Frequently Asked Questions

Bailiff and Court Services

What’s the difference between a Jury Trial and a Court Trial?
Do I qualify for a public defender?

Communications

When should I call 9-1-1?
What is the non-emergency number for Scott County Sheriff’s Dispatch?
What agencies does Scott County dispatch for?
What are the phone numbers for Police Departments in Scott County?
How do I get a 911 Address marker for the end of my driveway?
How do I get a copy of a police or accident report?

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Bailiff and Court Services

What’s the difference between a Jury Trial and a Court Trial?
In a jury trial, the decision of guilt or innocence is decided by either six or twelve citizens that were chosen out of a pool of people. They would listen to the evidence and make the decision. In a court trial, there is no jury present. The judge would listen to the evidence and make the decision.

Do I qualify for a public defender?
The judge makes that determination as to whether or not you qualify. You will be required to complete a form and the judge may also ask you some questions regarding your eligibility for a public defender. There are certain criteria you must meet to be eligible for a public defender. If you qualify, you will be know before your case proceeds.

Communications

When should I call 9-1-1?
You should call 9-1-1 for police, fire and medical emergencies, to report crimes in progress, or that have just occurred.

What is the non-emergency number for Scott County Sheriff’s Dispatch?
952-445-1411

What agencies does Scott County dispatch for?
Scott County dispatches for:

Shakopee Police Department and Shakopee Fire Department,
Savage Police Department and Savage Fire Department,
Prior Lake Police Department and Prior Lake Fire Department,
Mdewakanton Emergency Services,
Jordan Police Department and Jordan Fire Department,
Belle Plaine Police Department, Belle Plaine Fire Department, and Belle Plaine Ambulance,
New Prague Police Department, New Prague Fire Department, and New Prague Ambulance,
Elko-New Market Police Department, Elko-New Market Fire Department.

What are the phone numbers for Police Departments in Scott County?

Belle Plaine: 952-873-4307 7:00am – 3:30pm M-F
Elko New Market: 952-461-2711 8:00am – 4:30pm M-Th
Jordan: 952-492-2009 7:30am – 4:00pm M-F
Prior Lake: 952-440-3555 8:00am – 4:30pm M-F
Savage: 952-882-2600 8:00am – 4:30pm M-F
Shakopee: 952-233-9400 8:00am – 5:00pm M-F

Calling these numbers after hours, the phone will roll over to Scott County Sheriff Dispatch.

How do I get a 911 Address marker for the end of my driveway?

Contact Dorothy Sanders at the Scott County Highway Department, 952-496-8346. If you address marker or post has been damaged or is missing, the Highway Department will replace it. The marker will be placed in the road right of way on the same side of the road as the access to your home or business. For purposes of uniformity and consistency and safety issues involving utilities in the road right of way, it is not recommended that you attempt to replace your own marker. There is a fee for replacement of a marker and/or post, depending on the materials used.

How do I get a copy of a police or accident report?

Call sheriff records 952-496-8309 for reports from the Sheriff’s Department. They will need to know the date and time, ICR number, incident type or address. There is a fee if there is a report, $5.00 for the first page, $0.25 per additional page. To get reports from city Police Departments contact the department that wrote the report.

Community Programs

What is Neighborhood Watch?
Neighborhood Watch is a community-based program that has been proven to reduce crime. Residents participating in Neighborhood Watch are given information on crime prevention and ways to improve their home and personal security. They watch for and report suspicious or unusual activity they see occurring in their neighborhood. This enables law enforcement to be much more effective in working with the citizens to reduce crime and resolve neighborhood problems.

Criminal Investigation

Who do I call if I have information on a crime?
If the crime is in progress or it is an emergency, call 9-1-1. For any information that is not an emergency, call 952-445-1411 and your call will be directed to the proper person.

Laws

What is the curfew regulations in Scott County?

A) It is unlawful for a juvenile under the age of twelve to be present in any public place or establishment within Scott County:

1) any time between 9:00 p.m. on any Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday and 5:00 a.m. of the following day.
2) any time between 10:00 p.m. on Friday or Saturday and 5:00 a.m. on the following day.

B) It is unlawful for a juvenile from the ages of twelve, thirteen, or fourteen, to be present in any public place or establishment within Scott County:

1) any time between 10:00 p.m. on any Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday and 5:00 a.m. of the following day.
2) any time between 11:00 p.m. on any Friday or Saturday and 5:00 a.m. of the following day.

C) It is unlawful for a juvenile from the ages of fifeteen, sixteen, or seventeen, to be present in any public place or establishment within Scott County:

1) any time between 11:00 p.m. on any Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday and 5:00 a.m. of the following day.
2) any time between 12:01 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. on any Friday or Saturday.

D) It is unlawful for a person or guardian of a juvenile knowingly, or through negligent supervision, to permit the juvenile to be in any public place or establishment within Scott County during the house prohibited in paragraphs (A), (B) and (C) of this section
E) It is unlawful for a proprietor of an establishment within Scott County to knowingly permit a juvenile to remain in the establishment or on the establishment’s property during the hours prohibited in paragraphs (A), (B) or (C) of this section.

** Each city in Scott County has their own regulations posted on their websites**

What are the laws regarding fireworks in Minnesota?

Below is a link to the State Fire Marshall Fact Sheet for Fireworks:

http://www.dps.state.mn.us/fmarshal/Fireworks/FireworksFactSheet0605.pdf

Is it or is it not lawful to pass a vehicle on the right if the vehicle in front of you is waiting to turn left?
Passing on the right is not legal in Minnesota, unless a special lane is provided, or you are on a multi-lane road. It is against the law to use the shoulder (whether paved or unpaved) or a turn lane to pass. The National Highway Traffic Safety Institute and the National Safety Council recommend a safe following distance an extreme minimum of 3 seconds, and pay attention at all times to your driving. Then, when you see the vehicle in front braking and signaling for a left turn, start slowing down immediately. That will get traffic behind you to slow down. Stop and wait behind the left turning traffic until it turns, then go. That's the law, and our recommendation.

Is it illegal to have one or more people riding in the bed of a pickup truck? What if the truck has a topper?
Believe it or not, currently it is legal in Minnesota for humans to ride in the bed of a pickup truck, whether or not the truck has a topper. It is not safe, but it is legal. A driver may, however, be charged for reckless or careless driving if they are swerving or committing some other type of driving maneuver which may further endanger the passengers back there.

What are the laws regarding Child Seats, Booster Seats and Safety Belts in MN?

Minnesota State Statute 169.685

Our Minnesota law is a minimum safety standard and doesn’t necessarily reflect best practices for properly securing children within motorized vehicles.

In Minnesota:

• Children under age 8 and shorter than 4 feet 9 inches tall must be secured in a safety seat or booster seat that meets federal safety standards.
• Children cannot ride in a seat belt alone until they are age 8 or 4 feet 9 inches tall — whichever comes first.
• Safety seats must be installed and used according to the manufacturer's instructions.
• Child must be secured in the safety seat.
• Seat must be secured to the vehicle — unless a booster seat.
• Infants (under 20 pounds and one year of age) must be in a rear-facing safety seat.
• Law applies to all motor vehicles originally equipped with factory-installed seat belts.
• Law applies to all seating positions.
• Driver is responsible.
• Petty misdemeanor fine for violation is $50 (may be waived if violator shows proof of obtaining a safety seat within 14 days).
• Applies to both residents and non-residents of Minnesota.
• Suspected non-use is a valid basis to stop a motor vehicle.

Exceptions:

• Children riding in emergency medical vehicles, when medical needs make use of a restraint unreasonable
• Children riding in a motor vehicle for hire, including a taxi, airport limousine or bus, but excluding a rented, leased or borrowed motor vehicle
• Children riding with a peace officer on official duty, when a restraint is not available (a seat belt must be substituted)
• Children certified by a licensed physician as having a medical, physical or mental disability that makes restraint use inadvisable
• Passengers in school buses — without factory installed seat belts

Warrants and Transports

Why does the court issue a warrant?
Most commonly, a warrant is issued when a person fails to show for a court appearance when summoned.

	Contact Information
County Main Number

(952) 445-7750

(952) 496-8170 (TTY)


Sheriff's Office
(952) 496-8300