Find Michigan Recent Arrests Online
Michigan recent arrests are public records you can search online. The state runs three main tools for this: ICHAT, OTIS, and MiCOURT. These systems pull arrest and booking data from all 83 Michigan counties. Each county sheriff's office keeps its own records too. City police make arrests in their area. The county jail and court system then handle most cases from that point on. You can search by name, case number, or date range on most of these systems. This page covers how to find recent arrests in Michigan and which tools and resources to use. Start with the search box below or keep reading.
Michigan Recent Arrests Overview
Michigan Recent Arrests Search Tools
Michigan has three main databases for looking up recent arrests and criminal records at the state level. The biggest one is ICHAT, short for Internet Criminal History Access Tool. The Michigan State Police Criminal Justice Information Center runs it. ICHAT pulls arrest data from all 83 counties. You need a full legal name and date of birth to search. It costs $10 per lookup. Results show felonies and serious misdemeanors punishable by more than 93 days. It does not show pending cases, traffic offenses, or juvenile records. Under MCL § 28.242, law enforcement must report arrests within 72 hours of booking. That keeps the database current. You can run a search at the ICHAT portal after creating an account.
OTIS is another key tool for finding recent arrests in Michigan. It stands for Offender Tracking Information System. The Michigan Department of Corrections runs OTIS. It tracks anyone currently or previously under MDOC supervision. That includes prisoners, parolees, and probationers. It also shows people discharged within the last three years. You can search OTIS by last name, MDOC number, gender, age, or race. The system is free to use with no account required. You can find the OTIS search page at mdocweb.state.mi.us.
The screenshot below shows the OTIS offender search page run by the Michigan Department of Corrections at mdocweb.state.mi.us.
OTIS shows status categories like Prisoner, Parole, Probation, and Discharged. The about page for OTIS explains these categories and what each search field does.
Here is the OTIS help and about page at mdocweb.state.mi.us.
That page explains search tips and the meaning of each offender status code used in the system.
MiCOURT is the statewide court case search system. It covers criminal, civil, traffic, and domestic cases across participating courts in all 83 Michigan counties. You can search by party name, case number, or attorney bar number. The tool is free. It shows case status, hearing dates, and party info. Full document access may still need an in-person visit. The Michigan Courts website hosts this tool.
The Michigan Courts homepage is shown below at courts.michigan.gov.
From this site you can reach the MiCOURT case search tool, court forms, and resources for each county court.
Below is the MiCOURT portal at micourt.courts.michigan.gov.
MiCOURT lets you filter by case type and date range. Some family law and juvenile records are restricted from public view.
Find Recent Arrests Across Michigan
Beyond state databases, you can get Michigan arrest records straight from the county sheriff's office or city police department. Each of the 83 county sheriffs keeps booking logs and arrest reports. Most accept FOIA requests by mail, email, or in person. Under MCL § 15.231, Michigan's Freedom of Information Act gives you the right to request government records. Agencies have five business days to respond. They can extend that to 15 days for complex requests. Copy fees are usually $0.10 to $0.50 per page. Certified copies cost more. If you cannot afford the fee, the first $20 may be waived if you receive public assistance or show financial need.
The Michigan State Police website below at michigan.gov/msp is a good starting point for statewide arrest record resources.
MSP manages ICHAT and other criminal justice databases used to track recent arrests across the state.
For a quick check on someone held in a county jail, many Michigan counties have online inmate lookup tools. Kent County runs a Web Jail Viewer. Kalamazoo County has a jail inmate search. Wayne County uses Sheriff Connect. Not all counties have these tools. For those that do not, you call the sheriff's office or visit in person. Phone numbers and addresses for each county are on their individual pages on this site.
The Michigan Sheriffs' Association website is shown below.
This site lists all 83 county sheriffs and can help you find the right office for your search.
The State of Michigan portal at michigan.gov is shown here.
This portal links to all state agencies including law enforcement and corrections departments that handle arrest data.
Note: FOIA requests for arrest records should go to the agency that made the arrest, whether that is a city police department or county sheriff's office.
Michigan Arrest Records and Public Access
Michigan arrest records contain specific details about each booking. A typical record includes the full name and date of birth of the person arrested, a physical description, mugshot, fingerprints, arrest date and time, arresting agency, charges filed, bond info, and court case number. Under MCL § 600.1420, court proceedings in Michigan are open to the public unless a specific statute says otherwise. That means most criminal case records are accessible through the courts once charges are filed.
MCL § 28.243 governs how criminal history records are maintained and shared. Arrests that do not result in a conviction are generally destroyed under MCL § 28.243(8). This means that if charges are dropped or a person is found not guilty, those arrest records may eventually be removed from state databases. However, records can still exist at the local level with the arresting agency. ICHAT only shows convictions and arrests that led to convictions. OTIS only shows people under MDOC supervision or recently discharged.
The Michigan Legislature website at legislature.mi.gov has the full text of these statutes.
You can search for any MCL section on this site to read the exact language of Michigan's criminal records laws.
The Michigan Department of Corrections homepage at michigan.gov/corrections is shown below.
MDOC manages state prisons and the OTIS database. Contact them at (517) 373-0720 or PO Box 30003, Lansing, MI 48909.
Michigan Recent Arrests and Victim Alerts
VINELink is a free victim notification service available across Michigan. It sends alerts by phone or email when an offender's custody status changes. That includes release, transfer, or escape from a facility. Anyone can sign up. You do not need to be a victim to use it. The system covers jails and prisons statewide. It is a useful tool for tracking recent arrests and custody changes in real time.
The VINELink website is shown below at vinelink.com.
Register on VINELink to get automatic updates about a specific person in custody anywhere in Michigan.
Michigan also maintains a Public Sex Offender Registry under MCL § 28.721 through MCL § 28.732. The Michigan PSOR lets you search by name, zip code, city, or county. It shows photos, addresses, and offense details for registered offenders. The Michigan State Police manage this registry. Under MCL § 445.1883, Michigan's mugshot removal law also stops commercial websites from charging fees to take down arrest photos.
The Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (MCOLES) sets training and certification rules for all law enforcement officers in the state. Their site is at michigan.gov/mcoles.
MCOLES certifies every officer who has the authority to make arrests in Michigan.
Clearing Michigan Arrest Records
Michigan expanded its expungement options with the Clean Slate law that took effect in April 2023. Under MCL § 780.621 through MCL § 780.623, many old convictions can now be set aside automatically or by application. Automatic expungement applies to up to two felonies after 10 years and up to four misdemeanors after seven years. You must have no new convictions during the waiting period. Application-based expungement uses Form MC 227 from the Michigan Courts website. The filing fee is $50, though waivers are available.
Not all offenses qualify. Assaultive crimes, serious misdemeanors, and offenses punishable by 10 or more years are generally not eligible. Sex offenses and crimes involving minors are also excluded. But the Clean Slate law significantly broadened who can clear their record. If you need help figuring out what qualifies, Michigan Legal Help has free tools and guides on their site.
The Michigan Legal Help website is shown below at michiganlegalhelp.org.
This site walks you through the expungement process step by step and helps you check eligibility.
Note: Expunged records are removed from public databases like ICHAT, but the process can take several months after the court order is entered.
Browse Michigan Recent Arrests by County
Each of Michigan's 83 counties has a sheriff's office that handles arrest records and jail bookings. Pick a county below to find local contact info, court details, and resources for recent arrests in that area.
Recent Arrests in Major Michigan Cities
City police departments across Michigan handle arrests in their area. The county sheriff runs the jail in most cases. Pick a city below to learn about arrest records and search tools specific to that area.