>Isabella County Arrest Records Online

Isabella County, Michigan Arrest Records

Are Arrest Records Public in Isabella County, Michigan?

Arrest records are public in Isabella County, Michigan, pursuant to the Michigan Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), Michigan Compiled Laws § 15.231 et seq. This statute establishes the public's right to access government records maintained by public bodies, including law enforcement agencies operating within Isabella County. The Michigan FOIA specifically designates arrest records as public information, with certain limited exceptions for ongoing investigations, juvenile records, and matters of public safety.

Members of the public may request arrest records from the Isabella County Sheriff's Office or the Mt. Pleasant Police Department, the primary law enforcement agencies serving the county. These agencies are required by law to respond to FOIA requests within 5 business days, with a possible 10-day extension under certain circumstances as specified in MCL § 15.235.

Certain information within arrest records may be redacted in accordance with privacy protections established under Michigan law, including personal identifying information such as Social Security numbers, driver's license numbers, and dates of birth.

Can Arrest Records be Found Online in Isabella County?

Isabella County arrest records are accessible through several online platforms maintained by state and county agencies. The Michigan State Police maintains the Internet Criminal History Access Tool (ICHAT), which provides criminal history record information for individuals arrested in Michigan, including Isabella County. Additionally, the Isabella County Trial Court provides limited case information through the MiCOURT system.

Online access to arrest records is governed by Michigan Court Rule 8.119, which establishes parameters for public access to court records. The rule specifies that nonconfidential records shall be available for public inspection during business hours, with courts increasingly providing digital access to these records.

Users should be aware that online records may not be comprehensive, as certain records may only be available through in-person requests due to technological limitations or legal restrictions. Furthermore, pursuant to MCL § 780.621, expunged records will not appear in online databases accessible to the general public.

How to Look Up Isabella County Arrest Records in 2025

Isabella County residents and other interested parties may access arrest records through multiple channels established by local authorities:

Isabella County Sheriff's Office Records Division
207 Court Street
Mt. Pleasant, MI 48858
Phone: (989) 772-5911
Isabella County Sheriff's Office
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Mt. Pleasant Police Department Records Unit
804 E. High Street
Mt. Pleasant, MI 48858
Phone: (989) 779-5100
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Isabella County Trial Court
300 N. Main Street
Mt. Pleasant, MI 48858
Phone: (989) 772-0911
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM

To obtain arrest records, requestors must submit a completed FOIA request form, which can be obtained from the respective agency's website or in person. The request must include sufficient information to identify the specific record sought, including the name of the arrested individual and approximate date of arrest if known.

Fees for record retrieval are established in accordance with MCL § 15.234 and may include charges for search, examination, review, and the cost of copying or digitizing records. The first $20 of processing is waived for individuals who submit an affidavit verifying indigency.

For online case searches, users may utilize the MiCOURT system, which provides access to case information from participating courts throughout Michigan, including the Isabella County Trial Court.

Contents of an Isabella County Arrest Record

Standard arrest records maintained by Isabella County law enforcement agencies contain comprehensive information as mandated by Michigan law enforcement protocols and the Michigan Criminal Justice Information Center. These records typically include:

Full legal name of the arrested individual and any documented aliases
Physical description including height, weight, eye and hair color
Date, time, and specific location of the arrest
Statutory citation and description of alleged offense(s)
Booking photograph (commonly referred to as a "mugshot")
Fingerprint records and other biometric identifiers
Arresting officer's name and badge number
Booking information including property inventory
Initial appearance information and bail determination
Case disposition information, when available

Pursuant to Michigan Administrative Code R 28.5208, law enforcement agencies must maintain complete and accurate records of all arrests. These records must be retained according to the schedule established by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget's Records Management Services.

Access to certain elements of arrest records may be restricted based on the status of the case, with greater restrictions typically applying to ongoing investigations as provided under MCL § 15.243(1)(b).

Expungement of Arrest Records in Isabella County

Michigan law provides a pathway for eligible individuals to petition for expungement of arrest records through a process formally known as "setting aside a conviction" under MCL § 780.621. The Clean Slate legislation, which took full effect in April 2023, has expanded eligibility criteria and established an automatic expungement process for certain offenses.

To qualify for expungement in Isabella County, petitioners must meet specific criteria:

For non-conviction records (arrests that did not result in conviction), individuals may petition for expungement immediately after the case conclusion
For misdemeanor convictions, individuals must generally wait 3 years from the date of sentencing or release from incarceration, whichever is later
For felony convictions, individuals must generally wait 7 years from the date of sentencing or release from incarceration, whichever is later

The expungement process requires filing a petition with the Isabella County Trial Court where the conviction occurred. Petitioners must submit:

A completed Application to Set Aside Conviction form (MC 227)
A certified record of the conviction
Fingerprint card (obtained from local law enforcement)
Filing fee of $50, unless waived due to indigency

Upon receipt of a properly filed petition, the court will schedule a hearing and notify the Michigan State Police, Attorney General, and the prosecuting attorney who prosecuted the crime. These parties may contest the petition based on public safety concerns or other statutory grounds.

If granted, an expungement order legally seals the record from public view, though law enforcement agencies retain access to the information for official purposes. Pursuant to MCL § 780.623, individuals with expunged records may legally state they have not been arrested or convicted of the expunged offense on applications for employment, housing, or licensure.