Isabella County Arrest Records

In Isabella County, law enforcement officials may apprehend and detain persons who violate a law if they believe they have sufficient proof or legal grounds, per the Michigan Penal Code.

Individuals arrested in Isabella County are typically detained and booked at the county jail, where the officer in charge records their personal information, details about their alleged crime, and their fingerprints. Collectively, this information makes up the arrest record for that individual.

Isabella County arrest records are typically generated and maintained by the local law enforcement agency that initiated the arrest (MCL 28.243). However, anyone who checks a person's criminal history through county offices or the state's criminal repository can still view the available arrest information. Furthermore, arrest information may become part of Isabella County court records if a case goes to trial.

Are Arrest Records Public in Isabella County?

Yes. Arrest records are public in Isabella County, per Michigan's Freedom of Information Act (MCL 15.231 et seq.). Under this law, public bodies, such as law enforcement agencies, are mandated to provide access to public records upon request and at a certain fee, except when those records are sealed or statutorily exempt from public disclosure.

Typical exemptions include records whose release violates an individual's privacy rights, compromises an ongoing investigation, or interferes with other law enforcement activities. Juvenile arrest records and expunged records are also exempt from FOIA disclosure.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

The information publicly available in Isabella County arrest records might vary, depending on the agency one queries. Typical public arrest information includes:

• Arrestee's Personal Information: First, middle, and last name (alongside any aliases), current age, sex, race, and gender. A picture of the suspect may also be available.
• Arrest and Booking Information: Offense date, arrest date, arresting agency, charges, booking and release dates
• Custody status
• Court Information: Court name, case number, and hearing date
• Bond type and amount

Isabella County Arrest Statistics

The 2022 Arrests by County and Agency report published by the Michigan State Police's Criminal Justice Information Center analyzes the arrest trends in various counties across Michigan, including Isabella.

Per the report, Isabella County recorded 1,430 arrests, with 174 being Part I Crimes, making up 12.2% of total arrests, and 1,256 being Part II crimes, accounting for the remaining 87.8%. The most frequently reported arrests in Isabella County in 2022 were aggravated assault (64 arrests), retail fraud (54), and burglary (10 arrests), while arson, motor vehicle theft, and criminal sexual conduct had notably lower arrest counts.

Find Isabella County Arrest Records

Arrested persons in Isabella County, including those arrested on warrants, those awaiting court appearances, and persons convicted of misdemeanors, are typically detained at the Isabella County Jail. However, individuals arrested for felony offenses may be transferred to a Michigan state prison or federal facility.

Interested persons may use resources provided at the county and state levels to look up records of persons arrested in Isabella County, Michigan.

Isabella County Sheriff's Office

The Isabella County Sheriff's Office maintains records of individuals detained or incarcerated in the Isabella County Jail. Interested persons may request these records through the following means:

• Online Inmate Lookup: The Isabella County Sheriff's Office provides two online inmate lookup tools that individuals can use to look up arrest records. These tools can typically be searched with a person's name or ID number.
• In-Person Request: One may visit the Sheriff's Office to inquire about an arrested person with a first and last name. The Sheriff's Office is located at:

207 Court Street
Mount Pleasant, MI 48858
Phone: (989) 772-5911
Fax: (989) 773-2739

Michigan State Police

The Michigan State Police provides an Internet Criminal History Access Tool (ICHAT), a state resource for conducting name-based criminal history background checks in Michigan. One may register as a user or use the guest login option. Researchers must enter their reason for the search, the record subject's first and last name and birth date. Each search costs $10 and provides information about the inmate's custody status, facility, etc.

Isabella County

Interested persons may send a FOIA request to the Isabella County Clerk's Office using the Criminal Search Request Form to view a person's criminal records, which may carry arrest information. The requester must provide the defendant's name and date of birth, the period of the search request, and a return address to send the results. Each search costs $7 per name.

Individuals may also visit a public access terminal located in the Isabella County Clerk's Office to search for records at no cost.

Free Arrest Record Search in Isabella County

Free arrest record searches in Isabella County can typically be conducted through the following channels:

• Isabella County Sheriff's Office Inmate Search: This Inmate Search portal provides the public with free access to the arrest and booking records of persons who have been detained in the county. Individuals may also request a record under the FOIA from an arresting agency. Admittedly, there may be fees applicable for copy requests.
• Isabella County Clerk's Office: This office maintains a public terminal where requesters perform free searches of criminal case records, which may include arrest details.
• Third-Party Public Databases: Some commercial websites feature public records databases, which offer users limited arrest information. Users may be charged for extensive information, however.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

In Isabella County, arrests may remain permanently on a person's record unless they take steps to seal or expunge those records. Another factor that determines how long an arrest stays on one's record is the Michigan Clean Slate Law. This law allows the automatic deletion of certain convictions from a person's record after seven to ten years if they meet the eligibility requirements.

Expunge Isabella County Arrest Records

Expungement is a process by which individuals' criminal history becomes publicly inaccessible. However, law enforcement may access the documents when necessary. Under Michigan state laws, expungement is also called "setting aside a conviction". This also applies to juvenile records.

Per Michigan State laws, not all offenses may be expunged. Some excluded offenses include those punishable by life imprisonment, terrorism-related offenses, human-trafficking-related offenses, some sex-related crimes, felony domestic violence offenses, and some traffic-related offenses.

There are two ways to expunge arrest records under Michigan's state laws:

Automatic Expungement (Clean Slate Law)

Under Clean Slate, eligible records, including minor misdemeanors and some felonies, are removed from public access without the individual needing to file an application. Although eligible individuals do not need to apply for automatic expungement, they can verify their expungement status on ICHAT (this costs $10). If a record is not automatically expunged, the owner can contact the Michigan State Police Department.

Application For Expungement

If a person does not qualify for automatic expungement, they may still apply to expunge misdemeanors and some felonies if they meet the eligibility requirements. Individuals may apply by themselves or hire an attorney. For unaided applications, applicants must create an application packet that includes:

• A completed Set Aside form with their full name and current address
• Certified records of each conviction they want to expunge
• Statements confirming the lack of new convictions during the waiting period
• Information on whether they have filed any previous expungement applications and the outcome
• Details about any pending criminal charges in the U.S. or elsewhere
• Applicant's signature and notarization
• $50 processing fee to the State of Michigan
• Official fingerprints from a local police station or Michigan State Police

Applicants should mail or hand deliver a copy of the application packet to the convicting court, the prosecuting agency, the Attorney General, and the Michigan State Police. Mail applications should include a self-addressed stamped envelope. Persons with convictions in multiple courts must complete a separate application for each court.

Subsequently, the applicant should prepare for their hearing day and wait for the Michigan State Police, prosecuting agency, and the Michigan Attorney General's responses. At the hearing, the petitioner will be expected to defend their application. If the sitting judge is satisfied with the petition, they may grant the request for a set aside and sign an order. If the request is denied, the applicant may file a motion for rehearing within 21 days and deliver copies to the court and the prosecuting agency. Alternatively, they may appeal the court's order to the next highest court. The expungement process typically lasts around eight months.

The effect of expunging a record is that it becomes exempt under the FOIA, and anyone who knowingly uses that record can be charged with an offense. However, traffic offenses are not removed from one's driving record even after expungement.

Isabella County Arrest Warrants

An arrest warrant is a formal order from a judge/magistrate that allows law enforcement to arrest someone for a criminal offense. Isabella County judges typically issue arrest warrants when law enforcement provides credible evidence showing that the person named on the warrant is responsible for a crime (MCL 764.1a et seq., Michigan Court Rules 6.102).

Some common situations that necessitate the issuance of arrest warrants in Isabella include misdemeanor and felony offenses, failure to appear (when a person misses their court date), and violation of probation or parole (when a person breaks the terms of their release from jail/prison).

An arrest warrant contains the following:

• The Accused's Information: Full name, physical description, and other identifiers (like aliases).
• Crime Information: A description of the offense the person is charged with.
• Date and Time: When the warrant was authorized.
• Issuing Authority's Signature: The judge or magistrate's name and the court that issued the warrant. The judge's signature validates the warrant.

Do Isabella County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No, Isabella County arrest warrants do not expire. Under Michigan laws, these warrants only become invalid or inactive after they are executed (the subject is arrested and appears before a judge) or formally quashed by the court. Otherwise, they remain valid within the justice system, allowing law enforcement to arrest the individual whenever they find them.