Clay County is a county in the State of Minnesota. As of the 2020 Census, the county was estimated to have a population of 65,318 people. The county has a land area of 1,045 square meters, and its seat is Moorhead.
Courts in Clay County
Clay County has one District Court that has jurisdiction over all civil and criminal cases. The court is organized into specialized divisions based on the case type. Some of these divisions include Civil, Criminal, Family, Juvenile, Probate, Conciliation (Small Claims), and Traffic Divisions.
The court’s Civil Division hears cases involving breach of contract, personal injury, and enforcement of private rights, while the Criminal Division handles cases involving felonies and misdemeanors.
The Juvenile Division of the court deals with cases related to juvenile delinquency, truancy, children needing protection services, termination of parental rights actions, and so on. The Small Claims Division of the District Court handles most general civil cases, including cases where the amount in dispute is less than $7,500.
Where to Find Public Court Records in Clay County
The District Court maintains records of all cases filed in the county. Except for specific exceptions, the records are open for inspection.
To access court records in the county, interested individuals can visit the court premises in person during regular business hours. Although court personnel are not available to assist in the search process, they assist by showing interested persons how to use the automated and manual records index.
Types of Public Court Records in Clay County
The following types of court records are available to the members of the public in Clay County:
- Civil Records
- Probate Records
- Family Records
- Traffic Records
Confidential Court Records in Clay County
Although court records are generally made publicly accessible in Clay County, some records are restricted. Either as a result of court orders or by provision of a statute, such records are designated as confidential and only accessible to parties to the suit. Examples of confidential court records in Clay County include:
- Medical Records
- Adoption Records
- Juvenile Delinquency Records
- Insurance Records
Juvenile Delinquency in Clay, MN
Unfortunately, in many areas of the Clay County, juvenile delinquency issues are on the rise. There are many reasons for the rise in youth offenders. The juvenile sentence in Minnesota often depends on the severity of the crime, the number of crimes, and other family matters.
In 2017, a total of 234 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Clay County. Of that total, 76% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 179 court cases. Another 0% were dependency cases that accounted for 0 of the juvenile cases.
A lot of counties, including, Clay County, are focusing on family therapy and relationships rather than punishment for juvenile crimes. Future Clay County juvenile delinquency numbers will show whether or not this approach is working.
| Juvenile Cases | Number of cases |
|---|---|
| Delinquency | 4,675 |
| Dependency | 0 |
| Status | 1,754 |
Government of Clay County, MN
| County Seat: | Moorhead |
| Government Type: | County |
| Authority: | Dillon's Rule |
| Year Organized: | 1862 |
| Total Square Miles: | 1,053 |
| 2019 Population: | 63,569 |
| Persons/Square Mile: | 0.02 |
| County Contact: | 807 11Th St N
County Courthouse Moorhead , MN 56560-2069 http://www.co.clay.mn.us |
Clay County, MN Courts
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Clay County District Court
Address: 807 11th Street North, Moorhead, MN 56560
Phone: 218-299-5065