Criminal Records in Mason County
Mason County criminal records are filed with the county clerk and maintained by the Sheriff's Office and courts in Ludington. The 51st Circuit Court handles felony cases, and the 78th District Court covers misdemeanors. Both courts share space with the county offices at 304 East Ludington Avenue. You can search Mason County criminal records online through MiCOURT and the Michigan State Police ICHAT system, or visit the courthouse directly to request documents in person. This guide covers your options and explains what to expect from each source.
Mason County Overview
Mason County Sheriff and Courthouse
The Mason County Sheriff's Office and the county clerk share the same building at 304 East Ludington Avenue in Ludington. This makes in-person records requests straightforward. The Sheriff's Office handles arrest records, incident reports, and jail data. The county clerk manages criminal and civil case files for both the 51st Circuit and 78th District courts. If you are looking for a specific case file, start with the clerk. If you need a police report, go to the Sheriff's records window.
The Michigan Sheriffs' Association keeps contact info for the Mason County Sheriff's Office at misheriff.org. This is a useful backup if the county's own website is unavailable.
| Sheriff's Office | Mason County Sheriff's Office |
|---|---|
| Address | 304 E. Ludington Ave., Ludington, MI 49431 |
| Phone | (231) 843-3475 |
| Fax | (231) 843-2945 |
| County Clerk | 304 E. Ludington Ave., Ludington, MI 49431 |
| Clerk Phone | (231) 843-8202 |
| Courts | 51st Circuit Court, 78th District Court |
Searching Mason County Criminal Records Online
MiCOURT is the primary online tool for searching Mason County criminal records. It is free and covers both the 51st Circuit Court and the 78th District Court. You can search by a person's name or case number and get case status, charge details, hearing dates, and outcomes. This works well for checking whether someone has an active or past case in the county. Go to micourt.courts.michigan.gov/case-search to start.
For statewide criminal history, use ICHAT at apps.michigan.gov/ichat. ICHAT pulls from the state criminal history repository managed by the Michigan State Police under MCL 28.241. It returns conviction data from courts across all of Michigan, not just Mason County. There is a per-search fee. ICHAT is the right tool when you need to confirm conviction records rather than just view case filings.
MiCOURT data for Mason County reflects filings from the 51st Circuit and 78th District courts. The system is updated as courts process case events.
FOIA Requests in Mason County
Michigan's Freedom of Information Act, codified at MCL 15.231, gives you the right to request public records from the Mason County Sheriff's Office and other county agencies. To get police reports, incident reports, or arrest logs, submit a written FOIA request to the Sheriff's Office at 304 E. Ludington Avenue. Your request should include the date of the incident, the name of the person involved, and the specific record type you need.
The office has 5 business days to respond, either by providing the records, denying the request with reasons, or notifying you of an extension. Copy fees apply. Under MCL 15.243, records that could harm an investigation, endanger a person, or reveal confidential law enforcement methods may be withheld. The MSP FOIA portal at michigan.gov/msp/services/foia handles requests for state police records related to Mason County incidents.
Note: FOIA requests at Mason County agencies must be in writing and submitted to the correct office. Verbal requests are not covered under the state FOIA statute.
Fees for Mason County Records
MiCOURT searches are free. ICHAT charges a fee per name search. Court copy fees are set under Michigan's standard court fee schedule. Certified copies cost more than plain copies. For FOIA requests at the Sheriff's Office, standard FOIA copy fees apply. Ask the records window for current per-page rates when placing your request.
Local and State Resources
For prison and parole records involving Mason County residents, use OTIS at mdocweb.state.mi.us/otis2. This system tracks people under the care of the Michigan Department of Corrections. For sex offender registry checks, use the Michigan Public Sex Offender Registry at michigan.gov/psor. MCL 780.621 governs expungement of criminal records in Michigan, so some older convictions may not appear in searches if they have been set aside.
The Michigan courts portal at courts.michigan.gov has contact details for the 51st Circuit Court and the 78th District Court, along with forms and fee schedules. This is the best place to start when you need to file a request directly with the court.
Communities in Mason County
Mason County's largest city is Ludington, where the county seat and all courts are located. Other communities include Scottville, Freesoil, and Custer. None of these reach the population threshold for a dedicated city page. All criminal case filings in the county go through the courts at 304 E. Ludington Avenue.
Nearby Counties
Mason County is in Michigan's western Lower Peninsula. These neighboring counties have their own court systems and criminal records.