Wayne County Criminal Records
Wayne County is Michigan's most populous county, home to Detroit and more than 1.8 million residents. Criminal records here are managed by the 3rd Circuit Court, one of the largest courts in the United States, along with multiple district courts and the Wayne County Sheriff's Office. You can search criminal records online through MiCOURT, ICHAT, and the county's own tools. This page covers every official source for Wayne County criminal records, from arrest data to court case history to state inmate records.
Wayne County Overview
Wayne County Sheriff and 3rd Circuit Court
The Wayne County Sheriff's Office is led by Sheriff Raphael Washington and is headquartered at 4747 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI 48201. The main phone line is (313) 224-2222, with a fax at (313) 224-2357. The sheriff manages the county jail system, patrol operations, and law enforcement records for the unincorporated areas and several contracted cities in Wayne County. The sheriff's office is one of the largest in Michigan, with thousands of employees and a jail that processes a high volume of bookings each year.
The Wayne County Sheriff's Office website covers department services, jail information, and how to access law enforcement records from the county's largest law enforcement agency.
The 3rd Circuit Court is the main felony court for Wayne County. It is among the busiest trial courts in the entire country, processing thousands of criminal cases each year. The court is located at 2 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI 48226. The county clerk's main line is (313) 224-6262. The criminal division has its own direct line at (313) 224-5140. The court handles all felony criminal matters for the county along with a wide range of civil cases. Multiple district courts operate throughout Wayne County, handling misdemeanor criminal matters, traffic offenses, and civil infraction cases for specific jurisdictions within the county.
The Wayne County government website connects you to all county departments, including the clerk, sheriff, courts, and public records systems.
| Sheriff's Office | 4747 Woodward Ave., Detroit, MI 48201 |
|---|---|
| Sheriff Phone | (313) 224-2222 |
| Sheriff Fax | (313) 224-2357 |
| 3rd Circuit Court | 2 Woodward Ave., Detroit, MI 48226 |
| County Clerk | (313) 224-6262 |
| Criminal Division | (313) 224-5140 |
| Sheriff | Raphael Washington |
How to Search Wayne County Criminal Records
Wayne County has several paths for searching criminal records. The county clerk maintains an online records portal accessible from the county website. This lets you search for cases filed with the 3rd Circuit Court. You can look up party names, case numbers, and docket histories for criminal matters. The system covers filings going back many years and is updated as new cases are processed.
The Michigan Supreme Court's MiCOURT Case Search tool covers the 3rd Circuit Court and the multiple district courts operating in Wayne County. You can search by name or case number for free. MiCOURT shows charges, docket entries, hearing dates, and case status for both felony and misdemeanor records. It is one of the most useful free tools for searching Wayne County criminal cases because it pulls from all courts at once.
MiCOURT Case Search covers the 3rd Circuit Court and Wayne County district courts, letting you search criminal cases by name or case number at no cost.
For a full state-level criminal history check, use ICHAT at apps.michigan.gov/ichat. ICHAT is run by the Michigan State Police and covers arrests, charges, and dispositions statewide, including every agency in Wayne County. The database is governed by MCL 28.241. A fee applies per search. This is the most thorough background check tool available from a state source.
Note: Wayne County criminal records can also be requested in person at the 3rd Circuit Court clerk's office at 2 Woodward Avenue in Detroit during business hours.
FOIA Requests for Wayne County Criminal Records
Michigan's Freedom of Information Act under MCL 15.231 gives you the right to request public records from Wayne County agencies. Agencies have five business days to respond. Wayne County is a large organization with many departments. Submit your FOIA request to the specific department holding the record you want. For sheriff's records, go to the Wayne County Sheriff's Office at 4747 Woodward Avenue. For court records, contact the clerk at 2 Woodward Avenue.
Standard fees apply for FOIA requests in Wayne County. Agencies charge for search and retrieval time plus actual copy costs. Large requests may carry higher fees. Under MCL 15.243, certain records are exempt from release. This includes personal information like social security numbers, some law enforcement investigative files, and records covered by other privacy laws. If your request is denied in whole or in part, you can file a written appeal with the agency head or challenge the denial in Wayne County Circuit Court.
For Michigan State Police records tied to Wayne County incidents, use the MSP FOIA portal at michigan.gov/msp/services/foia. State police records go through the state FOIA process, not through Wayne County's system.
Fees for Wayne County Criminal Records
Court records may be inspected at no cost during business hours at the clerk's office. Fees apply for printed copies and certified documents. Copy rates are set by Michigan statute and apply uniformly across courts. The criminal division clerk at (313) 224-5140 can give you current pricing for specific document types.
FOIA fees in Wayne County reflect actual agency costs for search, retrieval, and duplication. Fees are itemized before you commit to paying. Standard per-page copying rates apply to physical records. ICHAT charges a set fee per name for state criminal history searches. If you are unable to afford fees, ask the agency about waiver options. Some individuals qualify for fee relief based on income.
Local and State Resources for Wayne County
Wayne County has a wide range of resources tied to criminal records. The Michigan Department of Corrections OTIS system at mdocweb.state.mi.us is free and searchable by name or prisoner ID. It covers current and former inmates from Wayne County cases. The Michigan Sex Offender Registry at michigan.gov/psor lets you search by name or zip code for registered offenders anywhere in Wayne County. Both tools are available without registration or fees.
Wayne County residents with criminal records may be eligible for expungement under MCL 780.621. Michigan's Clean Slate law has expanded eligibility in recent years, including automatic expungement for some convictions. The Michigan Courts website has forms and information about the expungement petition process. The MSP FOIA portal at michigan.gov/msp/services/foia handles requests for state police records including incident reports from Wayne County. For eFiling information related to Wayne County court submissions, check MiFile.
Cities in Wayne County
Wayne County includes Detroit and more than 40 additional cities and municipalities. These qualifying cities each have their own pages with detailed criminal records information.
Other communities in Wayne County include Taylor, Dearborn Heights, Lincoln Park, Sterling Heights municipalities near county borders, and many others. All criminal cases go through Wayne County courts regardless of which community the arrest occurred in.
Nearby Counties
Wayne County borders several other Michigan counties. These counties each have their own courts and sheriff's offices handling local criminal records.