Waterford Township Criminal History

Waterford Township criminal history records are held by the township police department, the 51st District Court, and the Oakland County court system. With about 70,000 residents, Waterford Township is one of the larger communities in Oakland County. You can request police records through the local department and search court case data through county and state portals. ICHAT, MiCOURT, and other Michigan databases also cover criminal cases that originate in Waterford Township. This page walks through each option for getting criminal history records here.

Waterford Township Police Records

The Waterford Township Police Department is at 5150 Civic Center Dr, Waterford Twp, MI 48329. The main phone number is 248-618-7550. The department handles police reports, incident records, and arrest documentation for everything within township limits. To get copies, submit a FOIA request under MCL § 15.231.

The township has an OPRA form available on its website for records requests. OPRA stands for Open Public Records Act request form, though Michigan's law is actually called FOIA. The form works the same way. Fill it out with the details of what you need and submit it to the police department. You can do this by mail, email, or in person. The department has five business days to respond under Michigan law. Extensions of up to ten additional business days are possible for complex requests.

If the cost of your request exceeds $50, the department may require a 50% deposit before they begin processing. Costs include staff time for searching and reviewing records, plus copy fees. Keep your request narrow and specific to keep costs down. A request for a single police report by date and case number will cost much less than a broad search covering multiple years.

CLEMIS and Waterford Township

Waterford Township is part of the CLEMIS network that connects law enforcement agencies across southeast Michigan. Through the CLEMIS payment portal, you can search for and purchase accident reports from Waterford Township PD online. The system takes credit card payments and usually delivers reports right away.

CLEMIS handles crash reports primarily. For criminal incident reports and arrest records, you still need to go through the FOIA process with the police department. However, if an accident involved criminal charges such as operating while intoxicated or leaving the scene, the CLEMIS report can be a starting point. You can use the incident details from the accident report to search for the related criminal case in the court system.

51st District Court Criminal Cases

The 51st District Court handles misdemeanor cases from Waterford Township. The court is at 4830 Elizabeth Lake Rd, Waterford Twp, MI 48327. Call (248) 674-4650 for case information. This court hears misdemeanor criminal charges, traffic cases, and conducts arraignments and preliminary exams for felony cases before they go to the Oakland County Circuit Court.

You can look up Waterford Township criminal cases through MiCOURT. This free tool lets you search by name or case number across Michigan courts. Select the 51st District Court to filter for Waterford Township cases. Results include charges, hearing dates, and the final outcome of each case. MiCOURT is updated regularly and does not require an account.

For in-person record requests, visit the court clerk at the 51st District. Copy fees apply. Standard copies cost less than certified copies. If you need the record for a legal purpose, ask for a certified copy with an official court stamp. The clerk can provide current fee information over the phone if you call ahead.

Oakland County Court Records

Felony criminal cases from Waterford Township are tried at the Oakland County Circuit Court in Pontiac. The county clerk maintains circuit court records and provides copies to the public. Oakland County also runs Court Explorer, an online portal where you can search for criminal cases across all Oakland County courts.

Court Explorer requires a free account. Once logged in, you can search by name or case number. The system covers the 51st District Court, the circuit court, and other Oakland County courts. It shows case details, scheduled hearings, and dispositions. Between Court Explorer and MiCOURT, you can find most Waterford Township criminal history records that went through the court system without making a trip to the courthouse.

The Oakland County Court Explorer login is shown above. This is where you can search Waterford Township criminal cases filed in Oakland County courts.

State Criminal History Databases

Michigan has several statewide databases that cover Waterford Township criminal history. ICHAT is the Michigan State Police criminal history tool. It costs $10 per search and pulls records from every county in the state under MCL § 28.241a. If someone has a case in Waterford Township and another case elsewhere, ICHAT will show both.

MiCOURT is free and covers court case lookups statewide. OTIS tracks people currently in state prison or on parole. The Michigan Sex Offender Registry shows registered offenders by name, address, or zip code. For a complete picture of someone's Michigan criminal history, using ICHAT along with one or more of the free tools is the best approach.

The MSP also accepts FOIA requests for state-level records. If a state police investigation involved Waterford Township, those records are separate from what the local department holds. You can submit state FOIA requests through the MSP FOIA portal.

Waterford Township Expungement

Criminal records from Waterford Township may qualify for expungement under MCL § 780.621. Michigan's Clean Slate law lets eligible people petition to have certain records set aside. Misdemeanors may qualify after three years. Felonies typically need a five-year waiting period. The law also allows automatic expungement for some offenses without requiring a petition.

For misdemeanor cases, petition the 51st District Court. For felonies, file with the Oakland County Circuit Court. There is a filing fee and the court may hold a hearing. The judge looks at your record since the conviction and the nature of the original offense. If granted, the record is sealed from public databases like ICHAT, MiCOURT, and Court Explorer. Legal aid groups in Oakland County may assist with the paperwork if you qualify.

Note: Certain violent crimes and sex offenses are permanently excluded from expungement in Michigan.

Juvenile Criminal Records

Juvenile records in Michigan are confidential. Under MCL § 712A.28, juvenile court records are not open to the public. The Oakland County Family Court handles juvenile cases from Waterford Township. You cannot search for juvenile records on ICHAT, MiCOURT, or Court Explorer. Only the person named, their parents or guardians, and attorneys of record can access these files.

If you need a juvenile record from Waterford Township, contact the Oakland County Family Court directly. You will need valid ID and a legal basis for the request. Sealed records stay sealed unless a judge orders them opened for a specific reason.

Oakland County Criminal History

Waterford Township is in Oakland County. All felony cases, circuit court records, and the county clerk's office are at the county level in Pontiac. For a complete guide to Oakland County criminal history resources, visit the county page.

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