Find a Michigan Inmate by Full Name, Booking Location and Court Case
A person arrested in Michigan may appear in a county jail roster, a district-court case, a later circuit-court file or the Michigan Department of Corrections offender system—but rarely in all of them at the same time. Using the wrong search can make a real inmate look missing.
This guide shows how to search by name, narrow common-name matches, locate a new county booking, find a state prisoner in OTIS, trace the related court case, respond to a transfer or release, and complete the practical family steps for bond, visitation, calls, mail, commissary, medical concerns and custody notifications.
Start here: jail, prison or court search?
The first question is not “What website has every inmate?” It is “Which government agency would have custody or the case right now?”
County jail search
Use the sheriff or corrections portal for the county where the arrest occurred. This is the correct route for new bookings, pretrial custody and most local jail sentences.
Find the county jail →MDOC OTIS search
Use OTIS for eligible prisoners, parolees and probationers currently under Michigan Department of Corrections supervision or recently discharged.
Search state custody →MiCOURT case search
Use the court case to verify the filed charge, judge, hearing schedule, bond conditions and disposition.
Search court records →Federal BOP search
A federal prisoner held by the Bureau of Prisons will not appear as an MDOC prisoner simply because the facility or conviction involves Michigan.
Check federal custody →Michigan inmate search tools compared
| Official search | Best for | Usually shows | Does not prove or include |
|---|---|---|---|
| County sheriff inmate locator | Current or recent county-jail custody. | Name, booking number, facility, booking date and sometimes charges, bond, court or photo. | A complete criminal history, state-prison location or guaranteed real-time status. |
| MDOC OTIS | State prisoners, parolees and eligible MDOC probation supervision. | MDOC number, status, facility, offenses, supervision and public release information. | County jail, city lockup, jail-only sentences, unsentenced defendants or complete history. |
| MiCOURT | Public trial-court cases. | Case number, party, charge, judge, events and disposition when published. | Current physical custody or every Michigan court and nonpublic case. |
| Federal BOP Inmate Locator | Federal prisoners from 1982 to the present. | Register number, age, sex, release date and federal location. | Michigan county or MDOC custody and guaranteed up-to-date projected release dates. |
| Michigan ICHAT | Public statewide Michigan criminal history. | Public reportable Michigan arrest and conviction history maintained by MSP. | It costs $10 and is not a live inmate, jail-location or warrant search. |
Prepare the name before searching
Small name differences cause many false “not found” results. Search broadly first, then add identifiers.
- Current full legal first and last name
- Middle name or initial
- Maiden or former legal name
- Known aliases and nicknames
- Suffix such as Jr., Sr., II or III
- Hyphenated and non-hyphenated spelling
- Date of birth or approximate age
- Arrest county or sentencing county
- Approximate booking or conviction date
- MDOC or federal register number when known
- Sex and physical description
- Case or booking number from paperwork
Start with fewer fields
Enter the last name and first name before adding a date range, gender or middle initial. Too many incorrect filters can hide the correct result.
Try spelling variations
Search McDonald and MacDonald, De La Cruz and Delacruz, hyphenated and unhyphenated surnames, and versions without punctuation.
Use numbers once found
After locating the correct person, save the booking number, MDOC number or federal register number. A permanent number is more reliable than repeating a common-name search.
Find someone arrested recently in Michigan
A person arrested by city police may be booked into a county jail. Search the arrest location and transport destination—not only the person’s home county.
Write down the arrest details
Record the legal name, date of birth, approximate time, city or township, arresting agency, vehicle location and any citation or incident number.
Identify the likely county jail
Call the arresting police department when the destination is unknown. A local police lockup may transfer the person to the county sheriff.
Search the county’s official roster
Use surname and first name. Leave optional filters blank until you see possible matches.
Match the identity
Compare age, birth date, booking date, arresting agency, physical description and charge before assuming the result is correct.
Copy the custody information
Save the inmate number, current facility, charges, bond, court and next date. Screenshot the result because it may change after release or transfer.
Call if the person does not appear
Ask whether the person remains in intake, was released, transferred, hospitalized, booked under another name or sent to a nearby jurisdiction.
Search MiCOURT separately
A booking record shows custody. The court file confirms the filed case, hearing and final disposition.
Official Michigan county jail name searches
Michigan has no single statewide county-jail roster. Use the sheriff directory when the county is not listed below.
Find any Michigan county sheriff
- Select the county where the arrest happened or where the person is believed to be housed.
- Open the county sheriff’s official website.
- Look for “Inmate Lookup,” “JailTracker,” “Inmate Inquiry,” “Jail Viewer” or “Corrections.”
- Search the full surname first.
- Call the jail when the public system is unavailable or the booking is recent.
| County / area | Official search | Name-search micro-steps | Contact or local tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wayne / Detroit | Wayne County Inmate Inquiry | Enter surname and first name → leave booking dates blank initially → open the matching subject → copy the 10-digit booking number, facility, charges, bond and court. | 313-224-0797. The sheriff directs charge, case and bond-type questions to the court of jurisdiction. |
| Oakland / Pontiac | Oakland County Jail Information | Open the inmate-information page → follow the official lookup → search the current name → verify the booking → call when status appears delayed. | 248-858-1800. |
| Macomb / Mount Clemens | Macomb Locate an Inmate | Open JailTracker → enter the legal name → select the current booking → save the inmate number, case numbers and bond amount. | 586-469-5151. Macomb warns that the sheriff does not call demanding fees, gift cards or bitcoin. |
| Kent / Grand Rapids | Kent County Inmate Lookup | Open Jail Viewer → enter the complete last name → add first name or booking dates only when needed → verify the result by phone before traveling. | 616-632-6300. Facility: 703 Ball Avenue NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503. |
| Washtenaw / Ann Arbor | Washtenaw Incarcerated Individual Information | Open the corrections information page → verify custody and inmate number → use the connected bond, visitation, mail and account instructions. | 734-973-4770. |
| Ottawa / West Olive | Ottawa County Inmate Lookup | Enter the complete last name → optionally add first name, gender or booking date → remember the portal generally shows current custody. | 616-738-4650. |
Search a Michigan state prisoner by name in OTIS
The Offender Tracking Information System is the official MDOC search for eligible state prisoners, parolees and probationers. It is not a county-jail locator or full criminal-background check.
OTIS click-by-click
- Enter the last name and first name, or use the MDOC number when known.
- Use additional identity filters only when the name produces too many results.
- Open the matching offender profile.
- Confirm the MDOC number, age, photograph when available, status and facility.
- Review offense, sentence and supervision information carefully.
- Open the facility page for its address, telephone number, visiting contact and schedule.
OTIS includes
- Current MDOC prisoners;
- Eligible parolees;
- Eligible probationers under MDOC supervision;
- People discharged but still within three years of supervision discharge;
- Public location, offense and supervision information.
OTIS does not include
- County-jail or city-lockup inmates;
- People arrested or convicted but not yet sentenced;
- People sentenced only to county jail;
- People off supervision for more than three years;
- A person’s complete criminal history.
How to read an OTIS result
| OTIS field | What it tells you | What to do next |
|---|---|---|
| MDOC number | The unique state corrections identifier. | Use it for future searches, mail, money and facility communication. |
| Current status | May indicate prisoner, parole, probation, discharged or another supervision status. | Use the status—not only the conviction—to decide whether to contact a prison or field office. |
| Location | The current public facility or supervision location when available. | Open the facility page for current visitation, mail and telephone information. |
| Earliest release date | The earliest date the person may become eligible under the sentence information. | Do not treat it as a guaranteed release date; parole decisions, credits and other legal factors can affect timing. |
| Maximum discharge date | The outside sentence date shown in the public record. | Contact MDOC or the facility when the date conflicts with a court judgment. |
| Offense information | The offense associated with MDOC jurisdiction. | Use MiCOURT or the sentencing court for the full court file and certified judgment. |
Find the inmate’s Michigan court case
The custody page answers where the person is. MiCOURT and the clerk answer what was filed, what hearing comes next and how the case ended.
MiCOURT name-search steps
- Use the exact spelling shown on the jail or OTIS record.
- Select the district court connected to the arrest location when searching a new case.
- Match the birth details, filing date, court and case number.
- Save the charge, judge, next hearing, bond and disposition.
- When a felony shows “bindover,” “bound over” or transfer, search the circuit court next.
- Call the clerk when a court is unavailable online or a certified copy is needed.
New arrests and misdemeanors
District court commonly handles arraignment, bond, misdemeanor cases and the preliminary stages of a felony.
Felony after bindover
A felony that continues after district-court proceedings generally moves to circuit court and may receive a new case entry.
Judge or magistrate
Michigan’s first appearance and bond are normally addressed by a district judge or authorized district-court magistrate—not by a county commissioner.
Search a federal inmate held in or connected to Michigan
- Choose “Find by Name” when no federal register number is known.
- Enter the full first, middle and last name when available.
- Add age, race or sex to narrow common-name results.
- Match the register number and current location.
- Remember that a “Released” result can mean the person is no longer in BOP custody but may be in another system or under supervised release.
Why a Michigan inmate name search returns no result
The booking is too new
Identification, fingerprinting, medical screening and data entry may occur before the public roster updates.
The person was released
Some county portals show only current custody and remove the record after release.
The wrong county was searched
A city arrest may lead to a county jail outside the person’s home county.
The name is different
A suffix, alias, maiden name, hyphen or booking misspelling can prevent the expected match.
The person is at court or in transit
Temporary movement may delay or obscure a facility update.
The person moved to MDOC
The county record may close before OTIS displays the final prison assignment.
OTIS is the wrong system
OTIS excludes county-jail inmates, unsentenced defendants and jail-only sentences.
The person is in federal custody
Use the Federal Bureau of Prisons locator rather than OTIS.
The record is nonpublic
Juvenile, sealed, suppressed and other protected records may not be available through a public name search.
“I am trying to confirm custody for [full legal name], date of birth [date], who was reportedly arrested on [date] by [agency] near [location]. Please confirm whether the person is in intake, currently housed, released, transferred, hospitalized or booked under another spelling.”
What a family should do after finding the inmate
Once the correct record is confirmed, stop repeating searches and move through the practical action list.
Save the identifier
Write down the county booking number, MDOC number or federal register number.
Confirm the facility
Verify the exact jail or prison before mailing, visiting, depositing money or traveling.
Locate the court
Save the case number, judge, next hearing and clerk telephone number.
Verify bond
Confirm amount, bond type, payment method, release conditions and other holds.
Ask about counsel
If the person cannot afford a lawyer, ask the court or jail how the local appointed-counsel request is completed.
Report urgent health risks
Contact the facility for dangerous withdrawal, serious illness, self-harm risk or time-sensitive medication.
Check communication rules
Confirm visit approval, phone vendor, mail address, account vendor and package limits.
Track release or transfer
Use the official roster, OTIS and MI-VINE rather than relying on an old screenshot.
Verify bond and release information
A listed dollar amount is incomplete unless you know the exact bond type and whether another hold prevents release.
Confirm the order
Ask for the court, case number, amount, bond type, accepted payment and release conditions.
Check every hold
A second case, warrant, detainer, probation issue or immigration hold can delay release after payment.
Keep the receipt
Save the payment receipt and ask where and when the person will be discharged.
“I am calling about [full name and inmate number]. Please confirm the court, case number, complete bond amount, exact bond type, accepted payment method, release conditions and whether any other hold prevents release.”
County-jail and MDOC visitation steps
County rules are local. State-prison visits require the MDOC approval and scheduling process.
General preparation
- Confirm the current facility and booking number.
- Check whether visits are on-site, video or both.
- Register every visitor using the exact name on identification.
- Review age, minor-child and guardian requirements.
- Check clothing, device and arrival-time rules.
- Reconfirm after a transfer, court trip or housing change.
MDOC six-step route
- Confirm that you qualify to visit.
- Ask the prisoner to place you on the visiting list.
- Complete the visiting application online through MiLogin or by mail.
- Allow processing; MDOC states it may take up to four weeks.
- After approval, register on the MDOC ViaPath scheduling site.
- Schedule at least 48 hours but no more than seven days in advance.
Send money, mail, phone funds or packages correctly
Use the county’s vendor
County jails can use TouchPay, Smart Communications, eXpress Account, JPay or another local vendor. Commissary, phone, tablet, video and bond accounts may be separate.
- Confirm custody immediately before depositing.
- Use the current booking number.
- Follow the vendor link from the sheriff’s website.
- Select inmate trust or commissary when that is the purpose.
- Save the confirmation and fee information.
Use ConnectNetwork / GTL
MDOC prisoner-money deposits are processed through GTL Financial Services. No single deposit may exceed $300.
Phone deposits: 888-988-4768. Have the prisoner’s name and MDOC number available.
MDOC postal mail
Address the envelope with the prisoner’s full name, MDOC number, facility name and current facility address. Personal mail and envelopes are generally photocopied, with the copy delivered and originals destroyed.
MDOC calls and email
Michigan prisoner telephone service uses GTL/ViaPath. Electronic messages are sent through JPay. Phone, email and trust-account funds are separate products.
Medical, mental-health and safety concerns
County jail concern
Call the jail and ask for medical intake or its confidential health-information procedure. Provide the inmate’s name and booking number, condition, medication, prescriber and immediate risk.
MDOC concern
Contact the facility shown in OTIS for prisoner-specific health or safety concerns. MDOC lists the Bureau of Health Care Services at 517-335-2263 for general health-care information.
Track a release, county transfer or prison move
Current roster may disappear
Some jail locators remove a person shortly after release. Continue tracking the court case and release conditions even when the custody result vanishes.
Expect a temporary information gap
A sentenced person can leave the jail before OTIS displays the final state facility. Reception and classification can occur first.
OTIS updates after movement
MDOC does not release planned transfer information in advance. After transfer, the new location is updated in OTIS.
MI-VINE custody notification
MI-VINE is a free, confidential, 24-hour service providing custody and court information and notification options for victims, families and the public.
MDOC also lists the MI-VINE information line at 800-770-7657.
Correct an inaccurate inmate or court record
Save the incorrect page
Capture the URL, date, name, number and incorrect field.
Identify the record owner
Contact the county jail for booking data, the court clerk for case data and MDOC for OTIS information.
Obtain supporting documents
Use a court order, judgment, dismissal, release document or identification record that demonstrates the error.
Submit a focused correction request
Identify the exact field and requested change rather than asking the agency to “delete everything.”
Recheck the public result
Allow processing time and run a new search. Private background sites may require a separate dispute.
Michigan inmate-search contacts
Michigan Department of Corrections
Central Office: 517-335-1426
Email: CorrectionsInfo@michigan.gov
Grandview Plaza, 206 E. Michigan Avenue
P.O. Box 30003, Lansing, MI 48909
For visiting, property or prisoner-specific questions, contact the facility shown in OTIS.
Wayne County Sheriff
5301 Russell Street
Detroit, MI 48211
Inmate information: 313-224-0797
Administration: 313-833-0864
Macomb County Jail
43565 Elizabeth Road
Mount Clemens, MI 48043
Sheriff: 586-469-5151
Jail services: 586-469-5100
Kent County Correctional Facility
703 Ball Avenue NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Inmate information: 616-632-6300
Facility: 616-632-6400
Michigan Department of Corrections central office map
Use the map for agency identification only. The correct place for a visit, mail, money, property or prisoner-specific inquiry is the jail or prison shown in the official search result.
Common Michigan inmate-name search mistakes
Searching OTIS for a new arrest
Use the county sheriff when the person has not been sentenced to MDOC custody.
Searching only the home county
The arrest or transport county may be different.
Using too many filters
An incorrect middle initial or date can remove the correct result.
Trusting a same-name result
Match age, booking date, county, photograph and identification number.
Sending money before confirming custody
The person may have been released or transferred to another vendor system.
Treating a booking charge as a conviction
Use the court disposition to determine the final result.
Missing the circuit-court case
A felony can move from district to circuit court after bindover.
Mailing to an old facility
Check OTIS immediately before addressing prison mail.
Assuming a release date is guaranteed
Earliest release, parole eligibility and projected dates can change or have different legal meanings.
10 essential answers about Michigan inmate search by name
These ten title-specific answers cover the most important jail, prison and court lookup questions.
1. Can I search all Michigan inmates by name in one place?
2. What is the best search for someone arrested today?
3. Can I search Michigan state prisoners by last name?
4. Why is a county-jail inmate not listed in OTIS?
5. How do I know that a same-name inmate is the correct person?
6. How do I find the inmate’s Michigan court case?
7. Why did the inmate disappear from the jail roster?
8. How can I visit a Michigan state prisoner?
9. How do I send money or mail after finding the inmate?
10. How can I receive release or transfer notifications?
Official Michigan inmate and court search resources
Custody and court searches
- Michigan Sheriff Directory — identify the correct county and open its jail lookup.
- MDOC OTIS — search eligible state prisoners, parolees and probationers.
- MiCOURT Case Search — find available criminal case information.
- Michigan Trial Court Directory — locate the correct clerk and certified-record process.
- Federal BOP Inmate Locator — search federal prisoners by name or register number.
Family and inmate-support actions
- MDOC Visiting a Prisoner — apply, receive approval and schedule a visit.
- Send Prisoner Money or Goods — use approved GTL and package procedures.
- MDOC Prisoner Mail — verify the address format and mail restrictions.
- MDOC Telephone Guide — understand GTL calls and account setup.
- Michigan MI-VINE — search custody information and register for notifications.