Houghton County Arrest Records

In Houghton County, Michigan, an arrest occurs when law enforcement detains someone they suspect of committing a crime. The Michigan Penal Code and the Michigan Court Rules both regulate the arrest process. Officers must have a warrant or probable cause before making an arrest. Probable cause suggests that there is a belief based on facts or evidence that a person has committed a crime.

Houghton County arrest records are documents created because an arrest has been made. They are created by the arresting agency in Houghton County that made the arrest and provides information about the circumstances surrounding it. Arrest records also provide information about the individual that has been arrested and are helpful in the administration of justice by the Houghton County Court. Judicial proceedings following an arrest are documented in Houghton County court records and made publicly accessible in keeping with the provisions of state law.

Are Arrest Records Public in Houghton County?

Yes. Houghton County arrest records are public per Michigan freedom of information laws MCL § 15.231. arrest records are classified as criminal records under the FOIA and are made available to interested persons who want to view, inspect, and make copies of them. However, certain types of arrest records are exempt from public disclosure. Due to their sensitive nature, these categories of arrest records are made confidential by state law or a court order. Some examples of these restricted records include:

• Investigative arrest records
• Juvenile arrest records
• Arrest records that show personal identifying information of victims of a crime
• Arrest records that reveal any law enforcement investigative techniques
• Arrest records of persons under any state witness protection program
• Arrest records of any law enforcement agent that shows their personal information

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Most public arrest records that are published, created, and maintained by law enforcement in Houghton County usually provide the following information:

• The name of the person who was arrested
• A physical description of the detained person.
• The arrestee's last known address.
• The name of the arresting agency.
• The date and time of the arrest.
• The city and county where the arrest took place.
• The holding facility where the suspect is held.
• An arrest report briefly summarizes events that led to the arrest.
• Charges against the suspect.
• Bail and bond information.

Find Houghton County Arrest Records

Persons interested in locating Houghton County arrest records can request them from the county sheriff's office or the police department that made the arrest. Every law enforcement agency in Houghton County maintains arrest records made by its personnel in its local database and provides channels for interested persons to find them. Each agency has a records department that is responsible for recording, maintaining, and providing these records.

For example, the Houghton County Sheriff's Department allows people to request arrest records by submitting a freedom of information request to the department's records division. Although the processes and costs for requesting and getting records vary from office to office, many accept electronic, mail-in, and in-person inquiries. The following details could be needed to search for an arrest record:

• The name of the arrested individual
• The date and time of the arrest
• Suspects address
• Booking number(if known)
• Personal information of the person requesting the records

People arrested by a local agency in Houghton County are usually held at the agency's temporary holding cell, after which they are transferred to the Houghton County correctional facility. Anyone can find persons held at the Houghton County jail by contacting the jail Authorities at (906) 482-1742. Otherwise, the whereabouts of persons arrested can be determined by visiting the police department that made the arrest.

Occasionally, state and federal agencies like the Michigan state police and the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) make arrests in Houghton County. Persons seeking information about such incidents have the following options:

• The local sheriff's office should be contacted regarding arrests made by the Michigan State Police. The suspect will be brought to the closest county jail, usually a sheriff's station so that they can be booked.
• People can find information on any person who the FBI detains by contacting the Federal Bureau of Prisons in Michigan by Email, Phone, or in person at:

Federal Bureau of Prisons
4004 East Arkona Road
Milan, Mi 48160
Email: Mil-Execassistant-S@Bop.Gov
Phone: (734) 439-1511
Fax: (734) 439-5534

Free Arrest Record Search in Houghton County

Interested members of the public may obtain a Houghton County arrest record search for free by making a freedom of information request at the law enforcement agency that maintains the records. FOIA requests allow free searches for arrest records in Michigan. However, a compulsory fee may be charged if the record seeker requests copies of the record. Police departments in Houghton County may also waive the fees for persons arrested in a case of mistaken identity. Persons who are innocent of a crime they were arrested for and are eligible to expunge their records can also make free arrest record searches at the office of the arresting agency.

A free arrest record search in Houghton County can also be done at the Houghton County District Court. Court dockets contain information on arrests related to any case handled by the court. Most of the time, the arrest records at the district courts are not comprehensive but at least contain essential details on the arrest.

Another method to find Houghton County arrest records is a third-party public records database search. The private organizations that run these web-based databases compile public data from various government sources, including law enforcement agencies and county courts. Third-party sites are easy to use and can be searched using the name of the person on the record. Free-to-use versions of third-party sites may have limited information compared to those that offer subscription-based services.

Get Houghton County Criminal Records

Houghton County criminal records include personal descriptors regarding persons and information on misdemeanor and felony arrests and convictions. Criminal records provide comprehensive information on a person's arrests, sentencing, charges, convictions, probation, and fines due to their involvement in any criminal matter.

The county sheriff's department provides criminal records in Houghton County. The county sheriff's department collects criminal record data from every law enforcement agency and sends it to the Michigan state police for state-wide access. To request Houghton County criminal records, individuals must visit the lobby of the county sheriff's office and request these records. The request must be made in writing and provide the following information to facilitate the record request:

• The name of the person on the record
• The person's date of birth
• The individual's last known address

It is also possible to request specific information as part of the criminal records and exclude others. To do this, requestors must specify the type of criminal history information needed in the written request.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

The time an arrest stays on a person's record depends on how severe the crime committed was and how long the person remains without being a repeat offender. The Michigan Clean Slate Act allows for the automatic removal of arrests from a person's criminal record if the person meets specific criteria set out by the law. A person can also apply for their arrest in Houghton County records to be erased in a process known as expungement.

Expunge Houghton County Arrest Records

Expungement is the legal process of erasing arrests and other criminal information from a person's criminal history report. For example, suppose a person has a felony arrest and conviction on their record. In that case, they may find it challenging to apply for housing assistance, get employment, or secure financial aid for their education. Expunging a criminal record will make it undetectable on most background checks.

The first step in expunging Houghton County arrest records is to determine eligibility. Michigan law provides automatic expungement for the following groups of persons:

• Individuals who are arrested in a case of mistaken identity.
• Persons who have been proven not guilty by the court.
• Persons who were detained and had their charges dropped.

Individuals can also apply to have certain types of misdemeanors and felonies expunged if they meet the criteria set out in the Michigan legislature's MCL 780.621b(1). However, violent crimes such as rape, assault with a deadly weapon, and armed robbery cannot be expunged under any circumstance. Additionally, according to 780.621d of the Michigan legislature, applicants must complete a stipulated waiting period before they file a petition to expunge arrest records.

To request expungement, the applicant must complete SCAO Form MC 227, Application to Set Aside Conviction(s). The application should be accompanied by various supporting documents, including a copy of the arrest record from the Michigan State Police, the notarized application form, and the petitioner's fingerprints. Copies of each document must be turned in to the Michigan State Police, the Attorney General, the prosecutor, and the Houghton County Court.

Houghton County Arrest Warrants

Arrest warrants are legal documents created by the courts that order the capture and detention of an individual suspected of committing a criminal offense. According to MCL-Section 764.1, district court judges in Houghton County issue arrest warrants in response to a police complaint indicating that a person has committed a crime. The following information is usually included in Houghton County arrest warrants issued by courts:

• The name of the wanted suspect
• The charges against the individual
• The date and time the warrant was issued
• The name of the issuing judge and court

Individuals can find information on active warrants in Houghton County by contacting the warrants and civil process division of the Houghton County Sheriff's office in person, by telephone at (906) 482-0055, or through mail (Info@houghtonsheriff.com). The department must disclose information to anyone interested in an active warrant issued for an arrest in Houghton County.

Do Houghton County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No Houghton County arrests do not have an expiry date; instead, they remain valid until the person mentioned in the warrant is captured and brought before a judge. Arrest warrants also become inactive if a county court judge recalls them.