Search Baraga County Criminal History

Baraga County criminal history records come through the county clerk and court system in L'Anse. This small Upper Peninsula county maintains criminal case records through the 97-1 District Court and its circuit court. You can look up records online through MiCOURT or run a statewide check using ICHAT. The clerk's office at 2 S Main St handles in-person and mail requests for court records. This page covers all the ways to access criminal history information in Baraga County, including online tools, fees, and the FOIA process.

Baraga County Clerk Office

County Clerk William Goodreau oversees the clerk's office at 2 S Main St, L'Anse, MI 49946. Call 906-524-6183 for records questions. The clerk stores criminal case files from the circuit court and handles copy requests. Standard copies are $1 per page. Certified copies cost $10 plus $1 for each extra page.

For mail requests, send the person's full name, case number if available, and a check or money order payable to the Baraga County Clerk. Bring a valid photo ID if you visit in person. The clerk's office can search records by name or case number. Criminal history records under MCL 28.241a include arrest data, conviction information, and case dispositions from the court system. That is what the Baraga County Clerk can pull from the files.

Baraga County Court System

The 97-1 District Court handles misdemeanors, traffic cases, and the early stages of felony cases in Baraga County. Call 906-524-6109 for district court records. Felony cases that move past the preliminary exam go to the circuit court for trial. The probate court handles juvenile matters and can be reached at 906-524-6100. Under MCL 712A.28, juvenile records are sealed and not available to the public.

Search Baraga County court records online through MiCOURT. This free tool from the Michigan courts lets you look up cases by name or case number. It shows charges, hearing dates, and case outcomes. The system is a good starting point if you want to check whether a criminal case exists in Baraga County before making a formal request. MiCOURT does not include the full text of orders or sealed records.

Baraga County has a smaller caseload than most Michigan counties. That means searches tend to return fewer results, and the clerk's office can often pull records faster than in larger counties.

Statewide Criminal History Tools

The ICHAT system checks criminal records across every Michigan county. It costs $10 per search. ICHAT shows felonies and serious misdemeanors from Baraga County and the rest of the state. It does not cover minor misdemeanors, traffic cases, or juvenile records. You need a name and date of birth.

The OTIS system from the Michigan Department of Corrections tracks inmates and parolees statewide. Search the OTIS database for free to find people sentenced from Baraga County courts who are in state prison or on parole. OTIS shows offense type, sentence details, and facility location.

The Michigan Department of Corrections OTIS portal tracks offenders from all Michigan counties, including Baraga County criminal cases.

The Sex Offender Registry is free and searchable by name or address. It covers registered offenders throughout Michigan, including Baraga County.

FOIA for Baraga County Records

Police reports and law enforcement records from Baraga County can be requested through FOIA. MCL 15.231 gives the public the right to request records from government agencies. Send your request to the Baraga County Sheriff or local MSP post. Court records are not covered by FOIA. Those go through the clerk under Michigan Court Rule 8.119.

Agencies have five business days to respond. Copy fees are about $0.10 per page. Under MCL 15.234, indigent requestors can get the first $20 waived. For state police records, use the MSP FOIA portal.

Baraga County Clean Slate Expungement

Michigan's Clean Slate law applies to Baraga County criminal history records. Under MCL 780.621, certain misdemeanors are automatically expunged after seven years and certain felonies after ten. The Michigan State Police handle this process. Once a record is expunged, it no longer appears in ICHAT, MiCOURT, or clerk databases.

Assaultive crimes, sex offenses, and crimes carrying ten or more years are excluded under MCL 780.621g. Baraga County residents can petition the circuit court for early expungement of eligible records. The Clean Slate page has full details on what qualifies and the petition process.

Nearby Counties

Upper Peninsula counties that border Baraga County.