Find Criminal Records in Branch County

Branch County criminal records are available through the Branch County Sheriff's Office and the County Clerk in Coldwater. The 3rd Circuit Court and 6th District Court handle felony and misdemeanor criminal cases in this south-central Michigan county. This page covers how to request court records, access jail information, and use statewide tools to search criminal history for Branch County residents and cases.

Branch County Sheriff and Circuit Court

The Branch County Sheriff's Office is located at 379 Keith Wilhelm Drive in Coldwater. Administration hours run Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Sheriff Fred Blankenship oversees the office. You can reach the main line at 517-278-2325. For questions about inmates or jail matters, visit the jail information page on the county website.

The County Clerk handles court records at the Courthouse, 31 Division Street, Coldwater. Office hours match the Sheriff's Administration but extend slightly to 4:45 PM on weekdays. The clerk can be reached at 517-279-4306 or by email at countyclerk@countyofbranch.com. The 3rd Circuit Court handles felony cases, and the 6th District Court handles misdemeanors and other lower-level matters. Both courts use the same courthouse building in Coldwater.

Branch County does not have its own separate online criminal case database. Court records are available through the state system or by contacting the clerk directly. The Court Record Searches page explains the process and what information you need to provide.

Searching Branch County Criminal Records

The primary statewide tool for criminal history searches is ICHAT, the Michigan State Police Internet Criminal History Access Tool. A search costs $10 per person and returns criminal history records maintained under MCL 28.241 by the Michigan State Police. This is the recommended first step when you need a thorough criminal background check for any Branch County individual.

For court case lookups, use MiCOURT Case Search, the free statewide court portal. It covers both the 3rd Circuit Court and the 6th District Court in Branch County. You can search by name or case number and see docket entries, hearing dates, and case status. Basic case information is free. Contact the clerk for certified copies or full case files.

To request specific documents from Branch County court records, contact the County Clerk at 517-279-4306. Staff can look up cases by name or number and provide cost estimates for copies before you submit payment. Bring or include the full name of the person, an approximate case year, and the case number if you have it.

The Michigan Department of Corrections operates OTIS, a free tool for looking up individuals currently or previously held in state correctional facilities. This covers Branch County residents who were sentenced to state prison.

FOIA Requests in Branch County

Michigan's Freedom of Information Act at MCL 15.231 gives residents the right to request public records from government agencies. Branch County's FOIA information is available at branchcounty.gov/foia. Submit your request in writing to the appropriate department. The main FOIA office can be reached at 517-279-4300, and written requests should go to 31 Division Street, Coldwater, MI 49036.

The county must respond within 5 business days. They can extend this by notifying you in writing. Some records are exempt from disclosure under MCL 15.243. This includes records tied to active investigations, certain personal privacy matters, and confidential law enforcement files. Juvenile records, sealed records, and expunged records are not accessible through FOIA. Sheriff's records and court records each have their own FOIA contact, so be specific about which office holds the record you need.

Record Copy Fees in Branch County

Branch County follows standard Michigan FOIA fee guidelines for record copies. The specific fee schedule is set by each department. Contact the County Clerk at 517-279-4306 for the current rates for court record copies. For Sheriff's Office records, call 517-278-2325. Standard copying fees under Michigan FOIA law are based on actual cost of duplication, and agencies cannot charge more than the actual cost per page.

Statewide tools have their own costs. ICHAT through the Michigan State Police charges $10 per person searched. MiCOURT basic case lookups are free, but certified copies from the clerk's office add to that cost. OTIS and the Sex Offender Registry are both free to use online. If you need a fingerprint-based background check, contact the Michigan State Police directly for their current fee schedule.

Branch County Criminal Record Resources

For sex offender lookups in Branch County, the Michigan Sex Offender Registry at michigan.gov/psor is free and searchable by name or location. You can narrow results to Coldwater or any other Branch County community. The registry is updated by the Michigan State Police.

The Michigan State Police FOIA portal at michigan.gov/msp/services/foia handles requests for MSP records that may relate to Branch County cases. This is separate from the county FOIA process and covers state police reports and investigations. If the Branch County Sheriff's Office investigated a case alongside the MSP, you may need both county and state FOIA requests to get the full picture.

Michigan's Clean Slate expungement law, codified at MCL 780.621, allows certain people to petition to have criminal convictions set aside. If a record has been expunged, it will not show up in public criminal history searches. This is worth knowing when you search Branch County records and come up with nothing unexpected for someone with a prior conviction history.

The Michigan Public Sex Offender Registry lets you search for registered offenders in Branch County communities including Coldwater, Union City, and Quincy.

Communities in Branch County

Branch County includes Coldwater, Union City, Quincy, Bronson, and several townships. None of these communities meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page. All criminal records for Branch County are maintained by the 3rd Circuit Court and the County Clerk in Coldwater.

Nearby Counties

Branch County shares borders with several other Michigan and Indiana counties. If you are not sure which county handled a case, use MiCOURT to search by name across courts.