Criminal History in Kent County
Kent County criminal history records are managed by the County Clerk and the 17th Circuit Court in Grand Rapids. Kent County has a population of about 650,000 and is the fourth largest county in the state. The clerk's office at 180 Ottawa Ave NW keeps records for all felony criminal cases tried in the circuit court. You can search Kent County criminal cases online through MiCOURT or the county's public records portal, visit the clerk's office in person, or submit a request by mail. The 61st District Court in Grand Rapids handles misdemeanors and preliminary exams. This guide covers the ways to find and access criminal history records in Kent County.
Kent County Criminal History Overview
Kent County Clerk of the Court
The Kent County Clerk of the Court handles records for the 17th Circuit Court. Clerk Lisa M. Posthumus Lyons oversees the office at 180 Ottawa Ave NW, Suite 2400, Grand Rapids MI 49503. The phone number is (616) 632-5480. The office is open during regular business hours for walk-in requests.
Copies of Kent County criminal history records cost $1 per page. Certified copies are $10 plus $1 for each additional page. There is a search fee of at least $5 for name searches. These fees apply to in-person and mail requests. Pay by check, money order, or cash for walk-in visits. The clerk can search by name or case number. If you know the case number, it speeds things up. Without a case number, the name search fee kicks in.
The Kent County Clerk's page provides details on record types and how to request them.
The AccessKent County Clerk page is another resource. It covers the full range of services the clerk provides, not just court records. You can find links to forms, fee schedules, and contact info for different divisions.
Friend of Court records in Kent County are a separate category. A full file copy costs $10. Individual pages from FOC files are $1 each. These cover child support, custody, and parenting time orders tied to criminal cases involving domestic matters.
17th Circuit Court Criminal Cases
The 17th Circuit Court hears all felony criminal cases in Kent County. Cases move here from the district court level after a bind-over at the preliminary exam. The circuit court handles arraignment on the information, plea hearings, trials, and sentencing. The court is in the Kent County courthouse on Ottawa Ave in downtown Grand Rapids.
You can search Kent County 17th Circuit Court criminal cases through MiCOURT. This is the statewide court search system. It is free. You can look up cases by name, case number, court, or date. MiCOURT shows the case type, charges, party names, hearing schedule, and the register of actions. It does not show the full text of court documents. If you need copies of specific filings, contact the clerk's office.
The Kent County Court public records page gives an overview of what records are available and how the public can access them.
Note: Sealed or expunged records will not appear in MiCOURT or at the clerk's office.
61st District Court in Grand Rapids
The 61st District Court serves the city of Grand Rapids. It is at 61 Ottawa Ave NW. Call (616) 632-5400 for records questions. The court handles misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic offenses with criminal penalties, ordinance violations, and felony arraignments and preliminary exams.
Misdemeanor records from the 61st District Court are an important part of Kent County criminal history. Many criminal cases stay at the district court level and never move to circuit court. If someone was charged with a misdemeanor in Grand Rapids, the 61st District Court is where those records live. You can check MiCOURT for some 61st District Court cases, though coverage varies. For complete records, contact the court directly. Copies follow the same fee schedule as the circuit court.
Kent County Criminal Records Online
Beyond MiCOURT, you have statewide options for searching Kent County criminal history records. The ICHAT system costs $10 per search. It covers felony convictions and serious misdemeanors across Michigan, including Kent County. You need a name and date of birth. Results come back quickly. ICHAT does not show minor misdemeanors, traffic tickets, or juvenile records. It is a name-based search, so you may get results for multiple people with the same name.
The OTIS system is free. It tracks people currently in state prison or on parole. It shows offense info, sentence length, and release dates. This only covers people under state supervision, not county jail inmates or people who completed local sentences. The Michigan Sex Offender Registry is free too. Search by name, address, or zip code to find registered sex offenders in Kent County. It shows photos, offense details, and tier level.
Kent County FOIA Requests
Law enforcement records in Kent County can be obtained through FOIA. Under MCL 15.231, any person can request public records from a government agency. This covers police reports, incident logs, arrest records, and booking information held by local police departments and the Kent County Sheriff.
Send your FOIA request in writing to the agency that holds the records. Include your name, mailing address, and a clear description of the records you need. The agency has five business days to respond. They may take ten more days with written notice. Copy fees run about $0.10 per page. Labor fees vary. Court records are not subject to FOIA in Michigan. Those go through the clerk under Michigan Court Rule 8.119.
Kent County Criminal History and State Law
Criminal records in Kent County follow Michigan state law. Under MCL 28.241a, a criminal history record covers arrest data, conviction records, and disposition information. Juvenile records are sealed under MCL 712A.28. These records are not available through public searches in Kent County.
Michigan's Clean Slate law affects Kent County criminal history records. Under MCL 780.621, certain misdemeanors are automatically expunged after seven years and some felonies after ten years. Violent crimes, sex offenses, and offenses with sentences of ten or more years do not qualify. The Michigan Clean Slate page has details on eligibility. Records that have been cleared will not show up in ICHAT, MiCOURT, or clerk searches.
If you believe a record was expunged, you can verify by running an ICHAT search, checking MiCOURT, or contacting the Kent County Clerk directly. The MSP also offers fingerprint-based personal record checks for $30.