Michigan Arrest Records Search | Criminal Records 2026

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Michigan statewide guide · Arrest, court, jail and criminal-history records

Michigan Criminal Record Lookup: Use the Right Search for the Right Result

Michigan does not place every arrest, jail booking, court case, warrant and prison record in one public database. A recent county-jail booking, an MSP criminal-history response, a MiCOURT docket and an MDOC offender profile answer different questions.

This guide brings the important official rules into one page: what ICHAT includes and excludes, how to find recent custody, why felony cases may appear in two courts, how to request police reports, how to obtain a fingerprint-based personal record, how to correct errors and how Michigan Clean Slate works.

Run the live ICHAT search Search Michigan court cases Choose the correct database
Do not identify a person from a name alone. ICHAT is name-based, court systems can contain similar names and county booking photographs do not prove guilt. Match the full name, date of birth, arrest date, county, case number and disposition before relying on a result.
ICHAT fee

$10 for each public name search.

Personal fingerprint record

$30 plus local fingerprinting cost.

Criminal-history help

517-241-0606

MI-VINE

800-770-7657

Facts reviewed

July 23, 2026.

Start here

Choose the database based on the answer you need

MSP ICHAT Public Michigan criminal history

Use when you have the person’s name, gender and date of birth and need public criminal-history information reported to the Michigan State Police.

COUNTY JAIL OR MI-VINE Recent arrest or current custody

Use when someone may have been arrested recently, is awaiting arraignment, remains in county jail or may have been released or transferred.

MiCOURT Charges, hearings and disposition

Use when you need the filed court case, arraignment, bond order, hearing history, plea, dismissal, judgment or sentence.

MDOC OTIS Prison, parole or probation

Use for eligible people under Michigan Department of Corrections supervision or discharged from supervision within the previous three years.

Best complete-record sequence: Check county custody first for a recent arrest, use ICHAT for statewide public history, search MiCOURT for the case outcome and use OTIS only when MDOC prison, parole or probation supervision is relevant.

Choose the problem you need to solve

The article contains the operating rules, fees, exclusions and next steps—not merely links to other pages.

Michigan State Police search

How to run an accurate Michigan ICHAT criminal-history search

ICHAT is the Michigan State Police Internet Criminal History Access Tool. It is a paid, name-based search of public criminal-history information maintained by the Criminal Justice Information Center.

Collect the required identity information Prepare the subject’s legal first name, legal last name, gender and complete date of birth. Do not guess the birth date.
Open the official ICHAT service Use the Michigan State Police ICHAT landing page. Create or use the account required by the live system.
Enter the legal name Use the name that would have been given to law enforcement. A nickname or married name may not retrieve every possible record.
Enter gender and date of birth carefully One incorrect digit or selection can produce no result or a result belonging to a different person.
Pay the $10 search charge The fee applies per submitted name search. Confirm the details before checkout because a corrected search can require another payment.
Review all identity descriptors Compare the name, date of birth, aliases, physical descriptors and identifying information displayed in the response.
Separate each arrest and case event One person can have several arrest, charge and court segments from different counties and years.
Verify the latest disposition with the court Use the county and court information in the history to locate the MiCOURT case or contact the court of record.
Name-based search limitation: ICHAT does not compare fingerprints. Similar names and birth dates can create an incorrect apparent match. For your own comprehensive record, use the fingerprint-based personal-record procedure.
Run the live $10 ICHAT search Call criminal-history records
Coverage

What Michigan ICHAT can show

Michigan State Police describes criminal-history information as including personal descriptors, misdemeanor convictions and felony arrests and convictions. Michigan law-enforcement agencies, prosecutors and courts report qualifying records from all 83 counties to the state repository.

Identity information

Name, date of birth, aliases or former names and available physical or identifying descriptors associated with the state record.

Felony arrest segments

Publicly releasable felony arrest information reported to the Michigan criminal-history repository.

Felony convictions

Court and disposition information received by MSP for publicly available Michigan felony convictions.

Misdemeanor convictions

Public misdemeanor conviction information maintained in the state criminal-history record.

Reporting county

The history can help identify the county or court that should be contacted for the official case file.

Multiple case events

A response can contain separate arrest, prosecutorial and judicial segments for different incidents.

State-reporting rule: MSP states that all felonies and serious misdemeanors punishable by more than 93 days must be reported to the state repository by law-enforcement agencies, prosecutors and courts.
Search limitations

What ICHAT does not show

Records that require another search or agency
Missing from ICHAT Why it may be absent Correct next step
Current county-jail custody ICHAT is not a live jail roster. Search the county sheriff or MI-VINE.
Warrant information MSP expressly excludes warrants from ICHAT. Contact the issuing court or local law-enforcement agency.
Suppressed or set-aside records Nonpublic and legally suppressed information is not released through ICHAT. Use your fingerprint personal record or contact the court when legally authorized.
Federal cases Federal criminal history is outside Michigan’s state repository search. Use the appropriate federal court or FBI process.
Tribal records Tribal records are not included in ICHAT. Contact the relevant tribal court or authority.
Other-state history ICHAT covers Michigan records, not every state. Search the other state or use a legally required national fingerprint check.
Traffic records Traffic records are excluded from ICHAT. Search the court handling the traffic case.
Juvenile cases Juvenile records are not publicly shown through ICHAT. Contact the court only if legally entitled to access.
Local misdemeanors Local misdemeanor information is listed among ICHAT exclusions. Search the local district court.
Police narrative or body-camera video ICHAT is a criminal-history response, not the investigative file. Submit a FOIA request to the agency that created the record.
Complete mugshot history Michigan does not provide a single statewide public mugshot archive through ICHAT. Check the county jail or OTIS when applicable.
No ICHAT record does not prove that the person was never arrested. The event may be outside Michigan, held locally, juvenile, federal, traffic-related, suppressed, set aside, unreported or too recent to appear.
Result interpretation

How to read a Michigan criminal-history response

Criminal-history segments and what they mean
Segment or field What it generally represents What to verify
Identity descriptors Name, birth date, aliases and other identifying information associated with the record. Use several descriptors before deciding the response belongs to the person searched.
Arrest segment Information reported by the arresting law-enforcement agency. Check agency, arrest date, offense and available tracking identifiers.
Charge segment Information reported through the prosecutorial charging process. An arrest allegation and prosecutor-authorized charge may differ.
Judicial segment Court information, disposition or sentence reported to MSP. Use the court docket and official judgment for the complete result.
County or court The jurisdiction connected with the criminal event. Use it to select the correct MiCOURT court or contact the clerk.
Dismissal or nolle prosequi The charge was dismissed or the prosecutor declined to proceed at that time. Confirm which counts were affected and whether any other count remained.
Conviction The court entered a conviction for the identified offense. Read the judgment, sentence and later set-aside status.
Missing disposition The final court information may not have been transmitted or matched correctly. Contact the court and request correction through the reporting agency.
Arrest and conviction are different events. A felony arrest can appear even when the case later ended without a conviction. Always locate the judicial segment or court file before describing the outcome.
Recent arrests

How to find someone arrested recently in Michigan

Michigan county jails are operated by counties, not by the Michigan Department of Corrections. This is why OTIS and ICHAT are often the wrong first search during the first hours or days after an arrest.

Identify the arrest location Determine the city, township, highway, county or law-enforcement agency involved.
Convert the location to the correct county Search the county where the person was arrested, not necessarily where the person lives.
Check the county sheriff’s jail search Look for inmate lookup, jail roster, current inmates, recent bookings or corrections information.
Search the legal surname first Add the first name, birth date or booking date only when necessary.
Try the arresting police department A recently arrested person may remain in a city lockup or booking process before transfer to the county jail.
Check MI-VINE Participating county jails may provide custody and release information through Michigan’s victim-notification network.
Call with useful identifiers Prepare the full legal name, date of birth, arrest date, arresting agency and possible booking number.
Search the district court after arraignment Once charges are filed, the district court record can show arraignment, bond and future dates.
Arrest occurred only hours ago Transport, medical screening, identity verification and booking may still be underway.
Person appeared earlier but disappeared The person may have posted bond, been released, transferred or moved to another jurisdiction.
Police report exists but no jail record The person may not have been arrested, may have received a citation or may already be out of custody.
Court case exists but no jail record The case may be older, the person may be released on bond or the court may have issued a summons.
County jail call script “I am trying to confirm whether [full legal name], date of birth [date], is currently in your custody. The arrest may have occurred on [date] through [agency]. Can you confirm the booking number, current facility, bond status or whether the person was released or transferred?”
MiCOURT workflow

How to search Michigan criminal court records

Identify the county and likely court Use the arrest location, ICHAT county, ticket, bond paperwork or police report to identify the jurisdiction.
Open MiCOURT Case Search Select the relevant district or circuit court rather than assuming one search covers every Michigan court.
Search by case number first A case number provides a more precise match than a person’s name.
Use name and date filters carefully Begin broadly. Overly narrow information can hide a valid result because of a spelling or data-entry difference.
Check both district and circuit court for felonies The felony begins in district court. After bindover, later proceedings occur in circuit court.
Read the docket chronologically Identify arraignment, bond, probable cause conference, preliminary examination, bindover, plea, trial, judgment and sentence.
Look for amended charges The final court charge can differ from the arrest description or original complaint.
Contact the court for older or missing records MiCOURT does not replace the official file, and some courts limit displayed conviction information to seven years after sentencing.
MiCOURT is informational. The official record remains with the court. Obtain a certified judgment, register of actions or disposition when formal proof is needed.
Known MiCOURT display issue: MiCOURT warns that attempted felony charges under MCL 750.92 can temporarily display “FELONY” even when the attempt is legally classified as a misdemeanor. Contact the trial court or check the governing statute before relying on the displayed charge level.
Search the live MiCOURT system Find the court of record
Michigan criminal process

Why one felony can appear in district and circuit court

Where Michigan criminal proceedings occur
Case stage Typical court What the record may show
Misdemeanor arraignment District court Charge, plea, bond and pretrial date.
Misdemeanor plea or trial District court Plea, trial result, judgment and sentence.
Felony initial arraignment District court Initial charges, advice of rights, bond and probable cause dates.
Probable cause conference District court Preliminary negotiations, scheduling or waiver information.
Preliminary examination District court Whether probable cause supports sending the felony to circuit court.
Bindover Transfer from district to circuit Order sending the felony case to circuit court.
Felony arraignment, plea or trial Circuit court Formal circuit case, plea, motions, trial and judgment.
Felony sentencing Circuit court Sentence, fines, restitution, jail, probation or prison terms.
Search rule: When a felony district-court case appears to stop after a bindover, search the corresponding circuit court rather than assuming the case was dismissed.
Michigan Department of Corrections

When to use OTIS—and when not to use it

OTIS is the Michigan Department of Corrections Offender Tracking Information System. It is intended for qualifying prison, parole and probation supervision information, not as a complete criminal background check.

OTIS generally contains
  • Current Michigan prisoners.
  • Current MDOC parolees.
  • Current MDOC probationers.
  • People discharged from MDOC supervision within the previous three years.
  • Available supervision, sentence, offense and facility information.
OTIS does not contain
  • County jail or city lockup inmates.
  • People sentenced only to a county jail.
  • People convicted but not yet sentenced.
  • People discharged from supervision more than three years ago.
  • Every criminal-history event or out-of-state case.
  • Information exempt under Michigan FOIA.
Photograph limitation: OTIS may not contain a photograph when the offender left the system before electronic photographs were taken or when a current photo has not yet been added.
Do not use OTIS as a complete background check. MDOC itself directs users to ICHAT for Michigan criminal-history information and warns that OTIS does not contain jail-only sentences or crimes from other states.
Run the live OTIS offender search
Warrant safety

How to check a possible Michigan arrest warrant

ICHAT does not provide warrant information, and Michigan does not offer one public statewide warrant search that can safely confirm every county and court.

Identify the likely issuing jurisdiction Use the county, city, police agency, prosecutor or court connected with the alleged case.
Search the local court case A MiCOURT docket may contain warrant-related entries, but an online docket alone may not confirm active status.
Check the county sheriff or local police Some agencies publish warrant or wanted-person information; others require a telephone inquiry.
Use full identity information Compare the full name, birth date, physical descriptors, case number and warrant number.
Confirm directly before taking action A warrant can be recalled, served, quashed or affected by court action after an online entry was posted.
Resolve personal warrant concerns safely Contact a Michigan attorney, the court or law enforcement for case-specific instructions.
Never confront or attempt to detain anyone. Similar names, outdated entries and dangerous circumstances make private enforcement unsafe.
Police reports and recordings

How to request a Michigan arrest or incident report

Request the report from the agency that created it. Michigan State Police FOIA handles MSP reports. County sheriff and city police records must be requested from those local agencies.

Request the record from the correct custodian
Record needed Likely custodian Information to provide
MSP incident or arrest report Michigan State Police Records Resource Section Incident number, date, location, names and MSP post or unit.
County sheriff arrest report The county sheriff’s records or FOIA office Sheriff report number, arrest date, person and location.
City police report The municipal police department Police report number, date, address and involved names.
Body-camera or dash-camera recording The agency operating the camera Officer, unit, date, time, location and incident number.
Charging document The court or prosecuting attorney Court case number and defendant name.
Certified judgment or sentence The court of conviction Case number and exact document requested.
Booking photograph County jail or arresting agency Booking number, arrest date and full identity information.

Information that makes a FOIA request easier to process

Full legal name of the subject
Date of birth when known
Specific date or narrow date range
Street, city, county or incident location
Arresting agency or MSP post
Incident, complaint, arrest or case number
Exact documents or recordings requested
Preferred electronic format
Maximum approved cost
Requester contact and mailing information
Copy-ready Michigan public-record request
Under the Michigan Freedom of Information Act, I request an electronic copy of the releasable incident report, arrest report, probable-cause documents, supplemental reports and available body-worn or in-car camera recordings relating to [full legal name], date of birth [date if known], for the incident occurring on or about [date and time] at [location]. The known incident, complaint, arrest or court number is [number]. Please provide a written estimate before processing if the total cost will exceed $[amount].
Request existing records—not explanations. FOIA requires a sufficient description of identifiable public records. The agency is not required to create a new narrative, answer legal questions or conduct open-ended research.
MSP FOIA procedure

Michigan State Police request methods, timing and fees

MSP Records Resource Section
P.O. Box 30634
Lansing, MI 48909

Phone: 517-241-1934

Fax: 517-241-1935

Email: MSPRecords@Michigan.gov

Overnight or in-person location
Michigan State Police Headquarters
7150 Harris Drive
Dimondale, MI 48821

MSP does not offer same-day FOIA service.

MSP FOIA response and payment rules
Rule Current published detail Practical meaning
Initial response Within five business days The response may grant, deny, partially grant or extend the request.
Extension One extension of up to 10 business days The extension notice should provide the new response deadline.
Portal account Free MiLogin account required The portal allows requests, tracking, invoices and secure downloads.
Online payment fee $2 processing fee Check or money-order payment avoids the online processing charge.
Estimated fee above $50 Good-faith deposit may be required The deposit cannot exceed half of the estimated total.
Indigency waiver First $20 may be waived for a qualifying requester Submit the required affidavit of indigency with the request.
Large media requests Labor, review and redaction charges may apply Narrow the date, officers, location and recording type.
Large digital files May be delivered on physical media Video or audio exceeding portal limits may be mailed after payment.
Do not submit duplicates. MSP instructs requesters not to send the same request through the portal, email, fax and mail because duplicate submissions can slow processing.
Submit the MSP FOIA request Email MSP Records
Fingerprint record checks

When a $10 name search is not enough

Public ICHAT search

Name-based public search. Cost: $10 per search. Best for publicly available Michigan history.

Personal fingerprint record

Fingerprint-based Michigan history for personal, visa, immigration or adoption use. MSP fee: $30.

Statutory employment or licensing

Use the RI-030 and approved Live Scan process when the employer or licensing authority is legally authorized to require fingerprints.

Personal, visa, immigration or adoption record procedure

Obtain the correct fingerprint card Michigan residents request a Michigan Applicant Fingerprint Card RI-008 from a local law-enforcement agency. Nonresidents use an FBI Applicant Fingerprint Card FD-258.
Complete every demographic field Include the legal name, birth information, signature and reason for fingerprinting.
Have fingerprints taken by law enforcement Call first for hours and local fees. An agency may use Live Scan equipment but must give the applicant the printed card for this mailed process.
Write a cover letter Explain the purpose, include a return address, telephone number and email, and state whether additional original responses are needed.
Include the $30 MSP fee Pay by check or money order to the State of Michigan. Local fingerprinting fees are separate.
Mail the complete packet Send it to Michigan State Police CJIC, P.O. Box 30266, Lansing, MI 48909-7766.
Allow three to five weeks This period includes MSP processing and mail delivery.
Use the certified or notarized response MSP provides one original response. Add $1 for each additional original requested.
Mail fingerprint personal checks to
Michigan State Police
Criminal Justice Information Center
P.O. Box 30266
Lansing, MI 48909-7766
Criminal-history assistance

517-241-0606

msp-crd-crimhelp@michigan.gov

Employment and licensing fingerprint checks

  • Obtain the RI-030 request form from the employer or licensing agency.
  • Complete the applicant sections specified on the form.
  • Use an approved Live Scan agency or another authorized fingerprint location.
  • The vendor collects the applicable state and FBI search fees and may add a service fee.
  • MSP publishes a turnaround time of seven business days or less.
  • The result is returned to the legally authorized employer or licensing agency identified on the form.
Do not substitute ICHAT when fingerprints are legally required. A $10 public name search does not satisfy an authorized fingerprint-based employment or licensing process.
Start the fingerprint record process
Record corrections

How to correct inaccurate Michigan criminal-history information

Michigan State Police cannot simply change a criminal-history segment based only on a telephone complaint. The agency that originally reported the information must correct it or verify the correction with MSP.

Contact the source responsible for the incorrect segment
Incorrect information Contact first Proof to prepare
Wrong person or erroneous arrest The arresting law-enforcement agency shown in the arrest segment Fingerprint comparison, identification, incident number and court records.
Incorrect charge information The prosecuting attorney shown in the charge segment Charging documents, amended complaint or prosecutorial correspondence.
Incorrect disposition or sentence The court shown in the judicial segment Certified judgment, dismissal, register of actions or set-aside order.
Court cannot update electronically The court and MSP Criminal History Records Court-completed RI-027 Judicial Correction Worksheet.
OTIS court-derived information The sentencing court Corrected judgment or court order.
OTIS supervision information The supervising parole or probation office Agent verification or MDOC correction.
Federal criminal-history entry The agency that supplied the information to the FBI FBI challenge materials and source-agency correction.
Save the full record response Identify the exact arrest, charge or judicial segment that is wrong.
Obtain certified supporting documents A screenshot or personal statement may not be enough to change an official criminal-history record.
Contact the reporting agency Ask it to update the information electronically or verify the correction with MSP.
Keep written proof of the request Save emails, letters, names, dates and confirmation numbers.
Contact MSP when agency assistance is needed Use 517-241-0606, fax 517-241-0866 or msp-crd-crimhelp@michigan.gov.
Run a new search after correction Confirm that ICHAT, the court and any applicable OTIS information now agree.
MSP Criminal History Records

Phone: 517-241-0606

Fax: 517-241-0866

Email: msp-crd-crimhelp@michigan.gov

Correction principle

MSP must verify changes with the agency that reported the arrest, charge or court information.

Dismissed cases

When Michigan arrest fingerprints and biometric data may be destroyed

Michigan State Police identifies a separate court process for possible destruction of fingerprints and arrest-card data following certain outcomes such as not guilty, not guilty by reason of insanity, dismissal or nolle prosequi.

Confirm the final case outcome Obtain the certified dismissal, acquittal or other qualifying court disposition.
Ask the court about form MC 235 The Motion for Destruction of Biometric Data and Arrest Card must be completed by the court and signed by the judge.
Complete the required personal information The form requires the defendant’s or juvenile’s name, current address, telephone number and date of birth.
Check statutory exceptions Certain deferred, diversionary and specialty-court dismissals do not permit fingerprint destruction under this process.
Send the signed form to MSP The court may fax it to 517-241-0866 or mail it to MSP CJIC at P.O. Box 30266, Lansing, MI 48909-7766.
Verify the result afterward Check the court and criminal-history record to confirm the authorized change was processed.

Examples of dismissals that do not permit destruction under this procedure

Deferred or special statutory dispositions
  • Controlled-substance deferral under MCL 333.7411.
  • Parental kidnapping provision under MCL 750.350a.
  • Holmes Youthful Trainee Act under MCL 762.14.
  • Spouse abuse deferral under MCL 769.4a.
Specialty court dispositions
  • Drug treatment court under MCL 600.1076.
  • Veterans treatment court under MCL 600.1209.
  • Mental health treatment court under MCL 600.1095.
  • Practicing under the influence under MCL 750.430.
Destruction is not the same as a conviction set aside. The correct procedure depends on the arrest outcome, statutory disposition and whether a conviction exists.
Michigan Clean Slate

Automatic and application-based conviction set asides

Michigan uses the legal term “set aside,” although the process is often called expungement. Some eligible convictions are set aside automatically, while others require fingerprints, an application and a court decision.

Automatic set-aside limits and waiting periods

Automatic Clean Slate criteria
Conviction category Maximum automatically set aside Waiting period
Misdemeanor punishable by 92 days or less No numerical limit under the automatic provision Seven years after imposition of sentence.
Misdemeanor punishable by 93 days or more Not more than four Seven years after imposition of sentence.
Eligible felony Not more than two Ten years after sentence or completion of MDOC imprisonment, whichever is later.

Additional automatic-set-aside conditions

The applicable seven- or 10-year period has passed
No criminal charge is pending in the MSP database
No new recorded conviction occurred during the applicable waiting period
The offense is not excluded from automatic relief
The numerical felony or serious-misdemeanor limit is not exceeded
The automatic database process correctly matched the conviction

Convictions excluded from automatic set aside

Serious conduct
  • Assaultive crimes.
  • Serious misdemeanors.
  • Crimes of dishonesty.
  • Offenses punishable by 10 or more years.
Protected victims or harm
  • Specified crimes involving a minor.
  • Crimes involving a vulnerable adult.
  • Specified injury, serious impairment or death offenses.
  • Human-trafficking violations.
Specified traffic offenses
  • Operating while intoxicated.
  • Commercial-vehicle violations committed by covered drivers.
  • Traffic offenses causing injury or death.
Automatic does not mean every eligible-looking record disappears immediately. Database matching, incomplete dispositions, pending charges, restitution issues or a legally excluded offense can prevent or reverse an automatic set aside.

Application-based adult set-aside procedure

Check eligibility and the complete court record ICHAT does not display juvenile cases, and the local court file may contain additional information.
File in the court where the conviction occurred A separate application is required for each court when convictions exist in more than one court.
Obtain applicant fingerprints Michigan residents use the RI-008 card. Nonresidents use the FD-258 card and mark the reason as Conviction Set Aside.
Obtain certified court records Include a certified judgment of sentence, probation order or register of actions as required.
Submit the $50 MSP processing fee Pay by check or money order to the State of Michigan. Juvenile set-aside applications do not require this MSP fee.
Mail the MSP packet Send fingerprints, application, certified records and payment to MSP CJIC, P.O. Box 30266, Lansing, MI 48909-7766.
Allow approximately eight weeks MSP sends responses to the court, prosecutor, attorney general and applicant or attorney.
Complete the court process MSP processing does not itself guarantee relief. The court decides the application.
Restitution warning: Michigan’s automatic-set-aside information states that a court may reinstate a conviction if the person has not made a good-faith effort to pay ordered restitution and the matter is properly raised.
Start the Michigan set-aside process Check automatic Clean Slate rules
Custody notifications

Use MI-VINE for release, transfer and court-status alerts

MI-VINE is a free, confidential 24-hour service for crime victims, families and the public. Users can search eligible offender information and register for changes in custody or court status.

Custody information

Check available status information for participating county jails or Michigan correctional custody.

Automatic notifications

Receive available alerts for release, transfer, escape or qualifying case-status changes.

Access methods

Use the online service or call 800-770-7657.

County coverage can vary. Michigan guidance states that the notification network covers most, but not all, counties. Confirm participation with the county or a victim advocate.
Do not depend on one alert for immediate safety. Keep contact details current, monitor the court and jail directly and contact law enforcement when there is an urgent threat.
Register for live MI-VINE notifications Call MI-VINE
No-result troubleshooting

Why a Michigan record may be missing

The arrest is too recent Booking, prosecutor review, court filing and transmission to MSP can occur at different times.
The name or birth date is incorrect A name-based search can fail because of a nickname, former name, alias, suffix or one incorrect date digit.
The person is in county jail Search the county sheriff or MI-VINE rather than OTIS.
The case is older than the MiCOURT display window Contact the court directly when it uses the seven-year criminal sentence filter.
The case is federal, tribal or out of state ICHAT does not include those jurisdictions.
The matter is juvenile or confidential Public access can be restricted by law or court order.
The conviction was set aside Set-aside information is generally removed from public criminal-history access while retained in a restricted nonpublic record.
The disposition was never matched Contact the court and reporting agency to correct an incomplete criminal-history segment.
Decision guide

Which search should you use for common situations?

1
Family member arrested today

Search the county jail and MI-VINE. Call the booking agency if intake is still underway.

2
Check public Michigan history

Run ICHAT with the legal name, gender and date of birth.

3
Find the court outcome

Search MiCOURT and check district and circuit court when the charge is a felony.

4
Locate a state prisoner

Use OTIS for eligible MDOC prison, parole and probation information.

5
Obtain the police narrative

Submit a focused FOIA request to the law-enforcement agency that created the report.

6
Review your own full record

Use the fingerprint-based $30 personal-record process rather than only ICHAT.

7
Correct wrong information

Contact the arresting agency, prosecutor or court responsible for the incorrect segment.

8
Remove an eligible conviction

Check automatic Clean Slate status and the application-based court process.

9
Receive release alerts

Register through MI-VINE and keep telephone and email details current.

Contact directory

Michigan criminal-record and correction contacts

State contacts organized by task
Office or service Contact Use it for
MSP Criminal History Records 517-241-0606 ICHAT, criminal-history questions, correction and record procedures.
MSP Criminal History Correction msp-crd-crimhelp@michigan.gov Help after contacting the agency responsible for an incorrect segment.
MSP FOIA Records Resource Section 517-241-1934
MSPRecords@Michigan.gov 		MSP incident reports, recordings and other MSP public records.
MSP FOIA fax 517-241-1935 Written MSP public-record requests.
MSP criminal-history fax 517-241-0866 Authorized correction worksheets and biometric-destruction forms.
MI-VINE 800-770-7657 Custody and court-status information and notifications.
MDOC general information 517-335-1426
CorrectionsInfo@michigan.gov 		Michigan prison, parole, probation and MDOC questions.
MDOC Crime Victim Services 877-886-5401
517-373-4467 		Victim registration and MDOC notification questions.
MDOC current prisoner records Corr_Records_Info@michigan.gov Current MDOC prisoner-record inquiries.
MDOC past prisoner records MDOC-Records_Retention@michigan.gov Past prisoner records up to the published retention-contact period.
Statewide jurisdiction map

Use the arrest location to identify the correct Michigan county

County-jail and local police records depend on where the arrest occurred. A person’s residence, employer or mailing address does not determine which sheriff, police department or court maintains the record.

Locate the city or township of arrest
Identify the county containing that location
Determine whether sheriff, city police or MSP made the arrest
Search the county jail for present custody
Search the local district court for arraignment
Search circuit court after felony bindover
Official-source verification

How this Michigan guide was researched

The procedures and figures in this page were extracted from current Michigan State Police criminal-history, ICHAT, fingerprint-record, correction, FOIA and Clean Slate guidance; Michigan Courts MiCOURT terms and court-process materials; Michigan Department of Corrections OTIS and record-contact pages; and Michigan MI-VINE victim-notification guidance.

Live searches remain external

ICHAT, MiCOURT, OTIS and MI-VINE must be used for current person-specific results.

Rules are explained here

Coverage, exclusions, fees, timing, correction procedures and waiting periods are included inside the article.

Formal proof requires the custodian

Certified court documents, fingerprint responses and agency reports must come from the official record holder.

Frequently asked questions

Michigan arrest and criminal-record questions answered

How do I search Michigan arrest records online?

Use ICHAT for public statewide criminal history, a county sheriff or MI-VINE for recent custody, MiCOURT for court cases and OTIS for eligible MDOC supervision records.

How much is an ICHAT search?

The current fee is $10 for each name-based public criminal-history search.

What information do I need for ICHAT?

Prepare the subject’s first name, last name, gender and complete date of birth.

Does ICHAT show every Michigan arrest?

No. It excludes warrants, suppressed records, federal, tribal, traffic, juvenile, local misdemeanor and out-of-state information. A recent event may also not yet appear.

Does ICHAT show warrants?

No. MSP specifically states that warrant information is unavailable through ICHAT.

Does Michigan have one statewide jail roster?

No single state search covers every county jail. Search the county sheriff or use MI-VINE where the county participates.

Why is an inmate not in OTIS?

The person may be in a county jail, may have received only a jail sentence, may not have been sentenced yet or may have been discharged from MDOC supervision more than three years ago.

How do I find a felony case in Michigan?

Search district court for the arraignment and preliminary stages. If the case was bound over, search circuit court for later felony proceedings.

Why is an older conviction missing from MiCOURT?

Some courts display conviction information only when sentencing occurred within the last seven years. Contact the court of record for older files.

How do I get an MSP arrest report?

Submit a written MSP FOIA request through the portal, by email to MSPRecords@Michigan.gov, by fax to 517-241-1935 or by mail.

How quickly must MSP answer a FOIA request?

MSP publishes an initial response period of five business days, with one possible extension of up to 10 additional business days.

How much is my fingerprint-based Michigan record?

The MSP processing fee is $30. The fingerprinting agency may charge a separate fee.

How long does a fingerprint personal check take?

Allow three to five weeks for processing and mail delivery.

Who corrects an inaccurate arrest?

Contact the law-enforcement agency shown in the arrest segment. MSP must verify the change with the reporting agency.

Who corrects a wrong court disposition?

Contact the court shown in the judicial segment and obtain a certified correction or updated order.

Can fingerprints be destroyed after dismissal?

Some outcomes may qualify through court form MC 235, but several deferred and specialty-court dismissals are excluded. Ask the court about eligibility.

When are misdemeanors automatically set aside?

Eligible misdemeanors generally use a seven-year waiting period, subject to offense exclusions, pending-charge rules and numerical limits.

When is an eligible felony automatically set aside?

The general waiting period is 10 years after sentence or completion of MDOC imprisonment, whichever is later.

How much is an application-based adult set aside?

The current MSP processing fee is $50, in addition to fingerprinting and certified court-document costs.

How do I receive release notifications?

Register through MI-VINE online or call 800-770-7657. The service is free and confidential, although county participation may vary.

Accuracy, identity and legal-use notice

County Arrest Records is an independent informational guide. It is not the Michigan State Police, Michigan Courts, a county sheriff, Michigan Department of Corrections, MI-VINE, a prosecutor or a law firm.

Arrest, jail, warrant, criminal-history, court and supervision information can change after release, transfer, prosecutor review, court correction, appeal, automatic set aside or a judicial order. Confirm identity with multiple official identifiers and obtain a certified document when formal proof is required.

An arrest or criminal charge is not proof of guilt. Every accused person is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court. This page provides procedural information and is not legal advice.

Last official-source review: July 23, 2026.

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