Montmorency County Criminal Records
Montmorency County criminal records are maintained by the Sheriff's Office on M-32 West and the county courts on M-32 in Atlanta. The 26th Circuit Court (shared with Alpena County) handles felony cases, and the 88th District Court takes misdemeanors and lower charges. You can search Montmorency County criminal records online through the county courts case search portal, the Michigan State Police ICHAT system, and OTIS for corrections data. This guide explains each tool, how to submit records requests, and what fees apply in Montmorency County.
Montmorency County Overview
Montmorency County Sheriff and Court Contacts
The Montmorency County Sheriff's Office is at 11045 M-32 West in Atlanta, Michigan. The county courts are at 12265 M-32, also in Atlanta. Sheriff Chad Brown leads the office, and Undersheriff Brian Crane assists with operations. The Sheriff is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. You can reach the Sheriff at (989) 785-4238 or email sheriff@montmorencysheriff.com. The Sheriff's website at montmorencysheriff.com has current information on the office, staff, and services.
The county clerk, Cheryl Neilsen, manages both court systems. The 26th Circuit Court is a shared circuit serving both Montmorency and Alpena counties. The 88th District Court handles the lower-level cases within Montmorency County alone. The courts website at montmorencycourts.com is the local hub for court contact details, forms, and case access. The clerk's phone is (989) 785-8022 and the 88th District Court line is (989) 785-8035.
| Sheriff | Chad Brown, Montmorency County Sheriff |
|---|---|
| Sheriff Address | 11045 M-32 West, Atlanta, MI 49709 |
| Sheriff Phone | (989) 785-4238 |
| Sheriff Email | sheriff@montmorencysheriff.com |
| Hours | Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM |
| County Clerk | Cheryl Neilsen, 12265 M-32, Atlanta, MI 49709 |
| Clerk Phone | (989) 785-8022 |
| 88th District Court | (989) 785-8035 |
| Courts | 26th Circuit Court (shared with Alpena), 88th District Court |
How to Search Montmorency County Criminal Records
Montmorency County has its own courts case search at montmorencycourts.com/case-search. This is a local tool managed by the county courts and covers both the 26th Circuit Court and the 88th District Court. Enter a name or case number to see filings, charges, and case status. This is a good first stop for Montmorency-specific case data before using broader state tools.
MiCOURT at micourt.courts.michigan.gov/case-search is the statewide free tool. It also covers Montmorency County courts and can be useful for cross-county searches if someone has cases in multiple Michigan counties. No account is needed. For confirmed statewide conviction data, ICHAT at apps.michigan.gov/ichat is the most thorough option. The Michigan State Police manages ICHAT under MCL 28.241 using the state's central criminal history repository. It returns felony and misdemeanor conviction records from all reporting Michigan courts. There is a fee per name search.
OTIS at mdocweb.state.mi.us/otis2 is useful for checking whether someone from Montmorency County is currently in a Michigan state prison or on parole. It is free and does not require an account.
OTIS is maintained by the Michigan Department of Corrections. It covers all persons currently under MDOC jurisdiction, including those from Montmorency County.
FOIA Requests in Montmorency County
Under MCL 15.231, you can request public records from the Montmorency County Sheriff's Office and other county agencies. The Sheriff accepts FOIA requests in person, by mail, or by email at sheriff@montmorencysheriff.com. Photo ID is required for in-person requests. Your written request should include the date, the person's name, and the specific record type you need. The office responds within 5 business days.
Under MCL 15.243, some records may be withheld. Exemptions include active investigation files, records that could harm someone, and protected law enforcement information. If your request is denied, you receive a written explanation. You have the right to appeal to the agency head or pursue a court action. For circuit court records, contact the clerk at (989) 785-8022 or visit the 26th Circuit Court page at montmorencycourts.com/26thcircuitcourtandclerk. For district court records, contact the 88th District Court at montmorencycourts.com/88thdistrictcourt.
Note: Montmorency County Sheriff accepts FOIA requests by email. This is faster than mail for most residents. Include your contact information so the office can follow up if they need clarification.
Fees for Montmorency County Records
Montmorency County has clear fee rates. Copy fees range from $0.10 to $0.25 per page. Certified copies cost between $1 and $10 per document depending on the type. Name-based criminal record searches cost $5 per search at the Sheriff's Office. MiCOURT and the local courts case search portal are free. ICHAT at the Michigan State Police charges its own per-search fee. For warrants, basic searches are free at the Sheriff's Office. Always confirm current rates with the office before ordering a large document set.
The Michigan Public Sex Offender Registry at michigan.gov/psor is free to search. It covers registered offenders by name or location and includes anyone currently registered in Montmorency County.
Special Rules for Montmorency County Records
Montmorency County follows Michigan's Clean Slate Law, which is part of the expungement statute at MCL 780.621. Under this law, certain criminal records may be limited to 7 years of reporting. If a conviction was set aside under this statute, it may not appear in searches. This affects both ICHAT results and what shows up in local record requests. Always note the potential for expunged records when using any search tool for Montmorency County.
Warrant searches are free at the Sheriff's Office. If you want to check whether someone has an active arrest warrant in Montmorency County, contact the Sheriff directly at (989) 785-4238 during office hours. Juvenile records are confidential and are not available through any public search tool. They are treated as a protected class under Michigan law and will not appear in ICHAT, MiCOURT, or any FOIA response.
The MSP FOIA portal at michigan.gov/msp/services/foia handles requests for state police records that may include incidents in Montmorency County.
Local Resources for Montmorency County
The county clerk's page at montcounty.org/clerks-office.html has contact info and forms for official record requests from the county office. The Michigan courts portal at courts.michigan.gov covers the 26th Circuit and 88th District courts with forms, fee schedules, and filing guides. For background checks, ICHAT at apps.michigan.gov/ichat is the official state tool. For prison and parole records, OTIS is at mdocweb.state.mi.us/otis2.
Communities in Montmorency County
Atlanta is the county seat and the main community in Montmorency County. Other communities include Hillman, Lewiston, and Johannesburg. None of these communities reach the population threshold for a dedicated city page. All criminal case filings for Montmorency County residents go through the courts in Atlanta.
Nearby Counties
Montmorency County is in the northeastern Lower Peninsula. These neighboring counties each have their own courts and criminal records systems.