Dakota County Sex Offenders

Dakota County sex offenders are registered through the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and managed locally by the Dakota County Sheriff's Office. With a population of roughly 439,000, Dakota County is the third largest county in Minnesota and includes major suburban cities like Eagan, Burnsville, Apple Valley, and Lakeville. The county seat is Hastings. Residents who want to search for predatory offenders in Dakota County can use free state databases, contact the Sheriff, or reach out to city police departments in specific communities. This page explains how to find sex offender information across this large metro county.

Dakota County Sheriff and Sex Offender Registration

The Dakota County Sheriff's Office at 1580 Highway 55 in Hastings manages predatory offender registration and community notification for the county. Registered sex offenders living in Dakota County must comply with Minnesota Statute 243.166. That law requires them to report their address and update it within five days of any change. Failing to register is a felony with penalties of up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine. The Sheriff coordinates with the BCA and DOC to keep registry records accurate and current.

Dakota County is a large, densely populated metro county. Cities like Eagan, Burnsville, Apple Valley, and Lakeville each have their own police departments that work alongside the Sheriff on sex offender monitoring. Victim services in Dakota County can be reached at (651) 438-4478. Community Corrections handles supervision of offenders on probation and can be reached at (651) 438-4350. The Sheriff's website is at co.dakota.mn.us.

The Burnsville Police Department works alongside the Dakota County Sheriff on predatory offender monitoring within the city: Burnsville Police Department.

The Burnsville Police Department handles sex offender registration and monitoring within Burnsville city limits as part of the broader Dakota County law enforcement network.

Search Dakota County Sex Offenders Online

The Minnesota DOC Public Registrant Search at coms.doc.state.mn.us/publicregistrantsearch shows Level 3 sex offenders by city or zip code. DOC contact: (651) 361-7340 or toll free (866) 396-9953. Search Eagan, Burnsville, Apple Valley, Lakeville, Inver Grove Heights, Rosemount, Farmington, and Hastings to cover the county thoroughly. Records update within 48 hours of law enforcement authorization. Only Level 3 offenders appear in the public tool.

The BCA Predatory Offender Registry at por.state.mn.us is the statewide database. BCA contact: (651) 793-7070 or toll free (888) 234-1248. Level 1 and Level 2 offenders are registered but not visible to the public. Dakota County's size means there are likely a significant number of registered sex offenders at all risk levels. The public DOC tool shows only the Level 3 subset. City police departments in Eagan at cityofeagan.com/police, Lakeville at lakevillemn.gov/police, and Apple Valley at applevalleymn.gov/police can also provide guidance on sex offenders registered within their city limits.

The Dakota County Community Corrections department at co.dakota.mn.us handles supervision of offenders on probation, which includes monitoring registration compliance for those under court supervision. Witness and victim support is available through the Sheriff's Office at (651) 438-4478.

Community Notification in Dakota County

Level 3 sex offenders moving into Dakota County trigger formal community notification under Minnesota Statute 244.052. The Sheriff's Office coordinates notification to residents, schools, and organizations near the offender's registered address. Dakota County's suburban population means notifications can reach large numbers of households in densely populated cities. The DOC Community Notification page at mn.gov explains the statewide framework for this process.

VINE (Victim Information and Notification Everyday) is available to Dakota County residents and crime victims. Call 1-877-664-8463 or visit vinelink.com to sign up for custody status alerts. The service notifies you when someone held in the county jail is released or transferred. VINE is free to use and is an important tool for victims of sex crimes who want to stay informed about an offender's custody status.

Note: VINE covers county jails. If an offender is held in a state prison under DOC jurisdiction, use the DOC Public Viewer at coms.doc.state.mn.us/PublicViewer to track their status.

Dakota County Court Records for Sex Offenses

Criminal court records for sex offense cases in Dakota County are held at the Dakota County District Court in Hastings. Search the Minnesota Court Records Online system at mncourts.gov by name or case number. Records include charge details, plea information, and sentencing outcomes. Dakota County processes a high volume of criminal cases each year given its population size. Court records provide a different kind of information than the predatory offender registry. Both can be useful when researching an individual's background.

The Dakota County Witness and Victim Services unit supports people affected by crime in the county. If you are a victim of a sex crime and need assistance navigating court processes or accessing records, call (651) 438-4478. Staff can explain what records are available and how to access them in Dakota County's system.

Cities in Dakota County

Dakota County includes many cities and communities. Sex offenders in each city are registered through the county Sheriff's Office and the state BCA registry.

Other communities in Dakota County include Hastings, Rosemount, Farmington, Inver Grove Heights, South St. Paul, West St. Paul, Mendota Heights, and Lilydale. All sex offenders in these areas are registered through the Dakota County Sheriff and the statewide BCA registry.

Nearby Counties

Dakota County borders these Minnesota counties. Check neighboring counties if a sex offender you are searching for is not found in Dakota County records.