Lansing Criminal History Records
Lansing criminal history records are spread across multiple courts and law enforcement agencies. As the state capital, Lansing has about 110,000 residents and sits mainly in Ingham County. The 54A District Court covers the city for misdemeanor cases, while the Ingham County Circuit Court handles felonies. The 55th District Court also serves parts of the Lansing area. Police records come through the Lansing Police Department via FOIA requests. You can search Lansing criminal history online through the Ingham County court record search tool or MiCOURT. This page explains each option, including fees, processing times, and what records are available.
Lansing Criminal History Overview
54A District Court Records in Lansing
The 54A District Court is the primary court for Lansing misdemeanor cases. It sits on the 6th floor of City Hall at 124 W Michigan Ave. The phone number is 517-483-4433. This court handles misdemeanor charges, ordinance violations, and felony arraignments for the city of Lansing. If someone is arrested in Lansing on a criminal charge, the case starts here.
The 54A District Court processes a high volume of cases each year from Lansing. It covers everything from minor infractions to serious misdemeanors. Preliminary exams for felony cases also happen here. If the judge finds probable cause at the preliminary exam, the case gets bound over to the Ingham County Circuit Court for trial. So Lansing criminal history for felonies will often have records in both the district and circuit courts.
The City of Lansing website has information about city services, including the court system and how to access Lansing criminal history records.
For copies of court records from the 54A District Court, contact the court clerk. Standard copies cost $1.50 per page. Certified copies are $10 plus $1 per additional page. You can request copies in person or by mail.
Lansing Criminal History at Ingham Circuit
Felony cases from Lansing go to the Ingham County Circuit Court. The 30th Circuit Court sits at the Veterans Memorial Courthouse, 313 W Kalamazoo St. Call (517) 483-6500 for records information. This court handles all felony trials, sentencing, and appeals from the district courts in Ingham County.
The Ingham County courts have a court record search tool that you can use to look up Lansing criminal history cases online. The search is free. You can look up cases by name, case number, or date. The system shows charges, hearing dates, case status, and disposition. It covers both the circuit court and district courts in Ingham County.
The Ingham County court record search lets you find Lansing criminal history cases from the circuit and district courts at no cost.
You can also use MiCOURT to search Lansing criminal cases. The statewide system covers the 30th Circuit Court, the 54A District Court, and the 55th District Court. Search by name or case number. Both tools are free and open to the public.
55th District Court and Lansing Cases
The 55th District Court also serves parts of the Lansing area. It is at the Veterans Memorial Courthouse, 313 W Kalamazoo St. The phone number is 517-483-6500. This court covers communities near Lansing that fall within its jurisdiction. Some Lansing criminal history cases may appear in the 55th District Court if the offense happened in an area covered by this court rather than the 54A.
Cases from the 55th District Court show up in MiCOURT and the Ingham County court record search. You can search both courts at the same time through these tools. If you are not sure which court handled a Lansing case, searching by name in MiCOURT will pull results from all Ingham County courts.
Lansing Police Department Records
The Lansing Police Department is at 120 W Michigan Ave. Call 517-483-4600 for general information. The department maintains arrest records, incident reports, and other law enforcement files tied to Lansing criminal history. These records are separate from what the courts hold.
To get police records from Lansing, you need to file a FOIA request in writing. Under MCL 15.231, the department must respond within five business days. An extension of up to ten more days is allowed with written notice. You can submit your request by mail to the department at 120 W Michigan Ave, Lansing MI 48933. Include your name, address, and a clear description of what records you need. Copy fees are typically $0.10 per page, plus labor costs for complex searches.
Lansing criminal history from the police side gives you details that court records may miss. Arrests that did not lead to charges, incident reports, and call logs are all kept by the police department. If you want a full picture of someone's contact with law enforcement in Lansing, a FOIA request to the police department is the way to go.
Statewide Tools for Lansing Criminal History
ICHAT from Michigan State Police costs $10. It checks the statewide criminal history database. ICHAT shows felony convictions and serious misdemeanors from Lansing and the rest of Michigan. You need a name and date of birth. Results are fast.
The OTIS system is free. It tracks people in state prison or on parole. If someone from Lansing was sentenced to prison, OTIS shows the offense, sentence, and release date. The Michigan Public Sex Offender Registry lets you search for offenders in Lansing by name or zip code. Both tools are free. MiCOURT covers all Ingham County courts and is the best free option for Lansing criminal history from the court system.
Note: FOIA requests to the Lansing Police Department must be submitted in writing, not over the phone.
Lansing Criminal Record Laws
Lansing follows Michigan law for criminal records. The definition of a criminal history record is in MCL 28.241a. It includes arrest data, conviction records, and disposition information held by law enforcement and courts.
Michigan's Clean Slate law under MCL 780.621 can affect Lansing criminal history searches. Certain misdemeanors get automatically expunged after seven years. Some felonies qualify after ten years. Assaultive crimes, sex offenses, and crimes punishable by ten or more years do not qualify. Juvenile records in Lansing are sealed under MCL 712A.28 and are not part of the public record.
Once a Lansing criminal record is expunged, it will not show up in ICHAT, MiCOURT, or court clerk records. The Michigan State Police run the automatic expungement process. If you need to check whether a specific conviction qualifies for Clean Slate, talk to a legal aid attorney or check the MSP website.
Lansing Records in Ingham County
Lansing is the county seat of Ingham County. All felony cases from the city go through the Ingham County Circuit Court. For more about county-level resources and the Ingham County Clerk, visit the Ingham County criminal history page.