Wayne County Michigan Arrest & Criminal Records Guide
Search Wayne County Arrest, Jail Booking and Criminal Court Records
Start with the Wayne County Sheriff when you need to know whether someone is in custody now. Move to the correct district court for a new criminal case, Third Judicial Circuit after a felony case reaches Circuit Court, or Michigan State Police ICHAT when you need a broader Michigan public criminal-history search.
This page connects those systems so you can follow an arrest from booking to bond, court, release or transfer without confusing a jail record with a conviction record. It also covers jail visits, commissary, calls, mail, FOIA requests, criminal-file copies and what to check when no result appears.
Wayne County Sheriff
Raphael “Ray” Washington
Inmate information
313-224-0797
Sheriff administration
313-833-0864
Adult Detention Facility
5301 Russell St., Detroit
Verified
August 28, 2026
Which Wayne County Record System Answers Your Question?
Wayne County Jail
Use for current custody, recent booking status, jail housing context and release information.
District Court
Use for arraignments, misdemeanor cases and the early stages of felony prosecution.
Third Circuit
Use for Wayne County felony cases after bind-over and other Circuit Court criminal matters.
Michigan ICHAT
Use for a statewide public criminal-history search maintained by Michigan State Police.
MDOC OTIS
Use for qualifying state prisoners, parolees and probationers—not people housed only in a county jail.
An arrest is not a conviction. A person may be arrested and later released without a conviction, have charges changed or dismissed, or have a record that is sealed or otherwise unavailable to the public. Match multiple identifiers and check the court disposition before drawing conclusions.
Start With the Action You Need
Is someone in jail right now?
Search the live Wayne County inmate system and confirm the person before using bond, visit or commissary information.
Was someone recently booked?
Check the Sheriff Jail Dashboard and inmate inquiry. Very recent arrests may not appear until registry processing is complete.
What are the charges or bond?
Identify the court of jurisdiction and verify the latest case and bond information there.
What happened in the criminal case?
Use the district court or Third Judicial Circuit depending on the case stage and municipality.
Need an arrest or jail record?
Request additional Sheriff-held public information through the Wayne County Sheriff FOIA process.
Need broader Michigan criminal history?
Use MSP ICHAT rather than treating the Wayne County jail roster as a background check.
Wayne County Arrest Records Quick Navigation
How to Search the Wayne County Jail Inmate System
The Sheriff’s inmate inquiry is the fastest place to check current Wayne County custody. Use it before calling the jail or sending money because the jail needs the correct inmate and booking information.
Open the official Sheriff inmate-search route.
Start from the Wayne County Sheriff Inmate Search page or continue to the Sheriff-linked live inmate inquiry.
Use the person’s legal name.
Search the full legal name when known. If the result is missing, retry with fewer name components and check common spelling variations.
Do not identify a person by name alone.
Compare any available age, date-of-birth information, booking information and court details before assuming the result belongs to the person you want.
Save the booking number.
Wayne County commissary instructions require the inmate’s 10-digit booking number, so copy it exactly before attempting a deposit.
Note the court of jurisdiction.
The Sheriff specifically directs users to the court for the most current charge, criminal-case and bond-type information.
Check for multiple charges.
A single jail booking can contain several charges and more than one originating law-enforcement agency.
Check the court separately.
Jail custody data answers “where is the person now?” Court data is better for “what happened next?”
Use FOIA for additional jail information.
Information beyond what the public inmate portal displays generally must be requested in writing.
Live-data rule: Wayne County’s Jail Dashboard is updated daily, but a newly arrested person still may not appear immediately while intake and registry processing are underway.
Six Checks Before You Rely on an Arrest Search Result
Full name
Match spelling and aliases.
Booking number
Save the current identifier.
Arresting agency
Check where the case began.
Court
Identify jurisdiction.
Case stage
District or Circuit.
Status
Custody, release or transfer.
Same-name risk: Court systems themselves warn that name searches can produce the wrong person. Two people can share a name and date of birth, and aliases can create additional confusion.
What Wayne County Booking Status Labels Mean
Pre-Trial
A detainee has a case assigned to a court and is waiting for final adjudication.
Sentenced
The person has been found guilty and sentenced to the Wayne County Jail.
Hold
The person is wanted by another jurisdiction without a local charge pending.
Writ
The detainee belongs to another facility but is temporarily in Wayne County custody for court proceedings.
Civil
The booking is associated with a civil charge or matter awaiting adjudication.
Other
Charges may be satisfied, but release can be delayed by discharge planning, another agency pickup or final release processing.
Why a person can remain after a case changes: Clearing one charge does not necessarily create immediate release. Another warrant, hold, detainer, mental-health discharge plan or agency pickup can affect custody.
No Wayne County Inmate Result? Check These Possibilities
1
The arrest is extremely recent
A person arriving from another agency or court must be processed through the Wayne County Jail Registry Unit before normal jail processing is complete.
2
The person was already released
Check the Jail Dashboard release information, then move to the court system for case status.
3
Another agency still has custody
An arrest by Detroit Police or another Wayne County municipality does not guarantee immediate placement in the county jail.
4
The name is indexed differently
Retry without a middle name, suffix or punctuation and consider aliases or former names.
5
The person moved to state custody
Search MDOC OTIS if the person was sentenced to state supervision or prison.
6
The case is juvenile
Juvenile records and detention information follow different confidentiality and access rules.
7
The record is not public
Sealed, expunged, suppressed and certain protected records do not appear through ordinary public searches.
8
You are using the wrong system
Jail search, district court, Third Circuit, ICHAT and OTIS contain different populations and should not be used interchangeably.
“I am trying to verify whether __________ is currently in Wayne County custody. The date of birth or approximate age is __________, the arrest may have occurred around __________, and the arresting agency may have been __________. Can you tell me which public search or court I should use?”
Arrest Record, Jail Record, Court Case and Criminal History Are Not the Same
| Record | Best Source | What It Usually Answers | Important Limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Current inmate record | Wayne County Sheriff | Whether a person is currently in Wayne County custody and related booking information. | Not a complete criminal history. |
| Arrest or jail documentation | Arresting agency / Sheriff FOIA | Agency-held records connected with an arrest or detention. | Some material may be exempt, redacted or held by another agency. |
| District court case | Local district court | Arraignment, misdemeanor or early felony proceedings. | Wayne County has many district courts. |
| Circuit felony case | Third Judicial Circuit | Public case activity after a felony reaches Circuit Court. | Odyssey is unofficial and does not provide every filed document online. |
| Michigan criminal history | MSP ICHAT | Public Michigan felony and qualifying misdemeanor criminal-history information. | No federal, tribal, out-of-state, juvenile, suppressed or warrant information. |
| State corrections record | MDOC OTIS | Qualifying prisoners, parolees and probationers under MDOC supervision. | Does not list county-jail-only inmates. |
How a Wayne County Criminal Case Moves From Arrest to Court
1
Arrest
Detroit Police, Sheriff, Michigan State Police or another municipal agency takes the person into custody.
2
Booking
Identity, charges, agency information and custody status are processed into the jail system when county detention is involved.
3
Arraignment
The court advises the accused of the charge and addresses release or bond conditions.
4
District Court
Misdemeanors remain at district level; felony cases generally begin there with preliminary proceedings.
5
Third Circuit
A felony that is bound over proceeds in Wayne County’s Circuit Court Criminal Division.
6
Disposition
The case may end through dismissal, plea, trial, sentencing or another court disposition.
Wayne County’s CJC simplifies part of this route: the Adult Detention Facility, Sheriff, Prosecutor, County Clerk Criminal Records and Third Judicial Circuit Criminal Division are now centered at 5301 Russell Street.
Find the Correct District Court Before Searching the Case
Wayne County does not have one district court for every arrest. The correct court usually depends on where the alleged offense occurred.
DETROIT
36th District Court
Criminal cases originating in Detroit commonly begin through the 36th District Court.
421 Madison Avenue
Detroit, MI 48226
313-965-2200
OUT-COUNTY
Municipal District Court
Dearborn, Livonia, Westland, Taylor, Romulus, Lincoln Park, Inkster, Hamtramck, Plymouth and other communities have their own district-court routes.
FELONY AFTER BIND-OVER
Third Judicial Circuit
Once a felony is bound over, follow the public Circuit Court case through Third Circuit Odyssey.
Useful shortcut: Michigan’s statewide court tools list Wayne County district courts and contact information. If you know the arresting city but not the court, start with that municipality.
How to Search Wayne County Third Circuit Criminal Cases
The Third Judicial Circuit Criminal Division is housed at the Criminal Justice Center. Its Odyssey Public Access system provides public case search results and registers of action, but it is not a certified background-check system.
Open Third Circuit Odyssey Public Access.
Go to the official Odyssey case-search page.
Read the public-access limitations.
Odyssey results are unofficial. Public document images filed by parties are not currently provided through the online system.
Use the case number when possible.
A case number reduces false matches and is more reliable than a common name.
When using a party search, verify carefully.
Compare identifiers and case details because people can share names and birth dates.
Open the register of actions.
Review arraignment-related entries, hearings, motions, pleas, trial activity and disposition information available to the public.
Check the most recent entry date.
Do not rely on a saved screenshot when the case is still active.
Order an official copy when needed.
Use the Wayne County Clerk Criminal Records route rather than presenting Odyssey as a certified record.
Do not use Odyssey as a background check. Third Circuit expressly warns against that use. Michigan State Police ICHAT is the statewide public criminal-history route.
How to Obtain Wayne County Criminal Court Record Copies
Recent criminal file
For Detroit criminal records and Wayne County criminal records after 1983, the County Clerk directs users to the CJC criminal records room.
Older archived file
Older records may have to be retrieved from archives before they can be inspected or copied.
Certified record
Certified documents require the Clerk’s certification process and are mailed because of the raised seal.
| Wayne County Clerk Copy | Published Charge | Practical Use |
|---|---|---|
| Uncertified copy | $2 per page | Ordinary review when certification is unnecessary. |
| Certified / authenticated copy | $10 certification plus applicable per-page charges | Court, legal, licensing or other formal use. |
| Card transaction | Additional $2.50 | Confirm the final charge before payment. |
Wayne County Clerk Records Division
2 Woodward Avenue, Room LL-61
Detroit, MI 48226
313-224-5530
wcrecordroom@waynecountymi.gov
Detroit, MI 48226
313-224-5530
wcrecordroom@waynecountymi.gov
Open the official Wayne County Clerk Criminal Record Request page.
Request Wayne County Sheriff Arrest or Jail Records Through FOIA
If the inmate portal does not contain the information you need, the Sheriff directs the public to use a written Freedom of Information Act request for additional publicly releasable information.
Identify the record—not just the person.
Specify whether you want a booking record, jail record, incident-related document or another Sheriff-held public record.
Give enough identifying information.
Include the person’s name, booking or inmate number when known, approximate date and the specific record period.
Use the Sheriff’s own FOIA route.
Open the Wayne County Sheriff FOIA page.
Keep the request narrow.
A clear date range, person and record description make it easier for the agency to identify responsive material.
Expect lawful redactions or exemptions.
FOIA does not make every law-enforcement record automatically public.
Save the submission confirmation.
Keep the request number, email or receipt so you can reference it later.
Agency ownership matters: If Detroit Police or another municipal department created the arrest report, that agency may be the correct public-record custodian rather than the Wayne County Sheriff.
Wayne County Jail Bond: What to Verify Before Paying
First action: Verify the current bond and charge with the court of jurisdiction. The Sheriff expressly says the court is the source for the most up-to-date bond-type information.
Who can post
The Sheriff states that the person posting a bond must be at least 18 years old.
Identification
Bring a state driver’s license or ID, military ID or passport.
Jail bond window
Bonds are generally accepted at the jail around the clock, subject to the weekday court-payment exception.
Card processing
The Sheriff’s current bond page lists an 8% card processing fee. Verify the fee before paying.
Weekday exception: Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., cash bonds and fines are directed to the court of jurisdiction, such as Third Circuit or 36th District Court. The resulting court bond receipt can then be provided to the Sheriff for processing.
Published Bond Payment Rules
- Cash in denominations of $20 or larger
- Cashier’s check accepted for qualifying bond payment
- Certified check accepted
- Checks made payable to Sheriff of Wayne County
- Separate check required for each charge
- Visa, Mastercard, Discover and American Express listed
- No personal checks
- No money orders
- No loose or rolled coins
- Registry processing must be complete before release
Additional-warrant check: During bond processing, the Sheriff conducts a LEIN inquiry. Additional wants or warrants can prevent release even after the bond you came to pay has been satisfied.
Review the official Wayne County Sheriff Bond Information page.
Wayne County Adult Detention Facility and Criminal Justice Center
Adult Detention Facility
Wayne County Criminal Justice Center
5301 Russell Street
Detroit, MI 48211
5301 Russell Street
Detroit, MI 48211
Adult Detention contact
313-202-7155
Inmate information
313-224-0797
Sheriff administration
Suite 400
313-833-0864
313-833-0864
The CJC opened for public criminal-justice operations in 2024. It brings the Adult Detention Facility, Sheriff, Prosecutor, County Clerk Criminal Records and Third Judicial Circuit Criminal Division into the same justice campus.
Visitor Parking
Parking Lot B
5560 Rivard Street
Detroit, MI 48211
Detroit, MI 48211
Parking Lot C
5300 Russell Street
Detroit, MI 48211
Detroit, MI 48211
No visitor drop-off area at the CJC site: Wayne County instructs visitors to use the designated parking locations and comply with posted signs and directions.
Wayne County Jail Video Visitation
Adult social visitation is video-based. Visitors can use an approved remote device or the public Video Visitation Suite at the Criminal Justice Center.
Social visitation windows
8:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
4:00 p.m.–9:00 p.m.
4:00 p.m.–9:00 p.m.
Visitor age / frequency
Visitors age 17 or older with approved identification are allowed one non-contact video visit per week for up to 30 minutes.
Public visitation suite
Open Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.; closed holidays and weekends. Facility schedules can change availability.
Housing-unit video blocks: The Sheriff also publishes remote video periods of 8:00–10:30 a.m., 12:30–2:00 p.m. and 6:00–9:00 p.m. Use the scheduling system for the actual slot available for the inmate.
Accepted Visitor Identification
- State-issued driver’s license
- State-issued identification card
- Passport
- Federal military identification
- City of Detroit Municipal Identification Card
Do not bring a phone into the ADF visitation area. Electronic devices, weapons and smoking items are prohibited, and Sheriff staff cannot store prohibited property for visitors.
Check current Wayne County inmate visitation rules before traveling.
Send Money or Buy Commissary for a Wayne County Inmate
Search the inmate first.
Confirm that the person is still in Wayne County custody.
Copy the 10-digit booking number.
Wayne County’s deposit instructions require this identifier.
Use Wayne County facility number 248211.
Enter that facility number when the payment system requests the jail identifier.
Choose a deposit route.
Funds may be deposited through the CJC lobby kiosk, online or by telephone.
Review the recipient before paying.
Match the inmate and booking number on the confirmation screen.
Save the receipt.
Keep the transaction reference in case the inmate account does not update as expected.
TouchPay Online
Deposit to the inmate’s fund account using facility number 248211 and the 10-digit booking number.
TouchPay telephone
866-204-1603
Care Packages
Wayne County directs families to JailATM for supported care-package purchases.
Commissary service: The Sheriff states that Canteen Correctional Services supplies snack foods, hygiene products, clothing and phone time and serves inmates four days per week.
Inmate Calls and Mail: What Wayne County Allows
Telephone calls
Jail phones support traditional collect, prepaid and inmate-funded calling options. Phone access depends on security level and conduct, and calls may be monitored or recorded.
Personal mail is digitally delivered
Letters, drawings and permitted pictures are processed for delivery through the inmate tablet Facility Messages system rather than handed to the inmate as ordinary physical personal mail.
Personal Mail Address
Wayne County Adult Detention Facility, Detroit, MI
Inmate First and Last Name (Booking Number)
P.O. Box 247
Phoenix, MD 21131
Inmate First and Last Name (Booking Number)
P.O. Box 247
Phoenix, MD 21131
Do not send books, packages, checks or money orders to that personal-mail address. The Sheriff states that those items are not accepted through the personal-mail process.
Picking Up Property After Release
Property Office hours
Monday–Friday
8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Closed weekends and holidays
8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Closed weekends and holidays
Third-party pickup
The inmate must sign an official Property Release Form naming the authorized person.
Pickup identification
The authorized third party must present a driver’s license, state ID or passport.
90-day deadline: The Sheriff states that property or clothing left unclaimed for 90 days after an inmate’s release can be destroyed or processed through escheatment.
Appointed Counsel and Indigent Defense in Wayne County
Wayne County’s Indigent Defense Services Department manages the county’s felony indigent-defense system, including the public-defender component and managed private assigned counsel.
Counsel at first appearance
Wayne County’s indigent-defense standards include ensuring counsel at the first court appearance for qualifying defendants.
Assigned counsel
A substantial portion of appointments are handled through private attorneys qualified for Wayne County’s managed assigned-counsel roster.
Neighborhood Defender Service
The county reports that part of its assigned-counsel caseload is handled through Neighborhood Defender Service Detroit.
Do not call the Prosecutor for defense advice. The Prosecutor represents the People of the State of Michigan. A defendant seeking advice about charges, bond, plea decisions or defense strategy should speak with defense counsel.
Wayne County Victim Case Updates and Support
The Wayne County Prosecutor’s Victim Services Unit helps crime victims understand court procedures, obtain court-event information, prepare for testimony and connect with additional support.
Court-event notification
Victim Services can help eligible victims follow scheduled court events connected with an active case.
Court support
Advocates can explain court procedures, assist with testimony preparation and act as a liaison with prosecutors.
Victim Impact Statement
Eligible victims can receive assistance with statements describing physical, emotional or financial effects of the crime.
ICHAT vs OTIS: Use the Right Michigan Database
Michigan State Police ICHAT
Use ICHAT for a public name-based Michigan criminal-history search. It includes public information from the state repository for felonies and qualifying serious misdemeanors reported by Michigan criminal-justice agencies.
Michigan Department of Corrections OTIS
Use OTIS for qualifying prisoners, parolees and probationers currently under MDOC supervision or recently discharged from supervision.
| Information | ICHAT | OTIS |
|---|---|---|
| Michigan public criminal history | Yes, subject to public-record limits | No, not a complete history |
| Wayne County jail-only inmate | Not a live custody roster | No |
| State prisoner | Criminal-history information may exist | Yes, if within OTIS coverage |
| Parole / probation under MDOC | Not supervision tracker | Yes, when publicly available |
| Warrants | Not included | Not a warrant-search system |
| Federal or another state’s record | Not included | Not included as a general criminal history |
ICHAT does not include everything. Michigan State Police states that suppressed records, warrant information, federal records, tribal records, traffic records, juvenile records, local misdemeanors and criminal history from other states are not included.
Where Did the Person Go After Wayne County Jail?
| Possible Status | What It Can Mean | What to Search Next |
|---|---|---|
| Released on bond | The person left physical custody but the criminal case continues. | District court or Third Circuit. |
| Case dismissed / no continued detention | Current jail custody can end even though an arrest record historically existed. | Court disposition. |
| Tether / electronic monitoring | The person may remain under county supervision outside a traditional jail housing unit. | Wayne County Jail Dashboard and court. |
| Transferred to another jurisdiction | A hold or warrant can result in another agency taking custody. | Receiving county, state or federal agency. |
| Sentenced to MDOC | The person may enter Michigan state corrections custody. | MDOC OTIS. |
| Awaiting another agency | Local charges may be satisfied while another warrant or detainer remains. | Court plus relevant agency. |
Official Wayne County Arrest, Jail and Court Resources
Wayne County Inmate Search
Official Sheriff starting page for current inmate information.
Live Inmate Inquiry
Open the Sheriff-linked inmate lookup system.
Wayne County Jail Dashboard
Review booking, population, housing and release information.
Bond Information
Check Sheriff bond procedures, payment forms and identification rules.
Inmate Visitation
Confirm current video-visit windows and visitor requirements.
Commissary
Review inmate deposit and care-package instructions.
Third Circuit Odyssey
Search public Circuit Court case records by case or party.
Criminal Record Requests
Order qualifying Wayne County Clerk criminal court records.
Sheriff FOIA
Request additional publicly releasable Sheriff records.
Use Arrest Information Carefully
Arrest does not establish guilt
Charges are accusations until the court reaches a disposition. A person can be released, acquitted or have charges dismissed.
Use current records
Active cases, bond, custody and release status can change quickly. Recheck the official portal instead of relying on an old screenshot.
Do not misuse identity data
Similar names are common. Confirm the correct individual and use criminal-record information only for lawful purposes.
Wayne County Michigan Arrest Records FAQs
1. How do I search Wayne County Michigan arrest records?
For current custody, start with the Wayne County Sheriff inmate-search system. For the criminal court case, use the district court where the case began or Third Judicial Circuit Odyssey after a felony reaches Circuit Court. For broader public Michigan criminal history, use Michigan State Police ICHAT.
2. How do I find out if someone is in Wayne County Jail right now?
Use the official Wayne County Sheriff inmate inquiry. If a very recent arrest does not appear, allow time for intake and registry processing or call inmate information at 313-224-0797.
3. Why can’t I find someone in the Wayne County inmate search?
The person may not have completed booking, may still be held by another agency, may already have been released, may have transferred to another jurisdiction or state custody, or may be indexed under a different name. Juvenile and nonpublic records also follow different rules.
4. Where do I find the charges and bond for a Wayne County inmate?
The Sheriff directs the public to the court of jurisdiction for the most current charge, court-case and bond-type information. Detroit cases commonly begin in the 36th District Court, while other Wayne County communities use their local district courts. Bound-over felony cases proceed in Third Judicial Circuit.
5. How do I search a Wayne County felony court case?
Use Third Judicial Circuit Odyssey Public Access for publicly available Circuit Court case information. Search by case number when possible because name-only searches can match the wrong person. Odyssey results are unofficial and should not be used as a background check.
6. How do I obtain a Wayne County arrest or jail report?
Records beyond the public inmate-search information may be requested through the Wayne County Sheriff FOIA process when the Sheriff is the record custodian. If another police department created the arrest report, that agency may need to receive the request instead.
7. How does bond work at Wayne County Jail?
Bonds are generally accepted through the jail 24 hours a day, but Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. cash bonds and fines are directed to the court of jurisdiction. The Sheriff states that the person posting bond must be at least 18 and must present accepted identification.
8. How do Wayne County Jail visits work?
Adult social visits are video-based. The Sheriff lists social visitation windows of 8:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.–9:00 p.m., with qualifying visitors age 17 or older generally allowed one non-contact video visit per week for up to 30 minutes. Check the scheduling system because facility availability can change.
9. How do I send money to a Wayne County inmate?
Wayne County uses TouchPay for inmate fund deposits. Have the inmate’s 10-digit booking number and Wayne County facility number 248211. Deposits can also be made using a lobby kiosk or by calling TouchPay at 866-204-1603.
10. What is the difference between Wayne County inmate search, ICHAT and OTIS?
The Wayne County inmate search is for county custody. ICHAT is Michigan State Police’s public statewide criminal-history search. OTIS is the Michigan Department of Corrections system for qualifying state prisoners, parolees and probationers and does not list people who are only in a county jail.
Independent Guide and Verification Notice
County-CAD.org is an independent informational guide and is not affiliated with the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office, Wayne County Clerk, Wayne County Prosecutor, Third Judicial Circuit of Michigan, 36th District Court, Michigan State Police, Michigan Department of Corrections, TouchPay, JailATM or any arresting law-enforcement agency.
Jail custody, charges, bond conditions, court dates, release status, visitation availability, vendor fees, criminal-history visibility and public-record access can change. Always verify time-sensitive information with the Sheriff, responsible court or record custodian before paying money, traveling to a facility or relying on a record for a legal decision.
Editorial verification date: August 28, 2026.
Slug: wayne-county-arrest-records