Find Oakland County Criminal History

Oakland County criminal history records are managed by the County Clerk and the 6th Circuit Court in Pontiac. With a population of roughly 1.25 million, Oakland County is the second largest county in Michigan and processes thousands of criminal cases each year. The county offers Court Explorer, an online portal where you can search case records, view the register of actions, and purchase copies of court documents. You can also use the statewide MiCOURT system or visit the clerk's office in person at 1200 N Telegraph Rd. This guide covers each method for finding criminal history records in Oakland County.

Court Explorer for Oakland County Records

Oakland County runs its own online records system called Court Explorer. This tool lets you search criminal cases from the 6th Circuit Court. You can look up cases by party name, case number, or filing date. The system shows the register of actions, party information, and hearing dates. It is free to search. Records go back to the early 1990s.

If you need copies, Court Explorer lets you purchase documents online. Standard copies cost $1 per page. Certified copies run $10 plus $1 for each page after the first. There is a 3.5% credit card fee on all online purchases, or you can pay $2.50 for an ACH transaction instead. The Oakland County Clerk Court Explorer page has more details on how to use the system and what records are available.

The Court Explorer login page is where you start any search of Oakland County criminal history records online.

Court Explorer does not show sealed or expunged records. If a case was set aside under MCL 780.621, it will not appear in the results. The system also does not include district court cases. For those, you need to check MiCOURT or contact the specific district court.

Oakland County 6th Circuit Court

The 6th Circuit Court handles all felony criminal cases in Oakland County. It also hears misdemeanor appeals from the district courts. The court is located in Pontiac at the Oakland County courthouse complex on N Telegraph Rd.

Oakland County Clerk Lisa M. Brown oversees the clerk's office for the 6th Circuit Court. The office is at 1200 N Telegraph Rd, Pontiac MI 48341. Phone is (248) 858-0581. You can request criminal case records by visiting in person, calling, or mailing a written request. Bring a valid photo ID if you plan to visit. The clerk can search by name or case number. A name search has no separate fee beyond copy costs. Walk-in visitors can view records at public terminals for free.

The 6th Circuit Court is one of the busiest in the state. It processes felony cases from across Oakland County, including cities like Troy, Southfield, Rochester Hills, and Farmington Hills. Criminal cases move from arrest to arraignment at the district court level, then up to circuit court for trial if the charges are felonies. The circuit court record will show the full history of the case from the bind-over through sentencing.

District Courts in Oakland County

Oakland County has several district courts that handle misdemeanor criminal cases and felony arraignments. The 50th District Court in Pontiac sits at 70 N Saginaw St. You can reach them at (248) 758-5800. The 52nd District Court has multiple divisions serving cities like Troy, Rochester Hills, and Clarkston.

District court records in Oakland County include misdemeanor charges, ordinance violations, preliminary exam results for felonies, and traffic offenses that carry criminal penalties. Each district court keeps its own records. You need to contact the specific court where the case was filed to get copies. Some district courts participate in MiCOURT and their records can be searched online. Others require an in-person visit or a phone call. Fees at district courts generally match the circuit court schedule, with copies at $1 per page and certified copies at $10 plus $1 per additional page.

Online Criminal History Tools for Oakland County

Beyond Court Explorer, there are statewide tools that cover Oakland County criminal history. The ICHAT system from Michigan State Police costs $10 per search. It shows felony convictions and serious misdemeanors over 93 days. You need a name and date of birth. Results come back right away.

MiCOURT is free and covers 6th Circuit Court cases as well as many district courts in Oakland County. The OTIS system tracks people in state prison or on parole. It is free and run by the Michigan Department of Corrections. The CLEMIS portal serves Oakland County for crash reports and some police reports. Reports cost $10 to $19. CLEMIS is not specifically a criminal records tool, but it can pull up records from incidents that led to criminal charges.

The Michigan Sex Offender Registry lets you search for registered sex offenders in Oakland County by name, address, or zip code. It shows photos, offense details, and tier classifications.

Oakland County Criminal Records and the Law

Criminal history records in Oakland County follow Michigan state law. Under MCL 28.241a, a criminal history record includes arrest data, conviction records, and disposition information. Court records are public under Michigan Court Rule 8.119 unless a judge orders them sealed. You request court records from the clerk, not through FOIA.

FOIA applies to police reports and other law enforcement records in Oakland County. Under MCL 15.231, you can file a written request with any local agency. The agency has five business days to respond. Copy fees run about $0.10 per page. Labor charges vary. The first $20 in fees can be waived for people who qualify as indigent under MCL 15.234.

Michigan's Clean Slate law has changed what appears in Oakland County criminal history searches. Certain misdemeanors are automatically expunged after seven years. Certain felonies clear after ten years. Not all offenses qualify. Assaultive crimes, sex offenses, and crimes punishable by ten or more years are excluded. You can check the Michigan Clean Slate page for more details on what qualifies.

Cities in Oakland County

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