Michigan Arrest Records: How to Find Arrest Records in Michigan

Law enforcement officers in Michigan have the authority to arrest anyone that violates the complied laws in the state. However, irrespective of the circumstances, the officer must document details of the arrest, which is called the arrest record. 

In Michigan, these records hold essential information such as the crime committed and other personal information about the suspect.

Are Arrest Records Made Public in Michigan?

The direct answer to this is yes. The state of Michigan opens up its public record to any interested person. 

This transparency of public records is based on the Michigan Freedom of Information Act (MFIA), which provides access to the public to view the state's criminal records. 

However, despite the arrest and criminal records transparency, law enforcement agencies still hold the right to withhold part or all portions of a record if it is deemed sensitive.

A typical Michigan arrest record contains the following information:

* Basic details of the suspect such as name, age, address, and social security number
* Physical description of the suspect 
* Description of the event of the crime and arrest 
* Booking information is taken after the arrest 
* Police interrogation 

Can I Access Arrest Records in Michigan?

The arrest records are made publicly available in Michigan for varying reasons. For example, many employers or house owners use arrest records to conduct background checks on potential employees or tenants. 

Other organizations, like insurance companies, also check arrest records as part of the criteria. In addition to companies, every state citizen also has a right to request arrest records. 

In Michigan, the owner of an arrest record is also allowed to have access to such records.

How to Find Michigan Arrest Records?

The majority of the arrest records in Michigan are managed by the Criminal Justice Information Center, a division of the Michigan State Police. 

To access these records, you need to use the state-provided Internet Criminal History Access Tool (ICHAT).

The online tool is user-friendly, and you must first register to begin a search on the platform. The ICHAT platform presents a login page where the first-time registration is done. 

After that, you must fill in details like name, email, phone number, and user ID. Then, before pressing the submit button, there is an additional mandatory column for security questions.

After submitting the registration details, you will get a confirmation email with a link to activate your ICHAT account. Once activated, you can access the website using the generated ID and password. 

The next step is to select a search option from the drop-down menu and enter the search subject's first and last names, birthdates, race, and gender. 

All supplied information must be accurate and correct to ensure that ICHAT returns reliable search results.

Is there a Fee for Accessing Michigan Arrest Records?

The Criminal Justice Information Center charges about $10 per search on the ICHAT platform. The Completed search results are displayed in the user's Order Review cart, which may be accessed by clicking the cart icon on the right side of the screen or adjacent to the submit button. 

The cart will display the total number of completed searches and the price if a user conducts several searches. The user has the option to review each search separately or sequentially. 

The searcher can use a debit or credit card to make payments, and they cannot see the search results until they have paid all outstanding balances.

Can Arrest Records Be Expunged in Michigan?

In Michigan, an arrest record can be expunged, which means it will no longer be available for public viewing. The process for adult and juvenile convictions differs. 

In order to expunge an arrest record in Michigan, the subject needs to meet the eligibility criteria. One eligibility is for a crime committed as a minor, which can only be done a year after the case was resolved and the applicant must be up to 19 years old. 

The interested party must first receive a copy of the decision from the court that handled the case before applying. The applicant will use the record's information to complete the application, and they will submit the record with it.

Using ICHAT, an individual can search public criminal records. The applicant must then finish and notarize an application to set aside the conviction. 

After that, the application will be processed by the Michigan State Police, and a hearing can take place on setting aside the conviction.

Conclusion 

Michigan plays a fair role in ensuring that arrest and criminal records are made public. The state has an online tool that allows citizens of Michigan to create accounts and search for arrest records for a small fee. 

The state also allows the expungement of eligible cases like crimes committed as a minor to ensure the protection of said subject.