Ingham County Criminal Records
Ingham County criminal records are maintained by the Sheriff's Office in Mason and the County Clerk, which serves the 30th Circuit Court. As the home of Michigan's state capital, Lansing, Ingham County handles one of the larger criminal court caseloads in the Lower Peninsula. Records cover arrests, felony cases, misdemeanors, and criminal history going back decades. You can search these records in person at the courthouse, through statewide portals, or by submitting a written FOIA request to the right office.
Ingham County Overview
Ingham County Sheriff and 30th Circuit Court
The Ingham County Sheriff's Office is at 630 North Cedar Street in Mason. The Central Records division handles background checks, fingerprinting, sex offender registration, crash reports, incident reports, and FOIA requests. The office can be reached at 517-676-8224 during business hours. Jail records and inmate information can be requested at 517-676-8221. This is the first stop for law enforcement records tied to arrests or incidents in unincorporated Ingham County and several townships.
Court records in Ingham County run through the 30th Circuit Court, the 55th District Court, and the Probate Court. The County Clerk's Office manages case filings and can be reached at 517-676-7201. The mailing address is PO Box 179, Mason, MI 48854. The 30th Circuit Court handles all felony criminal cases filed in the county, including cases from Lansing, East Lansing, and other municipalities. The clerk's office is the right contact for certified copies of court orders, judgments, and case dockets.
The Ingham County Sheriff Central Records page explains the full range of services offered, from fingerprinting to incident report copies.
The Central Records page details what types of records you can request, the fees that apply, and how to contact the right division for each type of record. Review this before submitting your request to make sure you send it to the right place.
| Sheriff's Office | Ingham County Sheriff |
|---|---|
| Address | 630 North Cedar Street, Mason, MI 48854 |
| Central Records Phone | 517-676-8224 |
| Jail Phone | 517-676-8221 |
| County Clerk Address | PO Box 179, Mason, MI 48854 |
| Clerk Phone | 517-676-7201 |
| Circuit Court | 30th Circuit Court |
| District Court | 55th District Court |
How to Search Ingham County Criminal Records
The main statewide tool is ICHAT, run by the Michigan State Police. ICHAT searches felony and serious misdemeanor conviction records from all 83 Michigan counties, including Ingham. Each name search costs $10. Results are based on reporting from law enforcement agencies under MCL 28.241. Because Ingham County handles a large volume of criminal cases, ICHAT is especially useful here for getting a statewide picture of someone's criminal history.
For court case records specific to Ingham County, use MiCOURT, the free state case search system. You can look up cases by name, case number, or filing date. It covers circuit, district, and probate court records. Most public criminal cases from the 30th Circuit Court and 55th District Court are indexed and searchable online. If you need a certified copy or a full case file, contact the County Clerk at 517-676-7201.
In-person searches at the Mason courthouse give you the most complete access. Staff can pull full case files, print docket entries, and issue certified copies. Bring a valid ID. If you know the case number, it speeds up the search considerably.
The Ingham County Government website provides links to all county departments, including the Sheriff and Clerk. Use it to confirm current hours and find the right contact for your specific records request.
FOIA Requests in Ingham County
Michigan's Freedom of Information Act under MCL 15.231 gives every person the right to access public records held by state and local agencies. In Ingham County, that includes criminal records at the Sheriff's Office and case files at the courthouse. You must submit a written request to the agency that holds the specific records you want. The agency has 5 business days to respond, with up to a 10-day extension if the request is complex.
The Ingham County Sheriff maintains a dedicated FOIA request page at sh.ingham.org FOIA Requests. Use that page to find the correct submission process and contact details. Court records are not available through the Sheriff's FOIA. Those must go through the County Clerk's Office. Under MCL 15.243, some records can be withheld to protect an ongoing investigation or personal privacy. Denials can be appealed in writing to the agency head.
The Sheriff's FOIA page lays out the submission process and gives you the contact information you need to get started. Review it before you submit so your request goes to the right division and includes all required details.
Record Copy Fees in Ingham County
Ingham County's fee schedule reflects both standard FOIA rates and specific costs set by the Sheriff's Office. Live Scan fingerprinting for applicants costs $62.00. Ink fingerprints cost $20.00 per card. Fingerprints for a Concealed Pistol License run $15.00. Notary services are $10.00. Standard FOIA copy fees of $0.10 per page apply for most other document types. Certified court copies carry an added $10.00 certification fee per document. ICHAT searches cost $10.00 per name through the Michigan State Police.
Additional Resources for Ingham County Records
The Michigan Department of Corrections operates the Offender Tracking Information System (OTIS), which is free to use. OTIS shows current and former state inmates, parolees, and people on probation. Because Ingham County is home to the state capital and processes a high volume of felony cases, a number of people in OTIS have ties to cases filed here. The system does not cover local jail records, which are held by the Sheriff.
The Michigan Sex Offender Registry is searchable by name, address, or zip code. It covers all registered offenders in the state, including those in Ingham County. The registry is managed by the Michigan State Police and is updated on a rolling basis. Under MCL 780.621, Michigan's Clean Slate law allows some convictions to be automatically expunged after 7 to 10 years, depending on the offense type. If an ICHAT search shows nothing for someone you know has a record, expungement under Clean Slate may explain it.
Cities in Ingham County
Ingham County includes Michigan's capital city, Lansing, which has its own dedicated criminal records page. Other communities in the county include East Lansing, Mason, Okemos, and Holt. All criminal cases from across the county are handled through the 30th Circuit Court and 55th District Court.
Nearby Counties
Ingham County is in Michigan's Lower Peninsula, surrounded by several other mid-Michigan counties. Check where a case was filed if you are unsure which county holds the records you need.