Jackson County Court
Jackson County Arrest Records

Jackson County, Michigan Arrest Records

Jackson County arrest records are official documentation of persons arrested in Jackson County for criminal offenses. They are created when the apprehended persons are booked into custody and contain information about them, the offense committed, the arresting agency, bond/bail conditions, and dates. In Jackson County, the arresting agency is typically responsible for creating and maintaining the corresponding arrest report/record. However, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, which operates the county jail, is the main creator of the county’s arrest records. Arrest records in Jackson County promote transparency and accountability and help people look up local criminal history.

Per the Michigan Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), arrest records are generally considered public records and are consequently open for inspection and copying by persons through requests to the custodian agencies. These agencies include the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office and the Jackson Police Department (which may maintain arrest records for persons apprehended within the City of Jackson).

Note that while arrest records may be obtained in Jackson County through law enforcement agencies like the sheriff’s office, state criminal history record information is obtainable only through the Michigan State Police (MSP). The MSP is the designated custodian of these records by the Bureau of Criminal Identification and Records (MCL 28.241 et seq.), which also governs how the MSP collects, preserves, and disseminates criminal records.

Are Arrest Records Public Information in Jackson County, Michigan?

Yes, arrest records are public information in Jackson County. This is in line with the Michigan Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), codified in MCL 15.231 et seq., which provides that all persons are entitled to inspect and obtain any writing, document, or record prepared, owned, in the possession of, or retained by a "public body" in the performance of an official function. To this end, any person, except those in state or local incarceration, may view and/or obtain arrest records in Jackson County, subject to exemptions outlined in MCL Section 15.243.

While access is open to all persons (without residency or ID requirements), they must submit a FOIA request for records through the custodian agency's request channels and pay applicable costs.

What Do Public Jackson County Arrest Records Contain?

Public Jackson County arrest records contain:

The arrested person’s name, age, and date of birth
Physical descriptors of the individual, such as height, weight, sex, race, eye color, and hair color
Arrest date and/or booking date
Arresting agency
Booking number and time
Filed charges
Offense classification and code
Mug shot
Bond amount (if set)
Current status (released or in custody)
Release date (if applicable)

Under MCL Section 15.24, certain types of information are exempt from disclosure to protect individual privacy, public safety, and effective law enforcement operations. These generally include any information whose disclosure would:

Identify an informant or disclose confidential sources
Disclose the address or telephone number of a law enforcement officer
Endanger the life or safety of law enforcement officers or their families and relatives
Interfere with law enforcement proceedings
Constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy

Additionally, juvenile-related arrest data and arrest records expunged or sealed by court order are exempt from public access.

Jackson County, Michigan Arrest Search

Interested parties should use the following state and federal-level resources for arrest record searches:

Internet Criminal History Access Tool (ICHAT): The ICHAT allows individuals to conduct name-based searches of public criminal history record information maintained by the Michigan State Police (MSP) through the Criminal Justice Information Center (CJIC). Results include statewide felony and misdemeanor arrest records (excluding traffic records and misdemeanors punishable by 93 days or less). Users can view and print search results online. Costs apply.
MDOC Offender Tracking Information System (OTIS): The Michigan Department of Corrections’ Offender Tracking Information System (OTIS) allows the public to search information about prisoners, parolees, and probationers currently under supervision. Users can search it for an offender’s booking details, offense, and sentence information. It costs nothing to use. Search criteria include last name, first name, offender number, sex, race, and age.
FBI’s Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS): The CJIS allows individuals to submit an “Identity History Summary Check” request for $18 per person. The identity history summary contains arrest information submitted by federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies nationwide (such as the arrest date, charge, and disposition, if known).
BOP Inmate Locator: A search tool by the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) that can be used to look up arrest/booking information on individuals in federal custody (i.e., in BOP facilities). Search criteria include inmate name or number (e.g., BOP Register Number, DCDC Number, FBI Number, and INS Number).

Jackson County Inmate Locator

Jackson County does not maintain an online inmate search portal for individuals housed in the county jails. Individuals seeking to locate or obtain inmate records in the county should submit a FOIA request to the Jackson County Sheriff's Office (Records Division). The FOIA request can be completed in person, online, by email, or by mail. In-person requests must be submitted during business hours.

Jackson County Sheriff's Office

212 West Wesley Street

Jackson, MI 49201

Phone: (517) 768-7925

Email (Records Division): sheriffrecords@mijackson.org

Or, interested parties can contact or visit either of the two jail locations directly to search for or obtain inmate information.

Wesley Street Jail

212 West Wesley Street

Jackson, MI 49201

Phone: (517) 768-7900

Fax: (517) 768-6800

Chanter Road Jail

1995 Chanter Road

Jackson, MI 49201

Phone: (517) 768-1609

Fax: (517) 768-1622

Active Warrant Search in Jackson County

An arrest warrant is a court order that authorizes law enforcement to apprehend and take an individual into custody. In Michigan, an arrest warrant is issued by a judge or district court to apprehend individuals charged with a felony, misdemeanor, or ordinance violation (per MCL 764.1). Under Michigan Court Rule 6.102, a judge or magistrate may issue an arrest warrant if presented with a proper complaint by law enforcement or prosecutor, and there’s probable cause to believe the accused committed the alleged offense. Probable cause may be determined by the factual allegations in the complaint, affidavits from the complainant or others, or the sworn testimony of a witness.

Per MCR 6.102(E), an arrest warrant must:

Contain the accused individual’s name or, if unknown, an identifying name or description
Describe the offense charged in the complaint
Command a peace officer to arrest the individual and bring them before a judicial officer.
Be signed by the issuing judge or district court magistrate

As public information under the Michigan FOIA, interested parties can search warrants through the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, city/township police departments, and the courts. They may use search criteria, such as name, case number, or date of birth.

Agency / Resource	Purpose	Search Methods	Notes
Jackson County Sheriff’s Office	Maintains and serves most warrants in the county	In person, online, by mail	The Records Division handles FOIA requests for public records
12th Judicial District Court, Jackson County	Issues and maintains warrant records	Online	Maintains an online “Active Warrant List"
city/township PDs	Handle warrants	In person, phone	N/A
Michigan Courts MiCOURT Case Search	Statewide access to public court records	online	May not provide active warrant information

How to Find Arrest Records for Free in Jackson County

To find arrest records for free in Jackson County, interested persons should submit a FOIA inspection request to the Jackson County Sheriff's Office (Records Division) in person, online, by e-mail, or by mail. While the office may allow people to review records in person without cost, it may charge a fee to provide records via email or mail. For inquiries, contact the Records Division at (517) 768-7925.

Furthermore, interested parties can obtain arrest records for free in the county by contacting Wesley Street Jail and Charter Road Jail at (517) 768-7900 and (517) 768-1609, respectively, or by visiting the jails in person. Alternatively, use third-party aggregator sites. Most third-party public record sites offer free arrest record searches.

Jackson County Arrest Report

An arrest report is a report prepared by the arresting officer following an arrest to document the details of the incident. It is more or less the arresting officer’s account of the arrest. The report contains details, such as the arrestee’s personal data, the date and location of the arrest, evidence (if any), the victim’s data, witnesses, and the charge against the arrestee.

In contrast, an arrest record is a summary entry of apprehended individuals. Arrest records are not specific to individual arrests and are generated as an agency record. Note: An arrest record could be a summary record of a person’s encounter with law enforcement

How to Get an Arrest Record Expunged in Jackson County

In Michigan, expungement is legally referred to as “setting aside a conviction." This process allows eligible arrest and conviction records to be removed from public access, automatically or by application. Arrest records are automatically expunged or set aside if the charge(s) were dismissed or the arrested person was acquitted. Conviction records, along with the associated arrest records, are also automatically expunged under Michigan’s Public Act 193 of 2020 after the following waiting period:

7 years after the sentence for a misdemeanor offense punishable by less than 92 days of imprisonment
7 years after sentence for a maximum of up to four misdemeanors, punishable by 93 days or more imprisonment
10 years after the sentence for a maximum of two felonies

If a record is eligible for automatic set aside, one does not have to apply for expungement. The law stipulates that the court and the Michigan State Police (MSP) set aside (expunge) eligible records without application. However, for conviction records not eligible for automatic expungement, individuals can apply for an order to set aside a conviction under MCL 780.621, using form MC 227 or form MC 227a. It costs $50 to file the application. Each form contains a step-by-step filing instruction.

How Do You Remove Jackson County Arrest Records From the Internet?

Removing a Jackson County arrest record from the internet depends on the record. If the record is eligible for automatic set aside but has not been expunged, contact the court and MSP. However, if it has been set aside but is still published on the internet by an official agency, contact the agency to request removal or report it to the MSP. For records that are not eligible for automatic setting aside, apply for an order to expunge under MCL 780.621; if approved, the records will be automatically removed from all official public databases.