Search Macomb County Criminal Records

Macomb County criminal records are among the most requested in Michigan. As the state's third most populous county with roughly 900,000 residents, Macomb handles a large volume of criminal cases each year through the 16th Circuit Court and three district courts. The Macomb County Sheriff's Office in Mt. Clemens runs a dedicated Records Division for arrest and incident reports. You can search cases online through MiCOURT and ICHAT, or contact the courts directly. This guide covers every method available to find criminal records in Macomb County.

Macomb County Sheriff and Court Contacts

The Macomb County Sheriff's Office is at 43565 Elizabeth Rd. in Mt. Clemens. Sheriff Anthony M. Wickersham leads the department. The Records Division handles requests for arrest records, incident reports, and inmate information. Call the Records Division directly at (586) 469-5377. For general questions or inmate lookups, use the main number at (586) 469-5151. The Sheriff's Office website has current information on services and staff.

The Macomb County Clerk is at 32 Market St. in Mt. Clemens, reachable at (586) 469-5120. The Clerk maintains records for the 16th Circuit Court, which handles all felony criminal cases in the county. Macomb County also has three district courts: the 37th District Court in Warren, the 38th District Court in Eastpointe, and the 40th District Court in St. Clair Shores. Each district court handles misdemeanor cases and local criminal matters for cities in their jurisdiction. For court records, contact the appropriate court based on where the case was filed.

The screenshot below shows the Macomb County Sheriff's Office website, which is the starting point for arrest record and Records Division requests.

The Macomb County Sheriff's Office website lets you find department contacts and services online.

The Sheriff's Records Division at (586) 469-5377 handles most requests for Macomb County arrest and incident records.

How to Find Macomb County Criminal Records

The Michigan State Police ICHAT system is the most complete online tool for criminal background searches in Macomb County. ICHAT draws from the state's central criminal history database, which agencies are required to report to under MCL 28.241. A search returns all Michigan criminal history on file for a person, including arrests, charges, and case outcomes. Results include cases from Macomb County courts along with any other Michigan county. Go to apps.michigan.gov/ichat to run a paid background check, or visit the MSP FOIA portal for official certified reports.

MiCOURT is the free case search tool for Michigan's court system. It covers most Macomb County criminal cases. You can search by full name or case number. Results show party names, case status, charge descriptions, and docket activity. To access Macomb County court records, go to micourt.courts.michigan.gov/case-search/ and enter the search details. Most public criminal cases appear here, though expunged records and certain sealed files are not shown.

The Records Office page linked from the Sheriff's website provides guidance on how to request specific incident reports and arrest documents from the department.

The Macomb County Sheriff's Records Office handles requests for police reports and arrest documentation.

The Records Office processes requests for incident reports, arrest records, and other criminal documentation from the Sheriff's Office.

The MiCOURT case search portal screenshot below shows the interface you will use to look up Macomb County criminal court cases.

Use MiCOURT case search to look up criminal cases in any Macomb County court by name or case number.

MiCOURT is free to use and covers criminal cases filed in the 16th Circuit Court, 37th, 38th, and 40th District Courts in Macomb County.

FOIA Requests in Macomb County

Macomb County has a dedicated FOIA process for public record requests. Under MCL 15.231, you have the right to inspect and receive copies of public records. For criminal records held by county government, submit your request to the FOIA Coordinator by email at foia@macombgov.org or by mail to: Office of Corporation Counsel, ATTN: FOIA Coordinator, 1 South Main Street, 8th Floor, Mount Clemens, MI 48043. The County FOIA portal has forms and instructions online.

The response deadline is 5 business days from receipt of your request. The county can extend this by 10 business days if needed. You will get a written response stating whether records are available and the cost to get them. Macomb County charges $0.05 per page for copying. Labor costs at the actual clerical rate apply for large requests. If the total exceeds $50, the county may require a 50% deposit before beginning the search. Mailing costs are added at actual rates.

Some records are exempt under MCL 15.243. Active investigation files, personal privacy information, and law enforcement records that would interfere with ongoing cases may be withheld. If the county denies your request, they must tell you why in writing and explain your right to appeal.

The FOIA records portal screenshot below shows where to submit requests online for Macomb County criminal records.

The Macomb County FOIA request page lets you submit and track record requests online.

Online FOIA submission is available for most Macomb County criminal record requests through the county's Corporation Counsel office.

Fees for Macomb County Criminal Records

Macomb County sets its own fee schedule for FOIA requests. Copies are $0.05 per page, which is one of the lower rates in Michigan. Labor costs are billed at the actual clerical rate for the time spent searching and retrieving records. If a request is large and the total cost will exceed $50, Macomb County can ask for a 50% deposit upfront. Mailing costs are added at whatever the actual postage and packaging comes to.

Court copies from the circuit or district courts follow the fee schedule set by state court rules. Certified copies cost more than plain ones. The clerk's office at (586) 469-5120 can give you a price before you commit. ICHAT searches through MSP have their own flat fee per search. You pay before the results are returned. Certified criminal history reports cost more than standard database searches. Check the ICHAT portal for current pricing.

Macomb County Criminal Record Resources

The Michigan Department of Corrections OTIS system lets you search for people currently or recently in Michigan's prison system. Macomb County cases that resulted in prison sentences will show up here. Go to mdocweb.state.mi.us/otis2/otis2.html and search by name. The system shows current facility, projected release dates, and supervision details. It is free and does not require an account.

The Michigan Sex Offender Registry at michigan.gov/psor shows registered offenders in Macomb County by name, address, or zip code. The registry is updated regularly by the MSP. Macomb County has a large registered population given its size. This is a public resource and free to search.

For State Police records, use the MSP FOIA portal. This handles requests for troop post reports and state-level criminal history records maintained by MSP, separate from county-level court filings. Macomb County is served by MSP Metro posts.

Cities in Macomb County

Macomb County is home to several large cities. Felony cases from all of them are heard in the 16th Circuit Court in Mt. Clemens. Misdemeanor cases go to the district court covering each city's jurisdiction. Criminal records for residents of any Macomb County city are accessible through the same search tools described above.

Other communities in Macomb County include Eastpointe, St. Clair Shores, Roseville, Shelby Township, Utica, and Chesterfield Township. All criminal cases from these areas go through the Macomb County court system.

Nearby Counties

Macomb County borders several other southeast Michigan counties. Cases involving multiple jurisdictions may split between these courts.