Schoolcraft County Criminal History
Schoolcraft County criminal history records are held by the county clerk and the 11th Circuit Court in Manistique. This Upper Peninsula county borders Lake Michigan to the south and has a small, spread-out population. Criminal cases go through the courthouse on Walnut Street, and you can search Schoolcraft County criminal records online through MiCOURT, check statewide data with ICHAT, or request copies from the clerk. Despite its small size, the county maintains a full set of court records going back many years.
Schoolcraft County Overview
Schoolcraft County Clerk Records
County Clerk Lynne M. Hohl manages criminal history records for Schoolcraft County. The clerk's office is at 300 Walnut St, Manistique, MI 49854. Call 906-341-3618 for help. The office holds files from the 11th Circuit Court, which handles felony criminal cases. Staff take walk-in requests during regular hours and can search by name or case number.
Copies cost $1 per page. Certified copies are $10 for the first page and $1 per page after that. For mail requests, include the full name of the person you are searching, any case numbers you have, and a check or money order payable to the Schoolcraft County Clerk. Under MCL 28.241a, criminal history records include arrest information, convictions, and case disposition data kept by courts and law enforcement in Michigan. The clerk's office in Manistique has records going back a long time, though some older files may be in storage and take a little longer to locate.
Note: Schoolcraft County has limited staff, so complex requests may take a few extra days to process.
11th Circuit Court in Schoolcraft County
The 11th Circuit Court processes all felony cases in Schoolcraft County. This court also covers Alger, Luce, and Mackinac counties, forming one of the largest geographic circuits in Michigan. Felony charges start at the district court with an arraignment and preliminary exam, then move up to the 11th Circuit for trial and sentencing. The court sits in Manistique for Schoolcraft County cases.
Search 11th Circuit Court records online with MiCOURT. This is a free tool from the Michigan courts. You can look up cases by name or case number and see charges, hearing dates, and case status. Full documents are not available through MiCOURT. For those, contact the clerk directly. The 93rd District Court also serves Schoolcraft County and handles misdemeanors, traffic offenses, and felony preliminary exams. Those records are searchable through MiCOURT as well.
Michigan Court Rule 8.119 makes most criminal court records public. Juvenile records and cases expunged under MCL 780.621 will not appear in search results. The 11th Circuit's wide coverage means you should confirm which county a case was filed in when searching, since the same circuit handles four counties.
Search Schoolcraft County Criminal History Online
The ICHAT system from the Michigan State Police is the statewide criminal history search tool. It costs $10 per name search. ICHAT covers felony convictions and serious misdemeanors from all Michigan counties, Schoolcraft included. You need a name and date of birth. Results are fast. ICHAT skips minor traffic cases, juvenile records, and expunged records.
The Criminal History Records page from the MSP explains the different types of background checks. ICHAT is best for quick name-based checks. Fingerprint searches are more comprehensive and used for licensing. For Schoolcraft County, ICHAT saves you a trip to Manistique if you just need a basic criminal history look.
The Michigan State Police maintain the ICHAT portal as the primary statewide criminal history search tool that covers Schoolcraft County.
The OTIS system from the Michigan Department of Corrections tracks people in state prison or on parole. It is free. Search by name and find sentence details, offense type, and release dates. If someone from Schoolcraft County went to prison, OTIS shows their current status. This is helpful for tracking cases that moved through the 11th Circuit Court and resulted in a state prison sentence.
FOIA Process for Schoolcraft County
Certain Schoolcraft County criminal history records are available through a Freedom of Information Act request. FOIA applies to police reports, arrest logs, and incident records from local law enforcement. Court records are separate and go through the clerk under Court Rule 8.119. MCL 15.231 gives everyone the right to request public records from Michigan government agencies.
Submit your request in writing to the agency that holds the records. Include your name, contact info, and a clear description of what you need. The agency has five business days to reply, with a ten-day extension available if the request is complex. Copies cost about $0.10 per page. Under MCL 15.234, the first $20 in fees may be waived for indigent requesters. The MSP FOIA portal handles requests to the Michigan State Police for state-level records that may involve Schoolcraft County investigations.
Expungement in Schoolcraft County
Michigan's Clean Slate law changed how criminal history records work in Schoolcraft County. Under MCL 780.621, certain misdemeanors are automatically set aside after seven years. Some felonies clear after ten years. The Michigan State Police manage the automatic process. Assaultive offenses, sex crimes, and crimes with sentences of ten or more years are not eligible.
The Clean Slate information page from the Michigan State Police has the full details. Expunged records will not show up in ICHAT, MiCOURT, or the Schoolcraft County clerk's files. People who want to clear eligible records before the automatic timeline can petition the 11th Circuit Court in Manistique. The petition must be filed with the court that handled the original case.
Sex Offender Data for Schoolcraft County
The Michigan Public Sex Offender Registry lists all registered offenders in Schoolcraft County. Search by name, zip code, or address. Listings show photos, home addresses, offense details, and tier levels. It is free and public. The Michigan State Police keep the data current based on registration reports from local law enforcement in Schoolcraft County.
Given the small population, Schoolcraft County has relatively few registrants. But anyone required to register who lives in the county will be on the list. Tier three offenders register for life. The data reflects current addresses, so it is a reliable check for who lives in your area.
Nearby Counties
Upper Peninsula counties near Schoolcraft County that may have related criminal records.