Find Michigan Inmate Records

Michigan inmate records are official documents containing information about offenders incarcerated in correctional institutions in Michigan. Such records include personal details for identifying inmates, information on the offense committed, and other details such as booking and release dates.

The Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) operates correctional facilities within the state. Individuals sentenced to jail terms by the Michigan judiciary are incarcerated in state prisons. Hence, the MDOC is also responsible for managing inmate records within the state. The Sheriff Department also manages records of individuals held at a county jail facility within its jurisdiction.

Are Incarceration Records Public Information in Michigan?

Under the Michigan Freedom of Information Act, records maintained by public agencies, such as incarceration records, are accessible to eligible persons. The Michigan FOIA ensures that interested individuals can copy and inspect inmate records. However, exempted records under the FOIA are confidential information and are therefore unavailable for public view.

Certain records designated as public are also collected and distributed by third-party websites, which are independent from official government systems. These sites often consolidate records from multiple regions, making them useful when a record's location is uncertain. A typical search requires the subject's name (except in juvenile cases) and details about the location involved. However, it is essential to note that since these platforms do not receive government oversight or sponsorship, the scope and accuracy of the available records can vary.

What Information is Contained in a Michigan Inmate Record?

Michigan Inmate Record usually contains the following information:

• Offender number
• Names and aliases
• Date of birth
• Gender
• Race
• Mcl number
• The location where the offender is currently supervised
• Status of an offender: whether they are an active prisoner, parolee, probationer, escapee, or absconder.
• Parole board jurisdiction date
• Maximum date of release
• Date paroled

Where do I Look Up an Inmate in Michigan?

Persons interested in finding inmate information in Michigan can use the following resources:

• MDOC website: Querying parties can look up information on offenders held at the state correctional facilities through the inmate locator tool available on the Michigan Department of Corrections website. The Offender Tracking Information System (OTIS) is a search tool that individuals can use to look up incarcerated offenders in state prisons.
• The Sheriff's office/Police departments: Requestors can get the incarceration records of offenders held at the county and city jails at the office of the county/city law enforcement agency. The agency may also provide other platforms that the public may access.
• Third-party websites: Some non-government websites offer access to inmate information that interested persons can obtain.
• County websites: Each county manages a database of active and released offenders in its jail facility. Hence, querying parties may visit the county's website to access the inmate information available.

How Do I Conduct an Inmate Search in Michigan?

Interested persons can search for offenders held at a state correctional facility using the Offender Tracking Information System (OTIS). Users are required to fill in the query boxes with the inmate's details to retrieve results. However, the Michigan Legislature legalized removing the offender's information from the OTIS database three years after discharge.

Querying parties can also visit the websites of Michigan counties to access dedicated pages for their jail department or the Sheriff's office and check for the available methods for obtaining inmate information. Typically, some county websites may provide an inmate locator tool or a document containing the register of individuals currently held in their jail facility.

To conduct searches on online sources such as the OTIS or third-party websites, interested persons must provide some details of the offender in the appropriate search boxes to produce results. Such information includes the offender's name, MDOC number, gender, race, age, offender status, and other physical attributes.

Interested persons can get physical copies of inmate records by visiting the Sheriff's office. The Sheriff's office maintains information on offenders held in the county jail and can request the desired records. Requestors can also send a written request to the Sheriff's mailing address.

Persons looking to obtain physical copies of inmate records managed by the MDOC can send a written request to the agency's mailing address:

FOIA Coordinator
Michigan Department of Corrections
206 E. Michigan Avenue
Grandview Plaza
P.O. Box 30003
Lansing, MI 48909

How Can I Find an Inmate for Free in Michigan?

Typically, individuals can get free access to inmate information on online inmate locator tools such as the Offender Tracking Information System (OTIS). A county's local law enforcement agency may also provide resources that interested persons may use to find an inmate held in its jail, at no cost. Such agencies include the Oakland County Sheriff's Office, which administers an inmate locator tool to find persons held in its correctional facility.

How to Find Old Inmate Records in Michigan

The Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) has been collating inmate data electronically since 1980. Then known as the Corrections Management Information System (CMIS), such old inmate records are unavailable online. While the CMIS database is unavailable remotely, it is available for public view via the Michigan Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Querying parties can contact the State of Michigan Archives via telephone at (517) 373–1408 or e-mail archives@michigan.gov.

Requests for old inmate records through the FOIA should be sent to:

FOIA Coordinator
Michigan Department of Corrections
206 E. Michigan Avenue
Grandview Plaza
P.O. Box 30003
Lansing, MI 48909

Inmate Release Date Lookup In Michigan

The Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) provides an Offender Tracking Information System (OTIS), which allows the public to search for inmates currently in custody or recently released. The database includes offense type, sentencing terms, facility assignment, parole eligibility, and projected release dates. Searches can be conducted by name, MDOC number, or other identifiers.

For further inquiries, correspondence may be directed to the Michigan Department of or by calling (517) 335-1426. OTIS does not include Records for individuals in county jails or juvenile facilities. Release dates are tentative and may change depending on parole decisions, earned good-time credits, or disciplinary actions.

How do I Find Inmate Death Records in Michigan?

Generally, records of deceased inmates held in a Michigan correctional facility are available on offender search tools. While obtaining such documents on the Offender Tracking Information System (OTIS) is possible, users can access them on the platform for only three years from the date of death/discharge of the deceased offender.

How do I Conduct a Federal Prison Inmate Search?

Interested parties can use the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Inmate Locator tool to search for individuals in federal prisons. Users of the search tool can search with the inmate's BOP register number or names, race, age, and gender. Querying parties can also obtain copies of desired inmate records from the National Archives website.

How Long Does It Take for An Inmate's Information to Be Published in Michigan Inmate Locator?

The MDOC primarily gets inmate information on the Michigan inmate locator from the state court records. Hence, records available on the inmate locator are usually published after court records are generated. However, the inmate locator does not contain arrested and convicted offenders who a Michigan court has not sentenced.

Why Is An Inmate Not Showing Up In Search?

An inmate may not be in OTIS if detained in a county jail, a juvenile facility, or under federal jurisdiction. Recently booked or released inmates may not yet be reflected in the system. Sealed or restricted cases may also prevent public access. In such situations, contacting the county jail or MDOC directly provides the most accurate information.