Saginaw County Criminal Records

Saginaw County criminal records are maintained by the Sheriff's Office, the 10th Circuit Court, and the 70th District Court, all located in the city of Saginaw. With a population near 190,000, Saginaw County is one of the larger court systems in Michigan's Lower Peninsula. This page covers how to search and request Saginaw County criminal records through local courts, the Sheriff's Records Division, the county public records portal, and statewide tools like MiCOURT and ICHAT.

Sheriff's Office and Courts

The Saginaw County Sheriff's Office is led by Sheriff William L. Federspiel. The main office is at 618 Cass Street, Saginaw, MI 48602, and you can reach the general line at (989) 790-5400. The Records Division has its own direct line at (989) 790-5456. The Records Division handles requests for police reports, arrest records, and other law enforcement documents. If you need a criminal background check or want to request a report from the Sheriff's Office, that division is your first contact point. The Sheriff's Office page on the county site has department details and current contact information.

The 10th Circuit Court handles all felony criminal cases in Saginaw County. It shares the address at 111 S. Michigan Avenue, Saginaw, MI 48602, with the County Clerk's office. Circuit Court Records can be reached at (989) 790-5540. The County Clerk's main line is (989) 790-5251, and you can email the Clerk at vguerra@saginawcounty.com. The 70th District Court, which handles misdemeanors and preliminary felony hearings, also operates from 111 S. Michigan Avenue and can be reached at (989) 790-5578. The County Clerk page has information on both courts.

Searching Saginaw County Criminal Records

Saginaw County offers several ways to search criminal records. The statewide MiCOURT case search covers the 10th Circuit Court and 70th District Court. Search by name or case number to see docket entries, case type, and current status. MiCOURT is free and available around the clock. It is the fastest starting point for anyone looking up a Saginaw County criminal case without visiting in person.

The county also offers an Odyssey portal for case search by name. This works alongside MiCOURT for Saginaw County courts and can return more detailed docket information in some cases. Access to court case documents beyond what appears in the portal requires an in-person request or a formal records request with the Clerk. The Circuit Court Records page explains how to request copies of case documents from the 10th Circuit Court.

For county public records beyond court filings, use the Public Records portal on the county website. This covers records from multiple county departments. To get a full criminal history check, visit the Sheriff's Office in person with valid ID. Staff can pull up records for individuals and provide report copies for a fee. You can also request a fingerprint-based background check through Michigan State Police.

FOIA Requests in Saginaw County

Saginaw County processes Freedom of Information Act requests under MCL 15.231. The county provides a standardized FOIA form on its website. Submit your request to the appropriate department in writing. You must include your full name, address, contact information, and a clear description of the records you want. The county has 5 business days to respond, with a possible 10-day extension if additional time is needed.

For law enforcement records, submit your FOIA request to the Sheriff's Office Records Division at (989) 790-5456. For county administrative records, the FOIA coordinator in county administration handles those. Court records go through the County Clerk's office and are governed by Michigan Court Rules rather than FOIA. Fees for copies run $1.00 per page for standard documents. Certified copies cost an additional $10.00 on top of the per-page fee. For complex requests, the county will provide a fee estimate before processing.

Active investigations are exempt from disclosure under MCL 15.243. If you need fingerprint-based records from the Michigan State Police, submit that request separately through the MSP FOIA portal at michigan.gov/msp/services/foia. To get a statewide criminal history report (CJIC check), mail your fingerprint card and a $30 payment to Michigan State Police, CJIC, P.O. Box 30266, Lansing, MI 48909. Processing takes 21 to 35 days.

Saginaw County Criminal Record Fees

Saginaw County uses a standard fee schedule for records copies. Most document copies run $1.00 per page. Certified copies add a $10.00 certification fee on top of the copy cost. For larger or more complex requests, the county will calculate an estimated fee and let you know before they process it. You pay in advance or on pickup depending on the type of request.

For the state-level CJIC background check, the fee is $30.00 by check or money order to "State of Michigan." ICHAT searches online at apps.michigan.gov/ichat cost a small per-search fee and return results quickly. That fee covers a name-based search of the Michigan State Police criminal history database. Results show adult conviction records but not pending charges or arrests without conviction.

State Resources for Saginaw County

Michigan State Police maintains the central criminal history repository for the state under MCL 28.241. Every conviction in Saginaw County flows to MSP's Criminal Justice Information Center database. ICHAT at apps.michigan.gov/ichat is the public-facing search tool for that database. It returns conviction records for adults. Employers and individuals use it to verify criminal history without going through the court directly.

The Michigan Department of Corrections OTIS database at mdocweb.state.mi.us shows current and past state inmates. If someone was convicted in the 10th Circuit Court and sent to a state prison, OTIS shows their current location and sentence. Saginaw County also falls within reach of the statewide Sex Offender Registry at michigan.gov/psor. You can search that registry by name or zip code to find registered offenders anywhere in the county.

The screenshot below shows the OTIS offender search portal maintained by the Michigan Department of Corrections, which covers inmates processed through Saginaw County courts.

OTIS allows name and prisoner ID searches and returns current custody status, facility, and offense details for Michigan state prisoners.

The Michigan Sex Offender Registry is shown below. It covers all registered offenders statewide, including those residing in Saginaw County communities.

The registry is searchable by name, address, or zip code and is updated by the Michigan State Police on a regular basis.

Communities in Saginaw County

Saginaw County includes the city of Saginaw as the county seat and largest urban area. Other communities in the county include Frankenmuth, Birch Run, Bridgeport, Chesaning, and Burt. All criminal court filings for these communities run through the 10th Circuit Court and 70th District Court in Saginaw. Frankenmuth and other smaller cities in the county do not meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site.

Nearby Counties

Saginaw County sits in the center of Michigan's Lower Peninsula and borders several other counties. If the case you are looking for was filed in a neighboring county, use the links below.