Michigan Theft Arrest Records: Court Case & Jail Search Guide

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Michigan record-search route · verified July 2026

Find Michigan Larceny Bookings, Criminal Cases and Custody Status

A theft-related arrest can create several separate records: a local jail booking, a district or circuit court case, a Michigan State Police criminal-history entry, and—after sentencing—a corrections record.

This guide shows which official database to use, what each result means, how to locate a recently arrested family member, check bond and court dates, request police or certified court records, and prepare for visitation, calls, commissary and release.

Open Michigan ICHAT Search MiCOURT cases
An arrest is not a conviction. Confirm names, dates of birth, court numbers and final dispositions before relying on a result.
BOOKINGCounty jail
COURTMiCOURT / clerk
ICHATState history
OTISMDOC status
MATCH
THE RECORD
Official Michigan links Court and jail workflows Bond and family steps Mobile-friendly guide

Urgent arrest search: Start with the jail or arresting agency—not OTIS. A person booked only minutes or hours ago may not appear online yet, and OTIS does not list county-jail or city-lockup prisoners.

Start here

Use the database that matches the person’s current status

Michigan does not place every arrest, charge, jail stay and conviction into one public search. Using the wrong system is the main reason people conclude that a record does not exist.

01

Recent arrest or current jail stay

Search the county sheriff’s inmate roster or MI-VINE. Call the jail if the booking is too recent to appear.

Open MI-VINE guidance
02

Pending theft court case

Search MiCOURT by court, name or case number. If the court is not included, contact the clerk shown in the Trial Court Directory.

Search MiCOURT
03

Michigan criminal history

Use ICHAT for public Michigan criminal-history information reported to the Michigan State Police.

Open ICHAT
04

Prison, parole or MDOC probation

Use OTIS after a person enters Michigan Department of Corrections jurisdiction or supervision.

Open OTIS

The practical three-search rule

For a complete picture, check the current county jail, the court case and ICHAT. Add OTIS only when the person may be in state prison, on parole or under MDOC probation supervision.

Urgent family workflow

What to do after learning someone was arrested for theft

Do not begin by sending money or calling a commercial bond company. First confirm the person, the jail, every case number, the bond type and whether another hold prevents release.

First 0–2 hours: establish where the arrest occurred Write down the person’s full legal name, date of birth, approximate arrest time, city, arresting agency and vehicle location. A city police department may make the arrest while the county sheriff operates the jail.
Next 2–6 hours: locate the booking Search the relevant county jail and MI-VINE. If no result appears, call the jail’s official number and ask whether the person is being processed, held at a city lockup, transferred, released pending charges or booked under a different spelling.
Before paying bond: obtain the full release picture Ask for every case number, charge, court, bond amount, bond type, inmate or booking number, accepted payment methods and any warrants, probation detainers, immigration holds or other agency holds.
After arraignment: confirm the court order Search the court case or call the clerk. Record the next court date, release conditions, no-contact terms, reporting requirements and appointed-attorney information.
After release: protect the court schedule Keep the release paperwork, save the court number, update the court with a valid address when required and do not ignore conditions merely because the online docket has not updated.

Information the jail may ask for

  • Full name and possible aliases
  • Date of birth or approximate age
  • Booking or inmate number, if known
  • Arresting police department
  • Date and approximate time of arrest
  • County or city where the incident occurred

Do not do these things

  • Do not pay a caller demanding gift cards, cryptocurrency or wire transfers.
  • Do not assume the first bond amount covers every case or hold.
  • Do not discuss the alleged incident on a recorded jail call.
  • Do not bring property, medicine or cash to the jail without instructions.
  • Do not rely on a screenshot as a certified legal record.
Useful call script: “I am trying to confirm whether [full name and date of birth] is in your custody. May I have the booking number, all case numbers, listed charges, court, bond type and amount, next hearing date, housing status, and whether any hold would prevent release?”
Record decoder

Understand the fields in a theft booking or court record

A record is useful only when you know whether it describes an allegation, a court event, a disposition or a sentence.

Field What it usually means What to verify
Booking or inmate number Local identifier assigned during jail intake Use it for calls, deposits, mail, visitation and release questions.
CTN Criminal Case Tracking Number used to connect criminal-justice records Do not confuse it with the court’s case number.
Case number Identifier assigned by the court A felony may have district- and circuit-court numbers.
MCL number Michigan Compiled Laws citation for the charge or conviction Open the current statute because one section may contain multiple degrees or penalties.
Charge Alleged offense filed by police or prosecutor A charge is not proof of guilt and may later be amended or dismissed.
Disposition Outcome of a charge or case Look for dismissed, acquitted, pleaded, convicted, deferred or amended.
Bond type Conditions governing pretrial release Confirm whether it is personal recognizance, unsecured, 10%, cash or surety.
Hold or detainer Another agency or case may require continued custody Paying the visible bond may not produce release.
Projected release date Estimated custody date based on current information It may change because of credits, orders, holds, parole decisions or sentence calculations.
Closed case The court considers the case procedurally complete Read the disposition; “closed” does not automatically mean dismissed.
Charge terminology

Why Michigan theft records may say larceny or retail fraud

Michigan statutes commonly use “larceny” for general property theft and “retail fraud” for specified conduct in or near a store. Search the exact charge and MCL number shown in the record.

Common record label Current statutory value band General classification Official law
Larceny under $200 Property valued below $200 Misdemeanor; prior convictions can affect treatment MCL 750.356
Larceny $200–under $1,000 At least $200 but below $1,000 Misdemeanor; enhancements may apply MCL 750.356
Larceny $1,000–under $20,000 At least $1,000 but below $20,000 Felony MCL 750.356
Larceny $20,000 or more $20,000 or higher Felony with a higher statutory maximum MCL 750.356
Retail fraud, third degree Generally below $200 Misdemeanor MCL 750.356d
Retail fraud, second degree Generally $200–under $1,000 Misdemeanor MCL 750.356d
Retail fraud, first degree Generally $1,000 or more Felony MCL 750.356c

Prior convictions and charge details matter

Value alone does not always determine the final level. Prior theft or retail-fraud convictions, aggregation of property values, the type of property, the location and other statutory factors can affect the charge. Treat the table as a search decoder—not a prediction of the outcome or sentence.

Release planning

How Michigan bond information works after a theft arrest

At arraignment, the court may order custody, release on personal recognizance or unsecured bond, or conditional release with or without money bail, including 10%, cash or surety arrangements.

Personal recognizance

The defendant promises to appear and follow release conditions without depositing a traditional cash amount. The person may still remain in custody while paperwork, identity checks or other holds are processed.

Cash or percentage bond

The court or jail will identify the amount, where it must be posted and the accepted payment method. Ask whether a percentage deposit applies and what portion may be retained under the court order and Michigan rules.

Surety bond

A licensed surety bond agent may be permitted to guarantee the full bond. Verify the court order and approved process before signing any private agreement.

Before posting money

  • Get the defendant’s booking number.
  • List every case number and charge.
  • Confirm the exact bond type and amount.
  • Ask about holds or detainers.
  • Confirm the correct payee and posting location.
  • Ask whether identification is required.
  • Request a receipt and release estimate.

After bond is posted

  • Release may take several hours after payment.
  • Keep the court’s release order and receipt.
  • Read every condition before leaving.
  • Confirm the next hearing and court address.
  • Do not contact a protected person if prohibited.
  • Ask how personal property and medication will be returned.
  • Check whether reporting or testing begins immediately.

Bond scam warning: Call the jail or court using the number on its official government website. Legitimate release information should be verifiable without paying a caller through gift cards, cryptocurrency, peer-to-peer transfers or a Bitcoin kiosk.

Michigan pretrial-release options are described in Michigan Court Rule 6.106. The judge’s signed order controls the individual case.

Family and inmate support

Visitation, phone calls, commissary, mail and property pickup

Every Michigan county jail sets its own procedures and may use a different communications or deposit vendor. Never assume the rules of one county apply to another.

Visitation

  • Wait until housing assignment is complete.
  • Use the jail’s official scheduling link.
  • Bring current government photo identification.
  • Check rules for minors and guardianship documents.
  • Review dress, arrival and cancellation rules.
  • Ask whether visits are remote, lobby-based or in person.

Phone and messaging

  • The inmate normally initiates jail calls.
  • Add funds only through the provider linked by the jail.
  • Check per-call or account fees before depositing.
  • Expect nonlegal communications to be monitored or recorded.
  • Do not discuss facts of the pending theft case.
  • Report blocked or technical calls to the listed provider.

Commissary deposits

  • Verify the inmate number and facility first.
  • Use the official jail kiosk, website or telephone method.
  • Ask about service fees and deposit limits.
  • Do not mail cash unless the jail expressly allows it.
  • Keep the transaction receipt.
  • Ask what happens to unused funds after release.

Mail

  • Use the exact inmate name and booking number.
  • Confirm whether mail goes to the jail or a scanning center.
  • Review postcard, envelope and photograph limits.
  • Avoid cash, staples, glue, perfume and prohibited materials.
  • Use the jail’s separate instructions for legal mail.
  • Recheck the address after any transfer.

Medication and health concerns

  • Call the jail’s medical unit or intake desk.
  • Do not hand-deliver medication without approval.
  • Provide pharmacy and prescriber information when requested.
  • Report urgent safety or withdrawal concerns immediately.
  • Call 911 for an immediate external emergency.
  • Understand that staff may not disclose protected health details.

Property and vehicle pickup

  • Ask whether property remains with police, jail or towing company.
  • Obtain written authorization if the inmate must designate a recipient.
  • Bring identification and the property receipt.
  • Confirm pickup hours before traveling.
  • Ask whether phones or evidence items are being held.
  • Keep towing and impound receipts for the attorney.

If the person transfers to a Michigan state prison

County-jail visitation approval does not automatically transfer to MDOC. State-prison visitors generally must be placed on the prisoner’s visiting list and complete the MDOC application process. Review the official Visiting a Prisoner guide after OTIS shows a state facility.

Documents and reports

Request certified court records, booking records or police reports

A search result is an index. The agency that created or maintains the underlying document is usually the correct place to request the record.

Document needed Request it from Include in the request Important limitation
Certified judgment, register or court order Clerk of the court where the case was filed Case number, defendant name, document title and preferred delivery method MiCOURT pages are informational and are not certified copies.
Police incident or arrest report Arresting police department, sheriff or Michigan State Police when MSP holds the record Incident number, date, location, involved person and a narrow description Open investigations, personal information and protected material may be withheld or redacted.
Booking or jail record County sheriff or local corrections records unit Booking number, name, date of birth and booking date Mugshots, medical information and security records may have separate access rules.
State criminal-history result Michigan State Police ICHAT or fingerprint-based personal-record process Accurate identity data or required fingerprints ICHAT excludes warrants, suppressed information and several non-Michigan record categories.
MDOC supervision or prison information MDOC OTIS or MDOC FOIA process Full name, MDOC number and specific record requested Security, health, victim and other protected information may be exempt.

Write a useful public-record request

“Under the Michigan Freedom of Information Act, I request the releasable incident, arrest and booking records for [name], incident or report number [number], occurring on [date] at [location]. Please provide an itemized fee estimate before processing if the cost will exceed [$ amount]. Electronic delivery is preferred.”

Michigan State Police FOIA contacts

FOIA telephone: 517-241-1934

Records portal: MSP Freedom of Information Act Requests

Payment note: MSP states that online portal and online payment submissions include a $2 processing fee, in addition to applicable record charges.

Send only one copy of the same request. Duplicate email, fax, mail and portal submissions can delay matching and processing.

Old or missing records

Michigan Clean Slate, set-aside records and corrections

A missing public record does not prove that no arrest or case ever existed. It may be nonpublic, set aside, outside the database’s retention window, stored only by the court or indexed under different information.

Check what remains public

Run an ICHAT search and check the sentencing court. Michigan State Police recommends using both sources when determining what remains visible.

Do not assume theft cleared automatically

Michigan’s automatic set-aside criteria exclude several categories, including crimes of dishonesty. Theft-related eligibility can depend on the precise conviction, statute and procedure.

Correct mismatched information

Contact the court when the judicial disposition is wrong and follow the MSP criminal-history correction procedure when the state history does not match the court record.

Official verification route

Review the Michigan Clean Slate information, check ICHAT, and obtain the final court disposition. Application-based relief and automatic set-aside rules are not identical.

Michigan entity tips

Local search details that prevent missed records

Detroit and Wayne County searches

For a Detroit criminal case, check the 36th District Court’s own inquiry system in addition to statewide searches. Use the defendant’s name to obtain the case number before searching the hearing schedule.

36th District Court inquiry

Metro Detroit bond scams

Macomb County publicly warns that its sheriff’s office will not telephone people to collect fees through gift cards, Bitcoin or similar payment methods. Treat an urgent payment demand as suspicious.

Macomb inmate page

Grand Rapids and Kent County

Kent County provides an official jail viewer and an inmate-information telephone line. Because custody data changes quickly, confirm bond and release details by telephone.

Kent inmate lookup

Weekend booking delays

A Friday-night or weekend arrest may appear in the jail system before a searchable court filing is available. Record the booking number, then recheck the court after arraignment.

City arrest, county custody

Search both entities. The city police department may hold the incident report, while the sheriff holds the booking, bond, visitation and release information.

Name variations

Try hyphenated and unhyphenated surnames, previous names, full middle names and common misspellings. Confirm any apparent match with date of birth and case or booking number.

State contact hub

Michigan State Police criminal-record contacts and location

Criminal Justice Information Center

ICHAT and Criminal History Help Desk
517-241-0606

CJIC Administration
517-284-3021

MSP FOIA requests
517-241-1934

Michigan State Police Headquarters
7150 Harris Drive
Dimondale, MI 48821

Headquarters telephone
517-332-2521

Mailing address
P.O. Box 30634
Lansing, MI 48909

Do not visit headquarters expecting a local arrest report. Contact the police department or sheriff that created the report unless Michigan State Police handled the incident.

10 title-related answers

Michigan theft arrest record questions

1. Can I search Michigan theft arrest records for free?

MiCOURT, many county-jail rosters, OTIS and MI-VINE can be searched without a basic access charge. Michigan ICHAT is different: the Michigan State Police currently lists a $10 fee for each public name-based search. Certified copies, police reports and extensive FOIA requests may have additional fees.

2. What is the fastest way to locate someone arrested today?

Identify the county of arrest, search the official county sheriff’s inmate roster and check MI-VINE. Call the jail if the booking occurred only recently. Do not begin with OTIS because OTIS excludes county-jail and city-lockup inmates.

3. Does Michigan ICHAT show arrests that did not lead to conviction?

ICHAT can contain public felony arrest information and reportable conviction information maintained by the Michigan State Police, but disclosure depends on the record’s status and Michigan law. Suppressed and nonpublic records are not shown. Check the court disposition to determine what happened after the arrest.

4. Does MiCOURT contain every Michigan theft case?

No. Available case types and courts vary. Some courts use separate systems, recent filings may not be indexed yet, and nonpublic cases are excluded. Use the Michigan Trial Court Directory to contact the correct clerk when a case is missing.

5. Why is a person in jail but not listed in court search?

The booking may be newer than the court filing, arraignment may not have occurred, the prosecutor may still be reviewing charges, or the court may use another system. Keep the booking number and ask the jail which court will handle the arraignment.

6. Why does the record say larceny instead of theft?

Michigan statutes commonly use “larceny” for general theft offenses. Store-related allegations may appear as first-, second- or third-degree retail fraud. Other related labels include receiving and concealing stolen property, embezzlement and larceny by conversion.

7. Where can I find the bond amount and release conditions?

Check the jail roster, court register of actions and signed pretrial-release order. Then confirm the amount, type, payment method and holds directly with the jail or court. A visible bond amount does not guarantee release if another warrant or detainer exists.

8. Are Michigan theft-arrest mugshots always public?

No. Availability depends on the agency, record status and applicable disclosure rules. Some county jail viewers display booking photographs, while others do not. A missing mugshot does not mean the person was not arrested or booked.

9. Can a Michigan theft conviction be set aside or expunged?

Possibly, but eligibility depends on the exact conviction, prior history and the type of set-aside process. Do not assume a theft record will disappear automatically; Michigan’s automatic criteria exclude crimes of dishonesty. Check the sentencing court, ICHAT and official Clean Slate guidance.

10. How do I obtain an official certified theft-case record?

Request it from the clerk of the court where the case was filed. Provide the case number, defendant’s name and the specific document needed, such as the complaint, register of actions, judgment or dismissal order. Online case-search pages are informational and are not certified records.

Primary official Michigan resources used

Public-record and legal notice: This page explains official search tools and common record workflows. It is not a law-enforcement database, legal advice, a consumer report or proof that any person committed a crime. Arrests and charges are allegations unless followed by a conviction. Records can be delayed, amended, suppressed, set aside, sealed, misidentified or incomplete. Confirm time-sensitive information with the jail, court, arresting agency or Michigan Department of Corrections before making a legal, employment, housing, financial or safety decision.

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