Access Hillsdale County Criminal Records
Hillsdale County criminal records are held by the Hillsdale County Sheriff's Office and the courts in Hillsdale, Michigan. The 1st Judicial Circuit Court handles felony cases and the 2B District Court handles misdemeanors and traffic matters. Hillsdale County has an online FOIA portal that makes it easier to submit records requests. This page covers how to search criminal records, access court cases, and use the county's FOIA system.
Hillsdale County Overview
Hillsdale County Sheriff and Courts
The Hillsdale County Sheriff's Office is located at 165 W. Fayette Street in Hillsdale. The office phone is (517) 437-7317 and fax is (517) 437-7324. The Sheriff's Office handles arrest records, warrants, and law enforcement across the county. For incident reports and related law enforcement records, your FOIA request goes to this office. Current contact information for the sheriff is available on the county website at co.hillsdale.mi.us.
The county clerk for Hillsdale County is Abe Dane. His office is at the Hillsdale County Courthouse, 29 N. Howell St., Room 1, Hillsdale, MI 49242. Phone is (517) 437-3391, fax is (517) 437-3392. Chief Deputy Clerk LeaAnn Zimmerman assists in the office. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, with a noon to 1:00 PM lunch closure. The 1st Judicial Circuit Court handles felony criminal cases. The 2B District Court at the Courthouse Annex, 49 N. Howell Street, handles misdemeanors. District Court phone is (517) 437-7347, also open weekdays 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. Warrants are public record and can be verified by contacting the Sheriff's Office or the 2B District Court directly.
| Sheriff's Office | 165 W. Fayette Street, Hillsdale, MI 49242 |
|---|---|
| Sheriff Phone | (517) 437-7317 |
| County Clerk | Abe Dane |
| Clerk Address | 29 N. Howell St., Room 1, Hillsdale, MI 49242 |
| Clerk Phone | (517) 437-3391 |
| Circuit Court | 1st Judicial Circuit Court, Hillsdale Courthouse |
| District Court | 2B District Court, 49 N. Howell Street, Hillsdale |
| District Court Phone | (517) 437-7347 |
| Clerk Hours | Mon-Fri 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM (closed noon-1 PM) |
| Sheriff Website | co.hillsdale.mi.us - HCSO Services |
Searching Hillsdale County Criminal Records Online
The Michigan State Police ICHAT system at apps.michigan.gov/ichat is the primary way to run a criminal background check in Michigan. ICHAT pulls from the statewide criminal history repository and returns data on arrests, charges, and convictions. You need the person's full name and date of birth. The service has a small fee. Results cover Hillsdale County cases along with records from all other Michigan counties.
For case-level detail, MiCOURT at micourt.courts.michigan.gov/case-search lets you search active and closed court cases. Look up by name or case number. You can see charge information, docket entries, hearings, and outcomes for cases at both the 1st Circuit Court and the 2B District Court in Hillsdale. The MiCOURT case search tool is free and does not require registration.
The Hillsdale County Sheriff's Office services page is shown below.
View current Sheriff services at co.hillsdale.mi.us.
Hillsdale County FOIA Portal and Records Access
Hillsdale County has an online FOIA submission portal at hillsdalecountymi.justfoia.com/publicportal. This makes it easy to submit a written records request to the county without going in person. Under MCL 15.231, all Michigan residents have the right to request public records from government agencies. The portal routes your request to the right department. Response time is 5 business days. Standard copy fees apply: $0.10 per page for regular copies and an additional $10 for certified copies.
To get copies of specific police reports, submit your FOIA request through the online portal and direct it to the Sheriff's Office. For court records, contact the County Clerk at (517) 437-3391. Certified copies from the court run $1.00 per page plus the $10 certification fee. Some records are exempt from disclosure under MCL 15.243. If the county denies part of your request, they will tell you which exemption applies.
The Hillsdale County FOIA portal is shown below.
Submit FOIA requests online at hillsdalecountymi.justfoia.com/publicportal.
Additional Records and Statewide Resources
The Michigan Sex Offender Registry at michigan.gov/psor is maintained by the Michigan State Police under MCL 28.241. It covers all registered offenders in Michigan, including Hillsdale County. Search is free. The OTIS database at mdocweb.state.mi.us/otis2 shows people who are or were in Michigan state prison. Both tools are useful complements to a local county record search.
Hillsdale County vital records information is available through the county at hillsdalecounty.gov. For expungement of criminal convictions in Michigan, review the eligibility criteria in MCL 780.621. The Michigan Courts self-help resources at courts.michigan.gov can help you navigate the expungement process.
The Hillsdale County vital records page is shown below.
See Hillsdale County vital records at hillsdalecounty.gov.
Note: Warrant information for Hillsdale County can be confirmed by contacting the Sheriff's Office at (517) 437-7317 or the 2B District Court at (517) 437-7347.
Cities in Hillsdale County
The city of Hillsdale is the county seat and the main hub for court and law enforcement services in Hillsdale County. No cities in the county currently meet the population threshold for a dedicated records page. All criminal cases for Hillsdale County residents are processed through the 1st Circuit Court and the 2B District Court, both in Hillsdale.
Nearby Counties
Hillsdale County is in south-central Michigan, near the Ohio and Indiana borders. These surrounding counties each have their own court systems for criminal records.