Clearwater County Predatory Offenders
Clearwater County sex offenders are registered through the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and managed locally by the Clearwater County Sheriff's Office. One of Minnesota's smaller and more rural counties, Clearwater County is located in the northwest part of the state with its county seat in Bagley. Residents who want to search for predatory offenders registered in Clearwater County can use free state databases or call the Sheriff directly. This page covers how the search process works and what resources are available.
Clearwater County Overview
Clearwater County Sheriff and Sex Offender Registration
The Clearwater County Sheriff's Office page covers law enforcement services for this rural northwestern county: Clearwater County Sheriff's Office.
The Clearwater County Sheriff's Office handles predatory offender registration for this small, rural northwestern Minnesota county.
The Clearwater County Sheriff's Office is the local authority for predatory offender registration. Sex offenders living in Clearwater County must comply with Minnesota Statute 243.166. That law requires them to report their address and any changes within five days. 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 to keep the statewide registry updated. Reach the Clearwater County Sheriff at (218) 694-6226 or visit co.clearwater.mn.us/sheriff.
Clearwater County is one of Minnesota's smallest counties by population. Bagley is the county seat and largest community. The Sheriff's Office covers a large geographic area with very few staff, which is common in rural northern Minnesota counties. Registration and notification are still handled under the same state requirements that apply to all counties, regardless of size.
| Office | Clearwater County Sheriff's Office |
|---|---|
| Phone | (218) 694-6226 |
| County Seat | Bagley, MN |
| Website | co.clearwater.mn.us/sheriff |
Find Clearwater 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 Bagley and other Clearwater County communities. Because the county is small and rural, only a few offenders may appear. Records update within 48 hours of law enforcement authorization. Only Level 3 offenders appear in the public database.
The BCA Predatory Offender Registry at por.state.mn.us is the statewide system used by law enforcement. BCA contact: (651) 793-7070 or toll free (888) 234-1248. Level 1 and Level 2 records are not publicly accessible. In a small county like Clearwater, the number of publicly listed offenders may be very small, but the full registry held by the BCA and Sheriff may include additional Level 1 and Level 2 individuals not visible in the public search.
Risk Levels and Notification in Clearwater County
Minnesota assigns three risk levels to registered sex offenders. Level 1 is low risk. Level 2 is moderate. Level 3 is high risk. Under Minnesota Statute 244.052, Level 3 offenders trigger formal community notification when they move into a new area. The Clearwater County Sheriff handles this process. In a small rural county, notification can reach a significant portion of the local community quickly. The DOC Community Notification page at mn.gov has more information on how the statewide process works.
If you have concerns about a sex offender in Clearwater County that go beyond what the public database shows, call the Sheriff directly at (218) 694-6226. The Sheriff can advise on what information is legally available and guide you to the right resources. Reporting someone who may have failed to register is also handled through the Sheriff's Office.
Clearwater County Court Records
Sex offense court records in Clearwater County are held at the Clearwater County District Court in Bagley. Search the Minnesota Court Records Online system at mncourts.gov by name or case number. Records include charge details, plea entries, and sentencing outcomes. Court records are separate from the predatory offender registry and can provide background information on an individual's criminal history in Clearwater County.
Resources for Clearwater County Residents
VINE is available to Clearwater County residents at no cost. Sign up at vinelink.com or call 1-877-664-8463. This service sends alerts when someone held in the county jail is released or moved. Crime victims and concerned community members use VINE to track an offender's custody status.
The National Sex Offender Public Website at nsopw.gov covers all 50 states. If a Clearwater County sex offender has moved out of Minnesota, use this tool to track where they are currently registered. The DOC Public Viewer at coms.doc.state.mn.us/PublicViewer shows people under DOC supervision in the community, including those on supervised release in Clearwater County.
Nearby Counties
Clearwater County borders these northwestern Minnesota counties. Check neighboring counties if a sex offender is not found in Clearwater County records.