Dakota County Crime Numbers
The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety collates crime statistics for all the counties in the state. Its latest crime data for Dakota County include 2017 Part I offenses. That year, the county recorded 6 murders, 120 rapes, 123 robberies, and 361 aggravated assaults. Reported incidences of property crimes include 1,001 burglaries, 6,773 larceny thefts, 462 motor vehicle thefts, and 36 arsons.
Compared to 2013 crime figures, overall Part I offense rate in Dakota County fell by 4.6%. A closer look at the five-year crime trend for the county shows that murder (25%), aggravated assault (3.6%), burglary (5.8%), larceny theft (7%), and arson (42.9%) rates fell. On the other hand, law enforcement agencies in the county recorded higher numbers of rape (76.5%), robbery (13.9%), and motor vehicle theft (30.1%) in 2017.
Dakota County Criminal Records
The BCA provides copies of criminal history records for the counties in Minnesota. Members of the public can request background checks in person and by mail. To obtain your own criminal history record (containing public and private records), write or visit the BCA office at the address below:
Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension
CHA Unit
1430 Maryland Ave. E.
St. Paul, MN 55106
When requesting for this record by mail, submit a letter containing your full name and have the request notarized by a notary public. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope as well as a money order or personal, cashier’s, or business check for $8 with your request. Make it payable to BCA. If requesting your criminal history record in person, note that the office is open from Monday through Friday between 8:15 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Bring along a government-issued photo ID and know that fingerprinting may be required to confirm your identity. Viewing your records in person is free but each printed copy costs $8.
The BCA also allows requesters to obtain copies of other people’s criminal records. Only public records are available for viewing. You can access these from the Minnesota Public Criminal History Record Search portal on the website of the BCA. You can also access these records for free at the public terminals located in the lobby of the BCA office.
To obtain a complete criminal history record of another person, you will need to submit a notarized Informed Consent Form signed by the subject of the background check. Send this, along with a self-addressed stamped envelope and payment, by mail to the BCA address above. The fee for this service is $15 payable with a money order or a personal, certified, business, or cashier’s check made out to BCA. You may also bring the completed, signed, and notarized consent form to BCA office to submit your request in person.
Dakota County Police Reports
Incident and accident reports for Dakota County are available from the various police departments of the cities and townships of the county. The City of Hastings is the county seat. To obtain police or accident report for the city, complete this request form and send it by email to pdrecords@hastingsmn.gov. You can also mail it to:
Hastings Police Department
150 3rd Street East
Hastings, MN 55033
The BCA’s Predatory Offender Registration (POR) Unit maintains a database of registered sex offenders living in Minnesota. In accordance with state law, registration information for compliant offenders are private. However, the public can obtain information about non-compliant offenders. Use the BCA’s Predatory Offender Search portal to find non-compliant sex offenders. Select Dakota from the county list to restrict your search to this county.
Dakota County Inmate Records
The Sheriff’s Office runs the Dakota County Jail. This correctional facility is located at the Dakota County Law Enforcement Center, 1580 Highway 55, Hastings.Its contact phone number is (651) 438-4800. Use the Jail Inmate Search tool to look up individuals currently incarcerated in the facility. A Dakota County Inmate Search will require information about the detainee, their offense as well as their arrest/incarceration details.
To send money to an inmate in this facility, come to the kiosk in the jail lobby. Cashand credit card deposits are accepted. This kiosk is available 24 hours a day and every day. Alternatively, you can find an inmate’s account by sending a money order made out to the inmate to:
(Inmate Name) Dakota County Law Enforcement Center
P.O. Box 247J
Hastings, MN 55033
Dakota County Court Records
The Dakota County District Court has three courthouses situated in separate locations. Find the addresses and contact details of these courthouses below:
Dakota County Judicial Center
1560 Highway 55
Hastings, MN 55033
Phone: (651) 438-8100
Fax: (651) 438-8162
Dakota County Western Service Center
14955 Galaxie Ave. West
Apple Valley, MN 55124
Phone: (952) 891-7256
Fax: (952) 891-7285
Dakota County Northern Service Center
1 West Mendota Rd., Ste. 140
West St. Paul, MN 55118
Phone: (651) 554-6200
Fax: (651) 554-6226
The Hastings branch of the District Court hears all felony, gross misdemeanor, major civil, juvenile, and probate cases. The other two courthouses handle simple misdemeanor, traffic, family, divorce, eviction, and small claims cases.
The Minnesota Judicial Branch provides public access to most civil and criminal case records on its Minnesota Trial Court Public Access web portal. Select Dakota or one of its three District Courts from the location menu to restrict your search to courts in this county.
To obtain copies of case documents, visit the Dakota District Court location where the case was heard. You can also obtain copies of Dakota County Court Records from the Criminal Division of the District Court by mailing a completed Copy Request Form to:
Dakota County District Court
Criminal Division/Copy Request
1560 Highway 55
Hastings, MN 55033
Enclose a check for copy fee with your request. The fee for plain copies is $8 per document while certified court records cost $14 per copy. Make the check payable to Dakota County District Court.
Dakota County Vital Records
Copies of divorce decrees are available from the branches of the District Court in Dakota County. To obtain your divorce decree, visit the courthouse where the divorce was filed. You can also request for this record by mail. Send a written request containing name of the case and file number to the court location (addresses above) where the divorce was filed. Include copy fee. The District Court charges $14 for each certified copy of divorce decree and $8 for each plain copy.
The Vital Statistics office of the Dakota County Government issues marriage certificates. To obtain copies of this vital record, complete and mail a Marriage Certificate Application to:
Dakota County Administration Center
Vital Statistics
1590 Highway 55
Hastings, MN 55033-2343
Include a check for copy fee with your application and make it payable to Dakota County. Each certified copy of marriage certificate costs $9.
To obtain a birth or death certificate in Dakota County, visit one of the county’s service and license centers. These locations issue both certified and plain copies of these vital records. The addresses and contact information for these offices are:
Administration Center
1590 Highway 55
Hastings, MN 55033-2343
Phone: (651) 437-3191
Opens 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday
Northern Service Center
1 Mendota Road West
West St. Paul, MN 55118
Phone: (651) 554-6600
Opens 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday except on Wednesday when it closes by 6:00 p.m.
Lakeville License Center
Lakeville City Hall
20195 Holyoke Ave.
Lakeville, MN 55044
Phone: (952) 891-7878
Opens 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday to Friday
Burnsville License Center
1101 W. County Road 42
Burnsville, MN 55306
Phone: (952) 891-7850
Opens 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday to Friday and 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on Saturday
Robert Trail License Center
14395 S. Robert Trail
Rosemount, MN 55068
Phone: (651) 480-1234
Opens 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday to Friday
The first copy of a certified birth certificate costs $26 while each additional copy of the same record ordered and issued at the same time costs $19. The county charges $13 for the first copy of a non-certified birth record and $9 for each additional copy of the same record ordered together. For death certificates, the first certified or non-certified copy costs $13 while each additional certified copy costs $6 and the fee for each additional non-certified copy is $4.
Checks are accepted for payment at all five locations. Make check payable to Dakota County. All locations, except North Service Center, also accept Visa, MasterCard, and Discover credit/debit cards.
When purchasing a birth or death certificate in person at these locations, bring a completed but unsigned Certified Birth Certificate Application, Certified Death Certificate Application, Non-Certified Birth Record Application, or Death Certificate Application, as appropriate. You will be required to supply a valid photo ID such as a driver’s license or passport while a deputy registrar witnesses your signature.
If you choose to send your request by mail, make sure to sign and notarize the application for a certified birth or death certificate. Send this application, along with fees, to:
Dakota County Administration Center
Vital Statistics
1590 Highway 55
Hastings, MN 55033-2343
