Detroit Recent Arrests
Detroit recent arrests are processed through one of the largest police departments in the state of Michigan. With a population over 630,000, the city sees a high volume of bookings each day. The Detroit Police Department handles arrests within city limits, while the Wayne County Sheriff runs the main jail. You can search for recent arrests in Detroit through local police records, the county jail roster, or state tools like ICHAT and OTIS. This page walks through the best ways to look up Detroit arrest records and find the info you need.
Detroit Arrest Records Overview
Detroit Police Department Arrests
The Detroit Police Department is based at 735 Randolph Street in downtown Detroit. It is the largest police force in Michigan. The department makes thousands of arrests each year across the city. If someone gets arrested by Detroit Police, they are typically booked at a local precinct before being transferred to Wayne County custody for holding. The non-emergency line is (313) 267-4600. For records requests, call (313) 596-1300. The records division handles copies of arrest reports, incident reports, and other police documents.
Detroit Police publishes some arrest data through press releases and crime reports. You can also file a Freedom of Information Act request under MCL § 15.231 to get specific arrest reports. The department has five business days to respond. Expect to pay around $1 per page for copies. If you can show financial hardship, the first $20 in fees may be waived. FOIA requests can be submitted by mail or in person at the records division.
Arrests in Detroit get reported to the state under MCL § 28.242. This means they show up in statewide databases within 72 hours in most cases.
Detroit Police Department
| Address | 735 Randolph St, Detroit, MI 48226 |
| Non-Emergency | (313) 267-4600 |
| Records Division | (313) 596-1300 |
Wayne County Jail and Detroit Bookings
After an arrest in Detroit, the person usually ends up at the Wayne County Jail. The Wayne County Sheriff operates the jail and handles all bookings for Detroit and other cities in the county. This is where custody records are kept. The jail has an inmate lookup tool that lets you search for people currently in custody. You can search by name and see booking dates, charges, and bond amounts. The system updates as new bookings come in throughout the day.
Wayne County is one of the busiest jail systems in Michigan. People arrested in Detroit on felony charges will stay in county custody until their arraignment. Misdemeanor arrests may result in a quick release on bond. If you need to find out if someone was recently arrested in Detroit, the Wayne County jail search is the fastest option. For more details on county-level records, see the full Wayne County recent arrests page.
The sheriff's office also responds to FOIA requests for booking records. Keep in mind that the jail only shows current inmates. Once someone is released, their record may not appear in the online system anymore.
Detroit Court Records After Arrest
Criminal cases from Detroit arrests go through two courts. Initial proceedings, arraignments, and misdemeanor cases are handled by the 36th District Court. This is one of the busiest district courts in the whole state. It sits at 421 Madison Avenue in Detroit. Felony cases start at the 36th District for preliminary exams but then move to the 3rd Circuit Court for trial. The 3rd Circuit Court is at the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center, 2 Woodward Avenue.
You can look up Detroit court cases through the MiCOURT portal. This free tool lets you search by name or case number. It shows case status, hearing dates, and the parties involved. Full documents may need an in-person visit to the clerk's office. Court records are public under MCL § 600.1420, with some exceptions for juvenile and sealed cases.
Note: The 36th District Court handles more arraignments per year than most other district courts in Michigan combined.
Search Detroit Recent Arrests Online
ICHAT is the state criminal history tool run by the Michigan State Police. It costs $10 per search. You need a name and date of birth. ICHAT pulls records from all Michigan courts and law enforcement agencies, so Detroit arrests will show up here. It covers felonies and serious misdemeanors but does not include pending cases or minor traffic offenses.
OTIS is free and tracks people under Michigan Department of Corrections supervision. If someone arrested in Detroit went to state prison or is on parole, OTIS shows their status. You can search by name or MDOC number. The database also covers people who were discharged in the last three years. OTIS does not show county jail inmates or people awaiting trial.
The Detroit Police Department website at detroitmi.gov provides information on the department and how to request records.
You can use the Detroit Police site to learn about the records division, file FOIA requests, and find precinct contact details for arrest inquiries.
VINELink is a free victim notification system. You can register to get alerts when someone's custody status changes in Wayne County or a state facility. It covers releases, transfers, and escapes. This is useful if you need real-time updates on a Detroit arrest.
Clearing Detroit Arrest Records
Michigan's Clean Slate law lets people get old arrests and convictions removed from their record. Under MCL § 780.621, up to two felonies can be set aside after 10 years and up to four misdemeanors after seven years. Some offenses qualify for automatic expungement. You file the petition with the 3rd Circuit Court if the case was a Wayne County felony. The filing fee is $50 but waivers exist for those who cannot pay.
Not every conviction qualifies. Serious violent crimes, sex offenses, and sentences of 10 or more years are excluded. Under MCL § 28.243, arrest records that did not lead to a conviction may be destroyed after a set period. If charges were dropped or dismissed, you may be able to get the arrest record removed sooner. Michigan Legal Help has free guides and tools to check your eligibility.
Once an expungement is granted, the Detroit arrest record gets removed from ICHAT and other public databases. This process can take several months after the court signs the order. MCL § 445.1883 also protects people from websites that charge to remove mugshots.
Wayne County Arrest Records
Detroit sits in Wayne County, which is the most populated county in Michigan. The Wayne County Sheriff handles jail operations and booking records for the entire county. For a complete look at arrest records across all Wayne County cities, visit the county page.
Nearby Cities
These cities are near Detroit and each has its own police department and arrest records. Click any city to search their recent arrests.