Search Eaton County Criminal History
Eaton County criminal history records are managed through the county clerk's office in Charlotte. The 56th Circuit Court handles felony cases while the 56A District Court deals with misdemeanors and preliminary exams. You can search Eaton County criminal records online for free through MiCOURT, or visit the clerk's office on Independence Blvd for in-person access. Whether you need to pull up a case number, check on a conviction, or get certified copies, this page covers how to search criminal history records in Eaton County and what to expect along the way.
Eaton County Criminal History Overview
Eaton County Clerk Criminal Records
Diana R. Camaan is the Eaton County Clerk. Her office is at 1045 Independence Blvd, Charlotte, MI 48813. The phone number is 517-543-7500. The clerk's office maintains records for the 56th Circuit Court and serves as the filing point for all criminal cases at the circuit level. Walk-in requests are handled during normal business hours.
Standard copies of Eaton County criminal history records cost $1 per page. Certified copies are $10 plus $1 for each additional page. A name search runs $1 per name when the clerk's staff performs the lookup. These fees apply whether you visit in person or send a request by mail. For mail requests, include the full name, date of birth if known, any case numbers, a description of what you need, and a check payable to the Eaton County Clerk. Digital records generally go back to the mid-1990s. Older Eaton County criminal cases may be stored on paper and will take longer to retrieve from the archives.
The clerk's office also handles requests for court documents like sentencing orders, judgments, and case dispositions. If you know the case number, the process moves faster. Without a case number, the staff will do a name search, but that $1 fee applies for each name they run through the system.
56th Circuit Court Cases
The 56th Circuit Court handles felony criminal cases in Eaton County. Felonies include crimes like assault, drug trafficking, burglary, and other serious offenses. The court sits at the Eaton County Courthouse in Charlotte. All felony arraignments, trials, sentencing hearings, and appeals go through this court.
Search Eaton County criminal history from the 56th Circuit Court through MiCOURT. This is a free tool run by the Michigan courts. You can look up cases by name, case number, or date range. Results show charges, hearing dates, case status, and the register of actions. MiCOURT is the best free option for checking whether someone has a felony case in Eaton County. It does not show the full text of filed documents. For those, contact the clerk's office.
Eaton County sits next to Ingham County, where the state capital is located. The two counties share some judicial resources but maintain separate criminal records systems. If you are doing a broad search, check both counties through MiCOURT since a person may have cases in either jurisdiction.
Note: Cases expunged under MCL 780.621 are removed from public search results in both MiCOURT and ICHAT.
Eaton County District Court Records
The 56A District Court handles misdemeanors in Eaton County. It also processes preliminary exams for felony cases before they move to circuit court. Misdemeanors cover a wide range, from minor theft and disorderly conduct to drunk driving. These cases are part of a person's criminal history in Eaton County even though the charges are less severe than felonies.
District court records are searchable through MiCOURT as well. Pick the 56A District Court when you search. You will see case type, charges, hearing dates, and how the case was resolved. For copies of specific documents, contact the district court directly. The Eaton County Probate Court is a separate court reached at 517-543-4175. Probate matters rarely overlap with criminal history, but guardianship cases sometimes do.
The ICHAT system from the Michigan State Police also picks up Eaton County criminal history. It costs $10 per search plus a $2.50 card fee. ICHAT shows felony convictions and serious misdemeanors. It does not include minor misdemeanors or traffic tickets. Results come back fast, usually within minutes.
The MSP criminal history page above explains what ICHAT covers and how the state police handle criminal records. It is a good reference if you want to understand the scope of a statewide check that includes Eaton County.
Criminal Records Laws in Eaton County
Eaton County follows Michigan law on criminal records access. MCL 28.241a defines criminal history records as arrest data, convictions, and dispositions held by courts and law enforcement. These records are public. You do not need to state a reason when you request them.
Michigan's Clean Slate law has changed what appears in Eaton County criminal history searches. Under MCL 780.621, some misdemeanors are automatically set aside after seven years. Some felonies are set aside after ten years. The Michigan State Police run the automatic review process. Crimes involving violence, sexual offenses, and offenses carrying ten or more years are excluded from automatic expungement. The Clean Slate page has details on which offenses qualify. Once a conviction is set aside, it no longer appears in public searches.
Juvenile records are sealed under MCL 712A.28. They do not show up in Eaton County criminal history searches. Access is limited to the person named, law enforcement, and certain court officials.
FOIA Requests for Eaton County Records
Freedom of Information Act requests cover some Eaton County criminal history records. Under MCL 15.231, you can request police reports, arrest logs, incident reports, and other law enforcement records. FOIA does not apply to court files. Court records are governed by Michigan Court Rule 8.119 and go through the court clerk.
Send your request to the agency that holds the records. Include your name, contact info, and a specific description of what you want. Agencies have five business days to respond, with a possible ten-day extension. Copies typically cost $0.10 per page. Under MCL 15.234, the first $20 in fees may be waived for those who qualify as indigent. The MSP FOIA portal handles requests directed at state police for records that touch Eaton County.
Local law enforcement agencies in Eaton County, including the Eaton County Sheriff's Office and the Charlotte City Police, each have their own FOIA procedures. Contact them directly for local incident reports and arrest records.
Corrections and Offender Tracking
The OTIS system from the Michigan Department of Corrections tracks people serving state prison sentences or on parole. It is free. OTIS shows the person's photo, offense details, sentence length, earliest release date, and current facility. If someone from Eaton County received a state prison sentence, OTIS is where you check their status. It does not cover people in county jail or on county probation.
The Michigan Public Sex Offender Registry is another tool worth checking. It covers registered offenders across the state, including those in Eaton County. Search by name, address, or zip code. The registry shows photos, addresses, offenses, and tier classification.