Van Buren County Recent Arrests
Van Buren County recent arrests are public records kept by the county sheriff and local courts in Paw Paw, Michigan. The Van Buren County Sheriff's Office books people into the county jail and creates a record of every arrest with the charges, bond, and booking details. You can search for recent arrests through state tools like ICHAT, OTIS, and MiCOURT. The 36th Circuit Court and 7th District Court handle criminal cases from Van Buren County arrests. This page covers where to look for arrest records and how to request copies.
Van Buren County Quick Facts
Van Buren County Sheriff Arrest Records
The Van Buren County Sheriff's Office is the lead agency for arrests in the county. Deputies patrol rural areas and unincorporated communities. They also serve warrants and run the county jail. Every arrest generates a booking record. It lists the person's name, date of birth, charges, bond amount, and the arresting officer. These records are public.
The sheriff's office is at 205 S. Kalamazoo St in Paw Paw, MI 49079. Call (269) 657-2006 for questions about bookings or to ask about a recent arrest. Walk-in requests are taken during business hours. For a written request, submit a FOIA letter to the same address. Include the full name and date of birth of the person you need records on. Under MCL § 15.231, the office has five business days to respond. They can extend by up to 10 more days if needed. Copy fees are around $0.10 per page.
Police departments in South Haven, Hartford, and other Van Buren County towns also make arrests. But those bookings go through the county jail. That makes the sheriff's office the best single source for recent arrest records in the county. If you are not sure which agency made the arrest, start with the sheriff's office.
| Agency | Van Buren County Sheriff's Office |
|---|---|
| Address | 205 S. Kalamazoo St, Paw Paw, MI 49079 |
| Phone | (269) 657-2006 |
| Records | Arrest logs, booking records, incident reports |
Note: Under MCL § 28.242, all Van Buren County law enforcement agencies must report arrests to the state criminal history database within 72 hours.
Van Buren County Court Records
The 36th Circuit Court and 7th District Court handle criminal cases in Van Buren County. The courthouse is at 212 E. Paw Paw St in Paw Paw. Call (269) 657-8218 for the clerk's office. The circuit court takes felony cases. The district court handles misdemeanors and preliminary exams on felony charges. Each court maintains case files that document charges, hearing dates, pleas, and sentencing.
Search Van Buren County court records for free using the MiCOURT case search portal. Enter a name or case number. Results show the case type, status, parties, and upcoming hearings. For full documents or certified copies, visit the clerk's office or submit a written request by mail. Some documents may carry a small per-page copy fee.
Under MCL § 600.1420, Michigan court proceedings are public. Most criminal case records tied to Van Buren County arrests are open. Sealed cases and juvenile matters are restricted. But the vast majority of adult criminal cases can be found through MiCOURT or at the courthouse.
Search Van Buren County Recent Arrests Online
ICHAT is the best statewide search tool for criminal history. The Michigan State Police run it. It covers all 83 counties. Each search costs $10 and requires a full name and date of birth. ICHAT shows felony and serious misdemeanor convictions. It does not display pending cases or arrests that were dropped.
The screenshot below shows the Michigan Legal Help website at michiganlegalhelp.org, which offers free legal resources for Van Buren County residents.
Michigan Legal Help provides guides on expungement, FOIA requests, and navigating court records for people in Van Buren County.
OTIS is free and tracks people in state prison or on parole. The Michigan Department of Corrections runs it. If someone arrested in Van Buren County was sent to state prison, OTIS has their record. Search by name or MDOC number.
VINELink tracks jail inmates and sends alerts. Register for free. You get notified by phone, email, or text when someone booked in the Van Buren County jail is released or moved to another facility.
Note: MCL § 28.243 governs criminal history record maintenance in Michigan, and arrests that do not lead to convictions may eventually be removed from state databases.
Clearing Van Buren County Arrest Records
Under MCL § 780.621, Michigan's Clean Slate law allows automatic expungement of up to two felonies after 10 years and four misdemeanors after seven years with no new offenses. You can also petition the 36th Circuit Court in Paw Paw. The filing fee is $50. Use Form MC 227 from the Michigan Courts website to file.
Not all offenses qualify. Violent crimes and sex offenses are excluded. But most other charges fall within the law's scope. Michigan Legal Help has free tools to check if your Van Buren County arrest record qualifies. Once expunged, the record is removed from ICHAT and public searches. Under MCL § 445.1883, it is illegal for commercial websites to charge fees for removing mugshot photos. That covers Van Buren County booking images and all Michigan arrest photos.
Requesting Van Buren County Arrest Records
File a FOIA request to get Van Buren County arrest records. Send it to the sheriff's office or the court clerk in Paw Paw. Include the subject's full name and date of birth. Be specific about what records you need. Standard copies cost about $0.10 per page. Certified copies are more. If you are on public assistance, the first $20 in fees may be waived.
The Michigan Sex Offender Registry is a free tool for searching registered sex offenders in Van Buren County. Enter a name, zip code, or address. The Michigan State Police maintain the registry. It shows photos, home addresses, and offense information for each registrant.
Counties Near Van Buren County
These counties border Van Buren County. Check them for arrest records in nearby areas.