Search Isabella County Criminal Records
Isabella County criminal records are held by the Sheriff's Office and County Clerk in Mt. Pleasant, a mid-Michigan city home to Central Michigan University. The county's courts include the 21st Circuit Court for felony matters and the 76th District Court for misdemeanors and traffic cases. You can search these records in person at the courthouse, through statewide tools like ICHAT and MiCOURT, or by filing a written FOIA request to the appropriate office. This page explains the steps, contacts, and laws involved.
Isabella County Overview
Isabella County Sheriff and Circuit Court
The Isabella County Sheriff's Office is at 207 N. Court Street in Mt. Pleasant and can be reached at (989) 772-5911. The fax number is (989) 772-0241. The office handles arrests, jail operations, incident reports, and local law enforcement records. It is the right starting point if you need records tied to a specific arrest or event in Isabella County. For emergencies, call 911.
Court records in Isabella County run through the 21st Circuit Court and the 76th District Court. The County Clerk is at 200 N. Main Street, Mt. Pleasant, MI 48858, and can be reached at (989) 772-0911. The 21st Circuit Court handles felony criminal cases. The 76th District Court covers misdemeanors, traffic violations, and small civil matters. Both courts keep their records through the County Clerk's office. Staff can assist with in-person lookups and certified copy requests during business hours.
The Isabella County Government website provides links to all county departments and is a good place to confirm hours and find contact information before visiting or submitting a records request.
| Sheriff's Office | Isabella County Sheriff |
|---|---|
| Address | 207 N. Court St., Mt. Pleasant, MI 48858 |
| Phone | (989) 772-5911 |
| Fax | (989) 772-0241 |
| County Clerk Address | 200 N. Main St., Mt. Pleasant, MI 48858 |
| Clerk Phone | (989) 772-0911 |
| Circuit Court | 21st Circuit Court |
| District Court | 76th District Court |
How to Search Isabella County Criminal Records
The primary statewide tool for criminal history in Isabella County is ICHAT, run by the Michigan State Police. ICHAT searches felony and serious misdemeanor conviction records from all 83 Michigan counties. Each name search costs $10. Reporting to the state database is required under MCL 28.241, which mandates that law enforcement agencies submit criminal history records to the Michigan State Police. Results are returned quickly and cover convictions, not just arrests.
For court case records specific to Isabella County, use MiCOURT, the free state case lookup system. Search by name, case number, or filing date. It covers both circuit and district court cases. Most recent public criminal cases are indexed and viewable. If you need older records or certified copies, contact the County Clerk at (989) 772-0911.
FOIA Requests in Isabella County
Michigan's Freedom of Information Act under MCL 15.231 entitles every person to request government records, including criminal records maintained by the Isabella County Sheriff's Office and the County Clerk. You must submit your request in writing to the agency that holds the specific records. The agency has 5 business days to respond, with the option to extend by 10 additional days for complex requests.
For law enforcement records, direct your request to the Isabella County Sheriff's Office at 207 N. Court St., Mt. Pleasant, MI 48858. For court records, contact the County Clerk at 200 N. Main Street. Under MCL 15.243, some records can be withheld if disclosure would harm an active investigation or violate personal privacy. If any part of your request is denied, you have the right to appeal in writing to the agency head.
Note: Isabella County does not have a dedicated public criminal records portal online, so ICHAT and MiCOURT are the primary tools for remote searches.
Record Copy Fees in Isabella County
Isabella County follows Michigan's standard FOIA fee rules. Plain copies are $0.10 per page. Certified copies carry an additional $10.00 fee per document. If your request requires significant staff time to locate and compile, labor costs may apply. Call the Sheriff's Office at (989) 772-5911 or the County Clerk at (989) 772-0911 to request a fee estimate before submitting. ICHAT searches cost $10.00 per name through the Michigan State Police website.
Additional Resources for Isabella County Records
The Michigan Department of Corrections runs the Offender Tracking Information System (OTIS) as a free public tool. OTIS covers current and former state prison inmates, parolees, and those on probation across all of Michigan. It does not include records from the Isabella County Jail. For local jail information, contact the Sheriff's Office directly.
The Michigan Sex Offender Registry can be searched by name, address, or zip code and is free to use. It covers all registered sex offenders statewide, including those in Isabella County. The registry is managed by the Michigan State Police and updated regularly. Under MCL 780.621, Michigan's Clean Slate law allows certain convictions to be automatically expunged after a set waiting period. This may explain why some criminal record searches return no results. The Michigan Sheriffs' Association page for Isabella County provides additional contact information for the Sheriff's Office.
Communities in Isabella County
Isabella County is a mid-Michigan county centered on Mt. Pleasant, home to Central Michigan University. Other communities include Shepherd, Rosebush, Weidman, and Beal City. None of these communities meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page. All criminal cases from across the county are processed through the 21st Circuit Court and 76th District Court in Mt. Pleasant.
Nearby Counties
Isabella County sits in the center of Michigan's Lower Peninsula. If you are not sure which county holds the records you need, verify where the incident or arrest occurred.