Kalamazoo County Criminal Records
Kalamazoo County criminal records are maintained by the Kalamazoo County Sheriff's Office and the courts at 201 W. Kalamazoo Avenue. The 9th Circuit Court handles felony cases, and the 8th District Court handles misdemeanors and traffic violations. You can search criminal records through the state ICHAT system, look up court cases in MiCOURT, or contact the county offices directly. This page covers all the main ways to access criminal records in Kalamazoo County.
Kalamazoo County Overview
Kalamazoo County Sheriff and Circuit Court
The Kalamazoo County Sheriff's Office is at 1500 Lamont Ave. in Kalamazoo. The main line is (269) 383-8821 and fax is (269) 383-8743. The Sheriff's Office is the county's primary law enforcement agency for unincorporated areas. They handle arrest records, warrants, and incident reports for the county. For current information on the Sheriff's Office and its services, visit kalcounty.com/sheriff.
Kalamazoo County is one of the more populous counties in southwest Michigan. Criminal court cases are processed through the 9th Circuit Court and the 8th District Court, both located at 201 W. Kalamazoo Avenue in Kalamazoo. The 9th Circuit Court handles felony cases and serious criminal matters. The 8th District Court handles misdemeanors, traffic cases, and preliminary hearings for felony charges. The county clerk's office at 201 W. Kalamazoo Ave. maintains court records and can help you search case files or order copies. Reach the clerk at (269) 383-8840.
| Sheriff's Office | 1500 Lamont Ave., Kalamazoo, MI 49048 |
|---|---|
| Sheriff Phone | (269) 383-8821 |
| Sheriff Fax | (269) 383-8743 |
| County Clerk Address | 201 W. Kalamazoo Ave., Kalamazoo, MI 49007 |
| Clerk Phone | (269) 383-8840 |
| 9th Circuit Court | 201 W. Kalamazoo Ave., Kalamazoo, MI 49007 |
| 8th District Court | 201 W. Kalamazoo Ave., Kalamazoo, MI 49007 |
| Sheriff Website | kalcounty.com - Sheriff's Office |
| County Website | kalcounty.com |
How to Search Kalamazoo County Criminal Records
The Michigan State Police ICHAT system at apps.michigan.gov/ichat is the standard tool for criminal background checks in Michigan. ICHAT queries the state criminal history database, which includes data from courts and law enforcement agencies statewide. For Kalamazoo County records, this is the most reliable source for a formal background check. You will need the subject's full name and date of birth. There is a small processing fee, and results are typically returned quickly.
MiCOURT at micourt.courts.michigan.gov/case-search gives you case-level information for specific court matters. Search by name or case number to find docket entries, charges, hearing dates, and case outcomes for cases at the 9th Circuit Court and 8th District Court. This is a free tool and useful for tracking specific Kalamazoo County cases.
The Kalamazoo County website at kalcounty.com links to all county departments including the courts and clerk. For records not found online, contact the county clerk at (269) 383-8840 or go in person to the courthouse at 201 W. Kalamazoo Avenue.
The Kalamazoo County Sheriff's Office page is shown below.
Visit kalcounty.com/sheriff for current contact information and services.
FOIA Requests in Kalamazoo County
Under MCL 15.231, Michigan residents have the right to request public records from county and state government. In Kalamazoo County, FOIA requests go to the department that holds the records you want. For Sheriff's Office records like incident reports or arrest data, submit your request to the Sheriff's Office at 1500 Lamont Ave. For court records, go through the county clerk at 201 W. Kalamazoo Ave. Written requests are required, and the county must respond within 5 business days. Standard FOIA fees apply.
Some records are exempt under MCL 15.243. If your request is partially or fully denied, the county must tell you which exemption applies and give you the right to appeal. You can also request records directly from the Michigan State Police for state-level law enforcement data using the MSP FOIA portal at michigan.gov/msp/services/foia.
The Kalamazoo County government page is shown below.
The Kalamazoo County government site at kalcounty.com links to all county departments, including courts, clerk, and Sheriff's Office.
MiCOURT, Sex Offender Registry, and State Tools
Beyond ICHAT, several statewide tools support criminal records searches for Kalamazoo County. The OTIS database at mdocweb.state.mi.us/otis2 covers people currently or formerly held in Michigan state prison. If someone from Kalamazoo County served state prison time, their record will appear here. The search is free and shows current custody status, conviction details, and release information.
The Michigan Sex Offender Registry at michigan.gov/psor is maintained under MCL 28.241 and allows free searches by name or zip code. This is useful for checking registered offenders in Kalamazoo County and nearby areas. If you need to pursue expungement of a criminal conviction, MCL 780.621 lays out the eligibility and filing process in Michigan.
The MiCOURT case search page is shown below.
Search Kalamazoo County court cases at micourt.courts.michigan.gov/case-search.
The state records database for Kalamazoo is shown below.
Cities in Kalamazoo County
The city of Kalamazoo is the county seat and the largest city in Kalamazoo County. Criminal cases for city residents go through the same 9th Circuit Court and 8th District Court at 201 W. Kalamazoo Avenue. The city has its own dedicated records page with additional local resources.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Kalamazoo County in southwest Michigan. Each has its own sheriff and circuit court for criminal records.