Baraga County Criminal Records Lookup

Baraga County criminal records are maintained by the Sheriff's Office and County Clerk in L'Anse, Michigan. Located in the Upper Peninsula, Baraga County is part of the 12th Judicial Circuit based in Houghton County. Most criminal record searches in Baraga County are done through state systems since local online access is limited. This page covers the search tools, local contacts, fees, and laws that apply to Baraga County criminal records.

Baraga County Sheriff and Court Contacts

The Baraga County Sheriff's Office is at 12 N. 3rd Street in L'Anse. The office is responsible for law enforcement countywide, including arrests, jailing, and patrol. For arrest records, incident reports, and warrant information, the Sheriff's Office is the first contact. Reach the office at (906) 524-6177. The fax number is (906) 524-6455.

The County Clerk's Office is at 16 N. 3rd Street in L'Anse, just across from the Sheriff's Office. The Clerk manages court records, vital records, and election records. Call (906) 524-6183 for records questions. Baraga County is part of the 12th Judicial Circuit, which is administered through Houghton County. That means felony criminal cases from Baraga County are processed by the 12th Circuit Court in Houghton. The 97th District Court handles misdemeanor and local civil matters. For circuit court records, you may need to contact Houghton County.

The Baraga County Government website has contact information for each county department and can help you identify which office holds the records you need.

The Baraga County website lists each department with phone numbers and addresses, making it a useful starting point before you contact any office about criminal records or court case requests.

How to Search Baraga County Criminal Records

The Michigan State Police ICHAT system is the primary remote search tool for Baraga County criminal history. Authorized by MCL 28.241, ICHAT covers felony and serious misdemeanor records from all 83 counties, including Baraga. Each search costs $10 and is done by name. It returns conviction data and is the most reliable way to check criminal history without visiting in person.

Court case records from Baraga County can be searched through the free MiCOURT Case Search portal. You can search district court cases by name or case number at no cost. For circuit court records tied to Baraga County felony cases, you may also need to check directly with the 12th Circuit Court in Houghton County. The Houghton County website has contact details for the circuit court.

The MiCOURT portal gives free access to case records from Michigan courts, including the 97th District Court that covers Baraga County. Most public criminal cases appear here, though full documents still require a formal records request.

FOIA Requests in Baraga County

The Michigan Freedom of Information Act at MCL 15.231 gives the public the right to request government records. For Baraga County, send written FOIA requests to the Clerk's Office at 16 N. 3rd Street, L'Anse, MI 49946 for court records, or to the Sheriff's Office at 12 N. 3rd Street for law enforcement records. Both mail and in-person requests are accepted.

The county has 5 business days to respond, with an option to extend by 10 days for complex requests. Under MCL 15.243, agencies may deny access to records tied to active investigations or records that would violate privacy rights if released. Denied requests can be appealed. Standard FOIA fees apply to all responses, including per-page copy costs and potential labor charges. Since Baraga County is small, most requests are processed without major delays.

Fees for Baraga County Criminal Records

Standard FOIA fees apply to public records requests in Baraga County. Copies cost $0.10 per page. Certified copies carry additional fees. ICHAT searches cost $10 per name through the state police. Contact the specific office for their current fee schedule before submitting a request. For court record copies, fees follow the schedule set by Michigan statute. Labor costs may be added for large or complex requests.

More Resources for Baraga County

The Michigan OTIS system lets you search for current and former Michigan Department of Corrections inmates for free. It covers people who have served time in state prisons and those currently on parole or probation under MDOC. Baraga County residents who have been in the state system appear in OTIS. Local jail records require a direct request to the Sheriff's Office.

The Michigan Sex Offender Registry is a free, searchable statewide database of registered sex offenders. You can search by name, address, or zip code. Registered offenders living in Baraga County are listed here. The registry is managed by the Michigan State Police.

Michigan's Clean Slate law under MCL 780.621 allows some criminal records to be automatically expunged. Up to 4 misdemeanors may qualify after 7 years without a new offense. Up to 2 felony convictions may be cleared after 10 years. If a search returns no results where you expected them, expungement may explain the gap. This applies to searches on ICHAT and MiCOURT alike.

For circuit court matters in the 12th Circuit, the Houghton County website provides access to court contact details. Since Baraga County felony cases are processed there, this is a useful resource when searching for felony-level criminal records.

Communities in Baraga County

Baraga County is in the western Upper Peninsula of Michigan along Keweenaw Bay. Communities here include L'Anse, Baraga, Lanse Township, and Covington. The Keweenaw Bay Indian Community has lands in the county. None of these communities meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page. All criminal matters from the county are handled through the courts and offices in L'Anse.

Nearby Counties

Baraga County sits in the Upper Peninsula and borders these neighboring counties. If you are unsure which county processed a specific case, verify the location where it occurred.