Clay County Felony Records

Clay County felony records are on file at the District Court in Moorhead and through the Sheriff's Office. The county sits on the western edge of Minnesota, right across the Red River from Fargo, North Dakota. It is part of the 7th Judicial District. Moorhead is the county seat and the largest city. All felony cases from Clay County are processed at the Moorhead courthouse. You can search for records online or contact the court and sheriff's office directly. This page lays out the main ways to find felony records in Clay County.

Clay County Sheriff's Office

The Clay County Sheriff's Office provides law enforcement for the county and operates the jail in Moorhead. Felony arrests create booking records that include the person's name, charges, and date. Under Minnesota Statute 641.08, the sheriff keeps detailed logs of all people held in the jail. These records are public data. Call (218) 299-5151 to check on bookings or ask about warrants.

Moorhead has its own police department, and the city handles many calls within its limits. But all felony cases from Moorhead go through the Clay County District Court. People arrested by Moorhead police are booked at the county jail. So the sheriff's office holds the booking records regardless of which agency made the arrest. Because Clay County borders North Dakota, some people assume the case would be in Fargo. If the crime happened on the Minnesota side, the case stays in Clay County.

Find Clay County Felony Records

Minnesota Court Records Online is the free state tool for looking up court cases. It covers the Clay County District Court. Search by name or case number and the system returns charges, case status, and docket entries. Criminal cases appear only after a conviction is entered. Pending cases and pre-conviction data require a trip to the courthouse.

The BCA Criminal History Search tracks felony convictions statewide. It is free and covers all 87 counties. Public conviction data is available for 15 years after the sentence ends. Search by name and the results show the offense, court, date, and sentence. It is a useful tool if you want to check for felony records across multiple counties at once.

For in-person searches, visit the Clay County Courthouse in Moorhead. The public access terminal there provides more data than the online system. Staff can pull files and make copies. Call (218) 227-7040 to confirm hours first.

Clay County Felony Court Filings

All felony cases in Clay County go through the 7th Judicial District Court in Moorhead. Under Minnesota Statute 609.02, a felony is any crime that can lead to a prison term of one year or more. Drug offenses, DWI with prior convictions, assault, and theft are common charges. Each case creates a court file with the criminal complaint, bail order, plea documents, and sentencing details.

Court records are public under Section 13.82. Juvenile records, sealed files, and active investigation data are exceptions. Anyone can request to see a felony case file. You do not have to be involved in the case. Felony case files stay on record for 50 years under Section 138.17. Murder cases are kept permanently. Old records from Clay County can still be found at the courthouse.

The BCA's criminal history database follows Section 13.87 for data classification. Public conviction data stays on the BCA website for 15 years after the sentence ends. After that, the data becomes private. Court records at the Clay County courthouse in Moorhead remain available for the full retention period, so the courthouse is the better option when searching for older felony records.

Clay County Felony Expungement

The Clean Slate Act started January 1, 2025. Under Section 609A.015, the BCA automatically seals eligible felony records five years after the sentence is discharged. Violent crimes and sex offenses are excluded from the automatic process.

If your record does not qualify for automatic sealing, you can petition the Clay County District Court. The petition process under Section 609A.02 covers drug charges, certain fraud offenses, and other eligible crimes. File the forms, serve the county attorney, and attend a hearing. Free forms are at mncourts.gov. Help Seal My Record has step-by-step guidance. LawHelpMN can connect you with legal aid providers in the area.

Clay County Records Resources

The BCA Criminal History Search covers felony convictions in Clay County and the rest of Minnesota.

Results show the offense, conviction date, court, and sentence. The search is free and open to anyone.

The DOC Offender Locator tracks people under state corrections supervision. The VINE system provides custody change alerts for victims.

Legal Resources for Clay County

Legal Aid Service of Northwestern Minnesota serves Clay County. They assist with expungement petitions, criminal record issues, and other legal matters for qualifying residents. LawHelpMN has self-help guides and court forms. The Minnesota Judicial Branch website provides detailed information on accessing case records. Court staff in Moorhead can help with forms but cannot give legal advice. If you need a lawyer, the Minnesota State Bar Association runs a referral service that can match you with a criminal defense attorney in the area.

Cities in Clay County

Clay County includes Moorhead, Dilworth, Glyndon, Barnesville, and Hawley. All felony cases go through the Clay County District Court in Moorhead. No cities in this county meet the population threshold for a separate page.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Clay County in Minnesota.