Clay County Jail Roster Search
The Clay County jail roster provides detailed inmate information through the JailTracker system. You can look up who is in custody at the Clay County Detention Center in Moorhead, Minnesota. The roster shows photos, names, booking dates, physical descriptions, and charges for each inmate. Clay County sits on the western border of Minnesota, right across the Red River from Fargo, North Dakota. Moorhead is the county seat and the main population center. The sheriff's office runs the detention center and keeps the online roster current. If you need to find someone who was arrested in Clay County, the roster and VINELink are your two best tools.
Clay County Jail Overview
Clay County Detention Center Details
The Clay County Jail, also called the Clay County Detention Center, is at 915 9th Avenue North in Moorhead, MN 56560. The mailing address is PO Box 280, Moorhead, MN 56560. The facility holds up to 95 inmates and runs around the clock. All arrests in Clay County lead to this jail. Staff process bookings at any time of day or night. Moorhead sits on the Minnesota-North Dakota border, and the jail also handles holds for other agencies from time to time.
The jail phone is (218) 299-5163. The sheriff's office main line is (218) 299-5151. Fax goes to (218) 299-5228. Clay County uses the JailTracker system to manage inmate records and the public-facing jail roster. This software is common across many jails in the United States. It makes the roster easy to update and gives the public a clean way to search for inmates online.
Incoming mail at the Clay County Jail goes through the Securus Digital Mail Center. This means you cannot just drop a letter in a regular mailbox. You need to use the Securus system to send messages to inmates. Check with the jail for current rules on how the digital mail process works.
| Facility | Clay County Jail / Detention Center |
|---|---|
| Address | 915 9th Avenue North, Moorhead, MN 56560 |
| Mailing | PO Box 280, Moorhead, MN 56560 |
| Jail Phone | (218) 299-5163 |
| Sheriff Phone | (218) 299-5151 |
| Fax | (218) 299-5228 |
| Hours | 24/7 |
| Capacity | 95 beds |
How to Search the Clay County Jail Roster
The Clay County inmate roster is at claycountymn.gov/1454/Inmate-Roster. The system uses JailTracker, which gives you a name-based search. Type in a name and the results show the inmate's photo, booking date, height, weight, sex, race, age, and charges. This is more detail than most county rosters provide. JailTracker includes a note that it is not responsible for the accuracy of the content.
You can also get inmate information at claycountymn.gov/1498/Inmate-Information. This page has additional details about the jail and how to access custody data.
VINELink is available too. Go to www.vinelink.com, select Minnesota, and choose Clay County. Search by name. Register for free alerts that tell you when someone is released, moved, or escapes. Call 1-877-MN-4-VINE (1-877-664-8463) for the phone version. The system refreshes every 15 minutes.
The Clay County government website serves as the main portal for all county departments and services.
Navigate from the main site to the sheriff's office and then to the inmate roster section.
Clay County Jail Roster Public Data
Minnesota's Government Data Practices Act governs what the Clay County jail roster can show. MN Stat. 13.82 classifies booking logs, arrest info, and custody status as public data. That means the roster with names, photos, charges, and booking dates is all available to anyone. You do not need to be a victim, family member, or attorney to look it up.
Private data is covered by MN Stat. 13.85. This includes things like medical records, psychological evaluations, and internal jail incident reports. The sheriff keeps these separate from the public roster. If you need access to private data, you file a formal request. The sheriff's office reviews it and decides what can be released under the law. Most private data stays sealed unless a court says otherwise.
Note: The JailTracker disclaimer warns that information may not be completely accurate; for legal matters, verify details with the sheriff's office directly at (218) 299-5163.
The Clay County Inmate Roster page gives direct access to the JailTracker search for current inmates.
This is the fastest way to look up inmates in Clay County. Photos and charges appear in the search results.
Legal Framework for Clay County Jail Records
The sheriff of Clay County has legal responsibility for the jail under MN Stat. 641.05. This means the sheriff must keep the facility safe, maintain accurate records, and make public data available. MN Stat. 387.03 adds to this by defining the sheriff as the keeper of the county jail. These laws have been on the books for a long time and form the backbone of how jails operate across Minnesota.
The Minnesota Department of Corrections inspects the Clay County Detention Center to verify compliance with state standards. These inspections cover safety conditions, staffing levels, inmate treatment, and record-keeping practices. A jail that does not meet standards can be required to make changes or face other consequences. Clay County's 95-bed facility undergoes these reviews along with every other jail in the state.
The Clay County Inmate Information page has details on jail services and how to access inmate data.
Check this page for rules on visitation, phone calls, mail, and other services available at the detention center.
Cities in Clay County
Moorhead is the largest city in Clay County and sits right across from Fargo, North Dakota. Other towns include Dilworth, Glyndon, Barnesville, and Hawley. None have their own jails. All bookings go through the Clay County Detention Center in Moorhead. Because of the Fargo-Moorhead metro area, Clay County sees a steady volume of arrests compared to most western Minnesota counties.
Nearby Counties
If the person you are looking for is not on the Clay County jail roster, try one of these neighboring counties.