Clare County Recent Arrests Lookup

Clare County recent arrests are tracked by the sheriff's office in Harrison and processed through the local court system. The Clare County Sheriff books people into the county jail and keeps records of each arrest. Criminal cases then go to the 55th Circuit Court for felonies or the 80th District Court for misdemeanors. You can search for Clare County arrest records through state tools like ICHAT and MiCOURT or contact the sheriff directly. This page explains how to find recent arrest information in Clare County and where to go for records.

Clare County Sheriff Arrest Records

The Clare County Sheriff's Office is at 255 5th St in Harrison. Call (989) 539-7166 to reach them. The sheriff handles patrol, jail operations, and court security for the county. When a deputy makes an arrest, the booking record includes the person's name, charges, date of arrest, bond amount, and mugshot. These records are public.

Clare County is a rural county in central Michigan. Harrison is the county seat and the main hub for government services. The sheriff's office is the primary law enforcement agency covering the unincorporated areas of the county. Arrests often involve drug offenses, OWI, domestic violence, theft, and outstanding warrants. The county jail in Harrison holds pretrial inmates and those serving sentences under one year. All booking records from the jail are part of the public record.

You can get Clare County arrest records by visiting the sheriff's office in person or filing a FOIA request by mail. Under MCL § 15.231, you have the right to request these records. The office must respond within five business days. Fees for copies run about $0.10 per page. If you need certified copies, expect to pay more. Include the full name and date of birth of the person in your request.

Clare County Recent Arrests and Court Records

The 55th Circuit Court in Harrison handles felony cases from Clare County arrests. The 80th District Court covers misdemeanors and preliminary hearings. Both courts sit at 225 W. Main St in Harrison. The phone number is (989) 539-6171. Court files show charge details, hearing dates, plea information, and sentencing for each case.

Search Clare County court records through the MiCOURT portal. This free tool from the Michigan Courts system lets you look up cases by name or number. Results include the case type, status, and next hearing. For copies of actual documents, contact the clerk's office. Under MCL § 600.1420, court records are generally public in Michigan. Cases sealed by a judge and juvenile records are the main exceptions to this rule.

Find Clare County Recent Arrests Online

ICHAT is the best state tool for searching Clare County arrest records. Run by the Michigan State Police, it costs $10 per search. You need a full legal name and date of birth. ICHAT returns felony and serious misdemeanor convictions from across Michigan. It does not show pending cases or arrests that did not lead to a conviction. MCL § 28.243 controls what goes into the database.

The VINELink website at vinelink.com is shown below.

VINELink sends free alerts when an inmate's custody status changes at the Clare County jail or any facility in Michigan.

The OTIS database from the Michigan Department of Corrections is another free tool. It tracks offenders in state prison, on parole, or on probation. If a Clare County arrest results in time in a state facility, OTIS will show that record. You can search by name or MDOC number.

The Michigan Sex Offender Registry is also available. It lists registered offenders in Clare County by name, zip code, or address. The Michigan State Police maintain this database and it is free to use.

Clearing Records in Clare County

Michigan's Clean Slate law under MCL § 780.621 offers a way to clear old arrest records. Automatic expungement applies to up to two felonies after 10 years and four misdemeanors after seven years without new convictions. You can also apply through the 55th Circuit Court in Harrison using Form MC 227. The fee is $50. Michigan Legal Help has free tools to check eligibility and guides for the petition process.

Violent crimes and sex offenses do not qualify. Under MCL § 445.1883, Michigan law bans commercial websites from charging fees to take down mugshots. That law covers booking photos from Clare County and all other Michigan counties. Once a record is expunged by the court, it is removed from ICHAT and other public databases over the following months.

Counties Near Clare County

Look up recent arrests in counties next to Clare County.