Find Criminal Records in Clinton County
Clinton County criminal records are held by the Clinton County Sheriff's Office and the courts in St. Johns, Michigan. The county seat is St. Johns, and criminal cases run through the 65A District Court and the Circuit Court. You can search records online, by mail, or in person. This page explains how to find arrest records, court case information, and background check resources specific to Clinton County.
Clinton County Overview
Clinton County Sheriff and Courts
The Clinton County Sheriff's Office is the main law enforcement agency for the county. Sheriff Sean Dush leads the office at 1347 E. Townsend Road in St. Johns. You can reach the office at 989-224-5200. For non-emergencies, the central dispatch line is 989-224-6792. The office handles arrests, warrants, and police reports for unincorporated areas and works with city departments across the county.
The 65A District Court in St. Johns handles misdemeanors, traffic violations, and criminal preliminary hearings. Chief Judge Richard D. Wells presides. The court address is 100 East State Street, St. Johns, MI 48879. The main district court line is 989-224-5150. For specific divisions: criminal is 989-224-5153, civil is 989-224-5152, and traffic is 989-224-5155. Court records for all criminal cases in Clinton County are filed here or at the Circuit Court. Note: Clinton County is not the same as Clinton Township, which is in Macomb County. Make sure you are contacting the right location.
| Sheriff's Office | 1347 E. Townsend Rd, St. Johns, MI 48879 |
|---|---|
| Sheriff Phone | 989-224-5200 |
| Sheriff | Sean Dush |
| County Clerk Address | 100 E State Street, Suite 2600, St. Johns, MI 48879 |
| County Clerk Phone | 989-224-5257 |
| County Clerk | Debra A. Sutherland |
| 65A District Court | 100 East State Street, St. Johns, MI 48879 |
| District Court Main | 989-224-5150 |
| Criminal Division | 989-224-5153 |
| Chief Judge | Richard D. Wells |
| Sheriff Website | clinton-county.org - Sheriff's Office |
Search Clinton County Criminal Records Online
Clinton County has a dedicated record search page at clinton-county.org/226/Record-Searches. This page outlines how to request criminal and civil case records from the circuit court. Records after July 1996 are available online, in person, or by mail. For records before July 1996, you can still request them, but they are only available in person at the clerk's office or by mail for a $10 per-name fee for a 10-year search. If you are doing a mail request, send a written request with a self-addressed stamped envelope and a check made payable to the Clinton County Clerk.
The Michigan State Police ICHAT system at apps.michigan.gov/ichat is the fastest way to run a formal background check on an individual. It queries the state criminal history repository and returns arrest and conviction data. You need the person's full name and date of birth. The MiCOURT case lookup at micourt.courts.michigan.gov/case-search lets you search by case number or name and shows case status, charges, and docket entries. Both are solid tools for researching Clinton County criminal records from home.
The record search page for Clinton County is shown below.
Access the Clinton County record search portal at clinton-county.org.
FOIA and Records Access in Clinton County
Michigan's Freedom of Information Act, codified at MCL 15.231, gives the public the right to request copies of government records. In Clinton County, you submit your FOIA request to the department that holds the record. For court records, contact the county clerk at clerk@clinton-county.org. For sheriff records, go through the Sheriff's Office. Written requests are required. The county typically processes requests within 5 business days.
Copies of court records in Clinton County follow this fee structure: $2.00 per page for the first 10 pages, then $0.50 per page after that. Certified copies add $1.00 per page plus a flat $10.00 certification fee. Online payment is available through GovPay. If you are unsure how many pages a record has, call the clerk's office first at 989-224-5257 to get a page count before paying.
The criminal documents page for Clinton County has forms and additional instructions at clinton-county.org/224/Criminal. Searches are typically conducted within 24 hours once your request and payment are received.
Under MCL 15.243, some records are exempt from public disclosure. These include records tied to open investigations and certain personal data. The office will tell you what was provided and what was withheld.
The Clinton County Sheriff's Office page is shown below.
Visit the Clinton County Sheriff's Office for current contact details and services.
Criminal Court Documents and Background Checks
The Clinton County Circuit Court handles felony criminal cases. All documents filed in those cases, including charging documents, plea agreements, sentencing orders, and judgment entries, are part of the public court record. You can request copies through the county clerk or search them through MiCOURT. For misdemeanor and traffic cases, the 65A District Court holds those files.
The Michigan sex offender registry is managed by the state under MCL 28.241. Search it at michigan.gov/psor for free. This covers registered offenders in Clinton County and every other county in Michigan. If you are looking for someone who may be on parole or has served prison time, check the OTIS database at mdocweb.state.mi.us/otis2.
The criminal documents portal for Clinton County is shown below.
Access criminal forms and documents through the Clinton County criminal documents page.
Cities in Clinton County
Clinton County's largest city is St. Johns, which serves as the county seat. No cities in Clinton County currently meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page. All criminal cases in the county are handled at the 65A District Court and Circuit Court in St. Johns. Do not confuse this county with Clinton Township, which is a separate community located in Macomb County.
Nearby Counties
Clinton County is surrounded by several mid-Michigan counties. If you are unsure which court handles a case, the county where the offense took place or where the person lives determines jurisdiction.