Clay County Arrest Records

Clay County arrest records are kept by the Clay County Sheriff's Office in Moorhead, Minnesota. The sheriff maintains an online jail roster so you can check who is currently in custody at no cost. The county also uses VINE for inmate tracking and notifications. Whether you want to view the online roster, submit a records request, or check on a warrant, this page covers what you need to know about Clay County arrest records and how to access them.

Clay County Sheriff's Office

The Clay County Sheriff's Office and jail are both located at 915 9th Avenue North in Moorhead. The main phone for the office is (218) 299-5151. The jail has its own direct line at (218) 299-5163. Court administration for Clay County can be reached at (218) 299-5017 and is based at the courthouse at 807 11th St. North, also in Moorhead.

The sheriff runs patrol, civil process, jail operations, and warrant enforcement for Clay County. Moorhead is the county seat and borders Fargo, North Dakota, making Clay County a busy border region for law enforcement. The jail operates around the clock. Administrative staff work weekday business hours at the main office on 9th Avenue.

The screenshot below is from the Clay County main website, which links to the sheriff, jail roster, and record check services.

The county site is the best starting point for navigating to the jail roster, sheriff's office, and record check pages.

Clay County Jail Roster and Inmate Search

The Clay County jail roster is available online through two sources. The primary roster is at files.claycountymn.gov/InmateRoster. An alternate version is also available at claycountydetention.com. Both show current inmates at the Clay County Detention Center. Either source works for a basic custody check.

The roster lists people currently held at the facility. You can see names, booking information, and charges. Clay County also uses VINE for inmate tracking. VINE lets you set up free alerts about custody status changes so you are notified if someone is released, transferred, or their status changes for any reason. You can register for VINE notifications through vinelink.com at no cost.

The screenshot below shows the Clay County jail roster page, where you can view current inmates and booking details.

The roster gives you a direct view of who is in custody at the Clay County Detention Center, updated in real time.

Note: The online roster shows only current inmates. People who have been released or moved to another facility will not appear on the active list.

Warrants and Arrest Data in Clay County

Warrant information in Clay County is public data under Minn. Stat. § 13.82. The sheriff's office handles warrant enforcement. If you think there is a warrant out for someone's name, call the main office at (218) 299-5151 during business hours. Staff can check warrant status by name and let you know what is on file.

The Record Checks page on the county website at claycountymn.gov/484/Record-Checks describes the process for requesting official records in Clay County. This page covers what is available, how to submit a request, and any associated fees. It is a helpful first stop if you need something beyond the online roster.

For court-level warrant data, the Minnesota Court Records Online system at publicaccess.courts.state.mn.us shows case records from the Clay County District Court. Searching by name or case number can surface warrant entries tied to criminal cases in the 7th Judicial District.

How to Request Clay County Arrest Records

Minnesota law treats most arrest records as public government data. Under Minn. Stat. § 13.82, the Clay County Sheriff's Office must make basic arrest information available to anyone who asks. That means the name of the person, the arrest date and time, and the charges filed. Booking photos are also typically public.

To get a record in person, visit the sheriff's office at 915 9th Avenue North in Moorhead during regular weekday hours. Bring the full name of the person and the approximate date of arrest if you have it. Staff can search their system and provide what is available. Printed copies carry a fee set by county policy. The Record Checks page on the county site outlines the full process.

You can also make requests by phone at (218) 299-5151 or send a written request to the office. Mail requests to the same address and include the subject's name, arrest date, what you need, and your contact details. The office will respond with the records or a written notice if anything is restricted.

Note: Court records for a Clay County arrest can be accessed through the MCRO system online or in person at the courthouse at 807 11th St. North in Moorhead.

Minnesota Statewide Arrest Record Resources

State databases can round out your search when county records do not cover everything. Minnesota offers several free tools that pull data from across all 87 counties, including Clay.

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) runs the public criminal history search. You can look up a person by name and see arrest records, charges, and case outcomes from Clay County and other counties statewide. The BCA also handles official background check requests for licensing, employment, and other authorized purposes.

Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) at publicaccess.courts.state.mn.us gives free access to district court case records statewide. Clay County falls under the 7th Judicial District. Search by name or case number to find criminal case data, charges, docket entries, and case status. The Minnesota Department of Corrections offender locator at coms.doc.state.mn.us tracks people in state prison or on supervised release across Minnesota.

Nearby Counties

These counties border or are close to Clay County. Each has its own sheriff, jail, and records system. If you are not sure where the arrest occurred, check the specific location first.