Ann Arbor Criminal History Search
Ann Arbor criminal history records are held by the 15th District Court, the Washtenaw County Circuit Court, and the Ann Arbor Police Department. The city has about 120,000 residents and sits in Washtenaw County. Misdemeanor cases from Ann Arbor go through the 15th District Court, while felonies are tried at the circuit court level. The police department handles arrest records and incident reports through a FOIA process. You can search court cases online for free through MiCOURT and the 15th District Court's own case search tool. This page covers the main ways to access Ann Arbor criminal history records.
Ann Arbor Criminal History Overview
15th District Court Criminal Records
The 15th District Court handles all Ann Arbor misdemeanor cases. The court is at 301 E Huron St in Ann Arbor. Call 734-794-6750 for court information. This court processes misdemeanor charges, traffic crimes, ordinance violations, and felony arraignments. Preliminary exams for felony cases also happen here before they get sent to the Washtenaw County Circuit Court.
The 15th District Court has its own online case search tool. It is free to use. You can search Ann Arbor criminal history by name or case number. The system shows charges, hearing dates, and case status. One limit is that closed cases filed before August 5, 2006 may not appear in the online system. For older Ann Arbor criminal history, you need to contact the court clerk directly or visit the courthouse.
The 15th District Court case search page lets you look up Ann Arbor criminal cases online for free.
The court handles several case types with different codes. These include GC (general civil), SC (small claims), SD and FD (criminal), and OI and SI (infractions), among others. When searching for Ann Arbor criminal history, look for case types with criminal codes. The court clerk can help if you are not sure which code applies to your search.
You can also search 15th District Court cases through MiCOURT for the 15th District. This is the statewide system. It pulls the same data but uses a different search interface. Some people find MiCOURT easier to navigate.
Ann Arbor Criminal Cases at Circuit Court
Felony cases from Ann Arbor go to the Washtenaw County Circuit Court. The 22nd Circuit Court sits at 101 E Huron St in Ann Arbor. This court handles all felony trials, sentencing, and appeals. The Washtenaw County Clerk maintains records for the circuit court.
You can search Ann Arbor criminal history from the circuit court through MiCOURT. The statewide system covers the Washtenaw County Circuit Court along with other courts in the county. Search by name or case number. The system shows charges, hearing dates, and the register of actions. For copies of full documents, you need to contact the Washtenaw County Clerk or visit the courthouse.
The Washtenaw County records request page explains how to get court records from the county. You can submit requests online or by mail. Copies cost $1.50 per page. Certified copies run $10 plus $1 per additional page. These are the same fees used across Michigan courts.
Ann Arbor Police Department Records
The Ann Arbor Police Department keeps arrest records, incident reports, and other law enforcement files. The department is at the Justice Center, 301 E Huron St, 2nd floor. Call 734-794-6920 for records questions. You can also email policerecords@a2gov.org.
Police reports cost $5 each. You need a valid photo ID to pick up records in person. For mail requests, send a written FOIA request. Under MCL 15.231, the department has five business days to respond. Extensions of up to ten additional days are allowed with written notice.
The Ann Arbor Police records request page shows how to submit FOIA requests for criminal history records from the department.
Ann Arbor criminal history from the police side covers things that court records may not show. Not every arrest leads to charges. Some cases get dropped by the prosecutor. Police records capture the full chain from the initial call through the arrest, even if no court case follows. That makes FOIA requests to the police department valuable for a complete picture of someone's history in Ann Arbor.
Statewide Search Tools for Ann Arbor
Several Michigan databases cover Ann Arbor criminal history. ICHAT from the Michigan State Police costs $10 per search. It checks the statewide criminal history record and shows felony convictions and serious misdemeanors. You need a name and date of birth. Results come back quickly.
OTIS from the Department of Corrections is free. It tracks people in state prison or on parole. The Michigan Public Sex Offender Registry is also free and lets you search by name or zip code. MiCOURT covers all Washtenaw County courts in one free search. For crash and incident reports, the CLEMIS portal handles some law enforcement records, though its coverage in Washtenaw County is more limited compared to Oakland and Macomb counties.
Note: Closed cases at the 15th District Court filed before August 5, 2006 are not available in the online search system.
Ann Arbor Criminal History Laws
Ann Arbor follows Michigan state law for criminal records. Under MCL 28.241a, criminal history records include arrest data, conviction records, and disposition information. Court records are public under Michigan Court Rule 8.119, except for sealed and expunged cases.
The Clean Slate law under MCL 780.621 affects Ann Arbor criminal history. Certain misdemeanors are automatically expunged after seven years. Some felonies qualify after ten years. Crimes that involve violence, sexual offenses, or penalties of ten or more years do not qualify. Once a record is set aside, it will not show up in ICHAT, MiCOURT, or any court clerk search.
Juvenile records in Ann Arbor are sealed under MCL 712A.28. They are not public records. The Washtenaw County juvenile court keeps these files separate from adult criminal history.
Getting Ann Arbor Records by Mail
You can request Ann Arbor criminal history records by mail from both courts and police. For court records, write to the Washtenaw County Clerk at 101 E Huron St, Ann Arbor MI 48104. Include the name, case number if you have it, and what copies you need. Send a check or money order for the fees.
For police records, send a FOIA request to the Ann Arbor Police Department at 301 E Huron St, 2nd Floor, Ann Arbor MI 48104. You can also email policerecords@a2gov.org. Include your name, address, and a clear description of what records you need. Reports cost $5 each. Staff will let you know the total before releasing files if additional fees apply beyond the report cost.
Ann Arbor Records in Washtenaw County
Ann Arbor is the county seat of Washtenaw County. All criminal cases from the city go through the Washtenaw County court system. For more about county-level resources and the county clerk's office, see the Washtenaw County criminal history page.