Benzie County Criminal Records
Benzie County criminal records are maintained by the Benzie County Sheriff's Office, the 19th Circuit Court, and the 85th District Court in Beulah. You can search cases through the Michigan State Police ICHAT system, request records from the county clerk, or contact the Sheriff directly. This page covers all the main ways to find and access criminal records in Benzie County.
Benzie County Overview
Benzie County Sheriff and Circuit Court
The Benzie County Sheriff's Office handles arrests, jail operations, and law enforcement records for the county. Sheriff Kyle Rosa oversees the office at 505 S. Michigan Avenue in Beulah. The office runs Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 4 PM. For arrests, warrants, and incident reports, this is your first stop. You can reach the office by phone at 231-882-4484.
Criminal court cases in Benzie County go through two courts. The 19th Circuit Court handles felony cases and serious criminal matters. The 85th District Court handles misdemeanors, traffic cases, and preliminary hearings. Both courts are located in Beulah. The county clerk's office at 448 Court Place maintains court records and can help you search case files. Clerk of Court Dawn Olney manages the records side of the operation.
| Sheriff's Office | 505 S. Michigan Avenue, Beulah, MI 49617 |
|---|---|
| Sheriff Phone | 231-882-4484 |
| Sheriff | Kyle Rosa |
| County Clerk Address | 448 Court Place, Beulah, MI 49617 |
| Clerk Phone | 231-882-9671 |
| Clerk of Court | Dawn Olney |
| Courts | 19th Circuit Court, 85th District Court |
| Office Hours | Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM |
| Sheriff Website | benzieco.net - Sheriff's Office |
How to Search Benzie County Criminal Records
The Michigan State Police ICHAT system is the main tool for statewide criminal background checks. It pulls from the MSP criminal history database and covers arrests, convictions, and dispositions from courts across Michigan. To run a search on a person, go to apps.michigan.gov/ichat. You will need the person's full name and date of birth. There is a small fee for the search. Results come back quickly and reflect what law enforcement agencies have submitted to the state database.
For Benzie County court cases specifically, MiCOURT is the state's online case lookup tool. Visit micourt.courts.michigan.gov/case-search to search by name or case number. The system shows case details, hearing dates, charges, and dispositions for cases handled at the 19th Circuit Court and 85th District Court. Some older records may not appear online. For those, you will need to contact the county clerk's office directly at 231-882-9671.
If you need information on a current inmate at the Benzie County Jail, call the jail directly at (231) 882-0052. The jail handles bookings and detentions for the county. For statewide inmate searches, use the Michigan Department of Corrections OTIS system at mdocweb.state.mi.us/otis2, which tracks people currently or formerly in state prison.
The Michigan Sheriff's Association also lists Benzie County at misheriff.org with contact details and links to county resources.
The OTIS offender search portal is shown below. It covers state prison records and is one of the tools you can use alongside ICHAT for a more complete picture of someone's criminal history in Michigan.
OTIS is maintained by the Michigan Department of Corrections and is free to use at mdocweb.state.mi.us/otis2.
FOIA Requests in Benzie County
Under MCL 15.231, Michigan's Freedom of Information Act gives you the right to request public records from government agencies. Benzie County has a dedicated FOIA process for the Sheriff's Office. You can submit FOIA requests by email, fax, or in person. The FOIA coordinator at the Sheriff's Office can be reached at FOIA@Benzieco.Gov or by phone at 231-882-0558. You can also fax requests to 231-882-7072 or bring your request in person to 448 Court Place, Beulah, MI 49617.
The county has 5 business days to respond to your request. If they need more time, they can take a 10-day extension and must tell you why. Fees for FOIA requests are based on the actual cost of labor and materials. You may be asked for a deposit before processing begins if the estimated cost is high. Fee waivers are sometimes available. Check the Benzie County FOIA page for the latest procedures and forms.
Under MCL 15.243, certain records are exempt from disclosure. These include active investigation files, records that could endanger someone's safety, and some personal information. The county will tell you if any part of your request is denied and why.
The FOIA procedures page for the Benzie Sheriff is shown below.
You can review the full FOIA procedures for the Benzie County Sheriff at benzieco.gov.
Inmate and Arrest Records
Mugshots are generally considered public record in Michigan. The Benzie County Jail holds people awaiting trial or serving short sentences. To find out if someone is currently booked there, call the jail at (231) 882-0052. The Benzie County Jail website has more information on the facility and its procedures. For people in state prison, the OTIS database at MDOC is the right tool to use.
The sex offender registry for Michigan is maintained by the Michigan State Police. Under MCL 28.241, registered offenders must provide address and other details to the state. You can search the registry at michigan.gov/psor. This tool covers all of Michigan, including Benzie County residents. Searches are free and can be done by name or zip code.
For accident reports from Benzie County, those are available through buycrash.lexisnexisrisk.com. This is a third-party service that handles crash report purchases for many Michigan counties.
The inmate search page for Benzie County is shown below.
Visit benziecountyjail.org for current information on the Benzie County Jail and its booking process.
Fees for Criminal Record Copies
Fees for criminal record copies in Benzie County vary by record type and how you request them. Standard copies have one rate; certified copies cost more. FOIA requests are billed based on labor time and the cost of materials like paper and postage. There is no set flat fee, so it depends on the scope of what you request. For court record copies, contact the county clerk at 231-882-9671 to get the current rates before you submit your request.
The MSP ICHAT background check has its own fee set by the state. Accident reports purchased through the LexisNexis buycrash portal also have their own pricing. If you are unsure what you will owe, ask the relevant office before sending payment. The county clerk's office can give you a cost estimate for court copies before you commit to a request.
Note: Records from before July 1996 may not be available in online systems and may require an in-person or mail request to the county clerk.
Local Resources for Criminal Records
The Michigan Sheriff's Association page for Benzie County provides verified contact details and links. See it at misheriff.org. The main Benzie County government website at benzieco.net also links to the clerk, courts, and other county offices. The Michigan Courts website at courts.michigan.gov covers court rules, forms, and statewide resources.
If you need to expunge a criminal record in Michigan, MCL 780.621 sets out the eligibility rules and process. Expungement can remove certain convictions from your public record. The Michigan Courts website has self-help resources for people who want to file on their own. Legal aid organizations in the region can also help if you qualify based on income.
The Michigan Sheriffs' Association page for Benzie is shown below.
You can view the full listing at misheriff.org.
Cities in Benzie County
Benzie County has several small communities. None currently meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page. All criminal cases for residents of Benzie County are handled at the 19th Circuit Court and 85th District Court in Beulah.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Benzie County. If you are not sure which court handles a case, check the address where the offense occurred or where the person lives.