Midland County Public Records /Midland County Criminal Records

Midland County Criminal Records

What Is Midland County Criminal Records

Criminal records in Midland County, Michigan, are official government documents that chronicle an individual's interactions with the criminal justice system, from initial law enforcement contact through final court disposition. These records are generated and maintained by multiple agencies operating at the county and state levels.

Understanding the distinctions among record types is essential for accurate research:

Arrest records vs. conviction records: An arrest record documents that law enforcement took an individual into custody based on probable cause. A conviction record reflects a formal finding of guilt by a court, either through a guilty plea or a trial verdict. An arrest does not constitute a conviction, and the two are legally distinct.
Felony vs. misdemeanor: Felonies are serious offenses punishable by imprisonment in a state correctional facility, typically for one year or more. Misdemeanors are less severe offenses generally punishable by fines or incarceration in a county jail for up to one year.
Adult vs. juvenile records: Records pertaining to adults are generally accessible to the public under Michigan law. Juvenile records are presumptively confidential and sealed pursuant to MCL § 712A.28, which governs the retention and destruction of juvenile court records.
Active warrants vs. historical records: Active warrants represent current judicial orders authorizing law enforcement to apprehend an individual. Historical records document past arrests, charges, and dispositions that may no longer carry active legal consequences.

The principal agencies maintaining criminal records in Midland County include:

Midland County Sheriff's Office — maintains arrest records, booking data, and jail records
42nd Circuit Court — handles felony cases, jury trials, and appeals from lower courts
75th District Court — handles misdemeanor cases, civil infractions, arraignments, and preliminary examinations
Michigan State Police Criminal Justice Information Center — maintains statewide criminal history records
Local municipal police departments — generate incident and arrest reports within their respective jurisdictions

Criminal records typically include charges filed, arraignment proceedings, pleas entered, trial outcomes, sentencing details, probation or parole conditions, and any subsequent modifications to those conditions.

Are Criminal Records Public In Midland County

Criminal records in Midland County are generally accessible to members of the public under Michigan's Freedom of Information Act. Pursuant to MCL § 15.231 et seq., all persons are entitled to inspect and receive copies of public records held by state and local government bodies, subject to specific statutory exemptions. This framework ensures transparency in the administration of justice while protecting certain categories of sensitive information.

Records that are currently available to the public include:

Adult conviction records and court case dispositions
Court dockets, case filings, and hearing schedules
Arrest logs and booking information maintained by the Sheriff's Office
Sentencing orders and probation terms entered by the courts

Records that are restricted or exempt from public disclosure include:

Ongoing criminal investigations where disclosure would interfere with law enforcement proceedings
Juvenile delinquency records, which are sealed by operation of law
Expunged records that have been set aside pursuant to Michigan's expungement statutes
Certain victim information and protected personal identifiers
Mental health and medical records associated with criminal proceedings

Members of the public seeking records from the Michigan State Police may submit a Freedom of Information Act request through the MSP's designated FOIA process. Each public body in Midland County maintains its own FOIA coordinator and response procedures consistent with state law.

How To Look Up Criminal Records In Midland County in 2026

Members of the public may obtain criminal records in Midland County through several official channels, depending on the type of record sought and the agency that maintains it.

Step 1 — Identify the appropriate agency. Determine whether the record originates from a law enforcement agency (Sheriff's Office or local police), a court (Circuit or District Court), or the state criminal history repository (Michigan State Police).

Step 2 — Submit a request to the Sheriff's Office Records Bureau. For arrest records, incident reports, and jail booking information, members of the public submit a written request to the Midland County Sheriff's Office Records Bureau. Requests may be submitted in person, by mail, or by email to SheriffRecords@co.midland.mi.us.

Midland County Sheriff's Office 2727 Rodd St, Midland, MI 48640 (989) 839-4630 Sheriff's Office - Midland County

Step 3 — Request court records directly from the applicable court. For case filings, dispositions, and sentencing records, members of the public contact the clerk of the relevant court. The Midland County Courts portal provides access to both the 42nd Circuit Court and the 75th District Court.

Midland County Courthouse 301 W Main St, Midland, MI 48640 (989) 832-6840

Step 4 — Search statewide criminal history through ICHAT. The Michigan State Police operates the Internet Criminal History Access Tool (ICHAT), which provides public access to criminal history records maintained by the Criminal Justice Information Center. A fee applies for name-based searches through this portal.

Step 5 — Submit a FOIA request if records are not available through standard channels. Each agency maintains a designated FOIA coordinator. Written requests must describe the records sought with sufficient specificity to allow the agency to locate them.

How To Find Criminal Records in Midland County Online?

Several official online portals currently provide access to Midland County criminal records without requiring an in-person visit.

Michigan State Police ICHAT Portal The ICHAT system, accessible through the criminal history records page of the Michigan State Police website, allows members of the public to search public criminal history information by name. Results include convictions and certain arrest data maintained at the state level. A nominal fee is charged per search, and no account registration is required for individual queries.

Midland County Jail Roster The Midland County Jail page provides current inmate information, including the names of individuals presently held in the county detention facility. This resource is updated periodically and is available to the public at no cost. Anonymous crime tips may also be submitted through this portal.

Open Warrants List The county maintains a publicly accessible open warrants page that is updated on a periodic basis. Individuals whose names appear on the outstanding warrant list are directed to contact the Criminal Department to address the matter.

Sheriff's Office Records Bureau The Records Bureau page of the Midland County Sheriff's Office provides information on how to request incident reports, civil process records, and other law enforcement documents. The Records Division processes approximately 1,800 civil process documents and subpoenas annually.

Court Case Information Case information for matters heard before the 75th District Court and the 42nd Circuit Court may be accessed through the respective court pages. The District Court handles civil claims, landlord-tenant matters, traffic infractions, and misdemeanor criminal cases. The Circuit Court exercises general trial jurisdiction over felony matters and civil cases exceeding the District Court's jurisdictional threshold.

Records involving sealed cases, ongoing investigations, or expunged matters are not available through any online portal and require a formal legal process to access.

Can You Search Midland County Criminal Records for Free?

Michigan law permits members of the public to inspect public records at no charge. Under MCL § 15.234, a public body may not charge a fee for the inspection of public records; fees may only be assessed for the actual cost of reproduction and mailing. This means that in-person inspection of criminal records at county offices is available without cost.

The following resources are currently available at no charge:

Midland County Jail Roster — The current inmate list on the Midland County Jail page is publicly accessible online at no cost.
Open Warrants List — The open warrants page is freely accessible to any member of the public.
In-person court record inspection — Members of the public may inspect case files at the 42nd Circuit Court and 75th District Court clerk's offices during regular business hours without paying a fee.
In-person inspection at the Sheriff's Office — Incident reports and other non-exempt records may be reviewed in person at the Records Bureau without charge.

Fees are assessed for the following:

Printed or digital copies of records
Certified copies of court documents
ICHAT name-based criminal history searches through the Michigan State Police
Mailing costs for records delivered by mail

What's Included in a Midland County Criminal Record?

A complete criminal record in Midland County may contain several categories of information, depending on the stage of the criminal process and the agency maintaining the record.

Identifying Information

Full legal name and known aliases
Date of birth and physical description (height, weight, eye and hair color)
Booking photograph (mugshot)
Last known address
State Identification (SID) number and FBI number, where assigned

Arrest Information

Date, time, and location of arrest
Arresting agency (Sheriff's Office, municipal police, or state police)
Booking number and jail facility
Charges filed at the time of arrest
Bail or bond amount set

Court Case Information

Case number and court of jurisdiction
Filing date and assigned judge
Charges and applicable statutes, including felony or misdemeanor classification
Plea entered (guilty, not guilty, or no contest)
Attorney of record and prosecuting authority

Disposition Information

Verdict or case outcome
Conviction date, if applicable
Sentencing details, including type and length of sentence, fines, restitution, and special conditions
Probation or parole terms
Appeals filed and outcomes

Additional Record Elements

Active or recalled warrants
Protective or restraining orders
Sex offender registration status
DUI or DWI notations
Traffic violations adjudicated in District Court
Pending charges not yet resolved

How Long Does Midland County Keep Criminal Records?

Michigan law establishes retention schedules governing how long criminal justice agencies must preserve various categories of records. The Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget publishes records retention and disposal schedules applicable to local government units under the authority of the Local Government Records Act, MCL § 399.811 et seq.

Current retention periods for principal record categories include:

Felony conviction records — Retained permanently by the Michigan State Police Criminal Justice Information Center and by the courts of record.
Misdemeanor conviction records — Retained for a minimum of five years following the completion of the sentence, though many agencies retain these records indefinitely.
Arrest records without conviction — Retained for a period determined by agency policy; individuals may petition for expungement under Michigan's set-aside statutes, and information on how to search, expunge, modify, or update criminal history records is available through the Michigan State Police.
Incident and offense reports — Generally retained for a minimum of five years at the law enforcement agency level.
Juvenile records — Subject to destruction upon the individual reaching age 30 or upon petition, pursuant to MCL § 712A.28, unless the matter involved a specified serious offense.
Court case files — Circuit Court felony files are retained permanently; District Court misdemeanor files are retained for a minimum of five years following case closure.

Agencies are required to follow the applicable state-approved retention schedule and may not destroy records prior to the expiration of the mandated retention period without authorization.