Kent County Criminal Records
Kent County criminal records cover arrests, court filings, and case outcomes for one of Michigan's largest and most active jurisdictions. The county seat is Grand Rapids, home to the 17th Circuit Court and multiple district courts that handle everything from misdemeanors to major felonies. If you need to search criminal history in Kent County, this page covers all the tools and offices that can help, including the Michigan State Police ICHAT system, MiCOURT case search, the Kent County Sheriff's Records Division, and the OTIS inmate lookup for those in state custody.
Kent County Overview
Kent County Sheriff and Court Offices
The Kent County Sheriff's Office on Ball Avenue NE in Grand Rapids handles all law enforcement records for the county. This includes arrest logs, jail intake records, and records held by the Records Division. Call (616) 632-6100 and press 3 for the Records Division. The Sheriff's website at accesskent.com/Sheriff gives current information on services and inmate lookup.
The 17th Circuit Court, 61st District Court, and 63rd District Court all handle criminal cases in Kent County. The County Clerk's office on Ottawa Ave. NW stores court records and can pull case files for in-person requests. That office handles certified copies and case index searches when online tools don't have what you need.
| Sheriff's Office | 701 Ball Avenue NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (616) 632-6100 (press 3 for Records) |
| Fax | (616) 632-6211 |
| County Clerk | 180 Ottawa Ave. NW, Suite 2400, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 |
| Clerk Phone | (616) 632-5480 |
| Courts | 17th Circuit Court, 61st District Court, 63rd District Court |
| Sheriff Website | accesskent.com/Sheriff |
The MiCOURT system lets you search Kent County court records online without visiting the courthouse. You can look up criminal cases by name, case number, or date range. The screenshot below shows what the MiCOURT interface looks like when you search Kent County criminal cases.
MiCOURT at micourt.courts.michigan.gov covers all active and many historical Kent County court cases and is the fastest free tool for most searches.
How to Search Kent County Criminal Records
Several tools are available to search criminal records in Kent County. Each one pulls from a different source. The best one depends on what you're looking for and how current the information needs to be.
The Michigan State Police ICHAT (Internet Criminal History Access Tool) is the main statewide system for background checks. It pulls directly from the Michigan criminal history repository under apps.michigan.gov/ichat. ICHAT covers felony and misdemeanor convictions, deferred judgments, and other entries in the state's criminal database. Under MCL 28.241, the State Police maintain the central repository for all Michigan criminal records, and ICHAT gives the public a window into that data. A name search costs a small fee per subject.
For court filings and case status, use MiCOURT Case Search. This is free and shows docket entries for Kent County's Circuit and District Courts. You can see charges, hearing dates, and case outcomes without paying anything.
The above screenshot shows the state records index for Kent County. This tool works as a starting point when you don't know which court handled a particular case.
Note: ICHAT shows conviction records but may not include arrests that did not result in conviction or cases that were expunged under MCL 780.621.
FOIA Requests in Kent County
Under MCL 15.231, Michigan's Freedom of Information Act gives the public the right to request government records that aren't exempt. Kent County departments respond to FOIA requests within 5 business days. You submit your request to the department that holds the records you want. For Sheriff's records, that means the Kent County Sheriff's Office. For court records, go through the County Clerk. The Kent County government portal at accesskent.com has contact info for all departments.
Some records are exempt under MCL 15.243, including active investigation files and records that would compromise law enforcement. If your request is denied in whole or in part, the department must explain which exemption applies. You can appeal within 180 days.
For Michigan State Police records, use the MSP FOIA portal at michigan.gov/msp/services/foia to submit requests online. Standard FOIA copy fees apply statewide.
Fees for Criminal Record Copies
Kent County follows Michigan's standard FOIA fee schedule. The Sheriff's office may charge for labor, copies, and any special processing. Court-certified copies typically run a few dollars per page. ICHAT name search fees are set by the State Police and are modest. Call the Records Division at (616) 632-6100 before submitting a large request to get a fee estimate.
Expungement filings under MCL 780.621 carry their own court fees. Contact the 17th Circuit Court Clerk for current filing costs. Many routine record lookups through MiCOURT are free.
Local Resources for Kent County Criminal Records
Kent County has several resources beyond the Sheriff and courts. The OTIS system at mdocweb.state.mi.us/otis2 lets you look up anyone currently in Michigan Department of Corrections custody, including those from Kent County. The Sex Offender Registry at michigan.gov/psor shows registered offenders by county, zip code, or name. Both are free and updated regularly.
Legal aid in Grand Rapids is available through Legal Aid of Western Michigan. They serve income-eligible clients with criminal record issues including expungement applications. The State Bar of Michigan lawyer referral line can also connect you with a criminal defense attorney in Kent County.
Cities in Kent County
Kent County includes several cities and townships. Two cities have pages on this site with more detail on accessing criminal records locally.
Other communities in Kent County include Kentwood, Walker, Grandville, and East Grand Rapids. Criminal records for these areas are handled by the same courts and Sheriff serving the county.
Nearby Counties
If you are not sure whether a case was filed in Kent County or a neighboring county, check the address of the court in the case records. Adjacent counties each have their own courts and clerks.