Chippewa County Arrest Records

When a crime is committed in Chippewa County, law enforcement is responsible for arresting the offender and bringing them to the court system to face the charges. After a suspect has been taken into custody, the arresting agency books them and transfers them to jail while they await trial. (The Sheriff's Office, the county's primary law enforcement agency, oversees the county jail's operation.)

After every arrest, the arresting agency generates an arrest record, which encompasses all pertinent details of the arrest. This record often serves as a crucial source of information in court proceedings and may be included in the Chippewa County court records.

Are Arrest Records Public in Chippewa County?

Yes. Chippewa arrest records are available for public inspection per the Michigan Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Criminal justice agencies are mandated to release arrest records in their custody when private persons make a request. However, certain arrest records are inaccessible to the general public, usually because they have been restricted by state law or court order. Arrest records are generally limited in Michigan if disclosure will:

• Reveal the identity of a crime victim, especially victims of sexual crimes
• Interfere with law enforcement proceedings
• Endanger the safety of law enforcement personnel
• Deprive a person of a fair trial

Access to an arrest record may also be limited if the need for privacy outweighs the public's right to know.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Generally, inquirers can access the following information in a public Chippewa County arrest record:

• The arrestee's name, gender, race, date of birth, height, weight, tattoos, and scars
• The arresting agency
• The charges and arrest date
• The arrestee's booking number and mugshot

Chippewa County Arrest Statistics

The Michigan State Police compiles and publishes statewide crime statistics each year. They collect this data from local law enforcement agencies, which are mandated by law to submit monthly crime reports.

Per the 2022 Annual Report, 782 arrests occurred in Chippewa County. Of these, 708 were for part I offenses, while 74 were for part II offenses. The Sault Sainte Marie Police Department made 270 arrests, the highest among all arresting agencies in the county. The Michigan State Police made 245 arrests, the Sheriff's Office made 193 arrests, and the Bay Mills Tribal Police Department made 54 arrests.

The Kinross Township Police Department and the Department of Natural Resources made the least arrests at 16 and 4, respectively.

Find Chippewa County Arrest Records

Arrest records can be found with the arresting agency. Chippewa County law enforcement agencies generally do not provide online access to their arrest records. However, inquirers can request these records in person or via mail, depending on the agency. The requester may also need to pay a fee to access the record. The Sheriff's Office is directly responsible for people in jail. Requests for inmate records should be made to the office.

The Michigan Department of Corrections is in charge of state prisons, which hold inmates convicted of serious offenses. Anyone wishing to access a state inmate's record may utilize the DOC Offender Tracking Information System (OTIS). Users can search for an inmate using their last name, first name, MDOC number, sex, race, age, offender status, and body markings. The OTIS excludes confidential records, individuals arrested but not convicted, and those out of supervision for over three years.

The Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) manages individuals convicted under federal law. Researchers can obtain information on federal inmates using the BOP Inmate Locator. The Inmate Locator search criteria include the inmate's first, middle, and last name, race, sex, age, BOP, INS, FBI, and DCDC number.

Free Arrest Record Search in Chippewa County

Individuals can find Chippewa County arrest records on third-party websites. These websites typically allow users to perform record searches for free. They may also disclose some information in the arrest record to the user for free. However, users should note that records obtained from external sources cannot be used for official purposes.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Arrests generally remain on a person's record indefinitely, as there is no automatic deadline for their removal. Nevertheless, individuals can petition the court to set aside eligible arrests on their criminal record. If such a petition is approved, the record will be made inaccessible to the public.

Expunge Chippewa County Arrest Records

Michigan's Set Aside laws, also known as the Clean Slate Act, span MCL 780.621 to 780.624. Per these regulations, individuals are generally eligible to have their arrest record set aside if the arrest did not lead to a conviction of any of the following offenses:

• Felonies with life imprisonment or assaultive crimes
• Crimes involving dangerous weapons or those with sentences of 10 years and above
• Domestic violence felonies with prior misdemeanor domestic violence convictions
• Sexual offenses, including assault and exploitation
• Serious traffic violations, like operating while intoxicated (OWI), especially if causing injury or death or if related to commercial vehicle operation
• Crimes involving human trafficking or assaultive crimes

Eligible individuals may file to have their arrest record set aside, provided the waiting period for the offense is fulfilled. Below are the waiting periods for eligible arrests:

• Arrest that did not lead to a conviction can be petitioned immediately
• Arrests with a felony conviction can be petitioned 7 years after the completion of the sentence, probation, or parole
• Arrests with a serious misdemeanor conviction may be petitioned 5 years after sentence completion
• Arrests with a minor misdemeanor conviction may be petitioned 3 years after sentence completion

Note: A petitioner must have no pending criminal charges or convictions during the waiting period when submitting their application. If the application is denied, the petitioner cannot file a new one until at least 3 years have passed.

Further, misdemeanor convictions with a sentence of up to 92 days may be set aside automatically 7 years after the sentence is completed. Certain felony convictions may also be set aside 10 years after sentence completion.

Chippewa County Arrest Warrants

In Chippewa County, an arrest warrant is an order that empowers law enforcement to arrest a person suspected of committing a crime. For most offenses (except minor ones), a judge or magistrate can only issue a warrant upon the request of a prosecuting attorney. Warrants for minor offenses may be issued without prosecutorial authorization if requested by specific officials such as a county road commission or agents of the state transportation department.

However, before a warrant can be issued, the judge must certify that the evidence or facts provided are sufficient to justify an individual's arrest (i.e., probable cause). A summons can be issued instead of a warrant if the offense is not an assaultive crime, is not domestic violence-related, or does not pose a risk to public safety. A prosecutor can also specifically request a warrant be issued instead of a summons.

A Chippewa County warrant typically contains the following:

• The defendant's name or description
• The offense
• The date of issuance
• A written order for the arrest
• The signature and title of the issuing judge

Arrest warrants are typically released in paper form. However, they can be issued electronically if necessary. Before an electronically issued warrant can be executed, electronic proof of the judge's signature must be provided.

Do Chippewa County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No, Chippewa County arrest warrants do not expire. A warrant will linger until its demands (i.e., a person's arrest) have been fully satisfied. However, a warrant may become ineffective by court order under certain circumstances, such as when the warrant is defective or the arrest is no longer necessary.