About the Clay County Jail
Clay County Jail is officially named the Clay County Correctional Facility. It is operated by the Clay County Sheriff's Office in Moorhead, Minnesota, and serves Clay County adults held for local charges, warrants, court appearances, sentenced custody, and other detention-related matters.
The Clay County Sheriff is Mark Empting, and the Correctional Facility Administrator is Kari Tuton. The facility is a 75,900-square-foot, 220-bed correctional facility that houses male and female inmates at minimum, medium, and maximum security levels. Clay County also confirms that the facility includes an 18-bed Behavioral Mental Health Unit and operates under Minnesota Administrative Rule 2911 with Minnesota Department of Corrections licensing and inspection oversight.
- Facility
- Clay County Correctional Facility
- Address
- 800 9th St. N., Moorhead, MN 56560
- Main Phone
- 218-299-5163
- Fax
- 218-299-7696
- Operated By
- Clay County Sheriff's Office
How the Clay County Inmate Search Works
The Clay County inmate search is the live roster at the top of this page. Enter a name, booking number, or charge in the search box to filter current Clay County jail roster records without leaving this page. The roster is the inmate lookup Clay County residents can use for custody and booking information.
Clay County roster entries may show the inmate's name, age, booking date, arresting agency, and charges. The roster should be read as a custody and booking record, not as a complete court docket. A single roster entry may include more than one arresting agency or multiple charges, so one inmate listing does not always equal one criminal case.
Use "View Details" when available to see expanded booking information for that inmate. Depending on the record, details may include more charge information and facility contact information. Clay County's official roster guidance also warns that public inmate information should not be relied on as legal proof of case status, because a court record is separate from a custody record.
Clay County criminal case information is handled through Clay County District Court and Minnesota Court Records Online, commonly called MCRO. MCRO is the state court records portal for case records, hearings, documents, and registers of actions; it is not a replacement for the custody roster on this page.
Posting Bail at Clay County Jail
Bail is set by the court, not by the Clay County Correctional Facility. Before coming to the jail, call 218-299-5163 to confirm the inmate's current custody status, whether bail has been set, the exact amount due, and any court-ordered restrictions that affect release.
Clay County confirms that bail is posted in the correctional facility public lobby. Use the lobby intercom to contact staff and wait for staff instructions before placing money in the Turnkey kiosk. The confirmed bail payment options are cash, credit card, and a bail bondsman when the court order allows a bondsman.
Clay County lists kiosk bail fees of $2.00 for cash and $8.95 for credit card bail transactions. Checks, debit cards, ACH payments, and other payment types are not confirmed in the provided Clay County data, so call 218-299-5163 before relying on any payment method not listed here.
Minnesota release conditions may include no-contact orders, OFP or DANCO restrictions, direct or indirect contact bans, firearm restrictions, alcohol or controlled-substance restrictions, DWI-related conditions, electronic monitoring, pretrial evaluation, and court appearance requirements. The exact release conditions are controlled by the court order and hearing record.
Sending Money to an Inmate
Clay County Correctional Facility uses Turnkey Services for inmate funds. Deposits may be made through Inmate Canteen online or through the Turnkey kiosk in the public lobby. Clay County states that deposited money is first applied to fees owed by the inmate, and remaining funds may be used for commissary or phone time.
For lobby kiosk deposits, Clay County confirms a Turnkey fee of $2.00 for cash transactions and 10% for credit card transactions. The county data does not confirm online posting times or online Inmate Canteen transaction fees, so call 218-299-5163 to confirm current deposit timing before sending money for an urgent need.
Clay County also confirms certain inmate-related fees for serving inmates. A $20.00 booking fee applies to inmates reporting to serve, a $20.00 daily Huber fee applies to work release inmates, and a $15.00 drug screen fee applies to Program Release. These fees may affect how much of a deposit remains available for commissary or phone time.
Inmate Communication
Clay County Correctional Facility uses Reliance for inmate phone, texting, and visitation services. Inmates receive an initial free phone call at booking, and later non-professional calls are paid calls. General inmate calling hours are listed as 7:30 a.m. to 10:15 p.m.
Inmates cannot receive incoming phone calls. Clay County provides a free inmate voice message system at 218-303-1674, and inmates can check those messages daily. Call 218-299-5163 if you need current instructions for Reliance account setup, texting access, or call funding.
Mail must be sent through the U.S. mail system. Use this format: Inmate's Full Name, C/O Clay County Correctional Facility, 800 9th St. N., Moorhead, MN 56560.
Clay County states that incoming and outgoing mail are searched, that a return address is required, that money orders may be mailed, that checks are not accepted, and that the county is not responsible for cash sent through the mail. Phone calls, mail, texts, and video visitation may be recorded or monitored, except for protected legal communication.
Visitation at Clay County Jail
Clay County Correctional Facility uses Reliance Telephone's Inmate Video Visitation Service for public visits. Public visits are conducted by Reliance Video Kiosk, and visitors must schedule the visit through Reliance before coming to the public lobby for check-in.
| Visitation Item | Confirmed Clay County Rule |
|---|---|
| Visit format | Public video visitation through Reliance Video Kiosk |
| Scheduling | Appointment required through Reliance |
| Advance scheduling | Must be entered by 10:00 p.m. the previous night and at least 20 hours before the visit |
| Visit length | Approximately 20 minutes |
| Standard visit allowance | Two visits per week for a regular inmate |
| Worker/trustee allowance | Three visits per week for inmate workers and trustees |
| Adult ID | Valid photo ID required for visitors age 18 and older |
| Visitor limit | Two adults, or one adult with one supervised child |
| Child visitor rule | The adult accompanying a child must be the child's legal guardian |
| Same-day limit | One visitor may visit only one inmate per day |
Visitor rules include valid photo ID, approval before the visit, and compliance with lobby check-in instructions. Tank tops and cut-offs are not allowed, shorts must cover to mid-thigh, shirts must cover to the neck and have sleeves extending past the shoulder, clothing must be loose-fitting, and shoes are required. A visit may be denied if clothing or conduct does not meet facility rules.
Professional visits by attorneys, clergy, social services, probation, and other authorized professionals are handled separately from public visits. Clay County states that professional visitors may visit except during scheduled lockdowns, meal service, and facility emergencies. Program Staff may be contacted at 218-299-5170 for professional visit coordination.
Clay County Court Information
Clay County criminal cases are heard in Clay County District Court, which is part of Minnesota's Seventh Judicial District. The court handles arraignments, first appearances, bail hearings, pretrial hearings, trials, sentencing, probation matters, warrants, and other criminal case proceedings.
Clay County District Court publishes a weekly public court calendar. The court states that the calendar is posted each business day at 7:00 a.m. and updated hourly during the day, while printed lobby and corridor calendars may contain the most current daily information.
Minnesota court hearings may be held in person, by telephone, by Zoom, or by ITV when the court authorizes that format. The hearing notice is the controlling document for the date, time, and appearance method. Adult criminal mandatory appearances generally default to in person under Minnesota Judicial Branch policy, but first appearances, arraignments, bail hearings, Rule 8 initial appearances, and initial probation violation hearings may be handled remotely when allowed by the court.
Minnesota Court Records Online is the state court records portal for case search, document search, hearing search, judgment search, and registers of actions. MCRO is separate from the Clay County jail roster because the roster shows custody and booking information, while court records show case activity and hearing status.
- Court
- Clay County District Court
- Address
- 807 N. 11th Street, Moorhead, MN 56560
- Phone
- 218-227-7040
- Court Administrator
- Renelle Fenno
- Judicial District
- Seventh Judicial District