Dickinson County Criminal History Lookup
Dickinson County criminal history records are kept at the county courthouse in Iron Mountain. The 41st Circuit Court and the 95B-1 District Court both handle criminal cases here. You can search these records online through the MiCOURT case search or request them in person from the county clerk. The clerk's office sits on Stephenson Ave and is the main point of contact for anyone who needs Dickinson County court files. This guide covers the steps to find criminal history records in Dickinson County, the fees you can expect, and the tools that make searching faster.
Dickinson County Criminal History Overview
Dickinson County Clerk Records
Lisa M. Hansen serves as Dickinson County Clerk. Her office is at 705 S Stephenson Ave, Iron Mountain, MI 49801. Call 906-774-0988 for questions about criminal history records. The clerk's office keeps files for the 41st Circuit Court, which covers both Dickinson and Iron counties. Walk-in requests are taken during regular business hours. You can also send requests by mail.
Copies of Dickinson County criminal history records cost $1 per page for standard copies. Certified copies run $10 plus $1 for each extra page. A name search fee of $1 per name applies when staff look up records on your behalf. If you mail a request, include the full name of the person, any case numbers you have, a clear note of what records you need, and a check or money order payable to the Dickinson County Clerk. Expect a few days for processing on mail requests, longer if the files are archived. Digital records in Dickinson County go back to the mid-1990s. Older cases may need a manual pull from paper files stored at the courthouse, and that takes more time.
Bring a valid photo ID if you visit in person. The clerk's staff can help you search, but the per-name fee still applies.
41st Circuit Court Criminal Cases
The 41st Circuit Court handles all felony cases in Dickinson County. It also hears misdemeanor appeals from the district court. This court covers both Dickinson and Iron counties, so its caseload spans a large part of the Upper Peninsula. The courthouse is in Iron Mountain at 705 S Stephenson Ave. For criminal case questions, call the clerk's office at 906-774-0988.
You can search Dickinson County criminal history from the 41st Circuit Court through MiCOURT. This free tool lets you look up cases by name, case number, or filing date. Results show charges, hearing dates, case status, and the register of actions. MiCOURT pulls from the court's own records system. It does not show the full text of motions or orders. For those documents, you need to contact the clerk directly or go to the courthouse. MiCOURT works well for a quick check on whether someone has a criminal case in Dickinson County.
The Michigan State Police also track Dickinson County criminal history through the ICHAT system. ICHAT costs $10 per search plus a $2.50 card fee. It covers felony convictions and serious misdemeanors statewide, including those from Dickinson County courts. ICHAT does not show minor misdemeanors, traffic offenses, or juvenile records. Results come back quickly and include conviction dates, charges, and sentencing details.
Note: Expunged records under MCL 780.621 will not show up in ICHAT or MiCOURT searches.
Dickinson County District Court Records
The 95B-1 District Court serves Dickinson County. It handles misdemeanors, ordinance violations, and preliminary exams on felony charges. The court is in Iron Mountain. Call 906-774-0506 for records questions. District court cases often involve lesser charges, but they still form part of a person's criminal history in Dickinson County.
You can search district court records through MiCOURT as well. Select the 95B-1 District Court when you run your search. The system shows case type, charges, hearing dates, and disposition. If you need certified copies from the district court, contact the court directly. Fees generally follow the same schedule as circuit court copies. The Dickinson County Probate Court handles a separate set of cases and can be reached at 906-774-1555, though probate matters rarely overlap with criminal history unless a guardianship or conservatorship ties into a criminal case.
The Michigan State Police run a portal where you can learn more about criminal history records across the state. Below is a look at that resource.
The MSP Criminal History Records page explains how the state tracks and shares criminal records. It covers fingerprint-based checks, name-based checks through ICHAT, and how to read your own record. This is a good starting point if you want to understand what a Dickinson County criminal history check includes at the state level.
Criminal History Laws for Dickinson County
Dickinson County follows Michigan state law on criminal records. MCL 28.241a defines what counts as a criminal history record. It includes arrest data, conviction records, and disposition info held by law enforcement and courts. Anyone can request these records. There is no requirement to give a reason for the request.
Michigan's Clean Slate law changed what shows up in Dickinson County criminal history searches. Under MCL 780.621, certain misdemeanors are automatically set aside after seven years. Certain felonies are set aside after ten years. The state police handle the automatic process. Not every crime qualifies. Assaultive crimes, sex offenses, and crimes punishable by ten or more years in prison are excluded. You can learn more at the Clean Slate information page. Once a record is set aside, it will not appear in public searches through ICHAT, MiCOURT, or the clerk's office.
Juvenile records in Dickinson County are sealed under MCL 712A.28. They are not part of the public criminal history. Access is limited to certain parties like the person named in the record, law enforcement, and court officials. If you are searching for someone's criminal history in Dickinson County, juvenile cases will not show up.
FOIA Requests in Dickinson County
Some Dickinson County criminal history records can be obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request. Under MCL 15.231, you can request police reports, incident logs, booking records, and other law enforcement documents from local agencies. FOIA does not cover court records. Court files fall under Michigan Court Rule 8.119 and must be requested from the court clerk.
To file a FOIA request, write to the agency that holds the records. Include your name, address, and a clear description of what you want. The agency has five business days to respond. They can extend that by ten more days if needed. Copy fees are typically $0.10 per page. Under MCL 15.234, the first $20 in fees can be waived if you qualify as indigent. The MSP FOIA portal handles requests directed at the state police.
Local police departments in Dickinson County, like the Iron Mountain City Police, have their own FOIA processes. Contact them directly for local police reports and incident records.
Sex Offender Registry for Dickinson County
The Michigan Public Sex Offender Registry lets you search for registered sex offenders in Dickinson County. You can look up offenders by name, zip code, or address. The registry shows photos, home addresses, offense details, and tier level. It is free to use. This is a statewide tool, so it covers all of Michigan, not just Dickinson County. If you are checking on someone's criminal history and the offense involved a sex crime, this registry is a key resource.