Adult Probation and Community Programs

The Probation Service Center (PSC) is for low-risk clients who are likely to satisfy the conditions of their probation with minimal assistance from staff.

PSC clients must view an orientation presentation that will explain your assignment to phone reporting and how to report monthly to remain in compliance with your court-ordered probation conditions and obligations.  Probation conditions vary and you may be required to report to a probation office at the discretion of a probation agent. If you are required to meet with an agent, your meeting could be scheduled virtually or in-person at the Western Service Center in Apple Valley​or Northern Service Center in West St. Paul.   

Each client who is required to submit to random chemical testing must bring a photo ID and a money order for $20, as directed. Clients should complete court-ordered assessments within 90 days following sentencing. Copies of assessments and verifications of any other completed conditions should be sent to the Probation Service Center through fax or email.

Your monthly phone reporting call will remind you of all remaining probation conditions that require completion for a successful probation discharge.

For more information, contact the Probation Service Center at 952-891-7222 or psc.email@co.dakota.mn.us.

Client Re​ferral and Resource Information Sheet (S​panish)

This program is made for female offenders who are at higher risk. It includes regular meetings with a probation officer, both one-on-one and in group sessions.

The program helps participants learn skills to change criminal behavior. It encourages better thinking, builds self-confidence and helps develop healthy relationships with family, friends and the community.​

For more information, contact Dakota County Community Corrections at 651-554-6060.

Community Corrections offers many cognitive programs to help with reasoning and decision making. Programming is led in a group setting by people formally trained and receiving ongoing coaching. 

The courses are proven to help meet individual goals and the goals of the group.

A supervision agent works with their client to determine which program will be the best fit.

Each program explores different topics and skills, but each program explores  key ideas to change thinking patterns and behaviors that resulted in trouble. The programs also improve quality of life by helping participants learn new skills, assist in emotional regulation, and learning new ways to solve problems. 

Offered programs

Decision Points

Decision Points is made up of skill training and practice focused on decision making. The program is built on the “Strategy of Choices" and offers participants alternative ways to examine their thinking and actions that lead into trouble. Decision Points is comprised of four steps:

1. Identify my thoughts and feelings
2. Think about others who care what I do
3. Think about choices — pick one
4. Identify a motivating thought

Participants must master each skill step prior to moving on to the next skill.  Learned skills are shown through a combination of written exercise outside of the group and role playing while in group.

The length of this program is based on individual progress. This program is open ended and allows for continuous enrollment of new participants. 

Decision Points takes place one time per week and is offered only to males.  There is no cost for this program.

Driving With Care  

Driving With Care is a 12-week, 24-hour program for people convicted of driving while under the influence of alcohol or illegal substances. 

This program helps participants understand how problem behaviors are learned and how those behaviors become strengthened.  Participants develop an understanding of how they got to the point of their impaired driving and how their own alcohol or drug use fits clinically identified patterns and cycles of substance use and misuse. 

Participants develop strategies and skills to prevent future relapse and recidivism behavior.

Driving With Care takes place one time per week and is offered to both men and women.  There is a no cost for this program, although participants will be responsible to purchase a program workbook.

Moving On

Moving On builds on participants' positive traits.  This program designed specifically for women is organized into four main themes:

1. Encouraging personal responsibility and enhancing motivation to change
2. Expanding connections and building healthy relationships
3. Skill enhancement and development
4. Relaxation and stress management

Participants will be provided a supportive environment to explore their hopes and goals for the future so they can create a vision of success.  They will also be introduced to strategies and skills that help them regulate their emotions and manage feelings such as anger, guilt and sadness. 

This program takes place two times per week and is offered only to women.  There is no cost for this program.

Thinking for a Change

Thinking for a Change is a 25-session program which combines cognitive restructuring, thinking skills and problem solving.  This program is organized into three main themes:

1. Cognitive self change: Participants go through a process of self-reflection to uncover antisocial thoughts, feelings, attitudes and beliefs.  Participants are taught that thinking controls behavior and to change behavior, thinking must be changed.
2. Social skills: Participants  engage in prosocial interactions based on self-understanding and awareness of the impact their actions have on others.  Participants learn how to:
   • Listen actively
   • Ask questions
   • Respond appropriately to other's anger
   • Give feedback to others
   • Communicate apologies effectively
   • Negotiate
   • Communicate  a complaint effectively
   • Understand the feelings of others
   • Recognize one's feelings
3. Problem solving skills: Participants combine the first two  components to provide a step-by-step process for addressing challenging real life situations and conflict.

The program includes a combination of written exercises of each skill as well as role playing while in group. 

This program takes place two times per week and is offered only to men.  There is no cost for this program.

For more information, contact Shannon Olean, Community Corrections, at 651-554-6608.

The Dakota County Re-Entry Assistance Program (RAP) is a team of workers from different county departments who help people leaving jail or prison. The goal is to support people who have been in jail many times, so they don't return.

The program offers support and services to sentenced inmates as they leave the Dakota County Jail or state prisons and return to the community.

The RAP team looks at requests from inmates who want help. They interview them to see if they qualify and figure out what services they need. If someone is accepted, the team creates a re-entry plan to connect them with the right services.

After a person is released, the team continues to help with their transition back into the community. They stay in contact with them for about 90–120 days after release.​