Clay County Released Inmates

Clay County released inmate records are accessible through the county's online jail roster and inmate lock-up list, both available through the Clay County Sheriff's Office website in Moorhead. The jail serves the Fargo-Moorhead metro area on the Minnesota side and handles bookings from all law enforcement agencies in Clay County. This page covers the local jail roster, VINE notifications, statewide search tools, and the public records laws that govern access to released inmate data in Clay County.

Clay County Jail Roster and Lock-Up List

The Clay County Sheriff's Office provides direct links to both an Inmate Roster and a Lock Up List through the official county website at mn-claycounty.civicplus.com. These are two related but slightly different records. The inmate roster shows people currently booked in the jail, while the lock-up list may include additional individuals held for brief periods. Both are public under Minnesota's data practices laws.

The jail is located at 915 9th Avenue North, Moorhead, MN 56560. The Sheriff's Office phone is 218-299-5151. Direct jail inquiries go to 218-299-5163. The fax number is 218-299-5228. Because Clay County is part of the Fargo-Moorhead metro area, the jail can see higher booking volumes than more rural Minnesota counties. Calling the jail directly is the fastest way to confirm whether a specific person is currently in custody or has been released.

Clay County also provides links to Mental Health and Suicide Response resources through the same public safety section of the website. These programs reflect the county's recognition that jail populations often include individuals with complex needs beyond the standard booking and release process.

The Clay County official website provides links to the jail inmate roster and lock-up list under the Sheriff's Office public safety section.

VINE Notifications for Clay County

Clay County jail and inmate records are tracked through VINELink, which provides statewide custody monitoring and release alerts. VINE is free. You can register online or call 877-664-8463. When you register, provide the name of the person you want to track and choose your notification method: phone call, text, or email. Alerts go out as soon as a release or transfer is recorded in the jail system.

VINE is useful for Clay County because the jail handles a metro-area booking volume, which means people can move through the system quickly. Waiting to check the roster manually means you might miss a release. With VINE, you get an automatic alert the moment the status changes. The service does not require you to provide a reason for monitoring. It is used by victims, family members, and legal professionals across the state.

Register with VINE to receive automatic alerts when a Clay County inmate is released or transferred, with notifications by phone, text, or email.

Minnesota Public Records Laws

Jail roster data in Clay County is public under Minnesota Statute 13.82. This law requires law enforcement agencies to make basic booking data available, including names, dates of arrest, and charges. The online roster and lock-up list are how Clay County meets that requirement. No formal request is needed to access what the county publishes online.

Minnesota Statute 13.85 sets the rules for corrections and detention data. It distinguishes between data that must be made public and data that must be protected. Health records, mental health data, and financial information are private. Booking records, charges, and custody status are public. If you need records beyond what the online tools provide, you can request them in writing from the Clay County Sheriff's Office under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act.

Statewide Tools for Clay County Inmate Records

When a person convicted in Clay County is transferred to a state prison, the local roster no longer tracks them. Use the Minnesota DOC Offender Locator to find people in state custody or under supervised release. The tool is free, searchable by name, and shows current facility, sentence data, and projected release dates. It covers all Minnesota state correctional facilities and DOC-supervised individuals across the state.

For sex offenders and predatory offenders released in Clay County, the Predatory Offender Registry is searchable by name or address. Registration is required under Minnesota Statute 243.166. Risk levels are determined under Minnesota Statute 244.052. For court records in Clay County cases, use Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO). Full criminal history checks are available through the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA).

How to Request Clay County Records

Some records are not available through the online roster or statewide tools. For those, submit a written data request to the Clay County Sheriff's Office at 915 9th Avenue North, Moorhead, MN 56560. Specify what records you are looking for, the time period, and any identifying information you have. Under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act, the office must respond within a set period and either provide the records or cite the legal basis for withholding them.

Records that may require a written request include older booking records not captured in current online systems, documents related to specific incidents, and records involving multiple agencies. The Sheriff's Office data practices coordinator can tell you what is available and what format records are provided in. Some records may require a fee to copy or produce.

Cities in Clay County

Moorhead is the county seat and largest city in Clay County, and it is part of the Fargo-Moorhead metro area. Moorhead does not meet the population threshold for a dedicated released inmate city page on this site.

Other communities in Clay County include Barnesville, Hawley, and Dilworth. Residents of all Clay County communities are served by the Sheriff's Office, and their bookings appear in the county's online jail roster.

Nearby Counties

These counties are near Clay County. Each has its own released inmate records.