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Clarkston Arrest Records

Are Arrest Records Public in Clarkston, Michigan?

Arrest records are public documents in Clarkston, Michigan, pursuant to the Michigan Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), Michigan Compiled Laws § 15.231 et seq. This legislation establishes that government records, including those pertaining to arrests, must be accessible to the public unless specifically exempted by statute. The Michigan FOIA promotes governmental transparency and accountability by enabling citizens to obtain information about law enforcement activities, including arrests made within Clarkston city limits. Members of the public may request these records regardless of residency status or purpose of inquiry, as stipulated in § 15.233 of the Michigan FOIA.

How to Look Up Clarkston Arrest Records in 2025

Multiple official channels exist through which members of the public may access arrest records in Clarkston. The following methods are available for conducting arrest record searches within the jurisdiction:

Visit the Independence Township Substation of the Oakland County Sheriff's Office located at 6560 Citation Drive, Clarkston, MI 48346. Office hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. Telephone: (248) 620-4970.
Submit requests to the Oakland County Clerk/Register of Deeds at 1200 N. Telegraph Road, Department 413, Pontiac, MI 48341. Telephone: (248) 858-0561. Operating hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM.
Access the Michigan Courts Case Search system for court records related to arrests processed through the 51st District Court.
Submit a written FOIA request via certified mail to the Records Division of the Oakland County Sheriff's Office, specifying the information sought and providing sufficient identifying information.
Utilize public access terminals available at the Independence Township Library, 6495 Clarkston Road, Clarkston, MI 48346. Telephone: (248) 625-2212. Hours: Monday-Thursday 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM, Friday-Saturday 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Sunday 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM.

Requestors should note that pursuant to Michigan FOIA § 15.234, reasonable fees may be charged for the search, retrieval, and duplication of records. Fee schedules are established by each agency and must be made available upon request.

Contents of a Clarkston Arrest Record

Arrest records maintained by Clarkston law enforcement agencies typically contain comprehensive information regarding the arrest incident and the individual taken into custody. Standard elements included in these official documents are as follows:

Full legal name of the arrested individual and any documented aliases or known pseudonyms
Demographic information including date of birth, gender, race, and physical descriptors
Date, time, and specific location where the arrest occurred
Detailed enumeration of charges filed, including Michigan Compiled Laws citations
Booking photographs (commonly referred to as "mugshots")
Fingerprint records and other biometric identifiers collected during processing
Name and badge number of the arresting officer(s)
Agency responsible for the arrest (typically Oakland County Sheriff's Office for Clarkston)
Case or incident report number for administrative tracking
Bail or bond information, including amount set and conditions imposed
Detention facility where the individual was initially held
Preliminary hearing date, if scheduled at the time of record creation

It should be noted that pursuant to Michigan law, certain sensitive information may be redacted from public versions of arrest records, including Social Security numbers, driver's license numbers, and information pertaining to minors or victims of certain crimes as specified in MCL § 15.243.

Expungement of Arrest Records in Clarkston

The State of Michigan provides legal mechanisms through which eligible individuals may petition for the expungement (setting aside) of arrest records in Clarkston and throughout the state. This process is governed by Michigan's Clean Slate legislation, specifically MCL § 780.621 et seq. Expungement eligibility criteria include:

Individuals with no more than one felony conviction and no more than two misdemeanor convictions may petition to have the felony conviction set aside.
Individuals with no more than two misdemeanor convictions and no felony convictions may petition to have one or both misdemeanor convictions set aside.
Certain offenses are ineligible for expungement, including most sexual offenses, traffic offenses such as DUI, and serious violent felonies.
A waiting period of 3-7 years must elapse after the completion of sentence, depending on the severity of the offense.

The expungement process requires petitioners to:

File an Application to Set Aside Conviction with the 51st District Court located at 5100 Civic Center Drive, Waterford, MI 48329. Telephone: (248) 674-4655. Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.
Submit fingerprints to the Michigan State Police for a comprehensive criminal background check.
Serve copies of the application on the Michigan Attorney General's Office and the Oakland County Prosecutor's Office.
Attend a hearing before a judge who will determine whether granting the expungement is consistent with the public welfare.

Successful expungement results in the arrest record being removed from public view, though law enforcement agencies retain access to the information for official purposes. The record is sealed rather than destroyed, in accordance with MCL § 780.623.

Legal Restrictions on Arrest Record Access

While arrest records in Clarkston are generally public, Michigan law establishes certain limitations on their accessibility. These restrictions serve to balance transparency with privacy concerns and the presumption of innocence. Key restrictions include:

Records pertaining to ongoing investigations may be temporarily withheld under FOIA exemption MCL § 15.243(1)(b) until the investigation is completed.
Information that would constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy may be redacted pursuant to MCL § 15.243(1)(a).
Records involving juveniles (under 17 years of age) are subject to heightened confidentiality protections under the Michigan Juvenile Code, MCL § 712A.28.
Arrest records that did not result in charges or convictions may be subject to special handling under Michigan's Criminal Procedure Act.
Records related to certain domestic violence cases may have restricted access to protect victim safety.

The 51st District Court, which serves Clarkston, maintains specific protocols for record access that comply with these statutory restrictions. Requestors seeking arrest records should be prepared to provide specific information about the record sought and may be required to complete standardized forms documenting the request.

Impact of Arrest Records on Background Checks

Arrest records from Clarkston appear in various types of background checks, potentially affecting employment, housing, and educational opportunities. The Michigan Department of State Police maintains the central repository for criminal history record information in the state, including arrests made in Clarkston. Key considerations regarding background checks include:

Employers in Michigan are permitted to consider arrest records in hiring decisions, though the Michigan Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act prohibits blanket policies that automatically disqualify applicants with criminal records.
Housing providers may access arrest records when evaluating rental applications, subject to fair housing laws.
Educational institutions may review arrest records as part of admissions or campus safety protocols.
Professional licensing boards frequently require disclosure of arrest records, even for arrests that did not result in conviction.
Michigan's Sex Offender Registry includes information about individuals convicted of certain sexual offenses, which is publicly accessible online.

Individuals concerned about the impact of Clarkston arrest records on background checks should note that the Michigan Workforce Background Check Council has established guidelines for the fair use of criminal history information in employment contexts, as detailed in the Michigan DUI Courts Outcome Evaluation.