have to call ahead, and available times depend on which pod the person is housed in.
Visiting someone at Dakota County Jail gets a lot simpler when you handle two things first: bring the right ID and schedule the visit the way the jail requires. Here's how to do it without wasted trips.
Visiting Dakota County Jail with kids is doable, but come prepared—especially with the right ID and paperwork for minors.
Visits are by appointment, and the visitation schedule is posted in each inmate pod. The inmate must call ahead to schedule the visit, so follow the pod’s booking instructions.
Bring a valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID. Make sure it matches the information you provided on your visitor application.
Yes, but minors under 18 must be accompanied by a parent, guardian, or authorized escort. You may also need to provide a birth certificate or similar documentation as part of the visitor application.
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.
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.
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.
