Search Cass County Recent Arrests

Cass County recent arrests can be searched through the sheriff's office in Cassopolis and Michigan's statewide court and criminal record tools. The Cass County Sheriff handles bookings at the county jail and keeps arrest logs that are public records. Court cases from these arrests go through the 43rd Circuit Court and 60th District Court. You can also use state systems like ICHAT, OTIS, and MiCOURT to search for Cass County arrest records online. This guide covers the main ways to find recent arrest information in Cass County and who to contact for records.

Cass County Sheriff Arrest Records

The Cass County Sheriff's Office is located at 321 M-62 in Cassopolis. This is where booking records and arrest logs are kept. When deputies make an arrest, a record is created with the person's name, charges, booking time, and bond amount. These records are public. You can ask for them in person during business hours or submit a written FOIA request.

To call the Cass County Sheriff, dial (269) 445-8644. Ask for the records division if you need copies of arrest reports or booking data. Written requests should include the full name and date of birth of the person you are searching for. Be specific about which records you want. Under MCL § 15.231, Michigan's Freedom of Information Act gives you the right to access government records. The sheriff has five business days to respond. Complex requests can take up to 15 business days. Copy fees are usually $0.10 per page for standard copies.

Cass County is a smaller county in southwest Michigan. The sheriff's office handles patrol, jail operations, and court security. Most arrests come from traffic stops, domestic calls, drug cases, and warrants. The county jail in Cassopolis holds people who are waiting for trial or serving short sentences. Booking records from the jail are a key source for recent arrest data in Cass County.

Cass County Recent Arrests and Court Cases

When someone is arrested in Cass County, their case moves to the court system. Felonies go to the 43rd Circuit Court. Misdemeanors and preliminary hearings are handled by the 60th District Court. Both courts sit at 602 Main St in Cassopolis. The phone number is (269) 445-4416. The court clerk's office keeps files on all criminal cases, including charges, hearing dates, pleas, and sentences.

You can search Cass County court records online through MiCOURT. This free tool from the Michigan Courts system lets you look up cases by name or case number. Results show the case type, status, and next hearing date. For full case documents, you may need to visit the clerk in person or call the court. Under MCL § 600.1420, court records in Michigan are generally open to the public unless sealed by a judge.

Search Cass County Arrests Online

State-level tools are a good way to search for Cass County recent arrests from home. ICHAT is the main criminal history search tool. It is run by the Michigan State Police and costs $10 per lookup. You need a name and date of birth. ICHAT shows felony and serious misdemeanor convictions from all 83 Michigan counties, including Cass County. It does not show pending cases or minor traffic offenses.

The Michigan State Police website at michigan.gov/msp is shown below.

MSP runs ICHAT and other criminal justice databases that include Cass County arrest data.

OTIS tracks people under state corrections supervision. If a Cass County arrest leads to prison time or parole, that person shows up in OTIS. The search is free and run by the Michigan Department of Corrections. You can also use VINELink to track inmates in the Cass County jail and get alerts when their status changes.

MCL § 28.243 sets the rules for how criminal history records are kept in Michigan. Arrests that do not lead to a conviction may be removed from state databases over time. But the arresting agency in Cass County may still have local copies of those records.

Clearing Records in Cass County

Michigan's Clean Slate law gives people a way to clear old arrest records. Under MCL § 780.621, automatic expungement covers up to two felonies after 10 years and four misdemeanors after seven years. You must have no new convictions during that time. You can also apply through the 43rd Circuit Court in Cassopolis using Form MC 227 from the Michigan Courts site. The fee is $50.

Not every offense qualifies. Violent crimes and sex offenses are excluded. But the law helps many people with older Cass County arrest records. Michigan Legal Help has free guides and tools to check if you qualify. Under MCL § 445.1883, Michigan also bans websites from charging fees to take down mugshots. That law applies to booking photos from Cass County and every other county in the state.

Counties Near Cass County

Search for arrest records in counties that border Cass County.