Criminal History in Shiawassee County

Shiawassee County criminal history records are managed by the county clerk and the 35th Circuit Court in Corunna. Sitting between Lansing and Flint, this mid-Michigan county handles a significant number of criminal cases through its courthouse on North Shiawassee Street. You can search for criminal records in Shiawassee County through MiCOURT, use ICHAT for a statewide check, or go to the clerk's office for copies. The county's location near two major metro areas means some cases involve people from neighboring jurisdictions, which makes statewide tools especially useful here.

Shiawassee County Clerk Criminal Records

County Clerk Carrie A. Sutherby runs the office that keeps Shiawassee County criminal history records. The office is at 208 N Shiawassee St, Corunna, MI 48817. Call 989-743-2242 for questions. The clerk stores files from the 35th Circuit Court, which handles all felony cases in the county. Walk-in requests are accepted during business hours, and staff can look up records by name or case number.

Standard copies cost $1 per page. Certified copies are $10 for the first page and $1 per page after that. Mail requests need to include the full name of the person you are looking up, any case numbers, and a check or money order payable to the Shiawassee County Clerk. MCL 28.241a defines criminal history records in Michigan as arrest data, conviction details, and case disposition information maintained by courts and law enforcement agencies. The Shiawassee County clerk's office handles a fair volume of requests, given the county's proximity to Genesee and Ingham counties where population is higher and cases sometimes cross county lines.

If you need records from both Shiawassee County and a neighboring county, plan to make separate requests. Each clerk's office only keeps its own court records.

35th Circuit Court Criminal Cases

The 35th Circuit Court handles felony cases in Shiawassee County. This circuit covers only Shiawassee County. Felony charges begin at the district court level with arraignment and a preliminary exam, then transfer to the 35th Circuit for trial and sentencing. The court is in Corunna.

Search 35th Circuit Court records through MiCOURT, the free case lookup tool from the Michigan courts. You can find Shiawassee County criminal cases by name or case number. MiCOURT shows charges, hearing dates, and case status. It does not display full court documents. For complete filings and orders, you need to contact the clerk's office in Corunna. The 66th District Court serves Shiawassee County for misdemeanors, traffic cases, and preliminary hearings in felony matters. District court records are also available through MiCOURT.

Under Michigan Court Rule 8.119, criminal court records are generally public. Exceptions include juvenile cases, sealed records, and cases expunged under MCL 780.621. Shiawassee County processes a higher volume of cases than many similarly-sized counties due to the I-69 corridor running through the area, which generates traffic-related criminal cases.

Online Criminal History Searches for Shiawassee County

The ICHAT system from the Michigan State Police is the main statewide criminal history check. It costs $10 per name. ICHAT pulls felony convictions and serious misdemeanors from all 83 Michigan counties, Shiawassee included. Enter a name and date of birth and results come back in minutes. ICHAT does not cover minor traffic offenses, juvenile records, or expunged cases.

The Criminal History Records page from the MSP explains the difference between ICHAT name-based searches and fingerprint-based checks. For a quick look at Shiawassee County criminal history, ICHAT works well. It saves you a drive to Corunna when you just need a basic check. Fingerprint-based searches are used for licensing and go through the MSP directly.

The Michigan State Police ICHAT portal covers statewide criminal history including Shiawassee County records.

The OTIS offender tracking system is a free tool from the Michigan Department of Corrections. It shows details on people in state prison or on parole. Search by name and find sentence length, offense type, and release dates. If someone from Shiawassee County was sentenced to prison, OTIS shows their current location and status. This can be useful for checking on cases that went through the 35th Circuit Court and resulted in incarceration.

Shiawassee County FOIA Requests

Some Shiawassee County criminal history records are available through FOIA requests. This covers police reports, arrest logs, and incident records from local law enforcement agencies including the Shiawassee County Sheriff's Office and Owosso Police Department. FOIA does not cover court records. Those go through the clerk under Court Rule 8.119.

Under MCL 15.231, any person can request public records from a Michigan government agency. Send a written request to the agency that holds the records. Include your name, address, and a clear description of what you need. The agency gets five business days to respond, with a possible ten-day extension. Copy costs run about $0.10 per page. MCL 15.234 allows the first $20 in fees to be waived for indigent requesters with proof. The MSP FOIA portal takes requests for Michigan State Police records involving Shiawassee County investigations.

Clean Slate and Expungement in Shiawassee County

Michigan's Clean Slate law affects criminal history records in Shiawassee 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 process statewide. Assaultive crimes, sex offenses, and offenses carrying ten or more years in prison are excluded.

Check the Clean Slate information page from the Michigan State Police for full details. Once expunged, records vanish from ICHAT, MiCOURT, and the Shiawassee County clerk's system. Petition-based expungements go through the 35th Circuit Court in Corunna. File with the court that entered the original conviction. Some people in the Shiawassee County area also work with legal aid organizations that help with the petition process at no cost.

Sex Offender Registry in Shiawassee County

The Michigan Public Sex Offender Registry covers all registered offenders in Shiawassee County. Search by name, zip code, or address. Listings include photos, home addresses, offense details, and tier levels. The registry is free and public. The Michigan State Police maintain the data based on registration reports from local law enforcement in the county, including the Owosso and Durand police departments.

Shiawassee County has a moderate population, so the registry shows a fair number of registrants compared to rural counties. Tier levels go from one to three. Tier three means lifetime registration. The data is updated regularly to keep addresses current.

Nearby Counties

Counties neighboring Shiawassee County with potentially related criminal history records.