State of Michigan Criminal Records: Criminal Records Guide
State of Michigan Criminal Records: How to Search ICHAT, Court Cases, Convictions and Public Criminal History
Michigan criminal records can be searched through several government services, but they do not all provide the same information. For publicly available court cases, start with MiCOURT Case Search. For statewide criminal-history information, use the Michigan State Police Internet Criminal History Access Tool (ICHAT). For certified court records, contact the court where the case was filed.
This guide explains the official search procedures, current published fees, Michigan court jurisdictions, record-access restrictions, felony and misdemeanor information, offender lookup, sex-offender registry, fingerprint checks and Michigan’s Clean Slate expungement laws.
Where to Search Michigan Criminal Records Online
Before entering a person’s name, decide whether you need a court docket, statewide criminal-history record, certified disposition, corrections information or another type of record.
MiCOURT Case Search
Search available public Michigan trial-court case information from participating courts. Useful for criminal cases, hearing information and case status.
Launch MiCOURTMichigan State Police ICHAT
Search public criminal-history information maintained by the Michigan State Police Criminal Justice Information Center.
Access ICHATTrial Court Clerk
Request an official judgment, disposition, register of actions or other court-file documents from the court holding the case.
Find Michigan CourtsMichigan OTIS
Search information about prisoners, parolees and probationers under Michigan Department of Corrections supervision.
Open OTISMichigan Sex Offender Registry
Search publicly available registry information by name, location or offender identification number where supported.
Open Official RegistryPACER
Search federal court records, including cases filed in the Eastern and Western Districts of Michigan.
Open PACERHow to Search Michigan Criminal Court Cases Free
MiCOURT Case Search is an official Michigan judiciary service providing public information from participating courts. Not every court or record is necessarily available through the same online interface.
Open MiCOURT Case Search
Visit the official Michigan court search website. Review its terms of service and click Continue to proceed.
Select the appropriate court
Use the available court-selection interface to find the district or circuit court that handled the matter. If the correct court is not listed, look for its separate court records website or contact the clerk.
Choose the available search method
When supported, search by case number or party name. A complete case number generally produces more reliable results than searching for a common name.
Enter the search details
Enter the defendant’s legal name or court case number. Apply case type, date or other offered search controls if the selected court supports them.
Verify the person and court
Compare the name, case number, filing date, jurisdiction and other displayed identifiers. Avoid relying on a name match alone.
Review available criminal case information
Read the case status, charges, hearings and available disposition information. The presence of a charge does not mean the defendant was convicted.
Contact the clerk for official documents
For a certified judgment, register of actions or complete court file, contact the court listed in the search result. Online case information is not the official court record.
Michigan’s seven-year criminal case display limitation
MiCOURT states that some participating courts display criminal conviction case numbers and case information only when sentencing occurred within seven years of the search date. Those courts are marked in the system’s 7-Year Criminal Sentence Filter column.
Another MiCOURT issue: attempted felony charges
MiCOURT also warns of a display issue affecting attempted felony charges under Michigan Compiled Laws 750.92. Some attempted offenses may display as felony-level charges even where the applicable attempt statute classifies the offense as a misdemeanor.
If the charge classification is important, verify it against the statute and the court’s official record rather than relying only on the online label.
Michigan State Police ICHAT Criminal History Search
The Michigan State Police operates the Internet Criminal History Access Tool (ICHAT). This is the official name-based search for publicly available Michigan criminal-history records maintained by the Criminal Justice Information Center.
Step-by-step: How to request an ICHAT search
Open the Michigan State Police criminal-history page
Locate the section titled Name-Based Background Check using Internet Criminal History Access Tool (ICHAT).
Select Access ICHAT
Follow the official link to the state application. Use the current account creation or sign-in options shown there rather than an unrelated third-party website.
Enter the required identifying details
Provide the person’s name, date of birth and other required search information. Review spelling, suffixes and identity details carefully.
Review the search and pay the fee
ICHAT currently lists a $10 charge per name-based search. Confirm the current fee and payment process in the official system before submitting.
Review the returned criminal-history information
Examine identifiers, reported charges, conviction information and dispositions where available. A name-based result does not establish identity with fingerprint certainty.
Verify questionable records with the reporting agency
If a disposition appears missing or an identity match seems incorrect, contact the appropriate arresting agency, prosecutor or court depending on the disputed information.
What information does Michigan ICHAT include?
Michigan State Police explains that law enforcement, prosecutors and courts must report felonies and serious misdemeanors punishable by more than 93 days to the state repository. Public criminal-history records may contain reportable felony arrest and conviction information and qualifying misdemeanor convictions.
Information potentially available
- Reportable Michigan felony history
- Qualifying misdemeanor convictions
- Available charge and disposition details
- Reporting county and agency information
- Public criminal-history information maintained by Michigan State Police
Information ICHAT excludes
- Federal criminal-history records
- Criminal records originating in other states
- Tribal criminal records
- Juvenile records
- Local misdemeanor records outside its repository coverage
- Traffic records
- Suppressed or nonpublic records and warrant information
Fingerprint-Based Michigan Criminal History Checks
Michigan offers fingerprint-based criminal-history searches for qualifying purposes, including personal record review, immigration, adoption and authorized employment or licensing processes.
These checks are different from ICHAT because fingerprints help confirm identity and may access information unavailable in a public name-based search.
Michigan Fingerprint Card Check
Michigan State Police lists a $30 processing fee for qualifying personal fingerprint-based record searches. Responses are sent to the individual whose fingerprints were submitted.
Authorized Live Scan Check
When fingerprint screening is required by law, the employer or licensing authority provides the relevant request form and instructions. Additional Live Scan provider fees may apply.
How to request your personal Michigan fingerprint record
- Michigan residents: Contact a local law-enforcement agency and ask about fingerprints on Michigan Applicant Fingerprint Card RI-008.
- Nonresidents: Obtain an FBI Applicant Fingerprint Card FD-258 from an appropriate fingerprinting agency.
- Complete the fingerprint card and prepare a cover letter identifying the reason for the request.
- Include the current $30 processing fee using a payment method accepted by Michigan State Police.
- Mail the documents to the official MSP Criminal Justice Information Center address below.
- Allow approximately three to five weeks for processing and postal delivery, according to the published MSP instructions.
Michigan State Police – Criminal Justice Information Center
Mailing address: P.O. Box 30266, Lansing, MI 48909-7766
Criminal history assistance: 517-241-0606
Michigan Criminal Courts: District, Circuit and Appellate Records
Michigan criminal cases are handled at different court levels. Knowing the type of charge helps you identify where the relevant records may be held.
| Court | Criminal Matters | Where to Search |
|---|---|---|
| District Court | Misdemeanor cases, felony preliminary proceedings and certain traffic matters | MiCOURT or the local district court’s public-records service |
| Circuit Court | Felony prosecutions, trials, sentences and appeals assigned to the circuit level | MiCOURT, county clerk or the individual circuit court system |
| Court of Appeals | Qualifying appeals involving criminal cases and lower-court orders | Michigan judiciary appellate case search |
| Supreme Court | Supreme Court matters, applications and appellate orders | Michigan Supreme Court case records |
Why a felony may involve two different court records
In a typical Michigan felony prosecution, initial proceedings may take place in District Court before the case moves to Circuit Court. This means a preliminary District Court case and the later Circuit Court prosecution can have different case numbers.
If you see an initial felony charge in District Court but no final judgment, check whether a corresponding Circuit Court case was opened. A bindover is not a conviction.
Michigan County Criminal Records: Where Local Searches Differ
Michigan has 83 counties, and access to case records is not identical everywhere. Some courts participate in MiCOURT, while other courts use county-managed search tools or require a clerk request.
Wayne County: Detroit and Third Judicial Circuit
The Third Judicial Circuit offers Odyssey Public Access (OPA) for qualifying public circuit court case information.
Odyssey Public Access
Open the official OPA page, acknowledge the conditions and select the criminal case records search.
Search using the available case number, party or other supported fields.
Wayne County Case SearchIn-Person Court Files
The Third Judicial Circuit says electronic public documents are not currently available through OPA.
Public case-record kiosks and the Wayne County Clerk are the routes for available official records.
The Third Judicial Circuit Criminal Division is housed at the Wayne County Criminal Justice Center, 5301 Russell Street, Detroit, MI 48211.
Oakland County: Sixth Judicial Circuit Court Explorer
Oakland County maintains Court Explorer for public Sixth Circuit Court records, including felony criminal cases. The official system provides access to registers of actions and options to purchase documents.
Oakland County copy fees
| Service | Published Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Regular court document copy | $1 per page | Court Explorer document order |
| Certified court document | $10 per case number plus $1 per page | Certified documents must be mailed |
| Credit card processing | 3.5% | Service fee added when ordering |
| ACH transaction | $2.50 | Published ACH service charge |
Oakland County says Court Explorer records extend back to the early 1990s. For older records, contact the Legal Records Division. Check the current fee schedule before ordering.
Macomb, Kent, Washtenaw and other Michigan counties
For Macomb County, Kent County, Washtenaw County, Ingham County and other jurisdictions, start by identifying the court type and county. Then check the court’s participation in MiCOURT or use its official website.
Michigan’s judiciary publishes an available-courts directory containing individual court names, locations, websites and contact information. Do not assume a single search covers every district court in the county.
What Michigan Criminal Records Can Show
Criminal records may contain different details depending on whether the source is a court file, Michigan State Police record, jail booking or corrections record.
| Information | Where It May Appear | What to Verify |
|---|---|---|
| Arrest information | MSP criminal history or arresting agency where publicly available | Whether prosecution followed and what the final outcome was |
| Criminal charges | Court docket, case register or qualifying MSP record | Whether a charge was amended, dismissed or resulted in conviction |
| Conviction | Court judgment, sentencing record or public ICHAT result | Final conviction status and any later appellate or set-aside orders |
| Sentence or probation | Court judgment and certain corrections records | Original sentence versus subsequent changes |
| Incarceration or supervision | MDOC OTIS where available | Current custody or supervision information |
| Sealed or set-aside conviction | May not appear in public records | Whether access is restricted under Michigan law |
Michigan Clean Slate: Automatic Expungement and Set-Aside Rules
Michigan’s Clean Slate laws permit qualifying criminal convictions to be set aside through either an automatic process or a court application.
A set-aside conviction is generally removed from public criminal-history access, although certain government and authorized agencies may retain access under the law.
Automatic Michigan expungement
Michigan State Police operates an automatic set-aside process for certain eligible convictions when the applicable waiting period and other statutory conditions are met.
| Conviction Category | Automatic Limit | General Waiting Period |
|---|---|---|
| Misdemeanor punishable by less than 93 days | No numerical limit for qualifying convictions | 7 years |
| Misdemeanor punishable by 93 days or more | Up to 4 qualifying convictions | 7 years |
| Eligible felony convictions | Up to 2 qualifying felonies | 10 years from sentencing or release, whichever is later |
These are general rules from the Michigan Attorney General’s Clean Slate guidance. Individual eligibility depends on offense type, conviction history and statutory exclusions.
Application-based expungement
Some convictions that cannot be automatically set aside may qualify through an application filed with the court that handled the case.
General petition waiting periods
- 7 years for applications involving multiple felonies
- 5 years for a single felony or certain serious misdemeanors
- 3 years for most other misdemeanors
Additional eligibility rules and exclusions apply.
Potentially eligible categories
- Qualifying misdemeanor convictions
- Eligible felony convictions
- Certain first-time operating while intoxicated convictions
- Some qualifying historical marijuana misdemeanors
Not every criminal conviction qualifies.
How to apply to set aside a Michigan conviction
- Review your available conviction information through ICHAT and the court of conviction.
- Check the eligibility rules and statutory exclusions.
- Obtain certified copies of the relevant court judgment, sentencing order or register of actions.
- Complete the applicable Michigan court application form, such as MC 227 where appropriate.
- Obtain fingerprints if required for the application.
- File the application with the court that handled the conviction.
- Provide the required copies to Michigan State Police, the Attorney General and the prosecutor, following the official instructions.
- Attend any required hearing and follow the court’s decision.
Michigan’s Attorney General guidance currently lists a $50 Michigan State Police processing fee for the applicable adult petition process. This is different from a $10 ICHAT search or $30 personal fingerprint check.
Michigan Offender Search: MDOC OTIS
The Michigan Department of Corrections operates the Offender Tracking Information System (OTIS). It contains information about qualifying prisoners, parolees and probationers who are currently supervised by MDOC or who have been discharged within the prior three years.
How to search OTIS
- Open the official Michigan Department of Corrections Offender Search page.
- Read the disclaimer and follow the offender-search link.
- Enter the offender’s name or other supported identifying information.
- Open the possible match and compare available details.
- Review custody, supervision and sentencing information where displayed.
- For documents beyond what OTIS shows, use the Department of Corrections records request instructions.
OTIS may include
- State prisoners
- Parolees
- Qualifying probationers
- Recent MDOC supervision discharges
- Available sentencing and supervision details
OTIS does not include
- Every county jail inmate
- Persons sentenced only to county jail
- Every person ever convicted of a crime
- Offenders beyond the three-year post-discharge search scope
- Complete criminal histories across all states
Michigan Sex Offender Registry Search
Michigan State Police maintains the public Sex Offender Registry. This service provides public information about individuals subject to Michigan’s registration requirements.
Available registry search methods
Name or offender ID
Search by first and last name or use an available registration number or MDOC number.
City, county or ZIP code
Use available geographic criteria to locate published registrants in a specified Michigan community.
Neighborhood map
Use an address and available distance-radius controls to view qualifying publicly registered offenders in a geographic area.
Track offender updates
The registry provides an offender tracking/notification feature where available. Follow the official email-verification procedure.
Michigan State Police explains that the public registry is not the same as the nonpublic law-enforcement registry database. Public listings do not provide the complete criminal history of every individual.
How to Correct an Incorrect Michigan Criminal Record
Michigan’s correction procedure depends on which agency originally reported the information. An incorrect arrest, incorrect charge and incorrect court disposition may need to be fixed by different offices.
| Incorrect Information | Contact First | What to Provide |
|---|---|---|
| Arrest reported in error | Original arresting police agency | Arrest identifiers and supporting documentation |
| Prosecutor charge information | Prosecuting attorney’s office | Case number and relevant charging documents |
| Court disposition or sentencing information | Court that reported the judicial information | Certified judgment or official court disposition |
| Information remains incorrect after source review | Michigan State Police Criminal History Helpdesk | Explanation and source-agency response |
Michigan State Police Criminal History Helpdesk
Phone: 517-241-0606
Email: msp-crd-crimhelp@michigan.gov
Fax: 517-241-0866
Michigan State Police advises that updates normally must come through, or be confirmed by, the reporting agency. A private website cannot independently modify the official criminal-history repository.
Michigan Criminal Record Search Problems and Solutions
| Problem | Possible Explanation | Next Step |
|---|---|---|
| A case over seven years old does not display in MiCOURT | Selected court may apply the seven-year sentencing display filter | Contact the trial court directly |
| ICHAT has no match | Record may not be publicly reportable, could be set aside, be outside Michigan, or have different identifying data | Verify with the appropriate source; consider an authorized fingerprint-based personal record review |
| District Court felony case has no conviction | Case may have been bound over to Circuit Court, dismissed or otherwise resolved | Look for the corresponding Circuit Court case and official disposition |
| Cannot find Wayne County circuit documents online | Third Circuit Odyssey does not currently provide online copies of filed public documents | Contact Wayne County Clerk or use available in-person court access |
| OTIS no longer shows a person | Person may be outside the three-year post-supervision public search period | Use MSP ICHAT or the proper MDOC records request route |
| Federal case not found | Federal court cases are separate from Michigan state court and ICHAT systems | Search PACER |
| Criminal charge is labeled incorrectly | Could be a display error, amended charge or missing court update | Verify the exact statute, official charge and final court judgment |
Michigan Criminal Background Checks for Employment and Housing
Employment, licensing and housing screening can be subject to separate federal and Michigan legal requirements. A public case search is not automatically an appropriate screening report.
Employment and licensing
Determine whether the requesting employer or licensing authority requires an ICHAT search, authorized fingerprint screening or another specific background-check procedure.
Fingerprint-based requests must follow the applicable authorization and submission rules.
Housing and consumer reporting
Tenant screening may be subject to the Fair Credit Reporting Act and other laws when a consumer-reporting agency is involved.
Do not treat an unrelated public docket as proof that a screening decision is legally compliant.
Employers and housing providers should follow required consent, notice, accuracy, dispute and adverse-action rules applicable to their processes.
Federal Criminal Court Records in Michigan
Federal criminal cases are handled separately from Michigan District and Circuit Court cases. Michigan has two federal judicial districts: the Eastern District and Western District.
To search federal criminal court dockets or publicly available filings, use PACER or the national PACER Case Locator. Create a PACER account if required and review its current usage-fee policies.
State of Michigan Criminal Records FAQs
How can I search Michigan criminal records online?
Use MiCOURT Case Search for available public trial-court cases. For public criminal-history information maintained by Michigan State Police, use the ICHAT system.
Is the Michigan ICHAT criminal background check free?
No. Michigan State Police currently publishes a $10 fee per ICHAT name-based criminal-history search. MiCOURT public case lookup is a separate service.
How do I search Michigan criminal court cases for free?
Open the official MiCOURT Case Search website, accept the terms, select the participating court and search using the available case number or party-name fields. Some courts provide their own separate portals.
Why does MiCOURT not show a criminal case older than seven years?
Some Michigan courts apply a seven-year criminal sentencing display filter. Contact the court directly for information that falls outside the online display period.
Does Michigan ICHAT include every misdemeanor and arrest?
No. ICHAT searches publicly available Michigan criminal-history information and does not include all local misdemeanors, traffic records, juvenile records, suppressed information or every other type of criminal record.
How much does a Michigan fingerprint criminal-history check cost?
Michigan State Police publishes a $30 processing fee for qualifying personal fingerprint-based record review. Authorized employer and licensing checks can have different fees and Live Scan service charges.
How do I find certified Michigan criminal court records?
Contact the clerk of the court that handled the case. Provide the case number, defendant name and details of the document you need, such as a judgment, disposition or register of actions.
Can Michigan automatically expunge criminal convictions?
Yes. Michigan Clean Slate laws permit automatic set-aside of certain eligible convictions after specified waiting periods. Other qualifying convictions may require a court application.
Where can I find a Michigan inmate or parolee record?
Use the Michigan Department of Corrections Offender Tracking Information System (OTIS) for qualifying prisoners, parolees and probationers. It is not a complete statewide criminal-history report.
How do I correct inaccurate Michigan criminal-history information?
Contact the original reporting agency: the arresting police agency for arrest errors, the prosecutor for charge errors or the court for judicial information errors. Michigan State Police provides additional help through its Criminal History Helpdesk at 517-241-0606.
Official Michigan Criminal Records Resources
The following official resources provide the search tools, procedures and access rules discussed in this guide.
- Michigan MiCOURT Public Case Search
- Michigan State Police Criminal History Records and ICHAT
- MSP Public Record Review and Published Fees
- Fingerprint Checks and Criminal-History Corrections
- Michigan Courts Directory
- Michigan Appellate Case Search
- Wayne County Third Judicial Circuit Odyssey Search
- Oakland County Court Explorer
- Michigan Attorney General Clean Slate Assistance
- MSP Conviction Set-Aside Instructions
- Michigan Department of Corrections OTIS
- Michigan Corrections Records Requests
- Michigan State Police Sex Offender Registry
- PACER Federal Court Records