Find Sex Offenders in Clay County

Clay County sex offenders are registered through the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension's Predatory Offender Registry and managed locally by the Clay County Sheriff's Office. Located in the Red River Valley along Minnesota's western border with North Dakota, Clay County includes the city of Moorhead and is home to Minnesota State University Moorhead and Concordia College. This page explains how to search for predatory offenders in Clay County and what resources are available for residents and community members.

Clay County Sheriff and Sex Offender Registration

The Clay County Sheriff's Office manages predatory offender registration for the county. Sex offenders living in Clay County must comply with Minnesota Statute 243.166. That law requires them to report their address and update it within five days of any change. Failing to register is a felony with penalties of up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine. The Sheriff coordinates with the BCA and DOC to keep registry records accurate. Reach the Sheriff at (218) 299-5151 and their website at co.clay.mn.us/sheriff.

Clay County borders North Dakota, with Moorhead sitting directly across the Red River from Fargo, ND. This border location creates some complexity in sex offender tracking. Someone living in Moorhead may work or spend time in Fargo, and vice versa. Minnesota's registration requirements apply to anyone who lives, works, or attends school in the state. Offenders who cross the border regularly may have registration obligations in both states. The Sheriff's Office handles these situations and can advise residents with specific concerns. The Moorhead Police Department at moorheadmn.gov/police works within city limits and partners with the county on monitoring.

The Moorhead Police Department page shows city-level law enforcement resources in Clay County: Moorhead Police Department.

The Moorhead Police Department handles sex offender registration and monitoring within Moorhead city limits, working alongside the Clay County Sheriff.

Search Clay County Sex Offenders Online

The Minnesota DOC Public Registrant Search at coms.doc.state.mn.us/publicregistrantsearch shows Level 3 sex offenders by city or zip code. DOC contact: (651) 361-7340 or toll free (866) 396-9953. Search Moorhead and surrounding Clay County communities to find offenders registered in the area. Records update within 48 hours of law enforcement authorization. Only Level 3 offenders appear in the public tool.

The BCA Predatory Offender Registry at por.state.mn.us is the statewide database. BCA contact: (651) 793-7070 or toll free (888) 234-1248. Only Level 3 records are public. Level 1 and Level 2 offenders are monitored by law enforcement but not shown to the general public. Moorhead's university and college populations mean more young adults may use state tools to check for nearby offenders. The same public search tools are available to all residents and students.

Community Notification in Clay County

Level 3 sex offenders trigger formal community notification in Clay County under Minnesota Statute 244.052. When a high-risk offender moves into the county, the Sheriff's Office coordinates notification to nearby residents, schools, and organizations. In Moorhead, notifications can cover a dense urban area. In rural parts of Clay County, notifications may reach smaller but still affected communities. The DOC Community Notification page at mn.gov explains how the statewide process works.

Clay County's location on the border means some offenders registered in North Dakota may move into the area. If an offender moves to Moorhead from Fargo, they must register in Minnesota within five days. The BCA and Clay County Sheriff's Office track these situations. The DOC public database will reflect Level 3 offenders once they register with Minnesota law enforcement.

Clay County Court Records

Sex offense court records in Clay County are held at the Clay County District Court in Moorhead. Use the Minnesota Court Records Online system at mncourts.gov to search by name or case number. Records show charges, plea information, and sentencing details. Court records are a separate system from the predatory offender registry but can provide additional context about an individual's criminal background in Clay County.

Resources for Clay County Residents

VINE provides free custody status alerts for Clay County residents. Sign up at vinelink.com or call 1-877-664-8463. The service notifies you when someone held in the county jail is released or transferred. Crime victims and community members use this tool to stay informed about an offender's current status.

Because Clay County borders North Dakota, the National Sex Offender Public Website at nsopw.gov is especially useful for cross-border searches. If you want to check whether a person is registered in North Dakota or another state, this federal tool covers all 50 states at once. The DOC Public Viewer at coms.doc.state.mn.us/PublicViewer shows people under active DOC supervision in Minnesota, including those on supervised release in Clay County.

Nearby Counties

Clay County borders these Minnesota counties as well as North Dakota. Check neighboring counties if a sex offender is not found in Clay County records.