Check Michigan Arrests & Criminal Records: Free Search (All MI Counties)

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Free Michigan Arrest Records & Criminal Records Search

Access Michigan Records: background checks, warrants, probation and parole, court records, and all criminal and arrest records.

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Check Michigan criminal records in all MI counties now or use the free guide below to search various free public record repositories provided by government agencies across the state.

While the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) makes records such as Michigan arrest records publicly available, searchers must first understand who is in charge of these records before learning how to navigate and obtain information on themselves or someone else.

Records Page serves to streamline this process by providing free resources to assist citizens in accessing public criminal records with ease.

The guide is specific to Michigan and shows readers how to:

• Find recent arrests, mugshots, and the reason for being detained
• Make or post bail
• Locate and obtain criminal records
• See if someone has a warrant, is on probation or parole
• Get a background check done
• Search offender registries
• Check if someone is in state or federal prison
• Relevant laws surrounding criminal and arrest records in MI

Are All Criminal Records & Arrest Records in Michigan Considered Public Information?

Under Michigan’s Freedom Of Information Act (MCL 15.231), the majority of Michigan criminal records are accessible upon request by anyone. This means that someone wishing to take a deep dive into a person’s criminal history in Michigan can find out if the person was arrested, charged with a crime and convicted of any criminal offense.

The same applies to arrest records in Michigan which are also considered public records.

There are some records, however, that are not considered public record in Michigan and the agency that generates the record is not required to share the information. Exclusions to the FOIA law regarding criminal or arrest records are:

• Records that constitute an invasion of privacy (such as victim or witness names, phone numbers or addresses),
• Investigative reports that can interfere with the fair prosecution of the case, the investigation process, or disclose the identity of confidential informants,
• Records that outline law enforcement techniques or tools or endanger the safety of police officers or sheriff’s deputies,
• Juvenile court records,
• Medical or mental health information that may appear in a police report or other record.¹

Federal agencies that operate within Michigan are also subject to the federal Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) laws and carry the same types of exclusions. FOIA requests must be in writing, but there are some federal criminal records, such as the name of a person in federal prison, that can be accessed by the public.³

Finally, any records disclosed by a third-party search site or vendor must comply with the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and the record must not be used in a discriminatory manner which is governed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).

What Appears on Michigan Arrest Records vs Criminal Records?

When looking at someone’s background, it is necessary to understand the difference between criminal records and arrest records or an arrest report. Arrest records in Michigan include the name of the subject, charges against them, date and time they were taken into custody, the law enforcement agency that arrested them, and where they are being housed.

It is only a partial record, and does not include the disposition in the matter, but is how to find out someone’s charges in jail.⁴

Michigan criminal records, on the other hand, include the arrest record along with the final disposition of the case. A criminal record will show if the charges were reduced, dropped, dismissed or if the person was found guilty of the charges or acquitted.

It will also show all sentencing data for the charge, including any violations of probation. A criminal record also shows information on all violations a person has been accused of committing, whereas an arrest record may just show information for one incident.⁴

This is why it is important to know how to check if someone has a criminal record in Michigan, and how an arrest record is incorporated in the overall criminal history.

Ways To Check for Recent Arrests & the Reason Someone Is Detained in Michigan: Free Search Methods

There are a number of reasons someone might want to find recent arrests in Michigan including checking the background of a potential love interest, seeing who is in jail in their area, trying to locate a friend or family member, or just simple curiosity. Arrest records are typically not used as the primary source of criminal history for decisions such as housing or employment.

To find out who’s in jail for free, searchers can check the county sheriff’s department website.

Michigan County Arrest Records Search, Mugshots and Inmate Lookup Through County Sherriff’s Offices

Michigan county sheriff’s offices maintain the jail in that county, and sometimes partners with neighboring counties to house inmates. Searching the county sheriff’s website is one way of how to find recent arrests, but not every agency publishes an online inmate roster.

For convenience, a table has been added below that lists all the county sheriff’s offices in Michigan, along with those that provide a mugshot database or mugshots, and indicates which agencies do not have an online link or use VINELink for its inmate updates. A phone number for each sheriff’s office is also included in the table:

Michigan County Jail Inmate Tool	Phone Number	Shows Mugshots?
Alcona County Sheriff’s Office	989-724-6271	X
Alger County Sheriff’s Office*	906-387-4444	X
Allegan County Sheriff’s Office	269-673-0500	✓
Alpena County Sheriff’s Office	989-354-9830	✓
Antrim County Sheriff’s Office*	231-533-8627	X
Arenac County Sheriff’s Office*	989-846-3002	X
Baraga County Sheriff’s Office*	906-524-6100	X
Barry County Sheriff’s Office**	269-948-4804	X
Bay County Sheriff’s Office**	989-895-4050	X
Benzie County Sheriff’s Office*	231-882-0052	✓
Berrien County Sheriff’s Office	269-983-7141	X
Branch County Sheriff’s Office*	517-278-2325	X
Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office*	269-969-6352	X
Cass County Sheriff’s Office*	269-445-1209	X
Charlevoix County Sheriff’s Office**	231-547-4461	X
Cheboygan County Sheriff’s Office*	231-627-3155	X
Chippewa County Sheriff’s Office*	906-635-7620	✓
Clare County Sheriff’s Office+	989-539-1336	X
Clinton County Sheriff’s Office*	866-932-6506	X
Crawford County Sheriff’s Office*	989-348-4822	X
Delta County Sheriff’s Office	906-789-5100	✓
Dickinson County Sheriff’s Office*	906-774-6270	X
Eaton County Sheriff’s Office*	517-543-3512	X
Emmet County Sheriff’s Office*	231-347-2032	X
Genesee County Sheriff’s Office*	810-257-3426	X
Gladwin County Sheriff’s Office*	989-426-7121	X
Gogebic County Sheriff’s Office*	906-667-0203	X
Grand Traverse County Sheriff’s Office	231-922-4532	✓
Gratiot County Sheriff’s Office	989-875-5211	✓
Hillsdale County Sheriff’s Office	517-437-7317	✓
Houghton County Sheriff’s Office*	906-482-1742	X
Huron County Sheriff’s Office*	989-269-6424	X
Ingham County Sheriff’s Office*	517-676-2431	X
Ionia County Sheriff’s Office*	616-527-5390	X
Iosco County Sheriff’s Office*	989-362-6164	X
Iron County Sheriff’s Office*	906-875-0651	X
Isabella County Sheriff’s Office	989-772-5915	✓
Jackson County Sheriff’s Office*	517-768-4833	X
Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Office	269-488-8911	X
Kalkaska County Sheriff’s Office*	231-258-8686	X
Kent County Sheriff’s Office	616-632-6300	✓
Keweenaw County Sheriff’s Office*	906-337-0528	X
Lake County Sheriff’s Office*	231-745-2711	X
Lapeer County Sheriff’s Office*	810-664-1801	X
Leelanau County Sheriff’s Office*	231-256-8661	X
Lenawee County Sheriff’s Office*	517-263-0524	X
Livingston County Sheriff’s Office*	517-546-2445	X
Luce County Sheriff’s Office*	906-293-8431	X
Mackinac County Sheriff’s Office**	906-643-7325	X
Macomb County Sheriff’s Office	586-469-5151	✓
Manistee County Sheriff’s Office*	231-723-8435	X
Marquette County Sheriff’s Office*	906-225-8477	X
Mason County Sheriff’s Office	586-469-5151	✓
Mecosta County Sheriff’s Office*	231-592-0150	X
Menominee County Sheriff’s Office*	906-863-4668	X
Midland County Sheriff’s Office	989-839-6612	✓
Missaukee County Sheriff’s Office*	231-839-4338	X
Monroe County Sheriff’s Office*	734-240-7401	X
Montcalm County Sheriff’s Office**	989-831-7592	X
Montmorency County Sheriff’s Office++	989-785-4238	X
Muskegon County Sheriff’s Office	231-724-6351	X
Newaygo County Sheriff’s Office**	231-689-7303	X
Oakland County Sheriff’s Office	248-858-1800	✓
Oceana County Sheriff’s Office**	231-873-3967	X
Ogemaw County Sheriff’s Office*	989-345-3111	X
Ontonagon County Sheriff’s Office*	906-884-4901	X
Osceola County Sheriff’s Office*	231-832-2288	X
Oscoda County Sheriff’s Office*	989-826-3214	X
Otsego County Sheriff’s Office	989-731-7289	X
Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office*	616-738-4650	X
Presque Isle County Sheriff’s Office*	989-734-2156	X
Roscommon County Sheriff’s Office*	989-275-9070	X
Saginaw County Sheriff’s Office	859-547-0404	X
St Clair County Sheriff’s Office	810-985-8115	✓
St Joseph County Sheriff’s Office*	269-467-9045	X
Sanilac County Sheriff’s Office*	810-648-8339	X
Schoolcraft County Sheriff’s Office*	906-341-2122	X
Shiawassee County Sheriff’s Office*	989-743-3411	X
Tuscola County Sheriff’s Office*	989-673-8161	X
Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office	269-657-2171	X
Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office*	734-585-7247	X
Wayne County Sheriff’s Office	313-224-0797	X
Wexford County Sheriff’s Office*	231-779-9217	X

*No online inmate search tool available
**Agency utilizes VINELink for inmate search tool
+No online search tool
++Sheriff’s Department Partners with Neighboring Agency to house inmates

For how to find out if someone is in jail in a Michigan county, complete the following steps:

1. Open a search engine such as Google or Bing on the computer.
2. Type “Michigan [county sheriff’s office] current arrests or inmate roster.” For example, when searching for inmates in Grand Traverse, searchers would type “Michigan Grand Traverse Sheriff’s Office inmate search.”
3. Review the search results to find the official agency website. Sheriff’s office web addresses may end in .gov, but they can also end in .com, .org, .net, or .us. In the example above, searchers would find the Grand Traverse Sheriff’s Office link at the top of the search results.
4. Click the link and see if there is an embedded link for viewing the department’s jail roster and click that link. If there is no link, call the non-emergency number for how to find out if someone was arrested and brought to that facility for housing. For the above example, the inmate list would be found under the Divisions tab, Corrections Division.

How To See If Someone Is in a Michigan City Jail (Municipal Jail)

If someone wants to know if a person was arrested and is being held by city police, they can perform a search to see if there is a city jail, or if the local police department utilizes the county jail for housing arrestees. For the most part, cities do not maintain their own holding facilities and opt to use the county lockup, but there are some cities that do have their own jail.

Individuals can also call the local police department for how to find out what someone was arrested for within the city limits, and where the person was taken after an arrest was made.

To search for city jails in Michigan, do the following steps:

1. Open a search engine such as Google or another search engine of choice.
2. Type “Michigan [city name] arrest report or arrests.” As an example, type “Michigan Detroit Police Department arrests” to see if the agency has a link to search bookings.
3. Look over the top search results to find the official city department website and click that link.
4. Check the municipal police department page for a link titled inmate list or daily arrests. If no links are available, call the non-emergency number to find out where a recent arrestee is being housed.
   For the example above, the searcher will be directed to Detroit PD records which outlines how to request records, but the department does not publish arrest lists.

It is always best to start with the county sheriff’s office instead of the local police department to locate a jail inmate since city police rely on the county to house arrestees. When these options fail, a person can hire a bail bondsman to help locate a friend or family member who has been arrested, or use the services of an attorney.

Getting Ahold of Inmates in Jail & Posting Bail Michigan Jails

The main reason people want to find out who is in jail in their area is to locate friends and family for the purpose of posting bail, talking to the individual to help with retaining an attorney, or sending the person money or items in jail.

Using the information and table above individuals can go to the county sheriff’s office website and click on the link labeled inmate information or jail information to find out the telephone and visitation policy for the agency, or find out what the person’s bail is when posted as part of the online arrest record.

Many sheriff’s offices will also publish a list of approved bail bondsmen to get someone bailed out of jail before trial. Bail bondsmen can help locate a person, and for a non-refundable fee between 10% and 25% of the total bond, get the individual released from prison so they can work, meet with attorneys to plan their defense, or be reunited with family.

How To Check Michigan Criminal Records: Ways To Search Criminal Records in MI

Some people may ask, how do I know if I have been charged with a crime? The quickest way is to run a statewide criminal records check to determine if there are pending charges showing up on a person’s background.

Michigan criminal records start with an arrest or charge, but the courts are responsible for actually building the case record and submitting it to the Michigan state police records repository for dissemination or sending out. The Michigan court system maintains an online directory of all the courthouses in the state, along with information about court officials, such as the county clerk.

The county clerk is responsible for building and maintaining all the trial court case files for anyone who is accused of, tried for and either acquitted or convicted of a criminal offense.⁸

Run a Criminal Record Search Using the Clerk of Court of Michigan

The courthouse is the place where criminal records are built and maintained in Michigan. The Michigan Courts Trial Court Division is home to the county clerks that maintain records of all criminal cases in that county.

Each county clerk provides a public terminal (or terminals) to anyone who wishes to do a name-based search for a person’s criminal history in that county, so it is important to know how the courthouse or clerk’s office can be reached.

The Michigan court system does allow users to pull up limited information about cases from the website; however, this information does not have as much details as a full criminal history will contain, and more details can be obtained at the courthouse where the case was tried than through the cases, opinions and orders link on the website.

For the reader’s convenience, we have developed a table that lists the mailing address and phone number for each Michigan county clerk below:

Michigan County Clerk Locations	Address	Phone Number
Alcona County Clerk of Court	POB 750 Mount Pleasant, Michigan 48804	989-724-9410
Alger County Clerk of Court	POB 100 Gaylord, Michigan 49734	906-387-2076
Allegan County Clerk of Court	POB 30048 Lansing, Michigan 48909	269-376-0450
Alpena County Clerk of Court	POB 100 Gaylord, Michigan 49734	989-354-9520
Antrim County Clerk of Court	POB 100 Gaylord, Michigan 49734	231-533-6353
Arenac County Clerk of Court	POB 750 Mount Pleasant, Michigan 48804	989-846-6188
Baraga County Clerk of Court	POB 100 Gaylord, Michigan 49734	906-524-6183
Barry County Clerk of Court	POB 30048 Lansing, Michigan 48909	269-945-1285
Bay County Clerk of Court	POB 750 Mount Pleasant, Michigan 48804	989-895-4130
Benzie County Clerk of Court	POB 750 Mount Pleasant, Michigan 48804	231-882-9671
Berrien County Clerk of Court	POB 30048 Lansing, Michigan 48909	269-983-7111
Branch County Clerk of Court	POB 30048 Lansing, Michigan 48909	517-279-4300
Calhoun County Clerk of Court	POB 30048 Lansing, Michigan 48909	269-781-0997
Cass County Clerk of Court	POB 30048 Lansing, Michigan 48909	269-445-4412
Charlevoix County Clerk of Court	POB 100 Gaylord, Michigan 49734	231-547-7243
Cheboygan County Clerk of Court	POB 100 Gaylord, Michigan 49734	231-627-8866
Chippewa County Clerk of Court	POB 100 Gaylord, Michigan 49734	906-635-6300
Clare County Clerk of Court	POB 750 Mount Pleasant, Michigan 48804	989-426-9237
Clinton County Clerk of Court	POB 30048 Lansing, Michigan 48909	989-224-5140
Crawford County Clerk of Court	POB 100 Gaylord, Michigan 49734	989-344-3200
Delta County Clerk of Court	POB 100 Gaylord, Michigan 49734	906-789-5105
Dickinson County Clerk of Court	POB 100 Gaylord, Michigan 49734	906-774-2266
Eaton County Clerk of Court	POB 30048 Lansing, Michigan 48909	517-543-7500
Emmet County Clerk of Court	POB 100 Gaylord, Michigan 49734	231-348-1748
Genesee County Clerk of Court	POB 30048 Lansing, Michigan 48909	810-257-3020
Gladwin County Clerk of Court	POB 750 Mount Pleasant, Michigan 48804	989-426-7351
Gogebic County Clerk of Court	POB 100 Gaylord, Michigan 49734	906-663-4211
Grand Traverse County Clerk of Court	POB 100 Gaylord, Michigan 49734	231-922-4760
Gratiot County Clerk of Court	POB 30048 Lansing, Michigan 48909	989-875-5215
Hillsdale County Clerk of Court	POB 30048 Lansing, Michigan 48909	517-437-3391
Houghton County Clerk of Court	POB 100 Gaylord, Michigan 49734	906-482-5420
Huron County Clerk of Court	POB 750 Mount Pleasant, Michigan 48804	989-269-7112
Ingham County Clerk of Court	POB 30048 Lansing, Michigan 48909	517-483-6500
Ionia County Clerk of Court	POB 750 Mount Pleasant, Michigan 48804	616-527-5322
Iosco County Clerk of Court	POB 750 Mount Pleasant, Michigan 48804	989-362-3485
Iron County Clerk of Court	POB 100 Gaylord, Michigan 49734	906-875-6132
Isabella County Clerk of Court	POB 750 Mount Pleasant, Michigan 48804	989-772-0911
Jackson County Clerk of Court	POB 30048 Lansing, Michigan 48909	517-788-4268
Kalamazoo County Clerk of Court	POB 30048 Lansing, Michigan 48909	269-384-8111
Kalkaska County Clerk of Court	POB 100 Gaylord, Michigan 49734	231-258-3300
Kent County Clerk of Court	POB 30048 Lansing, Michigan 48909	616-632-5220
Keweenaw County Clerk of Court	POB 100 Gaylord, Michigan 49734	906-337-2229
Lake County Clerk of Court	POB 750 Mount Pleasant, Michigan 48804	231-745-2725
Lapeer County Clerk of Court	POB 2984 Detroit, Michigan 48202	810-667-0320
Leelanau County Clerk of Court	POB 100 Gaylord, Michigan 49734	231-256-9824
Lenawee County Clerk of Court	POB 30048 Lansing, Michigan 48909	517-264-4597
Livingston County Clerk of Court	POB 30048 Lansing, Michigan 48909	517-546-0500
Luce County Clerk of Court	POB 100 Gaylord, Michigan 49734	906-293-5521
Mackinac County Clerk of Court	POB 100 Gaylord, Michigan 49734	906-643-7300
Macomb County Clerk of Court	POB 2984 Detroit, Michigan 48202	586-469-5125
Manistee County Clerk of Court	POB 750 Mount Pleasant, Michigan 48804	231-723-3330
Marquette County Clerk of Court	POB 100 Gaylord, Michigan 49734	906-225-8330
Mason County Clerk of Court	POB 750 Mount Pleasant, Michigan 48804	231-843-8202
Mecosta County Clerk of Court	POB 750 Mount Pleasant, Michigan 48804	231-592-0783
Menominee County Clerk of Court	POB 100 Gaylord, Michigan 49734	906-868-9968
Midland County Clerk of Court	POB 750 Mount Pleasant, Michigan 48804	989-832-6657
Missaukee County Clerk of Court	POB 100 Gaylord, Michigan 49734	231-839-4967
Monroe County Clerk of Court	POB 30048 Lansing, Michigan 48909	734-240-7020
Montcalm County Clerk of Court	POB 750 Mount Pleasant, Michigan 48804	989-831-7339
Montmorency County Clerk of Court	POB 100 Gaylord, Michigan 49734	989-785-8022
Muskegon County Clerk of Court	POB 30048 Lansing, Michigan 48909	231-724-6221
Newaygo County Clerk of Court	POB 750 Mount Pleasant, Michigan 48804	231-689-7269
Oakland County Clerk of Court	POB 2984 Detroit, Michigan 48202	248-858-0581
Oceana County Clerk of Court	POB 750 Mount Pleasant, Michigan 48804	269-873-4835
Ogemaw County Clerk of Court	POB 750 Mount Pleasant, Michigan 48804	989-345-0215
Ontonagon County Clerk of Court	POB 100 Gaylord, Michigan 49734	906-884-4255
Osceola County Clerk of Court	POB 750 Mount Pleasant, Michigan 48804	269-832-6196
Oscoda County Clerk of Court	POB 750 Mount Pleasant, Michigan 48804	989-826-1100
Otsego County Clerk of Court	POB 100 Gaylord, Michigan 49734	989-732-6484
Ottawa County Clerk of Court	POB 30048 Lansing, Michigan 48909	616-738-4898
Presque Isle County Clerk of Court	POB 100 Gaylord, Michigan 49734	989-734-3288
Roscommon County Clerk of Court	POB 750 Mount Pleasant, Michigan 48804	989-275-5923
Saginaw County Clerk of Court	POB 750 Mount Pleasant, Michigan 48804	989-790-5267
St Clair County Clerk of Court	POB 2984 Detroit, Michigan 48202	810-985-2200
St Joseph County Clerk of Court	POB 30048 Lansing, Michigan 48909	269-467-5500
Sanilac County Clerk of Court	POB 750 Mount Pleasant, Michigan 48804	810-648-2120
Schoolcraft County Clerk of Court	POB 100 Gaylord, Michigan 49734	906-341-3618
Shiawassee County Clerk of Court	POB 30048 Lansing, Michigan 48909	989-743-2239
Tuscola County Clerk of Court	POB 750 Mount Pleasant Michigan 48804	989-672-3780
Van Buren County Clerk of Court	POB 30048 Lansing, Michigan 48909	269-657-8253
Washtenaw County Clerk of Court	POB 30048 Lansing, Michigan 48909	734-222-6700
Wayne County Clerk of Court	POB 2984 Detroit, Michigan 48202	313-224-5510
Wexford County Clerk of Court	POB 100 Gaylord, Michigan 49734	231-779-9490

To locate a Michigan county clerk’s office, do the following:

1. Open the Michigan Courts website.
2. From the trial court directory, searchers can find the phone number for the county clerk by clicking the name of the county in the menu to the right of the page.
3. After opening the menu by county name, click the link titled county clerk to get the name and phone number.

The courthouse search only provides records for that particular county, and the online statewide search does not provide full information on cases from arrest to disposition; therefore, it is necessary to go through another state agency to obtain an official Michigan statewide criminal record.

Conduct a Statewide Criminal Record Search in Michigan Through Michigan State Police (MSP)

Official statewide criminal records must be obtained through the Michigan State Police and can be accessed online by doing the following search:

1. Go to the Michigan State Police website.
2. Select the services tab in the menu at the top of the screen.
3. Click the criminal history link on the page.
4. Open the ICHAT link to start a name-based search.
5. Create an account to conduct name-based searches which include arrest records statewide.

This search will generate information on arrest records in Michigan as part of the overall criminal history; however, this is not a free search. ICHAT is the official public records repository for the state, but not every agency will accept ICHAT reports for employment or licensure, so the subject must check with the agency to make sure they are getting the correct background report.

This may include an FBI rap sheet which is a nationwide, fingerprint-based search.¹¹

How To Get an Official Criminal History Report in MI

Using the steps above to access the ICHAT system, individuals can print a copy of the name-based criminal history once they are notified it is available in the system. ICHAT searches cost $10 per search, but government agencies or nonprofit organizations can get a waiver of the fee.

Fingerprint-based Michigan criminal records reports must be done using a LiveScan location in the state. The Michigan State Police provides a list of public and government maintained LiveScan vendors where a person can be fingerprinted and have their criminal history report completed.

Michigan criminal records are divided into three distinct parts as outlined below:

• Arrest: for arrest records in Michigan, the criminal history report will show date of arrest, law enforcement agency involved, and the most serious charge filed against the subject.
• Charge: this section shows the charges filed by the prosecution or returned as true bills of indictment by the grand jury.
• Judicial: this is the disposition segment of the record which shows what happened to the case in court.¹³

The judicial section of a criminal history can show if a person has been convicted of a crime in the state and the sentence imposed such as probation or incarceration.

How To See If Someone Is on Probation or Parole in MI

One of the things included in Michigan criminal records is whether a person is on probation, or if the person did time in prison but was released early on parole. The Michigan Department of Corrections tracks both probationers and maintains the parolee database.

To illustrate just how many people are on probation and parole, the following image shows the combined total of probationers and parolees in Michigan along with the data about probationers. Furthermore, these totals are also compared to the number of individuals on community supervision (including probation and parole) in other states across the United States.

To search for individuals on community supervision in Michigan, do the following:

1. The Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) maintains records on probation and parole available to the public on its website.
2. Click offender search in the menu at the top of the page.
3. Read the information about the Offender Tracking Information System (OTIS) program maintained by the MDOC and click the link to start offender search.
4. Read the disclaimer and click on the agree button to get to the search form.
5. Enter the subject’s name and click the search button.
6. Review the list of records that appear. In the status column will be if the person is in prison, on probation, has absconded (escaped supervision) or is on parole.

When conducting a probation search or looking for someone who is released early on parole, the system includes a mugshot of the individual in most cases to help verify that the record matches the subject of the criminal background check. When an image is not available, check the physical description of the offender to make sure it is the same as the subject of the search.¹⁵

These records will remain public unless the offender successfully seals or expunges the record.

Step-By-Step Instructions To Seal or Expunge a Criminal Record in Michigan

One of the tools available to offenders in Michigan to give them a better chance at getting a job or obtaining suitable housing is expungement of criminal records which is handled through the Michigan Attorney General’s Office. From start to finish, the expungement process can take up to eight months, but when the record is expunged, it can no longer be used against the person and is not accessible by the public.

The following steps must be completed to expunge criminal records in Michigan:

1. Open the Michigan Department of Attorney General website.
2. Click the initiatives tab at the top of the screen.
3. Select expungement assistance, then go to the expungement assistance link to start the process.
4. Obtain the application from the page that opens. There are two separate forms to choose from: setting aside marijuana convictions application and general setting aside convictions application.
5. Download the checklist for the application that is being completed to make sure all the supporting documentation is provided.
6. Get a certified copy of the conviction that is being expunged.
7. Fill out the application.
8. Attached the certified copy of the criminal record to the application.
9. File the application at the court where the case was tried. The form can be mailed in or delivered in person.
10. Arrange service of the application to the prosecution’s office in the county where the case was tried for marijuana offenses and the Michigan Attorney General for general misdemeanor and felony convictions.
11. The prosecutor has 60 days to file a response in marijuana cases. If no response is filed after 60 days the matter is expunged.
    If an objection to expungement is filed, a hearing is scheduled and the applicant is notified of the hearing date. In other misdemeanor or felony cases, a hearing is scheduled automatically.
12. Appear in court to argue the matter before a judge.¹⁷

If expungement is granted, the defendant is provided a copy of the expungement order and should follow up with the clerk of court to make sure the expungement order has been properly delivered to the appropriate agencies or parties ordering destruction of the record. For example, make sure the expungement order is forwarded to the proper law enforcement agencies so arrest records in Michigan that have been expunged are destroyed.

Locate Prisoners by Accessing Federal Prison & State Prisons Inmate Locators (BOP & DOC Search)

One of the sentencing options available to a judge in Michigan is incarceration, and this is usually the case when a person is convicted of a violent offense or is a habitual (repeat) offender with a long criminal history. Michigan is home to 31 state prisons, and the process to search for an inmate in the MDOC process is the same as the steps listed above when searching for a probationer or parolee in the MDOC system.

In other words, using the MDOC offender search link, the only information needed to find out if someone is in prison is their first and last name.

Michigan is also home to two federal prisons which houses inmates convicted of offenses on the federal level and sentenced to incarceration. To search for federal inmates in Michigan, do these steps:

1. Open the Federal Bureau of Prison’s search form.
2. Enter the subject’s first and last name and any other details on the form that are available. The more information provided, the more narrow the search which makes the results more accurate.
3. Click the search button to reveal a list of hits on the entered parameters.
4. Scroll through the list to match the results with the subject. If the person is still in federal custody, the name of the facility will appear beside their name. If they have been released, a release date will be noted.

Some search the inmate records for use in making important decisions, others just out of curiosity, but this is not the only search a person may conduct just to see what turns up; the person may also want to know who is wanted by the police in their area.

How To Run a Warrant Search in Michigan & See If Someone Is Wanted

Whether it is curiosity, or you suspect someone may have active warrants that carries a reward, there are a number of reasons someone would want to conduct a warrant search. Someone may also be asking how they can access a warrant list to learn if there is a warrant out for their arrest.

The easiest way to do a warrant search is to check with the local law enforcement agency or agencies in the area, both the sheriff’s office and municipal police. Using the table and steps listed earlier in the article for finding an inmate in jail, searchers can check the agency page to see if there are warrants published on the site.

For example, to find out who has active warrants in Oakland County, Michigan, someone would do the following:

1. Open their preferred search engine.
2. Type “Michigan Oakland County warrants.”
3. Open the official Oakland County Sheriff’s Office website and click the link labeled OCSO most wanted to see who has active warrants in that county.²⁰

While a warrant is not the same as a conviction, having an arrest warrant against a person can impact their ability to seek or start employment. In addition, taking care of the warrant can cause the person to miss work costing them their job.

If someone discovers they have an active warrant for their arrest, they should reach out to local law enforcement to resolve it as quickly as possible.

A Brief Overview of Michigan Background Checks

In addition to knowing where to get Michigan criminal records, it’s equally important to know who provides these records, or what agencies in the state require a background check for employment, licensure or other official reason. In most cases, the Michigan State Police will facilitate the background check but each agency has below has their own submission process.

The table below provides a brief overview of agencies that require background checks in Michigan:

Michigan Agency That Requires a Background	Screening Reasons
Michigan Community and Health Systems (Work Force background Check)	Acupuncturist Adult care Athletic trainer Audiologists Behavioral analyst Child care Chiropractor Counselor Dentist Genetic counselor Family therapists (including marriage therapist) Foster care Massage therapists Medical professionals Midwives Nurses Nursing assistance Occupational therapists Optometrists Osteopathic healer Pharmacist Physical therapist Physician assistant Podiatrists Psychologists Respiratory care-provider Sanitation worker Social worker Speech/Language pathologists Veterinarian
Michigan Licensing and Regulatory Affairs: Licensing	Accountant Appraiser Architect Barber Collection agency Cosmetologist Engineers Hearing Aid dealers Landscapers Real estate agents Surveyors
Michigan Department of Education	School administrators and teachers Volunteers Support staff Bus drivers Housekeeping staff
Michigan Children and Families	Social workers/LCSWs Foster care families Adult day care facility workers Volunteers Adoptive parents

Official background checks, such as those for employment, housing or licensing, must comply with Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) guidelines on the disclosure of criminal non-convictions and credit history when screening a candidate.

It’s also important to note, personal background checks do not have to comply with FCRA  guidance since they are for personal use only. For example, someone wants to know if a love interest has a criminal record, or they are curious about their own record because they have applied for a new job that will require a background check.

Personal background checks must also not be used for stalking or harassing someone, and cannot be used for professional decision making processes..

Searches by the agency are designed to locate any disqualifying offenses, such as violent crimes listed on a felony registry or database. These disqualifiers can also be misdemeanor charges, such as sex offenses, showing the person would be a danger to vulnerable populations.

Use the Michigan Sex Offender Registry To Check for Sexual Predators

One of the biggest disqualifiers when someone applies for a job is if they are a convicted sex offender, and Michigan, like all states, maintains a sex offender registry where convicted offenders must list where they live for as long as they have been court ordered to check in. Individuals purchasing or renting a new home also like to check the state registry to see if any sex offenders live close to the place they are moving to.

To search the Michigan state sex offender registry, do the following:

1. Navigate to the Michigan sex offender registry maintained by the Michigan State Police.
2. Select the button labeled search the Michigan sex offender registry.
3. Read the disclaimer then click the button labeled click here to search for offenders in your area.
4. Key in the person’s name and click the search button to see a list of registered offenders that match that name.
5. The search results will include a mugshot which helps match the record to the search subject.

While there is a national sex offender registry, the Dru Sjodin National Sex Offender Registry, it is best to start with the state site, since state sites are where the national registry draws its data from.²¹

Use of the data from the state registry, and all other criminal records are subject to state and federal laws that outline what a person can access and how they can use the data.

A Review of Michigan Laws Regarding Criminal Records & Arrest Records

A basic understanding of the background check laws in Michigan can help make sure the criminal and arrest records are used in compliance with statutes. First, under the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act (MCL 37.2205a), employers are prohibited from inquiring about any arrests or charges that did not result in a conviction.

This is why employers should never use arrest records alone as a basis of making a hiring decision.

MCL 780.621 made it easier for convicted persons to set aside or expunge certain criminal records allowing for up to three felonies and unlimited numbers of misdemeanors to be expunged from the record. This law helps level the playing field for those with a criminal record when it comes to housing applications or job seeking activities.

Michigan’s Clean Slate Act, House Bill 4980, also makes expunging certain felonies and misdemeanors automatic when a person has met certain criteria such as being free of felony convictions for 10 years or misdemeanor convictions for seven. Certain crimes are automatically excluded from this provision as well including human trafficking and violent felonies.

Michigan’s Senate Bill 353, however, made it unlawful for city or county governments to pass ban the box legislations on the local level for private businesses; however, this is offset by the previously mentioned bill prohibiting asking about non convictions.

Not only do employers have to follow state statutes regarding background checks, federal laws provide protections to individuals when subjected to a background check. The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) limits what can appear on a background check and sets a seven year lookback period for credit history (10 for bankruptcies) and additional limitations on searching non-convictions older than seven years.

It also requires people finder websites that show compliance with FCRA guidelines.

Federal anti-discrimination laws are enforced by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) which also provides guidelines to employers on the use of arrest or criminal records when making decisions.

In summary, searching arrest records in Michigan through county sheriff’s offices and municipal police departments allows individual’s to see if someone was detained and what for. Additionally, Michigan criminal records can be viewed for free through state and local agencies such as the Michigan State Police, Department of Corrections, local and state courts, amongst others.