Grand Rapids Criminal History

Grand Rapids criminal history records are held by the Kent County court system and the Grand Rapids Police Department. The city is the second largest in Michigan with about 200,000 residents. Criminal cases from Grand Rapids go through the 61st District Court for misdemeanors and the 17th Circuit Court for felonies. Both courts offer free online case search tools through the MiCOURT system. Police records require a FOIA request sent to the Grand Rapids Police Department. This page covers the main ways to find Grand Rapids criminal history records, what fees to expect, and how long each process takes.

61st District Court Records in Grand Rapids

The 61st District Court handles all misdemeanor criminal cases in Grand Rapids. It sits at 61 Ottawa Ave NW. The phone number is (616) 632-5400. This court covers misdemeanor charges, ordinance violations, and preliminary exams on felony cases. If someone gets arrested in Grand Rapids on a misdemeanor charge, the case is filed here.

You can search Grand Rapids criminal history from the 61st District Court using the MiCOURT case search for the 63rd District Court. The search is free. Enter a name or case number to pull up charges, hearing dates, case status, and disposition. The system covers current and closed cases. Not every old case appears in the online system, but most recent years are well covered. For copies of documents, contact the court clerk at the courthouse.

The 61st District Court also handles arraignments. When someone is charged with a felony in Grand Rapids, the arraignment and preliminary exam happen at the district court level first. If the judge finds probable cause, the case moves to the 17th Circuit Court. So Grand Rapids criminal history for felonies will often have records in both courts.

17th Circuit Court Criminal Cases

Felony cases from Grand Rapids go to the Kent County 17th Circuit Court. The courthouse is at 180 Ottawa Ave NW, Suite 2400. Call (616) 632-5480 for records questions. The 17th Circuit handles all felony trials, sentencing, and appeals from district courts in Kent County.

Search Grand Rapids criminal history from the 17th Circuit Court through the MiCOURT 17th Circuit search. This tool is free. You can look up cases by name, case number, or date. The system shows charges, hearing dates, and the register of actions. It does not show full documents. For those, you need to request copies from the Kent County Clerk's office at the courthouse.

The Kent County Clerk's records office can provide criminal records from the circuit court. You can use the Kent County Circuit Court page to learn about the office and what records are available for Grand Rapids criminal history searches.

Copies from the circuit court run $1.50 per page. Certified copies cost $10 plus $1 for each additional page. A name search fee of $1 per name may also apply. These are standard fees set by Michigan court rules.

Grand Rapids Police Records

The Grand Rapids Police Department maintains arrest records, incident reports, and police files. These are separate from court records. Not every arrest leads to criminal charges. Police records fill in those gaps for Grand Rapids criminal history research.

To get police records, you file a FOIA request. Send it to Captain Chad McKersie at the Grand Rapids Police Department, 1 Monroe Center St NW, Grand Rapids MI 49503. Under MCL 15.231, the department must respond within five business days. They can take an extra ten days with written notice. The department charges labor fees for processing requests. A Police Records Clerk costs $17.13 per hour. A Specialist costs $25.73 per hour. Copy fees are $0.10 per page on top of labor charges.

If your request totals more than $50, the department requires a 50% deposit before they start work. You pay the rest when the records are ready. For large or complex requests, expect longer wait times. The department has noted that complex FOIA requests can take 8 to 10 months during busy periods. Simple requests like a single incident report are much faster.

Online Tools for Grand Rapids Criminal History

Beyond the court search tools, several statewide databases cover Grand Rapids. ICHAT from Michigan State Police costs $10 per search. It checks criminal history across the whole state, including Grand Rapids and Kent County. ICHAT shows felony convictions and serious misdemeanors. It does not cover pending cases, minor misdemeanors, or juvenile records.

The OTIS system from the Department of Corrections is free. It tracks people in state prison or on parole. If someone from Grand Rapids was sent to prison, OTIS shows the offense, sentence, and release date. The Michigan Public Sex Offender Registry lets you search for registered offenders in Grand Rapids by name or zip code. Both tools are free and open to the public.

The Kent County Clerk's office also has a public records search page you can use to look up Grand Rapids criminal history cases filed in the county system.

MiCOURT remains the best free option for court records. It covers both the 61st District Court and the 17th Circuit Court in one system. You can search across all Kent County courts or narrow it down to a single court.

Grand Rapids Criminal Record Laws

Grand Rapids follows Michigan state law on criminal records. The definition of a criminal history record falls under MCL 28.241a. It includes arrest data, conviction records, and disposition information. Court records are public under Michigan Court Rule 8.119, with some exceptions for sealed and expunged cases.

Michigan's Clean Slate law under MCL 780.621 affects Grand Rapids criminal history. Certain misdemeanors are automatically expunged after seven years. Some felonies qualify after ten years. Not all crimes are eligible. Assaultive crimes, sex offenses, and offenses carrying ten or more years are excluded. Once a record is expunged, it will not show up in ICHAT, MiCOURT, or clerk records.

Juvenile records in Grand Rapids are sealed under MCL 712A.28. They are not part of the public record and will not appear in any standard criminal history search.

Requesting Grand Rapids Records by Mail

You can get Grand Rapids criminal history records by mail from both the courts and police. For court records, write to the Kent County Clerk at 180 Ottawa Ave NW, Suite 2400, Grand Rapids MI 49503. Include the full name, case number if known, and what copies you need. Send a check or money order made out to the Kent County Clerk. Standard copies cost $1.50 per page.

For police records by mail, send a written FOIA request to the Grand Rapids Police Department at 1 Monroe Center St NW, Grand Rapids MI 49503. Be specific about what records you need. Vague requests may get sent back. Include your name, address, and phone number so staff can reach you if they have questions. Keep in mind the deposit requirement for requests over $50 and the labor fee structure.

Grand Rapids Records in Kent County

Grand Rapids is the county seat of Kent County. All criminal cases from the city go through the Kent County court system. For more on county-level resources and the Kent County Clerk's office, visit the Kent County criminal history page.

Nearby Cities