Michigan Criminal History, Court Case and Inmate Lookup Guide
Start with a possible booking, then move to the correct official system. This guide shows how to search Michigan arrest listings, order an ICHAT criminal-history report, check a participating court case, locate a county jail inmate, use MDOC OTIS and find bond, visitation, legal-help and record-clearing resources.
Know These Michigan Record Limits Before You Search
The Michigan State Police name-based public criminal-history search requires a $10 payment per search.
Suppressed records, warrant information, juvenile records, federal records and out-of-state history are not included.
OTIS covers qualifying people under MDOC jurisdiction or recently discharged from supervision.
Verify the filed court case and disposition before relying on a private mugshot or booking listing.
Someone Was Arrested in Michigan Today: Start Here
Do not begin by calling every state agency. Identify the arresting city or county, allow time for booking, then use the county jail and district-court route.
- Confirm the arresting police department or sheriff and the county where the person was taken.
- Search the county jail using the last name first; add the first name or booking date only if needed.
- If nothing appears, call the jail booking desk and ask whether intake is still being processed.
- Write down the booking number, inmate number, charge, bond status and district-court name.
- Use MiCOURT or the local court website to check the arraignment and next hearing.
- Never send bond money because of an unsolicited call. Confirm the payment route with the jail or court.
What Are You Trying to Find?
Select the task. The tool displays the correct Michigan route without collecting a name, date of birth or case number.
Which Michigan Database Answers Your Question?
What you need | Correct starting source | Have this ready | What to do next |
|---|---|---|---|
Possible mugshot or booking clue | Name, approximate age, county or booking date | Compare identity details, note the county and move to the official jail and court. | |
Statewide public criminal-history report | Full legal name, date of birth, sex, race and payment | Review the report scope and save the result securely. | |
Current county-jail custody | The arresting county sheriff or jail | County, name, booking date or inmate number | Check custody, bond, housing and release fields; call the jail if intake is recent. |
Trial-court criminal case | Court, county, legal name or case number | Open the matching case and verify hearings, charges and disposition. | |
State prisoner, parolee or probationer | MDOC number or full name | Confirm status, facility, supervision and identifying details. | |
Custody or case notifications | Name, offender details or case information | Register online or call 800-770-7657 for available notifications. | |
Federal inmate | Name or federal register number | Use the federal result; do not expect a federal inmate in OTIS. |
How to Search Michigan Criminal Records With ICHAT
ICHAT is the official Michigan State Police name-based public criminal-history service. It searches reportable Michigan records from the state repository, not every local, federal, tribal or out-of-state record.
Publicly available Michigan felony and qualifying misdemeanor information reported to the state repository.
Warrants, suppressed records, juvenile records, federal or tribal records, traffic records and criminal history from other states.
Michigan State Police Criminal History and ICHAT Help Desk: 517-241-0606.
Find Someone in a Michigan County Jail
Michigan has county and local detention systems. A person arrested today is usually searched through the county holding facility, not MDOC OTIS.
County | Official search | How to use it | Useful contact |
|---|---|---|---|
Wayne | Search by name, subject number, booking number, custody status or booking dates. | Use the sheriff or facility contact shown with the matching booking. | |
Oakland | Open the inmate locator and compare custody information. Jail: 248-858-5000; prisoner information: 248-858-1800. | 1200 N. Telegraph Road, Building 38E, Pontiac, MI 48341. | |
Kent | Enter a complete last name; first name and booking dates are optional. | Sheriff: 616-632-6100, 701 Ball Avenue NE, Grand Rapids. | |
Macomb | Open JailTracker and search the inmate. The county also publishes bond, visitation and inmate-service pages. | Inmate information: 586-469-5151; sheriff main line: 586-469-5100. |
County jail search micro-steps
Check a Michigan Criminal Court Case Through MiCOURT
MiCOURT provides public case-search access for participating Michigan trial courts. Availability varies by court, so a missing case may require the local district or circuit court website or clerk.
How to Check Michigan Bail, Bond and Release Status
Bond is normally addressed by the court, often at arraignment. A jail listing may show an amount, but release can still depend on conditions, separate cases, holds and completion of facility paperwork.
The court may release a defendant on a promise to appear, subject to any conditions ordered.
The court order controls the amount and acceptable method. Confirm the exact type before paying.
Another warrant, hold, case, verification problem or jail processing step can prevent immediate release.
Find a Michigan Public Defender or Criminal Lawyer
A defendant who cannot afford a lawyer should ask the court about appointed counsel at the first court appearance. The local court or defender system handles the application and eligibility decision.
Michigan Indigent Defense Commission · 517-657-3066 · Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
The State Bar of Michigan Lawyer Referral Service can match a caller with an attorney. The current service lists a $25 administrative referral fee and up to a 25-minute initial consultation.
State Bar Lawyer Referral Service · 800-968-0738 · Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:45 p.m.
Questions to ask before hiring
Michigan Prison Visits, Calls, Mail and Money
These statewide instructions apply to MDOC prisons, not automatically to county jails. First confirm the facility in OTIS, then use that facility’s official page.
The prisoner must request that a qualified visitor be added to the visiting list. The visitor then submits an application and waits for approval.
Approved visitors may request video visits where the facility has enabled online scheduling.
MDOC prisoners place outbound calls through the department’s approved phone system. Family members cannot directly call the prisoner.
MDOC currently routes deposits through GTL Financial Services and warns against Cash App, Zelle, Venmo and other unofficial payment requests.
- Find the prisoner in OTIS and open the facility page.
- Ask the prisoner to add you to the visiting list.
- Complete the official online or paper visiting application.
- Wait for approval before scheduling travel.
- Check the facility schedule, ID rules, dress code and cancellation notice on the day of the visit.
- Use the official GTL phone guidance and do not use third-party “discount call” services without verification.
- Follow MDOC mail rules; electronic messages are available through the approved messaging route.
- Deposits cannot exceed the current limit shown on the MDOC money page; the page currently states $300 per deposit.
- Use the prisoner’s correct name and MDOC number.
Use MI-VINE for Michigan Custody and Case Alerts
MI-VINE is a free, confidential, 24-hour service for crime victims, families and members of the public. Available notifications can include changes such as release, transfer, escape and criminal-case information.
Open the official MI-VINE information page and follow the registration route.
Call 800-770-7657. Keep the PIN and contact information secure and current.
Do not rely on a notification service as the only safety measure. Contact law enforcement in an emergency.
Correct a Michigan Criminal History or Check Record Clearing
Fixing an inaccurate record, setting aside a conviction and asking a private website to update a page are different processes.
Why a Michigan Arrest or Inmate Search Shows No Result
Call the arresting agency or county booking desk. Ask whether intake is complete and where the person was transported.
Check the discharge date, county jail and court. OTIS has specific jurisdiction and retention limits.
Confirm the exact court. Search the court’s own website or call its clerk with the legal name and arrest date.
Ask whether there is another hold, warrant, case or unfinished processing step. Keep the payment receipt.
MDOC does not disclose transfers in advance. The new location is updated in OTIS after transfer.
Stop using the result. Compare identifiers and follow the MSP correction route before sharing it.
Michigan Criminal Record, Court and Corrections Contacts
- 7150 Harris Drive, Dimondale, MI 48821
- 517-332-2521
- CJIC administrative contacts generally list Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. ET
- ICHAT / criminal-history help: 517-241-0606
- Grandview Plaza, 206 E. Michigan Avenue, Lansing, MI 48909
- Central Office: 517-335-1426
- Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. ET
- Specific prisoner, property or visiting questions should go to the housing facility.
- 611 W. Ottawa Street, 4th Floor, Lansing, MI 48933
- 517-657-3066
- Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
- Statewide indigent-defense standards and local-system routing.
- 800-968-0738
- Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:45 p.m.
- Private-lawyer referrals; online search is also available.
- Current listed administrative referral fee: $25, with up to a 25-minute initial consultation.
Michigan State Police Headquarters Map
This map shows MSP headquarters in Dimondale. It is not a county jail, courthouse or walk-in substitute for the online ICHAT service. Call the correct unit before travelling.
Call the appropriate unit. ICHAT is an online service, and local jail, bond and court questions belong to the county or court handling the case.
Call 517-241-0606 for ICHAT or criminal-history questions.
Contact the local police department, sheriff or nearest MSP post. Call 911 for an emergency.
Michigan Arrest, Court and Criminal Record Links
Michigan Arrest Records Search FAQs
What is Michigan Arrests.org?
Michigan Arrests.org is a privately operated discovery website that displays booking-related listings and mugshots. Use it to locate a possible record, then verify the person, custody and court outcome through the county jail, MiCOURT, ICHAT or another appropriate official source.
Is Michigan Arrests.org an official government website?
No. It is not operated by the State of Michigan, a court or a sheriff. A listing should not replace an official county-jail search, MiCOURT case record, Michigan State Police ICHAT report or MDOC OTIS result.
How do I search Michigan arrest records by name?
Start with the last name and add the first name, county or booking date only when necessary. Compare the age, photograph, booking date, arresting agency and booking number, then confirm the record through the relevant county jail and court.
What does a Michigan ICHAT search cost and include?
The official Michigan State Police ICHAT name-based search currently costs $10 per search. It provides publicly available Michigan criminal-history information reported to the state repository, subject to the service’s exclusions and suppression rules.
Does Michigan ICHAT show active warrants?
No. Michigan State Police states that warrant information is not available through ICHAT. Contact the court or law-enforcement agency responsible for the possible warrant instead of relying on a private arrest website.
How do I find someone currently in a Michigan county jail?
Identify the arresting county and use that county sheriff or jail inmate search. Enter the last name first, compare the booking details and call the booking desk when the arrest is too recent to appear online.
Why is a recent Michigan arrest missing from OTIS?
OTIS is for people under Michigan Department of Corrections jurisdiction or qualifying recent supervision discharges. A person held in a county jail, federal facility, juvenile facility or another state may not appear there.
How do I check a Michigan criminal court case?
Use MiCOURT Case Search for a participating trial court, select the correct court and search by legal name or case number. If the court is not available or the result is unclear, contact the local district or circuit court clerk.
How can someone get bond or a public defender in Michigan?
Bond and release conditions are set by the court and should be confirmed with the jail or court handling the case. A defendant who cannot afford counsel should ask the court about appointed counsel at the first appearance and follow the local eligibility process.
How can I correct or clear a Michigan criminal record?
Compare the ICHAT report with the court record, then use the Michigan State Police correction process for inaccurate criminal-history information. For eligible convictions, review Michigan Clean Slate guidance and the court of conviction before asking a private website to update its copy.
Official-resource review completed August 2, 2026
This independent guide is not affiliated with Michigan Arrests.org, the Michigan State Police, Michigan Courts, MDOC, a county sheriff or another government agency. Official links, fees, phone numbers, hours, vendors and procedures can change. Confirm time-sensitive details with the responsible office.
Responsible-use notice: An arrest or booking is not a conviction. Do not use a mugshot or name-only result to harass a person or to make employment, housing, credit, insurance or other decisions that require a legally compliant consumer report.