Genesee County Arrest Records

Arrests in Genesee County, Michigan, are made when law enforcement officers have reasonable cause to believe that a person has committed a crime. Depending on the circumstances surrounding the crime, arrests may be made with or without a warrant.

After an arrest, individuals begin their interaction with the Michigan criminal justice system, first through a booking and processing session with law enforcement agencies. This is usually followed by a detainment at the Genesee County Jail located in Flint, Michigan until they are arraigned or released on bail. The Genesee County Jail has a capacity of 580 inmates. In Genesee County, Michigan, the Sheriff's Office manages the Genesee County Jail.

The County Sheriff’s Office is also responsible for creating and maintaining arrest records, while local police departments may also contribute to this record-keeping. Arrest records in Genesee County are factored as public records including other records like court records and criminal histories. Arrest information may be accessible through Genesee County Court Records, where the legal proceedings connected to arrests are documented.

Are Arrest Records Public in Genesee County?

Yes. Per the Michigan Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) (MCL § 15.231), everyone is entitled to access publicly available information, which are products of public agencies operations and general government functions. Per the act, all eligible individuals (except detainees and convicts) may access arrest records provided they do not fall under the exempted records.

According to MCL § 15.243, certain arrest records are exempt from public disclosure. This means that these arrest records may not be disclosed to everybody because of the sensitivity of the data contained or because the act’s provisions stipulates so.

Per Michigan's FOIA MCL § 15.243, information exempt from public disclosure in arrest records includes the following:

• Records that may interfere with law enforcement proceedings;
• Juvenile arrest records.
• Arrest records capable of prying into an individual's privacy;
• Arrest records that disclose the identity of confidential sources or information;
• Records that may endanger the life or safety of law enforcement personnel if disclosed;
• Information or records that disclose an individual's Social Security Number (SSN).

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Michigan arrest records may contain the following information:

• The arrestee's age, gender, height, weight, eye color, hair color, and race.
• The time, date, and location of the arrest,
• Charges arrested for.
• The law enforcement agency in charge of the arrest.
• The bond type and admin amount, if applicable
• The arrestee’s full name and date of birth.

Genesee County Arrest Statistics

The Genesee County Sheriff’s department in 2021 made a total of 5,262 arrests, of which 47% were for low-level, non-violent offenses. In 2020, 7137 inmates were booked in Genesee County Jail, a significant decline from the 2019 numbers, which reported over 12,000. The incarceration rate is 535 per 100,000

Find Genesee County Arrest Records

In Genesee County, Michigan, Individuals who are interested in finding arrest records may do so in a number of ways:

• First, individuals may access the records through the local county sheriff's offices and municipal police departments. These agencies provide means of obtaining arrest records. However, some of these agencies may request for a processing fee as stipulated in their act. These requests may be made via phone, mail, email, fax online or through an in-person means. The Genesee County Court Records for both arrests and criminal records may be accessed through personnel phone line (810) 257-3220.
• The Michigan State Police Internet Criminal History Access Tool (ICHAT) is another search resource for individuals looking to look up arrest information. However, the tool is primarily dedicated to misdemeanor or felony arrests in Michigan. Users are, however, required to register an account and are charged a fee to use ICHAT.

Free Arrest Record Search in Genesee County

Interested persons may access Genesee County arrest records for free and other third party websites. However, only basic information about arrests are typically published on such third-party websites like on the Genesee County Jail Roster.

To access Genesee arrest records and other publicly accessible criminal records in the possession of law enforcement agencies:

• Log in to the Genesee County Sheriff's Office. Find an Inmate Portal, enter the necessary information into the search tools, and view records of criminal of active and discharged inmates
• Call or visit the Genesee County Sheriff's Office at

1002 South Saginaw Street Flint,
MI 48502
Phone: (810) 257-3426

• Contact the Genesee County local police departments in possession of the criminal records and make a FOIA request.
• Visit the Michigan State Police Internet Criminal History Access Tool (ICHAT) Portal
  • Create an account
  • Log in and access state-wide criminal history records (including those of Genesee County.

Genesee County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Genesee County criminal records are official documents on the criminal histories of individuals within the county. Criminal records encompass arrest records and documents relating to prosecution, conviction, and incarceration of individuals for criminal offenses.

Genesee County arrest records are law enforcement documents containing information on the arrest of persons who commit arrestable offenses. Genesee County criminal records are public documents. However, the law exempts public access to some criminal records.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Per Michigan's General Schedule for Local Law enforcement, the following provisions are made for arrest records retention.

• Arrest log data are retained for five years and then destroyed.
• Non-criminal incidents are to be retained three years after the closure of the incident file and then destroyed.
• Misdemeanor incidents are to be retained on file for seven years after the incident file closes and the arrestee no longer has any open warrant before being destroyed.
• Felony incidents are to be retained for 20 years after the incident's case file closes and the arrestee has no active warrant, which is then destroyed.
• Arrest records on homicide and criminal sexual conduct incidents are also retained until their incident's case file closes, and the arrestee has no active warrant but for a significantly longer time (110 years).
• Juveniles' arrest records are subject to be provided with a clean slate after their 17th birthday.

Expunge Genesee County Arrest Records

In Genesee County, Michigan, expungement is the process of erasing the records of individuals who have been arrested and have satisfied all the requirements for expungement of their records. Expungement ensures that individuals may claim not to have committed the crime earlier. However, these expunged arrest records, although closed from public access or background review results, may be accessed by a law enforcement agency on specific occasions. Typically, arrests that have been dismissed or acquitted are automatically expunged from an individual's public arrest records. However, if an arrest results in a conviction, it may qualify for expungement under Michigan Public Act 193 of 2020 or MCL 780.621.

The Michigan Public Act 193 of 2020 sanctions automatic expungement after a particular waiting period, depending on the crime. These may include:

• 7 years waiting period for any misdemeanor offense punishable by less than 92 days imprisonment ( 7 years waiting period);
• Seven years waiting period for a maximum of four misdemeanors punishable by 93 days or more imprisonment.
• Three-year waiting period for a maximum of two felonies.

Individuals may petition a court with appropriate jurisdiction under MCL 780.621 for an expungement of certain eligible convictions. MCL 780.621c, however, highlights convictions that cannot be expunged. Some of these include:

• Child sexually abusive material or activity offense conviction
• Human trafficking conviction
• Certain traffic offenses
• Certain felony and domestic violence offenses
• 2nd-degree child abuse.
• 2nd-degree criminal sexual conduct

Individuals who wish to have their arrest records expunged may obtain form MC 227 or form MC 227a (for misdemeanor marijuana convictions) and file it with a court with appropriate jurisdiction to request an expungement order for an eligible conviction in Genesee County, Michigan.

Note: Expungement does not require a processing fee. Moreover, the entire expungement process may take up to 8 months. Individuals who wish to extend their knowledge about expungement in Genesee County, Michigan, may visit Michigan's Attorney General's expungement assistance webpage for more information.

Genesee County Arrest Warrants

An arrest warrant is a legal document issued by a judge that authorizes law enforcement to take an individual into custody. The Pre-Trial/Warrant Division-District Court core duties include the authorization of arrest warrants in Genesee County, Michigan.

The arrest warrant will typically include the name of the individual, the nature of the crime, and instructions for conducting the arrest.

Do Genesee County Arrest Warrants Expire?

They are typically valid until they are executed, resulting in the individual's arrest. Their validity may be recalled by the court that issued them.