Clay County Jail Mugshots
Clay County jail mugshots and inmate records are available through the Clay County Correctional Facility and Sheriff's Office in Moorhead, Minnesota. The county publishes an online inmate roster through the JailTracker system, which is updated on a regular basis and includes booking photos when available. This page covers how to search the roster, what data is included, how to request official records, and the legal framework that makes this information public.
Clay County Overview
Clay County Sheriff's Office and Correctional Facility
The Clay County Correctional Facility is located at 800 9th Street North in Moorhead. Mail sent to inmates goes to a slightly different address: 915 9th Avenue North, Moorhead, MN 56560. The Sheriff's Office number is 218-299-5151. For jail-specific questions, call the jail line at 218-299-5163. The facility operates 24 hours a day for custody inquiries. Sheriff Mark Empting oversees the department. The facility has 66 beds and processes bookings from the Moorhead area and surrounding communities.
The county uses the Securus Digital Mail Center for processing inmate mail. Physical mail should be addressed to: Clay County Jail, [Inmate Name], 915 9th Avenue North, Moorhead, MN 56560. Visiting hours and commissary services are also available. Check the correctional facility page on the county website for current visiting schedules and rules.
| Facility Address | 800 9th Street N., Moorhead, MN 56560 |
|---|---|
| Mail Address | 915 9th Avenue North, Moorhead, MN 56560 |
| Sheriff Phone | 218-299-5151 |
| Jail Phone | 218-299-5163 |
| Sheriff Fax | 218-299-5228 |
| Jail Fax | 218-299-7696 |
| County Website | claycountymn.gov |
The county also handles record checks through the Courthouse on the second floor. If you need a record check for court purposes or other official uses, that's the right place to go. More information is at claycountymn.gov/484/Record-Checks.
Search Clay County Jail Mugshots Online
Clay County publishes its inmate roster through the JailTracker system. This is the same platform used by many counties across the country. The roster is accessible through the county's website at claycountymn.gov/1454/Inmate-Roster. You can browse the complete roster or search by last name and first name. Photos appear in the results when they have been added to the system.
The roster includes the inmate's name, booking information, and charges filed. Charges are listed with Minnesota statute numbers, which helps you understand what each charge covers. The disclaimer on the roster notes that the data is public under Minnesota Statutes 13.82, 13.85, and 641.05. The county provides this data to meet its legal obligation to make arrest and booking information available.
Inmate information including general booking details and policies is also available at claycountymn.gov/1498/Inmate-Information. That page covers topics like what inmates can bring, visitation rules, and how the booking process works. For statewide searches, VINE covers most Minnesota counties including Clay County. The MNDOC Offender Locator covers state prison inmates specifically.
Note: The JailTracker roster reflects periodic updates. For the most current custody status, call the jail directly at 218-299-5163.
Requesting Clay County Booking Photos and Records
Booking photos and arrest records from the Clay County jail are public under Minnesota law. If a photo isn't visible on the online roster, you can make a direct request to the Sheriff's Office. Call 218-299-5151 or visit the office at 800 9th Street North, Moorhead, MN 56560 during business hours.
Under Minnesota Statute 13.82, arrest and booking data is classified as public. That covers the date and time of the arrest, the name of the person arrested, charges, and booking photos. A formal written request under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act may be required for older records or copies. The county must respond within 10 business days under Minnesota Statute 13.03. Standard copy fees of $0.25 per page apply. For guidance, contact the Minnesota Information Policy Division.
District Court records for Clay County are handled separately. Court case filings, judgments, and other court documents are searchable through the Minnesota Trial Court Public Access system. Background check searches statewide run through the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension at chs.state.mn.us for a fee of $8.
Legal Basis for Clay County Jail Records Access
Clay County's inmate roster cites Minnesota statutes directly in its disclaimer. The three statutes listed are Minnesota Statute 13.82 (arrest data), Minnesota Statute 13.85 (correctional data), and Minnesota Statute 641.05 (sheriff jail records). Together these three sections form the legal backbone of public access to county jail records in Minnesota.
Section 13.82 defines what arrest data is public. Section 641.05 requires sheriffs to maintain a jail register for every person taken into custody. Section 13.85 covers sentenced offender data, which has slightly different rules from pre-trial detainee data. Minnesota Statute 641.08 also comes into play, specifying what parts of sheriff and jail records can be publicly accessed. Clay County cites all of this because it wants the public to understand the legal basis for both what they share and what they can't share.
The broader public records framework in Minnesota sits under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act. Minnesota Statute 13.03 sets the rules for how requests are made, how agencies must respond, and what fees they can charge. All of this applies to Clay County's jail operations.
Clay County Correctional Facility - Screenshots
The Clay County Correctional Facility page is the main information hub on the county website. The screenshot below shows what you'll find there, including visiting rules, facility contact info, and links to the roster.
From this page you can navigate to visiting information, inmate programs, and the online inmate roster.
The Clay County Inmate Roster is the JailTracker-powered search interface for current inmates. The screenshot below shows the roster search page.
Search by last name or browse the full roster to find current inmates and their booking photos.
The Clay County Inmate Information page covers what inmates can expect during their stay. The screenshot below shows this section of the county website.
This page is useful for family members looking for information on mail, visits, and commissary services at the Clay County jail.
Nearby Counties
Search jail mugshot records in counties near Clay County.