Search Houghton County Criminal History
Houghton County criminal history records are maintained at the county courthouse in Houghton, up in the Keweenaw Peninsula of Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The 12th Circuit Court handles felony cases and the district court covers misdemeanors. You can search these records online for free through MiCOURT, or contact the clerk's office on Houghton Ave for copies and in-person searches. This page explains the steps for getting criminal history records in Houghton County, including fees, online tools, and what the law says about public access.
Houghton County Criminal History Overview
Houghton County Clerk Records
Jennifer Kelly serves as the Houghton County Clerk. Her office is at 401 E Houghton Ave, Houghton, MI 49931. Call 906-482-1150 for criminal history records questions. The clerk maintains files for the 12th Circuit Court and handles record requests for circuit-level criminal cases.
Standard copies of Houghton County criminal history records are $1 per page. Certified copies cost $10 plus $1 for each additional page. Name searches cost $1 per name. For mail requests, include the full name of the person, any case numbers, what records you need, and a check payable to the Houghton County Clerk. Most requests take a few business days. Records stored on paper from before the mid-1990s will take longer. Houghton County is home to Michigan Technological University, so the county sees some seasonal variation in its criminal caseload tied to the student population. That said, the clerk's office processes requests year-round without significant delays.
Bring a valid photo ID for in-person visits. You can use public terminals for free, but staff-assisted searches carry the $1 name fee.
12th Circuit Court Felony Cases
The 12th Circuit Court handles all felony cases in Houghton County. It also covers Baraga County. Serious criminal cases like drug trafficking, assault, and burglary are tried here. The court sits at the Houghton County Courthouse on Houghton Ave.
You can search Houghton County criminal history from the 12th Circuit Court through MiCOURT. This is a free statewide tool from the Michigan courts. Search by name, case number, or filing date. Results show charges, hearing dates, case status, and the register of actions. MiCOURT does not include full documents. For sentencing orders, motions, or other filings, contact the clerk. Because the 12th Circuit covers two counties, check the court location in your results to confirm you are looking at a Houghton County case.
The ICHAT system from Michigan State Police includes Houghton County in its statewide checks. ICHAT costs $10 per search plus $2.50 card fee. It shows felony convictions and serious misdemeanors. Minor offenses and traffic tickets are excluded. Results are fast.
Note: Records expunged under MCL 780.621 do not show up in ICHAT or MiCOURT.
Houghton County District Court
The district court in Houghton County handles misdemeanors, ordinance violations, and preliminary exams for felony charges. Misdemeanor cases are part of criminal history even when the charges are relatively minor. Drunk driving, disorderly conduct, minor theft, and trespassing are typical cases at this level.
Search district court records on MiCOURT by selecting the Houghton County district court. Results include charges, case type, hearing dates, and disposition. For copies of specific district court documents, contact the court directly. Fees generally follow the same schedule as the circuit court.
Michigan's statewide tools pick up Houghton County criminal history from both the circuit and district courts. Below is a look at the OTIS offender tracking system from the Department of Corrections.
The OTIS system is free. It tracks people in state prison or on parole, including those from Houghton County. The system shows photos, offense details, sentence information, current facility, and projected release dates. It does not cover county jail or county probation.
Criminal History Laws for Houghton County
MCL 28.241a defines criminal history records as arrest data, convictions, and dispositions held by courts and law enforcement in Michigan. These records are public. You can request Houghton County criminal history without stating a reason.
Michigan's Clean Slate law affects what turns up in Houghton County criminal history searches. Under MCL 780.621, certain misdemeanors are automatically set aside after seven years. Certain felonies follow after ten years. The state police handle this. Violent crimes, sex offenses, and crimes punishable by ten or more years in prison are excluded from automatic expungement. The Clean Slate page has the full list of qualifying offenses. Once a record is set aside, it is removed from all public search tools.
Juvenile records in Houghton County are sealed under MCL 712A.28. They are not part of the public criminal history and will not appear in any search.
FOIA Requests for Houghton County
Some Houghton County criminal history records are available through FOIA. MCL 15.231 covers police reports, incident logs, and other law enforcement documents. Court records are not covered by FOIA. They fall under Michigan Court Rule 8.119 and must go through the court clerk.
Write your request to the agency holding the records. Include your name, address, and what you want. Agencies have five business days to respond. Copies cost about $0.10 per page. Under MCL 15.234, fees up to $20 may be waived for indigent individuals. The MSP FOIA portal handles state police requests. Local agencies in Houghton County process their own FOIA requests.
The Michigan Sex Offender Registry covers registered offenders in Houghton County. Search by name, address, or zip code. It is free and shows photos, addresses, offenses, and tier levels.