Gratiot County Criminal Records
Gratiot County criminal records are kept by the Sheriff's Office and the courts in Ithaca, Michigan. The county seat is Ithaca, and the Gratiot County Circuit Court handles felony cases while the District Court covers misdemeanors. You can run a background check using ICHAT, request records through FOIA, or search court cases through MiCOURT. This page covers the offices, tools, and procedures for accessing criminal records in Gratiot County.
Gratiot County Overview
Gratiot County Sheriff and Courts
The Gratiot County Sheriff's Office is at 226 East Center St. in Ithaca. Sheriff Michael Morris oversees the department. The office phone is 989-875-5214 and fax is 989-875-5222. The Sheriff's Office has operated continuously since 1855, making it one of Michigan's oldest. It provides 24/7 road patrol, marine patrol, secondary road patrol, and drug enforcement across the county. The jail holds up to 70 inmates. For concealed weapons permits, appointments are required and available Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 3 PM.
Criminal cases in Gratiot County go through the Gratiot County Circuit Court for felonies and the Gratiot County District Court for misdemeanors, traffic violations, and small claims. Both courts are in Ithaca. Contact the county clerk for records from either court. The Gratiot County government website at gratiotmi.com provides current contact details for the Sheriff's Office and other county departments.
| Sheriff's Office | 226 East Center St., Ithaca, MI 48847 |
|---|---|
| Sheriff Phone | 989-875-5214 |
| Sheriff Fax | 989-875-5222 |
| Sheriff | Michael Morris |
| Jail Capacity | 70 inmates |
| CPL Appointments | By appointment, Mon-Fri 8 AM - 3 PM |
| Circuit Court | Gratiot County Circuit Court, Ithaca |
| District Court | Gratiot County District Court, Ithaca |
| Sheriff Website | gratiotmi.com - Sheriff's Office |
How to Search Gratiot County Criminal Records
The Michigan State Police ICHAT system is the primary resource for statewide criminal background checks in Michigan. Go to apps.michigan.gov/ichat, enter a person's name and date of birth, and pay the small fee. The results pull from the state's criminal history database, which Gratiot County courts and law enforcement agencies report into. ICHAT is the right tool for formal background checks and will show arrests, charges, and dispositions across the state.
For specific Gratiot County court cases, use MiCOURT at micourt.courts.michigan.gov/case-search. The system lets you search by name or case number and shows docket entries, charges, hearings, and case status. Gratiot County does not maintain its own separate online criminal records portal, so MiCOURT and ICHAT are the best online options available. For records not found online, contact the county clerk or the Circuit Court directly.
The Gratiot County Sheriff's Office page is shown below.
Visit gratiotmi.com for current contact details for the Gratiot County Sheriff's Office.
FOIA Requests for Gratiot County Records
Under MCL 15.231, you have the right to request government records in Michigan. In Gratiot County, FOIA requests go to the County Administrator's Office at 214 E. Center Street, Ithaca, MI 48847. You can also email requests to foia@gratiotmi.com. The county FOIA page is at gratiotmi.com/foia, where you can find the request form and a summary of the process. A downloadable FOIA request form is available at gratiotmi.com FOIA form.
Key rules for Gratiot County FOIA requests: include the word "FOIA" in your written request, describe the records clearly enough that the office can find them, and be aware that verbal requests can be documented on a FOIA form by the office. The county has 5 business days to respond, with a possible 10-day extension. If the estimated fee exceeds $50, you may be asked for a 50% deposit before work begins. Copying costs $0.10 per page, and mailing is charged at actual cost.
If you have low income, you may qualify for a fee waiver. You file an affidavit showing indigency and the waiver covers up to $20 in fees. Under MCL 15.243, some records are exempt from disclosure, including active investigation materials and certain personal information.
The Gratiot County FOIA information page is shown below.
Review the FOIA process and download request forms at gratiotmi.com/foia.
Statewide Tools and Additional Resources
The OTIS offender search at mdocweb.state.mi.us/otis2 covers people in or released from Michigan state prison. If someone from Gratiot County served state prison time, OTIS will have their record. The Michigan sex offender registry at michigan.gov/psor is free to search and covers all registered offenders statewide, including those in Gratiot County. This registry is maintained under MCL 28.241 and lets you search by name or zip code.
The Michigan State Police FOIA portal at michigan.gov/msp/services/foia lets you request records directly from the MSP, which can include traffic crash reports, fingerprint submissions, and other state-level law enforcement data. For court resources and forms, check courts.michigan.gov. If you want to expunge a conviction in Michigan, MCL 780.621 explains who qualifies and how to file. The Michigan Sheriffs' Association page for Gratiot County is at misheriff.org.
The Michigan Sheriffs' Association page for Gratiot County is shown below.
See the full listing at misheriff.org.
Cities in Gratiot County
The county seat of Gratiot County is Ithaca. No cities in Gratiot County currently meet the population threshold for a dedicated city records page. All criminal cases for Gratiot County residents are handled at the Gratiot County Circuit Court and District Court in Ithaca.
Nearby Counties
These counties share borders with Gratiot County in mid-Michigan. Each has its own circuit court and sheriff's office for criminal records.