Dickinson County Arrest Records

A Dickinson County police officer may arrest a person who commits a felony, misdemeanor, or ordinance violation in the officer’s presence. An officer may also arrest an offender when they have reasonable cause to believe the person committed a felony, is an escaped convict, or is violating the terms of their parole. The Dickinson County Sheriff’s Office oversees the operations of the county jail. An arrest record is usually created following an arrest to document that the person has been taken into custody, as well as to identify the suspect, and determine the charges and sentence (if the case proceeds to court).

When a person is arrested in Dickinson County and has their information booked into the police database, this is usually their first interaction with the Criminal Justice System about that particular arrest or charge. If the Prosecuting Attorney issues charges, the case proceeds to the court. At this stage, the court clerk will file a court record to document all court proceedings. While arrest records are typically in the custody of the county sheriff’s office, Dickinson County Court Records may be accessed through the office of the clerk in the court with jurisdiction over the case.

Are Arrest Records Public in Dickinson County?

Yes, The Michigan Freedom of Information Act states that all persons except those incarcerated in state or local correctional facilities have the right to access complete information on the affairs of the government and official acts of those who represent them as public employees.

Regardless, some records are exempt from public disclosure under the Michigan FOIA and other relevant statutes. This means the right to inspect and access records is restricted to eligible persons. If a third party applies for such a record, the custodian must refuse the request and inform the requester in writing of the reason for such refusal. A public body may prohibit the disclosure of the law enforcement investigative record where public disclosure would: interfere with law enforcement, deprive a person’s right to a fair trial, constitute an unwarranted invasion of privacy, disclose the identity of a confidential source, disclose the identity of a victim of sexual misconduct, or endanger the life and safety of a law enforcement personnel.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Public arrest records in Dickinson County will usually contain the following information:

• Identity Information: Full name, other known names, date of birth, and age.
• Physical Description: Race, ethnicity, sex, height, weight, hair, and eye color.
• Bond amount
• Biometrics: Photograph (mugshot)
• The date and time of arrest
• Booking ID
• Name of arresting agency
• Description of the charges
• Place of incarceration.

Dickinson County Arrest Statistics

According to the 2023 FBI Arrest Data, the State Police recorded 105 arrests for Dickinson County. On further inspection, 77 of the arrested persons were male, while the remaining 28 were female. The most common offenses in Dickinson County in 2023 were driving under the influence (DUI), simple assault, drug possession, and larceny.

Find Dickinson County Arrest Records

The Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) provides information on inmates in the state's custody through the Offender Tracking Information System (OTIS). The OTIS hosts information on prisoners, parolees, and probationers who are under the MDOC's supervision. It also includes information on persons discharged from the system within three years of their discharge dates.

Information about persons arrested by local law enforcement in Dickinson County, or in the custody of the Dickinson County Sheriff’s Office, is available through the County Sheriff’s Office. Interested persons may contact the Sheriff’s Office at the address below:

Dickinson County Sheriff’s Office
705 South Stephenson Avenue
Iron Mountain, MI 49801
P.O. Box 609
Iron Mountain, MI 49801.

Researchers may use the Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator to find federal inmate records. They can search for an inmate by name, age, race, sex, or BOP Register Number.

Free Arrest Record Search in Dickinson County

Residents of Dickinson County may find arrest records for free through the court system. Records of criminal proceedings are usually available at the office of the Dickinson County court clerk. Interested persons may visit the clerk’s office to inspect copies of criminal case court records and find arrest information for free.

Interested individuals may also search for an arrest record online through third-party public records sites. Third-party public record sites are privately owned sites that compile public records online and make them accessible to the public. Though convenient, access to information on these sites may not be free. Users may be required to pay search or subscription fees to access complete arrest records. Third-party public record sites may offer a faster search alternative, but are often not free.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Non-conviction arrest records are automatically expunged where the accused or arrested person is released without charge, or where charges are filed, the charges are dismissed, the accused is found not guilty, or the court enters an order of nolle prosequi (Mich. Comp. Laws § 28.243(8)).

Expunge Dickinson County Arrest Records

In Michigan, where an arrested person is released without being charged, or if criminal contempt proceedings are not brought against such persons, the official or agency in the custody of the person’s biometric data and arrest records immediately destroys the arrest and biometric data and records. If the person is charged and the charge or charges are dismissed before a trial, that arrest record shall be removed from the Internet Criminal History Access Tool (ICHAT) and other public platforms. Additionally, all records of the arrest, biometric data, and fingerprints will be expunged or deleted after the order of dismissal.

Likewise, if an accused is found not guilty of an offense, the arrest record, biometric data, and fingerprints are destroyed by the law enforcement agency holding those documents. The court clerk shall notify the relevant Federal Bureau of Investigation department of the finding of ‘not guilty’ or nolle prosequi (Mich. Comp. Laws § 28.243(8)). If an individual’s record is not automatically expunged as expected, they should contact the Michigan State Police at MSP-CRD-CSAAUTOMATIC@michigan.gov for assistance.

Per the Clean Slate Legislation, from April 11, 2023, the Michigan State Police shall automatically expunge criminal records for specific qualifying misdemeanor and felony offenses. The waiting period for misdemeanor offenses is seven years, while felony offenses are ten years. Not all offenders are eligible to have records of arrests and prosecution expunged. For example, one may not qualify if they have a pending criminal case, or if the conviction is an assault, terrorism-related offenses, felony domestic violence, second-degree child abuse, second and third-degree criminal sexual conduct, offenses punishable by ten or more years imprisonment, human trafficking, a traffic offense that causes injury or death, DUIs, and others.

The process for expungement begins once an applicant has determined whether they are eligible to have their record expunged. Then they must apply to a court in the county where the conviction occurred. If the individual has separate convictions in more than one court, they must file a separate application for each court. The entire process may take up to three months. The Michigan State Police can process an applicant's Criminal History Report for up to two months. After receiving the Criminal History report from the State Police, the applicant may wait for up to three months to get a response from the Attorney General.

Dickinson County Arrest Warrants

A Dickinson County judge or district court magistrate may issue an arrest warrant for the arrest of a person charged with a felony, misdemeanor, or other ordinance violation (MCL - Section 764.1). A magistrate shall issue a warrant upon presentation of a proper complaint alleging that an offense has been committed with reasonable cause to believe that the named individual committed the offense. The magistrate will find reasonable cause through the allegations of fact by the complainant in the complaint, the complainant's sworn testimony, affidavit, and any other sworn testimony or affidavits by witnesses (MCL - Section 764.1a).

Do Dickinson County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No, Arrest warrants issued in Dickinson County, Michigan, do not expire. They last several years until the person is arrested and brought before the court, or the warrant is recalled or quashed. There is no statute of limitations for arrest warrants. Law enforcement officers can find out if an individual has a warrant issued for their arrest during a traffic stop or background search in a matter of minutes. It is impossible to wait out an arrest warrant or ignore it, hoping it will disappear. Doing this may worsen the charges and penalties against such a person.