Find Burnsville Bench Warrants
Burnsville bench warrants are managed through the Dakota County court and sheriff's office. The city has its own police department with 75 sworn officers, but bench warrant records and jail bookings go through the county. If you need to check for an active bench warrant from a Burnsville case, the Dakota County Sheriff can confirm it over the phone. You can also search for case records online through the state court system. Burnsville is in the southern part of the Twin Cities metro area and falls under the 1st Judicial District. Several free tools let you look up warrants and court cases from home.
Burnsville Overview
Burnsville Bench Warrant Process
Burnsville is in Dakota County. All bench warrants go through the Dakota County Sheriff's Office at 1580 Highway 55 in Hastings, MN 55033. The sheriff's main number is 651-438-4700. When a 1st Judicial District judge issues a bench warrant for a Burnsville case, it enters the county system immediately. The warrant stays active until the person appears in court or the judge recalls it.
The Burnsville Police Department is at 100 Civic Center Pkwy, Burnsville, MN 55337. Call 952-895-4600 for the main line. Non-emergency dispatch is at 651-322-2323 or 952-322-2323. The department was founded in 1964 and has 75 sworn officers and 19 civilian staff. They run specialized units including the Domestic Abuse Response Team, Tactical, K-9, and Physical Evidence units. Officers check for warrants during every stop. If they find one, you go to the Dakota County Jail in Hastings.
| Local Police | Burnsville Police Department |
|---|---|
| Address | 100 Civic Center Pkwy Burnsville, MN 55337 |
| Phone | 952-895-4600 |
| Non-Emergency | 651-322-2323 / 952-322-2323 |
| Sheriff (Warrants) | 651-438-4700 |
| Court | 651-438-8100 |
Letters of clearance from the Burnsville Police Department cost $35. These are sometimes needed for background purposes. Accident reports can also be obtained through the Minnesota DPS.
How to Check Burnsville Bench Warrants
The fastest way to check is to call the Dakota County Sheriff at 651-438-4700. Give them a name and date of birth. Staff can confirm if an active bench warrant exists. This is free.
You can search online through Minnesota Court Records Online. The system covers the 1st Judicial District and shows party names, case types, and hearing dates. A failure to appear entry is a strong indicator that the court issued a bench warrant. The system does not always label warrants directly, but the docket entries tell the story. Some pending criminal cases have limits on remote access, so you may not see everything for active cases. Under MS 13.82, warrant data is classified as public in Minnesota, which means anyone can ask for it.
The BCA criminal history search is a paid option that covers arrest and court records across the state. It can show if a bench warrant is connected to a criminal case.
Note: The Dakota County Sheriff handles all warrant inquiries for Burnsville cases and can provide status updates by phone at no charge.
Burnsville Bench Warrant Records
The Minnesota Department of Public Safety provides statewide resources for warrant and criminal record searches that cover Burnsville and all other Minnesota cities.
Court records from the Dakota County Judicial Center at 1560 Highway 55 in Hastings cost $10 for certified copies and $8 for plain copies. The court phone is 651-438-8100. Staff can pull bench warrant records and related case documents during business hours. Bring a valid ID when you visit in person.
Bench warrants in Burnsville do not have an expiration date under Minnesota law. A warrant issued five years ago holds the same weight as one from last month. The court can recall it, but it will not go away on its own. Taking care of it before a traffic stop or other police contact is the smart move.
Burnsville Bench Warrant Consequences
A bench warrant in Burnsville means you can be arrested at any time. Burnsville police run names during every stop and call. An active warrant shows up in the system right away.
Under Rule 3.01 of the Minnesota Rules of Criminal Procedure, the court must issue a warrant when a defendant fails to appear after a summons. The judge has no discretion on this point. Failing to appear carries its own penalties on top of the original charges. Someone facing a felony who misses court intentionally can get up to half the maximum sentence for the underlying offense. For misdemeanors and gross misdemeanors, failure to appear is a separate misdemeanor. The charges stack, and the situation gets worse the longer you wait.
Some warrants allow for sign and release under MS 629.415. The officer can have you sign a paper with a new court date instead of a full arrest. Not every warrant type qualifies for this option.
Clearing Burnsville Bench Warrants
Turn yourself in at the Dakota County Jail at 1580 Highway 55 in Hastings. Bring a photo ID and the bail amount in cash. Call the sheriff at 651-438-4700 first to learn the bail amount and what to expect. The jail takes bookings at all hours.
A lawyer can help you avoid an arrest by filing a motion to recall the warrant. If the judge grants the motion, you get a new court date set without going through booking. The Minnesota Self-Help Center has forms and can point you to legal aid groups in the area. The Burnsville Police cannot recall bench warrants themselves, but they can confirm if one exists and direct you to the county system.
- Call the Dakota County Sheriff at 651-438-4700 for bail details
- Bring valid ID and exact cash to the Hastings jail
- Post bail and get a new court date
- Appear at the hearing to prevent another warrant
- Consider hiring an attorney to file a recall motion
Burnsville Warrant Legal Resources
LawHelpMN offers free guides on bench warrants and failure to appear cases. The site explains the process, your rights, and where to find a public defender. It covers fee waivers too if you cannot afford court costs.
Track custody status through VINE. This free tool sends alerts when someone is booked or released from the Dakota County Jail. It runs 24 hours a day and supports over 200 languages. The VINE phone line is 1-866-277-7477. You can also sign up for email or text alerts through the website.
Dakota County Bench Warrants
Burnsville is part of Dakota County. All bench warrants go through the Dakota County Sheriff and the 1st Judicial District Court. For more details on the county system and available search tools, see the Dakota County page.
Nearby Cities
These cities are near Burnsville. Several share Dakota County's warrant and court system.