More than 114,000 arrests are made in Minnesota each year. Within the same period, Clay County and other communities in the state's Seventh Judicial District recorded over 12,000 arrests. Official records of the county's arrests are available to the public pursuant to the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act (MGDPA), with copy fees ranging from $0.15 to $25. However, records containing confidential details like sensitive personal data, witness information, and juvenile records are exempt from public disclosure. Such records are open only to the record subjects and authorized government agencies, including the courts, the police, and the County Attorney's Office.
Clay County arrest records are in the custody of various law enforcement agencies, including the County Sheriff's Office, local Police Departments, the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, and the courts.
The Clay County Sheriff's Office maintains countywide crime-related information, including arrest records. Interested persons may request these records in person or by mail from the agency's Records Division located at:
Clay County Sheriff's Office
911 11th St N
Moorhead, MN 56560
Phone: (218)-299-5151
Additionally, details of individuals incarcerated within the county are available through the Sheriff's Office online Inmate Roster.
Police Departments are established by various cities in Clay County to provide public safety services at the municipal level. These local agencies also maintain and facilitate public access to details of law enforcement activities, including arrests. Interested persons may find these records through the relevant agency's records portal or by submitting written requests at its Records Office. Major local Police Departments in Clay County include the following:
The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA), a Division of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS), collates and maintains statewide criminal information, including arrest records. Residents of Clay County may search for these records through the state-level Public Criminal History Search portal using the record subject's name and date of birth. Alternatively, requesters may obtain detailed records by submitting a notarized Informed Consent Form along with a self-addressed stamped envelope in person or via mail to:
Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension
Minnesota Justice Information Services - CHA Unit
1430 Maryland Ave E
St. Paul, MN 55106
State-level criminal records cost $15, payable through personal check, money order, cashier's check, certified check, business check, or in cash (only for walk-in requests). Also, the BCA may require fingerprinting before providing certain records. In such instances, the applicant may visit the agency's location with a valid ID and a $10 payment for a fingerprint card.
In Clay County, the District Court is responsible for adjudicating criminal cases instituted by law enforcement agencies following an arrest. Details of the arrest resulting in the criminal charge form part of the criminal court records maintained by the Court Administrator. Anyone may access these records online by conducting a case search using the Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) portal. Official copies of these records are also available at the Court Administrator's Office located at:
807 11th St. N.
2nd Floor
Moorhead, MN 56560
Phone: (218) 227-7040
Additionally, third-party search tools such as InfoTracer offer public access to arrest and criminal court records. Users of these platforms often have access to various search criteria to streamline their searches.
Clay County has a violent crime rate of 2.888 per 1,000 residents. The table below shows a breakdown of adult and juvenile arrests made by the County Sheriff's Office.
| Arrest Type | Number of Arrests |
|---|---|
| Driving Under the Influence | 52 |
| Drug Offenses | 13 |
| Simple Assault | 11 |
| Larceny | 2 |
| Aggravated Assault | 3 |
| Sex Offenses | 1 |
| Burglary | 3 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 1 |
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Crime Data Explorer
It is situated in Clay county, Minnesota with a total number of 71 employees - 3 female, 31 male officers and 37 civilians. Clay County SO ORI (Originated Agency Identifier) number is MN0140000, it belongs to the West North Central division in the Midwest region with a region code of Region II.
| Department | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Barnesville Police Department | 101 Front St S | 218-354-2281 |
| Hawley Police Department | 818 Front St | 218-483-4666 |
| Moorhead Police Department | 915 9th Ave N | 701.451.7660 |
| Name | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| West Central Regional Juvenile Center (WCRJC) | 729 11th St. N. | 218-299-5150 |