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  2. Macomb County Arrest Records

Macomb County, Michigan Arrest Records

Macomb County arrest records are official paperwork that describes a person's arrest by law enforcement for an alleged offense within the county. These records typically report significant events, such as the date of arrest, charges, the arresting agency, and identifying information about the arrested person. 

Under the Criminal History Record Information (CHRI), Michigan State Police-maintained records of arrests, charges, and related criminal proceedings connected to an identifiable person are generally confidential and disseminated only as authorized by law.  

Aside from the Macomb County Sheriff’s Office, arrest records may also be maintained by city police departments, such as the Sterling Heights Police Department and the Warren Police Department. 

Are Arrest Records Public Information in Macomb, Michigan?

Under the Michigan Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), MCL 15.231 et seq., Macomb County arrest records are generally considered public information. This means the general public (except inmates in local jails and state prisons) has the right to access, inspect, or copy arrest information maintained by law enforcement agencies, unless otherwise stated by the Act and other statutes.

The key sections of the Michigan Freedom of Information Act governing law enforcement disclosures include MCL 15.231 (Michigan FOIA public policy), MCL 15.232 (contains definitions, including “public record”), MCL 15.233 (permits the submission of a written request), and MCL 15.243  (contains exemptions, including certain law enforcement complied investigating records).

To submit a general FOIA request for arrest records in Macomb County, requesters do not need to be county residents or provide identification. However, Michigan law expects such requests to be in writing and provide an adequate description of the records.

It is worth noting that the Macomb County Sheriff’s Office requires photo identification for other services, such as police clearances, fingerprints, and proof of incarceration. 

What Do Public County Arrest Records Contain?

Under Michigan law, the public-facing components of an arrest record often include the following:

  • Inmate’s full name
  • Inmate’s Booking number and identification number
  • The individual's physical description, including date of birth, color of eyes and hair, sex, height, and weight
  • Arrest date and time
  • Charges filed against the individual
  • Arresting agency
  • Custody status (e.g., in custody, released, transferred)
  • Bond or bail amount (if set)
  • Release date (when applicable)
  • Booking photograph (if published)

Despite the general openness of arrest records, the Michigan Freedom of Information Act allows law enforcement agencies to withhold certain investigative records that, if disclosed, may interfere with law enforcement proceedings, deprive someone of a fair trial, disclose the identity of an informant, reveal investigative techniques, or endanger the life or safety of law enforcement officers.

Listed below are examples of information that may be withheld or unavailable:

  • Details protected by privacy or confidentiality laws
  • Active criminal investigative records
  • Identities of confidential sources
  • Sensitive investigative techniques or procedures
  • Juvenile or suppressed records
  • Materials sealed, set aside, or expunged by court order.

Macomb County,  Michigan Arrest Search

Individuals seeking free Macomb County arrest records may explore the following state and federal pathways:

Offenders Tracking Information System: Requesters may use the Michigan Department of Corrections’ Offenders Tracking Information System (OITS) to find information on prisoners, parolees, and probationers currently under supervision or who have been discharged. However, the searchable database does not contain information on inmates beyond their three-year supervision discharge date. 

Criminal History Background Check: Using the Internet Criminal History Access Tool (ICHAT), anyone can conduct a name-based search of public criminal history information maintained by the Michigan State Police. This database contains records of all felonies and serious misdemeanors punishable by more than 93 days (the maximum possible jail sentence) reported by the state’s law enforcement and criminal justice agencies. However, suppressed records and warrant information are not available on the platform.

Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator: Those seeking arrest records for individuals incarcerated in federal facilities may use this search tool to locate federal inmates incarcerated from 1982 to the present. The database allows searches using criteria, such as name or BOP registry number.

At the federal level, requesters may use the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) for federal court case and docket information. PACER is an account-based, typically fee-based system for searching for arrests that result in federal charges (e.g., investigated by federal agencies and prosecuted in federal court). Using this platform, users may search for federal arrests and prosecutions in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, serving Macomb County.

Macomb County Inmate Locator

Requesters seeking arrest information in Marin County may visit the Sheriff’s website to use the  JailTracker program to look up an inmate. On the Sheriff’s homepage, click on “Locate an Inmate,” and enter a first or last name to search. A combination of the first and last names returns exact results. To view a search result, click “View More” on each result for more detailed information on each search result( inmate).

Search results typically include inmates’ basic identifiers (e.g., full name, current age, sex, race, height, weight, etc.), arrest details (arrest date, arresting officer and badge number, and arresting agency), and booking/custody information (booking date and time, release date, inmate classification, and current custody status). Other details include case/charge information, such as agency or case source, case number, charge or offense description, bond type and amount, and more.

For further inquiries, requesting parties may contact the Macomb County Sheriff's Office at:

Macomb County Sheriff’s Office

43565 Elizabeth Road

Mount Clemens, MI 48043

Phone: (586) 469-5151

Office hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday

Active Warrant Search in Macomb County

An arrest warrant is a court-issued order that authorizes law enforcement to take a person into custody. In Michigan, a judge or district court magistrate may issue an arrest warrant or a summons after a finding of probable cause, typically based on a sworn complaint submitted by a law enforcement officer or prosecutor.

In Michigan, an arrest warrant typically contains:

  • The name or identifying description of the individual
  • The alleged criminal charge(s)
  • The signature of the issuing judge or magistrate
  • The date of issuance
  • The amount of bail endorsed on the warrant (if the offense is bailable)

In Macomb County, the Sheriff’s Office and local courts, such as the district courts and the circuit court, maintain warrant information. However, the Sheriff’s Office does not provide a comprehensive public online warrant search tool. Individuals seeking active warrant information may visit or call the Sheriff’s Office to make inquiries about warrant status. Depending on policy and safety considerations, the office may confirm limited information.  

How to Find Arrest Records for Free in Macomb County

In Macomb County, the Sheriff’s Office inmate locator (JailTracker) represents the best option for finding free county-level arrest records. This search tool is useful for checking whether someone is currently in the county jail or has a recent jail-related record in the Sheriff’s system.

Searches using Macomb County Sheriff’s inmate locator typically return information such as the inmate’s basic identifiers, arrest details, and booking/custody information, and case information, including agency or case source, case number, charge or offense description, bond type and amount (if applicable).

Like most online inmate locators, requesters do not need to provide an ID to conduct a basic search on the Macomb County Sheriff’s JailTracker portal. In practice, users only need enough identifying details, like a first and last name, to locate the right person. However, those seeking an actual police report or other associated records from a sheriff or police records office are often required to submit a written request and pay applicable fees. 

Macomb County Arrest Report

Arrest Record

An arrest record is the summary-level entry created when someone is taken into custody. This type of information is usually what the public sees in the county detention and booking system. It often contains information such as who was booked, the booking date, basic personal identifiers, filed charges against the person, bond fields, and custody status.

In essence, an arrest record is a snapshot of who, when, where, and the charge, useful for verifying a booking and finding the relevant court case.

Arrest Report

An arrest report is the narrative report prepared by the arresting officer (often part of an incident report or police report). This report usually describes the circumstances leading to the arrest, the officer’s observations, the witnesses' statements, the evidence collected, and the sequence of events during the incident. In Michigan, this kind of narrative document is created as part of the investigative process and makes up part of the broader law enforcement file.

How to Get an Arrest Record Expunged in Macomb County

In Michigan, state law governs all record-clearing relief, and the courts oversee these programs, whether they are expungement (set aside) or record sealing (nonpublic records).  Consequently, Macomb County follows the state-level remedy pathways and does not have a county-specific program. The different pathways available for expunging arrest records are discussed as follows:

Expungement (Set Aside Conviction)

In Michigan, MCL 780.621 governs the expungement process, officially referred to as “setting aside a conviction.” This process involves removing a conviction from the public record so that the case no longer appears in standard background checks. However, law enforcement may still retain internal access. This option applies to certain misdemeanors and felonies. Serious violent offenses and some others are ineligible.

Individuals whose cases ended as not guilty, withdrawn, nolle prossed, or completed deferred or diversion programs may also clear their non-conviction records using this option.

Record Sealing (Nonpublic Record)

Individuals who do not qualify (or are not yet eligible) for expungement (set aside) may qualify for record sealing under MCL 780.623. Under this option, certain records are made nonpublic (hidden from the public), especially non-convictions. Record sealing means the records become inaccessible to the public via public searches. Nonetheless, usually remain available to courts and law enforcement. Record sealing often applies to dismissed charges, not guilty findings, and deferred or diverted cases.

Clean Slate” Automatic Expungement

Michigan’s Clean Slate law automatically expunges certain eligible convictions using information from the Criminal History Records database to determine when the proper waiting period for each conviction has elapsed. This program is governed by MCL 780.621g and applies after specific waiting periods (e.g., 7 to 10 years depending on the offense).

Non-Conviction Arrest Records

Under Michigan law, eligible non-conviction arrests may be set aside (expunged) pursuant to MCL 28.243. This means that arrest records, biometric data, and fingerprints must be expunged or destroyed, and charge entries removed from state systems. This option is usually available immediately or shortly after the case conclusion.

In Macomb County, petitioners are expected to file their petition in the district or circuit court that handled the case. Petitions for felony cases specifically go through the Macomb County Clerk of the Circuit Court (16th Judicial Circuit Court). 

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

In Macomb County, the primary route for removing an arrest record from a government website or public online record system is through Michigan’s statewide set aside (expungement) laws.

For a conviction record, the asking party may use Michigan’s Clean Slate laws. When a conviction is set aside under Michigan law, the public visibility of such a case is expected to change. This implies that removing an arrest record from official public sites is usually linked to obtaining (or qualifying) for that state remedy, not just sending a simple removal request to a county office.

For certain non-conviction arrests, Michigan law offers eligible asking parties a more specific cleanup process under MCL 28.243. This option allows eligible persons to have their arrest records, biometric data, and fingerprints expunged or destroyed. In addition, the law mandates that the charge entry be removed from state systems. This is particularly helpful in instances where the concern is not a conviction but the online visibility of a charge entry after the case ended favorably or did not result in a conviction.

In practice, the Sheriff’s inmate locator is Macomb County’s most visible public arrest-related internet tool, displaying jail custody information. The main concern for anyone seeking the removal of a county arrest listing from an official online source is often determining whether the underlying record has become nonpublic or expunged under Michigan law.