Cass County Criminal Records
Cass County criminal records are kept by the County Clerk and the 43rd Circuit Court in Cassopolis. The county also has its own court website at casscourtsmi.org, which provides access to dockets and case information. This page walks through how to request criminal records, use online search tools, and submit FOIA requests for Cass County criminal cases and law enforcement records in southwest Michigan.
Cass County Overview
Cass County Courts and Sheriff's Office
Cass County has two courts that handle criminal matters. The 43rd Circuit Court in Cassopolis handles felony cases, with Chief Judge Hon. Mark A. Herman and Judge Hon. Carol Montavon Bealor presiding. Court Administrator Sarah Mathews manages day-to-day operations. The mailing address for the 43rd Circuit Court is PO Box 70, Cassopolis, MI 49031. The 4th District Court handles misdemeanors. Monica McMichael serves as Clerk and Register of Deeds.
The county operates a dedicated court website at casscourtsmi.org, which is a good first stop for docket lookups and court calendar information. A second site at casscountycourt.org also provides court information for Cass County. The Sheriff's Office and county records requests are handled through casscountymi.org.
For records requests and reports from law enforcement, the county has a dedicated submission page. Submit requests through the Request Records and Reports page on the county website. This page covers both sheriff and court record requests.
| 43rd Circuit Court | PO Box 70, Cassopolis, MI 49031 |
|---|---|
| Chief Judge | Hon. Mark A. Herman |
| Clerk/Register of Deeds | Monica McMichael |
| Courts | 43rd Circuit Court, 4th District Court |
| Court Website | casscourtsmi.org |
Searching Criminal Records in Cass County
Cass County courts offer live dockets and case feeds through their website at casscourtsmi.org. This is a good starting point for recent cases and active criminal matters. For older cases or cases across multiple courts, use MiCOURT Case Search, the statewide free court lookup system. Search by name or case number to find docket entries for the 43rd Circuit and 4th District courts.
The Michigan State Police ICHAT system at apps.michigan.gov/ichat is the best source for full criminal history checks. It costs $10 per person and draws from the statewide criminal history repository maintained under MCL 28.241. ICHAT covers convictions from all Michigan counties, not just Cass. It is particularly useful when you want a complete picture beyond just local Cass County records.
For a police report or law enforcement record from the Sheriff's Office, go to the Request Records and Reports page. You can submit requests online or by mail. For FOIA requests to the Sheriff's Office specifically, email sherifffoia@cassco.org. General FOIA requests go to foia@cassco.org.
The Cass County Request Records and Reports page outlines how to submit records requests to the Sheriff's Office and other county departments.
The Cass County Courts website provides access to live court feeds and docket information for criminal cases in the 43rd Circuit and 4th District courts.
FOIA Requests in Cass County
Michigan's Freedom of Information Act, MCL 15.231, gives the public the right to request records from government offices. Cass County handles FOIA requests by department. Send general requests to foia@cassco.org. For Sheriff's Office records specifically, use sherifffoia@cassco.org. An online form is also available on the county website for convenience.
The county must respond within 5 business days. Some records are exempt under MCL 15.243, including ongoing investigations, personal privacy matters, and protected law enforcement records. If a conviction has been expunged under MCL 780.621, it will not appear in public record searches. Juvenile records and sealed court files are also not accessible to the public.
Note: Use the department-specific FOIA email to speed up your request. Sending to the wrong contact can cause delays.
Fees for Cass County Records
Contact the County Clerk or Sheriff's Office for the current fee schedule for copies. Standard Michigan FOIA fees apply. Agencies can charge for labor, duplication, and mailing, but only the actual cost. ICHAT through the Michigan State Police costs $10 per search. MiCOURT and Cass County court docket lookups online are free for basic information. Certified copies from the Clerk's office will carry a per-page charge.
Additional court and records information for Cass County is available at casscountycourt.org, including guidance on accessing case files and requesting documents.
The MiCOURT Case Search is a free statewide tool that covers Cass County court cases in both the circuit and district courts.
Additional Resources for Cass County Criminal Records
The Michigan Department of Corrections OTIS system at mdocweb.state.mi.us/otis2/otis2.html is free. It shows Cass County residents who have been sentenced to state prison, their current status, and facility location. OTIS does not show county jail data. For county jail population, contact the Sheriff's Office directly.
The Michigan Sex Offender Registry at michigan.gov/psor lets you search by name or location for registered sex offenders in Cass County. You can filter by city or zip code to look up registrants in Cassopolis, Dowagiac, or other parts of the county. The registry is maintained by the Michigan State Police and updated regularly.
For MSP-specific records that relate to Cass County cases, submit a request through michigan.gov/msp/services/foia. If you are looking to file documents electronically with the 43rd Circuit Court, the state e-filing portal at mifile.courts.michigan.gov handles those submissions.
Communities in Cass County
Cass County includes Cassopolis, Dowagiac, Edwardsburg, Marcellus, and Vandalia, among other communities. None of these communities meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page. All criminal case records for Cass County residents are handled through the 43rd Circuit Court and the County Clerk in Cassopolis.
Nearby Counties
Cass County is in southwest Michigan, bordered by Indiana to the south. These Michigan counties are nearby and each have separate courts and criminal records offices.