Michigan County Arrest Lookup: Find Bookings, Charges, Bond and Police Reports
A Michigan arrest search is rarely completed through one database. The county jail roster shows current custody, the district or circuit court confirms filed charges and hearing dates, Michigan State Police ICHAT provides reportable statewide criminal-history information, and the arresting police agency controls the incident or arrest report.
This guide organizes those records into one practical county workflow. It includes direct search routes for major Michigan counties, a finder for all 83 sheriff offices, instructions for counties without a public roster, result-field explanations, bond and arraignment steps, family actions after a recent arrest, FOIA report requests, MI-VINE alerts, record-correction options and the next steps after release or transfer.
MATCH
Start here: use the county where the arrest occurred
The correct county is usually the location of the arrest or current detention—not necessarily the person’s home county, mailing address or sentencing county.
County jail roster
Use this first when the arrest was recent and you need the booking number, jail location, charges, bond or release status.
District or circuit court
Use the court to confirm the case number, arraignment, charge language, attorney, hearing dates and final disposition.
Michigan ICHAT
Use ICHAT for publicly available reportable Michigan criminal-history information maintained by Michigan State Police.
Arresting agency records
Request the police report, booking record, dispatch log or other available records from the agency that created them.
Find the correct sheriff in any Michigan county
- Select the county where the person was arrested or may be held.
- Open the linked sheriff website.
- Look for “Inmate Search,” “Inmate Locator,” “Jail,” “Corrections” or “Current Inmates.”
- When no locator appears, call the jail or inmate-information number on the official page.
- Use the sheriff’s records or FOIA page when you need the actual report rather than current custody.
Know which arrest-related record answers your question
| Record source | What it usually shows | Best use | Important limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| County jail roster | Current booking, inmate number, admission date, listed charges, bond, housing or release status. | Finding someone arrested recently and planning immediate family actions. | Many rosters show only current inmates and remove the entry after release. |
| Booking record | Identity, arresting agency, fingerprints, photograph, property inventory and booking events. | Verifying incarceration or requesting historical jail information. | Public access and available fields vary by county. |
| MiCOURT or court clerk | Case number, filed charges, hearings, attorney, bond orders, pleas and disposition. | Confirming what the prosecutor actually filed and what happened afterward. | Online availability depends on the court and case type. |
| ICHAT | Public Michigan criminal-history information reported to the state repository. | A broader statewide name-based check beyond one county. | Warrants, suppressed records and some nonreportable matters are not shown. |
| Police incident or arrest report | Narrative, responding officers, alleged facts, witnesses, evidence and arrest circumstances. | Understanding the reported incident or preparing for insurance, legal or records review. | Active-investigation, privacy, juvenile and security exemptions may apply. |
| MDOC OTIS | Current or recent state prison, parole or probation status. | Finding someone sentenced into Michigan Department of Corrections jurisdiction. | OTIS does not list people held only in county jails or city lockups. |
Step-by-step Michigan county arrest search
Identify the likely arrest county
Use the city of arrest, police agency, court location or last known location. City police commonly book adults into the county jail.
Open the official sheriff page
Reach it through the Michigan Sheriffs’ Association directory or the county government website. Avoid commercial mugshot and people-search websites.
Search the current jail roster
Enter the complete last name first. Add the first name, date of birth, booking date or sex only when needed.
Confirm the identity
Compare the middle name, suffix, age, date of birth, photograph, booking date and arresting agency before assuming a result belongs to the intended person.
Save the booking details
Record the inmate number, booking number, facility, listed charge, bond, court and arresting agency. Take a screenshot with the search date.
Check the court case
Use MiCOURT or the trial-court directory to locate the district or circuit court and confirm the filed case information.
Verify bond with the court or jail
A roster may lag after arraignment. Confirm the amount, percentage, payment method, conditions and every separate case before paying.
Use ICHAT for statewide history
Run a separate name-based state search only when you need reportable Michigan criminal-history information beyond the current county booking.
Request the police report from the correct agency
Send a focused records or FOIA request to the sheriff, city police, state police post or other agency that investigated the incident.
Monitor changes
Custody, charges, bond and court dates can change after arraignment, transfer or release. Recheck the official sources rather than relying on an older screenshot.
Major Michigan county arrest and inmate search routes
The following official routes cover many of Michigan’s largest county jail systems. Counties may redesign their portals, so begin from the linked government page rather than bookmarking a vendor-only screen.
| County | Official search route | Local search tip | Inmate or jail contact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wayne | Wayne County Inmate Search | Save the current booking number. Detroit-area cases can belong to the 36th District Court, another district court or the Third Circuit Court. | 313-224-0797 5301 Russell Street, Detroit, MI 48211 |
| Oakland | Oakland County Inmate Locator | Oakland advises users to verify specific charges and bond types with the court of jurisdiction. | 248-858-1800 1200 N. Telegraph Road, Building 38E, Pontiac, MI 48341 |
| Macomb | Macomb JailTracker | Use the current inmate number for bond, mail and account services. Macomb warns that staff do not demand gift cards, bitcoin or telephone payments. | 586-469-5100 43565 Elizabeth Road, Mount Clemens, MI 48043 |
| Kent | Kent County Inmate Lookup | The public viewer covers people booked at the Kent County Correctional Facility. Confirm current charges through the appropriate court. | 616-632-6300 703 Ball Avenue NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 |
| Genesee | Genesee Corrections Division | The Corrections Division includes both the Genesee County Jail and Flint City Lockup. Call inmate information when an online result is unavailable. | 810-257-3426 1002 S. Saginaw Street, Flint, MI 48502 |
| Washtenaw | Washtenaw Incarcerated Individual Information | Call the published information line for charge, bond and visitation details. The county also provides proof-of-incarceration services. | 734-973-4770 2201 Hogback Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48105 |
| Ingham | Ingham County Inmate Locator | Use the inmate locator first, then distinguish a 55th District Court case from a 30th Circuit Court case. | 517-676-2431, option 3 640 N. Cedar Street, Mason, MI 48854 |
| Ottawa | Ottawa County Inmate Lookup | The locator displays only current in-custody inmates and requires a complete last name. | 616-738-4650 12130 Fillmore Street, West Olive, MI 49460 |
| Saginaw | Saginaw County Jail Information | Use the sheriff’s jail page or official county app, then confirm the case through the 70th District or 10th Circuit Court as applicable. | 989-790-5432 311 S. Harrison Street, Saginaw, MI 48602 |
| Berrien | Berrien County Inmate Search | The search supports a booking-date-only lookup, which can help when the full name or spelling is uncertain. | 269-983-7141, ext. 7777 919 Port Street, St. Joseph, MI 49085 |
| Calhoun | Calhoun County Jail | Follow the county’s Police to Citizen inmate link for current information. Historical incarceration records are handled by the Records Division. | 269-969-6303 Battle Creek, Michigan |
All 83 Michigan counties: official sheriff finder
Select any county below in the Michigan Sheriffs’ Association directory. After opening the local sheriff website, choose the jail, corrections, inmate-search or records section.
Counties A–C
Counties D–H
Counties I–M
Counties N–S
Counties T–W
Search order for every county
- County sheriff inmate locator;
- District court case search;
- Circuit court case search when a felony is bound over;
- Arresting agency records unit;
- ICHAT for statewide public history;
- OTIS after an MDOC prison sentence.
What to do when a county has no public online jail roster
Call the sheriff’s inmate-information line
Provide the full name, date of birth, approximate arrest time and arresting agency. Ask whether the person is currently in custody.
Call the city police department
If the booking is very recent, the person may still be in a city lockup, hospital, interview room or transport process.
Search nearby counties
Regional housing agreements, warrants and court transfers can place a person outside the arrest county.
Check the district court
A filed arraignment or criminal case can identify the jurisdiction even when the current jail does not publish a roster.
Check OTIS only after an MDOC sentence
Do not use OTIS as the first search for a newly arrested person. It excludes county-jail-only custody.
Request historical incarceration records
When the person was released and the current roster is blank, ask the sheriff’s records unit for a booking record or proof-of-incarceration letter.
“I am trying to confirm current custody for [full name], date of birth [date], who may have been arrested by [agency] in [city] on [date and approximate time]. Can you confirm whether the person is in your custody and provide the inmate number, facility and court of jurisdiction?”
How to interpret a county jail search result
| Roster field | What it usually means | What to do next |
|---|---|---|
| Booking or inmate number | The identifier assigned for the current or listed jail admission. | Use it for calls, visits, money, mail and jail-account questions. |
| Booking date | The date the jail processed the person into custody. | Do not confuse it with the incident date or arraignment date. |
| Arresting agency | The police agency that made or processed the arrest. | Request the incident or arrest report from that agency. |
| Charge | The allegation associated with booking or a court case. | Confirm the exact filed charge and statute with the court. |
| Bond amount | The listed amount connected to a charge or case. | Ask whether it is personal recognizance, unsecured, 10%, full cash, surety or no bond. |
| Court | The court handling arraignment or the criminal case. | Open MiCOURT or call the clerk using the case number. |
| Hold or detainer | Another court, county, probation authority, immigration authority or agency may require continued custody. | Ask which agency placed the hold and whether it prevents release after bond. |
| Release date | The person left that facility or booking status. | Confirm whether the person was released to the community or transferred elsewhere. |
| No result | The person may be released, transferred, not yet booked, held under another spelling or outside the county. | Use the troubleshooting steps below rather than assuming no arrest occurred. |
What family should do after finding a recent arrest
Save the booking information
Record the inmate number, jail, arresting agency, charges, bond, court and booking date before the online entry changes.
Confirm arraignment and bond
Call the court or jail and ask whether arraignment occurred, whether bond was modified and whether every case has a separate amount.
Locate legal representation
Ask whether retained counsel appeared or whether the court began the appointed-counsel process. Do not give legal strategy over a recorded jail call.
Report medication or safety risks
Call the jail directly for serious withdrawal, suicide risk, pregnancy, disability, medical equipment or essential medication concerns.
Set up telephone access
Use the phone provider linked by the county. Jail calls are generally outgoing and ordinary calls may be recorded.
Check visitation approval
Newly booked people may remain in intake or medical screening before visits become available. Confirm the vendor, identification and scheduling deadline.
Send only approved funds or mail
Commissary, phone and tablet accounts can be separate. Follow the current county instructions and include the current inmate number on mail.
Handle vehicle and personal property
Contact the arresting agency for towing information. Ask the jail whether the inmate must sign a property-release form.
Monitor court and custody status
Recheck after arraignment, a bond hearing, preliminary examination, plea, sentencing or transfer.
Plan for release
Confirm the pickup location, estimated processing time, transportation, medication, housing and any no-contact or supervision conditions.
How to verify and post a Michigan jail bond
Personal recognizance
The defendant is released on a promise to appear and comply with the court’s conditions.
Unsecured bond
No upfront deposit may be required, but the defendant can owe the stated amount after a violation or failure to appear.
10% or full cash
The court order may permit a percentage deposit or require the full amount, subject to the exact release order.
Surety bond
An approved bond agent may execute the bond under the court’s stated terms.
Bond-payment checklist
- Search the current booking and copy every case number.
- Call the court or jail to verify the current bond order.
- Ask whether another hold or warrant prevents release.
- Confirm the accepted payment method and payment location.
- Ask whose name should appear on a cashier’s check or money order.
- Request a receipt identifying the defendant and case.
- Ask whether the depositor or defendant receives any later refund.
- Expect release processing to take additional time after payment.
Visitation, calls, commissary, mail and property after arrest
| Family task | Correct starting point | Information to prepare | Common mistake |
|---|---|---|---|
| Telephone calls | County inmate-services or phone page. | Inmate name, number, facility and receiving telephone number. | Funding commissary or tablet credits instead of the telephone account. |
| Visitation | County visitation page and approved video provider. | Government ID, visitor profile, inmate number and appointment confirmation. | Traveling before confirming intake, transfer or lockdown status. |
| Commissary deposit | County money or inmate-account page. | Current booking number, facility, account type and receipt email. | Sending money to an old booking or the wrong county. |
| County mail rules. | Full name, inmate number, approved mailing address and return address. | Mailing cash, stamps, food, stickers or unapproved photographs. | |
| Property pickup | Jail property or inmate-information unit. | Photo ID and any inmate-signed release authorization. | Arriving without confirmation that the property was released. |
| Medical concern | Jail medical unit, shift supervisor or inmate-information line. | Diagnosis, medication, pharmacy, doctor and immediate risk. | Calling the commissary, telephone or visitation vendor. |
Confirm county arrest charges through Michigan courts
A jail roster is a custody tool. The court is the better source for the filed case, arraignment result, bond order, hearing date, attorney and final disposition.
MiCOURT micro-steps
- Use the court displayed on the jail record when available.
- Select criminal case search.
- Enter the case number for the most precise result.
- When searching by name, try the legal name used at booking.
- Open the register of actions.
- Confirm the filed charge, bond, attorney and next hearing.
- Call the clerk when the court or case is not available online.
District court
District courts generally handle misdemeanor cases, arraignments and the early stages of felony cases, including probable-cause and preliminary-examination proceedings.
Circuit court
A felony case generally moves to circuit court after bindover. Search both courts when a felony booking is several weeks or months old.
Use ICHAT for a statewide Michigan criminal-history search
What ICHAT covers
Michigan State Police ICHAT provides public name-based criminal-history information maintained in the state repository. Michigan requires felonies and serious misdemeanors punishable by more than 93 days to be reported by participating justice agencies.
The public search currently costs $10 per name search.
What ICHAT does not show
ICHAT does not provide warrant information or suppressed records. It is also not a live county-jail locator, a certified court docket or a complete source for every juvenile, federal, tribal, out-of-state or local record.
ICHAT search steps
- Open the Michigan State Police criminal-history page.
- Select the ICHAT public-search option.
- Enter the full name and identifying information carefully.
- Review the $10 charge before checkout.
- Save or print the result during the available session.
- Verify disputed information with the reporting court or agency.
Michigan criminal-history help desk
ICHAT and Criminal History Help Desk: 517-241-0606
Request an arrest or police report from the correct local agency
The county jail can confirm custody, but the incident report normally belongs to the sheriff, city police department, Michigan State Police post or special agency that investigated the event.
Records you can identify in the request
- Incident or arrest report
- Booking sheet
- Probable-cause statement
- Dispatch or CAD log
- Body-camera footage
- Dash-camera footage
- Photographs
- Property inventory
- Use-of-force report
- Jail admission or release record
Details that help the agency locate it
- Full name and date of birth
- Incident date and time
- Exact location
- Arresting agency
- Police report number
- Booking number
- Officer name or badge number
- Vehicle description
- Narrow date range
- Preferred electronic format
“Under the Michigan Freedom of Information Act, I request available nonexempt records concerning the arrest of [full name and date of birth] on [date] at [location], including the incident report, arrest report, booking sheet, dispatch log and available body-camera footage. The report or booking number is [number]. Please provide an itemized fee estimate before costs exceed $[amount].”
Wayne County Sheriff
Oakland County
Open Oakland County FOIA. Sheriff Records Unit: 248-858-5011.
Macomb County Sheriff
Kent County Sheriff
Submit a Kent County FOIA request. Sheriff: 616-632-6100.
Washtenaw County Sheriff
Open Washtenaw Sheriff FOIA. Records: 734-973-4655.
Ingham County Sheriff
Open Ingham Central Records. Records: 517-676-8224.
Why a county arrest search may show no result
| Possible reason | What may have happened | Next search |
|---|---|---|
| Booking is too recent | The person is still being processed, medically screened or transported. | Call the arresting agency and county jail after a reasonable interval. |
| Released already | The roster displays only current inmates and removed the entry after release. | Check the court and request a historical booking record. |
| Different county | The person was arrested near a boundary, on another county’s warrant or under a housing agreement. | Search nearby counties and ask which facility accepted custody. |
| City lockup | The person has not yet been transferred to the county jail. | Call the city police department or central lockup. |
| Name variation | The booking uses a maiden name, alias, suffix, hyphenated name or different spelling. | Try fewer name fields and compare date of birth. |
| Hospital or medical hold | The person may remain under guard outside the jail. | Ask the arresting agency or jail whether custody is pending. |
| Transferred to MDOC | The county booking ended after a prison sentence or state transfer. | Search MDOC OTIS. |
| Federal custody | A federal agency or U.S. Marshal holds the person. | Search the federal inmate locator. |
| Juvenile case | Juvenile detention and court records are subject to different access rules. | Contact the Family Division or juvenile detention center when legally authorized. |
Dismissals, juvenile records, mugshots and record correction
Dismissed or acquitted case
A historical arrest record can exist even when the prosecutor declined charges, the court dismissed the case or the person was acquitted. Check the final court disposition before repeating the arrest allegation.
Juvenile information
Juvenile detention, arrest and Family Division records are governed by different confidentiality and access rules. A missing public search result does not prove that no juvenile case exists.
Mugshot availability
Some counties display booking photographs while others limit, remove or provide them only through a records process. A commercial mugshot page may be outdated long after the official case changes.
Incorrect identity or case data
Contact the agency responsible for the incorrect field: the jail for booking data, the court for disposition or sentence data, and Michigan State Police for state criminal-history questions.
Set-aside or Clean Slate record
A conviction may be automatically set aside or removed through a court application when Michigan eligibility rules are satisfied. Verify the court and ICHAT after processing.
Private background report
A commercial report may keep stale arrest or case information. Dispute inaccurate information directly with the reporting company and include the final court order or disposition.
Register for Michigan custody-status notifications
MI-VINE notification steps
- Open Michigan’s official MI-VINE information page.
- Follow the VINELink registration route or call the service.
- Search the offender by name or available identifying information.
- Select telephone, text or email notification when available.
- Create a secure PIN when the telephone system requests one.
- Keep your contact details current.
- Do not rely on MI-VINE as an emergency-warning system; call 911 for immediate danger.
MI-VINE is a free, confidential 24-hour service that can provide custody-status notifications such as release, transfer or escape.
Michigan county sheriff and jail map
Use the map to identify a possible county facility, then confirm the official sheriff website, inmate-information number and visitation entrance. Map listings can show administration offices, courts and jails at different addresses.
Statewide Michigan search contacts
Michigan Sheriffs’ Association
620 S. Capitol Avenue, Suite 320A
Lansing, MI 48933
Phone: 517-485-3135
Email: msa@misheriff.org
Use the association directory to locate the correct sheriff. It does not maintain individual county arrest files.
Michigan State Police Criminal History
Criminal History and ICHAT Help Desk: 517-241-0606
Use this contact for Michigan state criminal-history questions, not current county-jail custody.
Common Michigan county arrest-search mistakes
Searching the home county
The person may be held where the arrest occurred rather than where they live.
Using OTIS for a new arrest
OTIS excludes people held only in county jails and city lockups.
Treating the booking charge as final
The prosecutor and court may change the allegation after booking.
Paying bond from a phone demand
Verify the order independently through the jail or court.
Searching with too many fields
An incorrect first name, age or suffix can hide the correct jail result.
Assuming no result means no arrest
The person may be released, transferred, hospitalized or not fully booked.
Requesting the report from the court
The investigating police agency usually controls the incident report.
Using a commercial mugshot page
Third-party information can be stale, incomplete or matched to the wrong person.
Discussing evidence on jail calls
Ordinary inmate calls and video visits may be monitored or recorded.
10 essential answers about Michigan arrest records by county
These ten title-specific answers cover current bookings, county searches, court cases, bond, reports and statewide records.
1. How do I search Michigan arrest records by county?
2. Are all Michigan county arrest records in one database?
3. Does a county jail roster show everyone ever arrested?
4. How can I find someone arrested in Detroit?
5. Where do I find the actual charges after a Michigan arrest?
6. How do I obtain a Michigan arrest or police report?
7. What should I do after finding a recently arrested family member?
8. Why does a Michigan county inmate search show no result?
9. Is ICHAT the same as a county jail search?
10. Can I receive an alert when a Michigan inmate is released?
Official Michigan county arrest-search resources
County custody and court searches
- Michigan Sheriffs’ Association Directory — locate the official sheriff for any of Michigan’s 83 counties.
- MiCOURT Case Search — search available criminal cases by court, case number or participant.
- Michigan Trial Court Directory — find court addresses, phone numbers and online-service availability.
- MDOC OTIS — search prison, parole and probation status after an MDOC sentence.
History, records and notifications
- MSP Criminal History Records — access ICHAT and criminal-history assistance.
- Michigan FOIA Handbook — review response procedures, fees and exemptions.
- Michigan MI-VINE — register for custody-status notifications.
- Correct or Update Criminal History — review fingerprints, record disputes and update procedures.