Find Criminal History in Alpena County

Alpena County criminal history records are held by the county clerk and the 26th Circuit Court in the city of Alpena. This northeast Michigan county processes criminal cases through its circuit and district courts. You can search records online for free through MiCOURT or pay $10 for a statewide ICHAT check. The clerk's office at 720 W Chisholm St handles in-person and mail requests. This page covers all the ways to look up criminal history records in Alpena County, including court searches, FOIA requests, and expungement information.

Alpena County Clerk Criminal Records

County Clerk Bonnie Friedrichs runs the office at 720 W Chisholm St, Suite 2, Alpena, MI 49707. Call 989-354-9520 for records questions. The clerk stores case files from the 26th Circuit Court and can pull criminal history records by name or case number. Walk-in requests are taken during regular business hours.

Copies cost $1 per page. Certified copies are $10 plus $1 for each additional page. For mail requests, include the person's full name, case number if you have one, and a check or money order made out to the Alpena County Clerk. The office keeps both digital and paper records. Digital records go back to the mid-1990s in most cases. Older files are stored as paper records at the courthouse and may take a bit longer to find. Under MCL 28.241a, the criminal history record includes arrests, convictions, and dispositions from the court system.

26th Circuit Court Cases in Alpena County

The 26th Circuit Court handles felony cases in Alpena County. Call 989-354-9573 for court records. All serious criminal cases go through this court, from drug charges to violent crimes. The court is in the Alpena County courthouse on W Chisholm St.

Search 26th Circuit Court records online through MiCOURT. The system is free. You can look up cases by name or case number. It shows charges, hearing dates, and case outcomes. MiCOURT does not show the full text of filings or court orders. For those, contact the clerk. The 88th District Court also serves Alpena County and handles misdemeanors, arraignments, and preliminary exams. Call 989-354-9678 for district court records. Probate court matters go through 989-354-9650.

Both circuit and district court records in Alpena County are searchable through MiCOURT. This makes it easy to check for criminal cases across both courts with one search.

Alpena County Criminal History Online

The ICHAT system is the main statewide criminal history tool. Run by Michigan State Police, it costs $10 per name search. ICHAT covers felonies and serious misdemeanors from every Michigan county, including Alpena. It does not show minor misdemeanors, traffic offenses, or juvenile records. You need a name and date of birth to search.

The OTIS offender tracking system from the Michigan Department of Corrections is free. Search the OTIS database to find people in state prison or on parole. It shows offense details, sentence length, and facility location. This is useful if you know someone was sentenced to prison from Alpena County courts.

The Michigan State Police OTIS system tracks offenders statewide, including those sentenced from Alpena County courts.

The Sex Offender Registry is another free tool. Search by name or location to find registered sex offenders in Alpena County. The registry shows photos, addresses, offenses, and tier classification.

FOIA Process for Alpena County

Law enforcement records in Alpena County can be obtained through FOIA requests. Under MCL 15.231, you can request police reports, arrest logs, and incident records from local agencies. FOIA applies to the Alpena County Sheriff, city police, and local MSP posts. It does not cover court records, which fall under Michigan Court Rule 8.119.

Submit your FOIA request in writing to the agency holding the records. Include your name, address, and a specific description of what you need. The agency has five business days to respond, with a possible ten-day extension. Copies run about $0.10 per page. MCL 15.234 allows fee waivers on the first $20 for indigent requestors. The MSP FOIA portal handles state police records requests.

Expungement in Alpena County

Michigan's Clean Slate law affects Alpena County criminal history records. Under MCL 780.621, certain misdemeanors are automatically expunged after seven years. Certain felonies clear after ten years. The Michigan State Police run the automatic process. Once a record is expunged, it no longer appears in ICHAT, MiCOURT, or clerk searches.

Not all crimes qualify for automatic expungement. MCL 780.621g excludes assaultive crimes, sex offenses, and offenses punishable by ten or more years. The Clean Slate page has full details. Alpena County residents can file a petition with the 26th Circuit Court for early expungement of eligible records.

Nearby Counties

These counties neighbor Alpena County and maintain their own criminal history records.