Criminal Records in Keweenaw County
Keweenaw County criminal records are maintained by the Sheriff's Office in Eagle Harbor and the County Clerk in Eagle River, which serves the 12th Circuit Court and 97th District Court. As Michigan's least populous county, with roughly 2,200 residents at the tip of the Keweenaw Peninsula in the Upper Peninsula, Keweenaw sees far fewer criminal filings than larger counties. Still, the same state systems apply here. You can search Keweenaw County criminal records using ICHAT, MiCOURT, and the county's own government office. This page covers each option and how to use them.
Keweenaw County Overview
Keweenaw County Sheriff and Clerk
The Keweenaw County Sheriff's Office is at 5105 4th Street in Eagle Harbor. Call (906) 337-0528 for general inquiries. As the smallest county in Michigan by population, the Sheriff's office is small but handles all law enforcement records for the county. Written requests work best for records that aren't available through state online tools.
The County Clerk is located at 5095 4th Street in Eagle River, just down the road. Call (906) 337-2229. The Clerk maintains court files for both the 12th Circuit Court and the 97th District Court. In-person visits or written requests are how most people access records here, since this small county does not have its own dedicated online criminal records search portal. The Keweenaw County government site at keweenawcountyonline.org provides general county information and contact details.
| Sheriff's Office | 5105 4th St., Eagle Harbor, MI 49950 |
|---|---|
| Sheriff Phone | (906) 337-0528 |
| County Clerk | 5095 4th St., Eagle River, MI 49950 |
| Clerk Phone | (906) 337-2229 |
| Courts | 12th Circuit Court, 97th District Court |
| County Website | keweenawcountyonline.org |
The screenshot below shows the Keweenaw County government website, which is your starting point for finding contact information and submitting written records requests.
Searching Keweenaw County Criminal Records
Because Keweenaw County is so small, the best tools for searching criminal records here are the statewide systems rather than local portals. The Michigan State Police ICHAT at apps.michigan.gov/ichat is the main starting point. ICHAT searches the state's central criminal history repository, maintained under MCL 28.241, and returns conviction records for any Michigan county including Keweenaw. This is the fastest and most reliable way to run a criminal background check.
MiCOURT Case Search at micourt.courts.michigan.gov covers court filings statewide. You can search by name or case number and pull up Keweenaw cases handled by the 12th Circuit or 97th District Court. This is free to use and shows charges, hearing dates, and case outcomes.
The above screenshot shows MiCOURT, which is your best free tool for Keweenaw County court records. For Michigan Sheriffs' Association information specific to Keweenaw, see misheriff.org.
Note: Because Keweenaw County shares the 12th Circuit Court with Houghton County, some case records may appear under a Houghton County courthouse address in MiCOURT.
FOIA and Written Records Requests
Michigan's Freedom of Information Act under MCL 15.231 applies to all Keweenaw County departments. To request criminal records from the Sheriff's Office or Clerk, submit a written request that identifies the records you want. The county will respond within 5 business days. Certain records are exempt under MCL 15.243, such as active investigation materials or information that could identify confidential informants.
For Michigan State Police criminal history records, use the MSP FOIA portal at michigan.gov/msp/services/foia. This is separate from what you get through ICHAT. MSP FOIA covers investigative reports and other records not visible through the public-facing ICHAT tool. Standard copy fees apply per the FOIA statute.
Record Fees in Keweenaw County
Keweenaw County follows Michigan's standard FOIA fee structure. Copies cost a small per-page fee, plus labor costs if the request takes significant staff time to fulfill. ICHAT charges a modest fee per name search. Court-certified copies from the County Clerk are billed at the rate set by the Michigan Supreme Court's rules for court records. Call the Clerk at (906) 337-2229 before visiting to confirm current rates.
Resources for Keweenaw County Records
Beyond county-level tools, state systems cover Keweenaw County thoroughly. The OTIS inmate search at mdocweb.state.mi.us/otis2 lets you look up anyone serving time in state prison, including those from Keweenaw County. The Sex Offender Registry at michigan.gov/psor has Keweenaw County listings searchable by name or location. Both are free and open to the public.
For expungements, MCL 780.621 sets the rules for clearing eligible offenses. Keweenaw County residents file petitions with the court that handled their original case. Given the county's small size, most residents will work directly with the County Clerk to navigate this process.
Communities in Keweenaw County
Keweenaw County is Michigan's smallest county by population. It does not contain any incorporated cities above the qualifying threshold for dedicated pages on this site. Eagle River is the county seat, and Eagle Harbor is home to the Sheriff's Office. Criminal records for all residents are handled through the offices listed above.
Nearby Counties
Keweenaw County sits at the tip of the Keweenaw Peninsula. Houghton County to the south is the nearest neighbor and shares some court administration with Keweenaw.