Gladwin County Arrest Records

In Gladwin County, Michigan, law enforcement authorities may apprehend individuals suspected of violating the law with or without a warrant, depending on the case's unique circumstances. When an arrest occurs, the following processes typically involve transporting the suspect to a police station and booking them by recording their personal information, fingerprints, photographs, and other relevant data. This information, alongside detailed records of the circumstances surrounding the arrest, makes up an arrest record and serves a vital purpose within the criminal justice system. Besides helping to build a case against the suspect, they also ensure transparency in law enforcement actions and provide essential documentation for court proceedings.

Local law enforcement agencies are primarily responsible for maintaining arrest records in Gladwin County. However, as cases progress through the justice system, these records may be shared with other relevant entities, such as prosecutors, courts, and correctional facilities. Consequently, arrest information may also be found in Gladwin County court records and statewide criminal history files.

Are Arrest Records Public in Gladwin County?

Yes, Per Section 15.232 of the Michigan Compiled Laws (MCL), "public records" are documents prepared, owned, or generated by a public body in the course of its official functions. Michigan’s Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requires public bodies to release public records in their custody to any person to inspect or copy upon request. "Person", in this case, excludes individuals serving a sentence of imprisonment in a government-controlled correctional facility.

It is worth noting that record custodians do not typically provide access to records exempt from disclosure by the FOIA or another statute to members of the public. Such exempt information includes:

• Personal information that will constitute an infringement of privacy if disclosed
• Certain law enforcement investigative records
• Trade secrets
• Social security numbers
• Identifying information of an informant
• Medical and psychological information
• Juvenile arrest records

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

A public arrest record typically includes data that reasonably identifies the subject, highlights their interactions with law enforcement, and briefly describes the circumstances of the arrest. These include:

• Arrestee’s descriptors (name, date of birth, sex, race, height, weight, eye color, etc)
• Arrest information (date, time, and location of arrest)
• Charges and court information
• Arresting agency

Find Gladwin County Arrest Records

Gladwin County arrest records are primarily in the custody of the Gladwin County Sheriff's Office and municipal police departments. Consequently, requesters may obtain arrest information by contacting the above entities in person at their physical locations and through other designated channels.

It is important to note that the Gladwin County Sheriff's Office oversees the administration of the county jail through its jail administrator, who can be reached at (989) 426-7121 for information on how to obtain records of incarcerated individuals. On the other hand, requesters may send an FOIA request to the sheriff's office for arrest information in their possession. FOIA requests should be in writing and sufficiently describe the sought records to enable the sheriff's office to find them. Meanwhile, information for requesting arrest records from municipal police departments may be found on the entity’s official website.

Requesters may extend their Gladwin County arrest records search to the state level by querying the Michigan State Police through their Internet Criminal History Access Tool (ICHAT). ICHAT is a name-based searchable database for the criminal history backgrounds of individuals in Michigan, including Gladwin County. Individuals can login to the platform as billed or pay-as-you-go users, or request public arrest information as guest users.

On a much broader scale, parties can query the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and other federal arresting agencies for information about persons they arrest in Gladwin County. Gladwin County arrestees in federal incarceration facilities can also be searched using the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) inmate locator.

Free Arrest Record Search in Gladwin County

Michigan State policy allows public bodies to charge a fee for costs incurred while retrieving public information in response to an individual's request. However, no fee will be charged if no costs are incurred, such as when documents are inspected without duplication or retrieval services. Interested parties may also use a commercial database’s free trial or service package for limited arrest information.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

In Michigan, an arrest record's duration depends on the case's individual merits. Many arrests will remain on a person's record throughout their lifetime unless the subject successfully expunges them. However, per § 764.26a of the MCL, arrest records will automatically be removed from ICHAT if the arrestee's charges are dismissed before trial. After 60 days of no objection to the dismissal, the arrest record, including all biometric data and fingerprints, will be destroyed. Furthermore, Michigan's Clean Slate Law allows some arrest records to be automatically set aside when the subject meets certain eligibility requirements.

Expunge Gladwin County Arrest Records

Individuals who did not have their Gladwin County arrest records expunged automatically can petition to set aside their adult criminal records upon meeting specific eligibility requirements. For example, the sought record must not fall under any ineradicable offenses outlined in §780. 621(c) of the MCL. Under certain circumstances, individuals must also wait a specific period to begin expungement procedures. For example, parties who wish to set aside serious misdemeanor convictions or a felony conviction must complete a 5-year waiting period starting from the sentencing date, completion of probation, completion of imprisonment term, or discharge from parole.

To begin an expungement process, applicants must submit the following:

• A completed application form with their current contact information
• Official records of the convictions to be expunged
• Confirmation of a clean record during the required waiting period
• Details about any prior expungement attempts and their outcomes
• Information about pending charges, if applicable
• Notarized signature
• A $50 processing fee
• Official fingerprints

A completed application and the necessary documents must be submitted to the relevant authorities, including the court where you were convicted, the prosecuting agency, the Attorney General, and the Michigan State Police. Applicants should also include a self-addressed stamped envelope for responses to be sent by mail.

After submission, a court hearing will enable the applicant to present justifications for the expungement and consider responses from the Michigan State Police, prosecuting agency, and Attorney General. If the request is approved, the court will issue an order to set aside the conviction. On the other hand, individuals can request a rehearing or appeal the decision if their application was denied.

Note: The expungement process typically takes around eight months. While successful expungement restricts public access to the records, relevant law enforcement agencies will still have them in their private files. More information on expungement is available on the Michigan Department of Attorney General’s Expungement Assistance page.

Gladwin County Arrest Warrant

Gladwin County arrest warrants empower law enforcement to arrest individuals while safeguarding against claims of rights violations. They're issued based on probable cause and judicial oversight. Beyond commanding the subject's arrest, arrest warrants also contain helpful information about the suspect and the crime allegedly committed.

To find out if someone has an active arrest warrant, individuals can contact the local law enforcement agency responsible for executing the warrant or the clerk of the district court that issued the warrant.

Do Gladwin County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No, Gladwin County arrest warrants do not expire. They are only lifted when the arrest is executed or the issuing court recalls or dismisses the warrant.