Dakota County Jail Photos & Videos

Dakota County Jail Inmate Mail Guidelines

Postcards
The Dakota County Jail allows inmates to receive pre-metered postcards like the type purchased from the post office. They may also allow certain photo postcards as long as they have not been tampered with or contain images that may be considered to be obscene or violent in nature.

Envelopes
The Dakota County Jail also allows envelopes to be mailed to inmates.

Postcards and envelopes MUST be mailed to the following address:
(Inmate Name)
Dakota County Law Enforcement Center
P.O. Box 247J
Hastings, MN 55033

Legal Mail

Send all legal Mail to this Address:
(Inmate Name)
Dakota County Law Enforcement Center
P.O. Box 247J
Hastings, MN 55033

Newspapers
Local or national newspapers may also be mailed to the inmate as long as they are mailed directly from the newspaper publisher.

Magazines
News, special interest or sports magazines may also be mailed to an inmate as long as they are shipped directly from the publisher. Any magazines that contain profanity, weapons, pornography or other content that is adult in nature will be confiscated by the jail staff and will NOT be delivered to the inmate.

Books
The Dakota County Jail allows books to be mailed directly to the jail from a reputable source such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble or Books-A-Million. You can order them directly from your computer and have them shipped to the inmate at the address below.
Books must NOT contain images or content that are considered excessively violent, pornographic or obscene. Any book that does not meet the Dakota County Jail standards will be disposed of. No more than three books may be shipped at any one time.
Hard cover books will not be accepted by the jail due to their potential to be used as a weapon.

All newspapers, magazines and books are to be shipped to:
(Inmate Name)
Dakota County Law Enforcement Center
P.O. Box 247J
Hastings, MN 55033

How an Inmate Makes a Phone Call to You or Others from Dakota County Jail

To set up a phone account so that your inmate can call you from Dakota County do the following:

1. Enroll in an account with Securus Technologies.

2. Choose one of three account types, Securus Debit, Advance Connect or Direct Bill.
3. Choose [facility_name_1}, then connect with your inmate.
4. If you have any questions, call Securus: 972-734-1111 or 800-844-6591.

To find out fees, how to's, calling times, limits on phone calls and other systems Securus has do that you can communicate with your Dakota County inmate, check out our Inmate Phone Page.
NOTE: All of your inmate's phone calls are recorded and stored. It is advised not to discuss their pending case.

How to Have Remote Video Visits with an Inmate in Dakota County

To register and sign up for a remote visitation account with Inmate Canteen to communicate with your Dakota County Jail inmate, follow the instructions below:

• Register and create an account with Inmate Canteen, or log in if you already have an account.
• 
• Inmate Canteen has excellent quality video visits between your home device and a video terminal in the inmate's housing area.
• This is a fee based service.
• After you are signed in, select Minnesota, the Dakota County Jail, thn the inmate you wish to visit.
• Select the Visit option. Follow the prompts on screen to set up a time to visit with your inmate.
• Direct link to How to set up a Video Visit with Inmate Canteen.

For all the information you need to know, including instructions, policies, tips and solutions to possible issues regarding visiting with an inmate (both at the facility and remotely) in Dakota County, visit our full page guide. 

NOTE: All video visits are recorded and stored. Whatever you talk about, can and will be used against your inmate in court. Never discuss their pending criminal case!
Also, be warned that some video visits providers are collecting voice prints for a database which law enforcement agencies are building.

How to Have Remote Video Visits with an Inmate in Dakota County

To register and sign up for a remote visitation account with Inmate Canteen to communicate with your Dakota County Jail inmate, follow the instructions below:

• Register and create an account with your Dakota County inmate using Inmate Canteen.
• 
• Inmate Canteen has excellent quality video visits between your home device and a video terminal in the inmate's housing area at Dakota County Jail.
• You can also send and receive secure messages and use them to make and receive phone calls with your Dakota County inmate.
• This is a fee based service.

Instructions for Inmate Video Visitation:
- Register or Log in to your account
- Select Dakota County Jail and the inmate you wish to visit.
- Select the "Video Visit an Inmate" option
- Follow the prompts on screen to schedule the visit.

For all the information you need to know, including instructions, policies, tips and solutions to possible issues regarding visiting with an inmate (both at the jail and remotely) in Dakota County, visit our full page guide. 

NOTE: All video visits are recorded and stored. Whatever you talk about, can and will be used against your inmate in court. Never discuss their pending criminal case!
Also, be warned that some video visits providers are collecting voice prints for a database which law enforcement agencies are building.

How to Send a Secure Email Message to an Inmate in Dakota County

To send a secure email message to an inmate in Dakota County Jail follow these steps:

• Register with Inmate Canteen to create an account or log in if you already have one.
• Select Minnesota, then select Dakota County Jail, and then the inmate you want to send your message to.
• Add money to your account.
• Verify your email.
• Send message.
• NOTE: All messages between you and your Dakota County inmate will be permanently recorded and seen by the staff and could be used against your inmate in court.

For all information on how to Text/Email an Inmate in Dakota County Jail, the costs, rules, policies and more check out our Secure Messaging Guide for Dakota County.

How to Send a Carepack Commissary Package Directly to an Inmate in Dakota County

To send a commissary carepack (food, snacks and goods) directly to an inmate in Dakota County Jail follow these steps:

• Register to create an account, or Log in to your account at Inmate Canteen if you already have one.
• 
• Select Minnesota, then Dakota County Jail, and then the inmate you wish to purchase commissary items for.
• Select the "Purchase Commissary Items" option.
• Follow the prompts on screen to purchase items for an inmate.
• Maximum spend is $125.00.

For all information, tips and to see the hundreds of available items for shipping Commissary packages to an inmate in Dakota County Jail, or to see how deposit money so that your inmate can purchase their own commissary, check out our Commissary Instructions Page for Dakota County.

How to Send a Carepack Commissary Package Directly to an Inmate in Dakota County

To send a commissary carepack (food, snacks and goods) directly to an inmate in Dakota County Jail follow these steps:

• Register to create an account, or Log in to your account at Inmate Canteen if you already have one.
• 
• Select Minnesota, then Dakota County Jail, and then the inmate you wish to purchase commissary items for.
• Select the "Purchase Commissary Items" option.
• Follow the prompts on screen to purchase items for an inmate.
• Maximum spend is $125.00.
• NOTE: Dakota County Jail may at times only allow online deposits for your inmate to purchase their own commissary locally. 

For all information, tips and to see the hundreds of available items for shipping Commissary packages to an inmate in Dakota County Jail, or to see how deposit money so that your inmate can purchase their own commissary, check out our Commissary Instructions Page for Dakota County.