Lapeer County Arrest Records

In Lapeer County, arrest records refer to documents created after an arrest event. Such records may contain information on the arrestee, arrest charges, and the arresting agency.

Arrests are legal procedures for apprehending persons suspected of committing a crime. Law enforcement officers have the legal right to arrest with or without an arrest warrant. Officers may also conduct arrests to prevent a potential crime against life or property. Arrested persons are temporarily detained at the Lapeer County Jail.

Lapeer County law enforcement entities mostly generate records of arrests within the county’s jurisdiction. These entities also store and disclose the records to interested persons or entities.

Citizens will also find Lapeer County arrest records in crime-related public documents. For example, Lapeer County court records may include information on arrest events, such as warrants, charges, and booking information. Criminal history and inmate records are also sources of finding arrest records.

Are Arrest Records Public in Lapeer County?

Yes, most arrest records created in Lapeer County are classified as public documents. Under the Michigan Freedom of Information Act, the general public can view and obtain copies of public records from designated record custodians. The custodians must also release requested documents, provided the requester fulfills the legal criteria for obtaining records. For instance, requesters must provide a valid ID when requesting confidential or sensitive documents.

Not all Lapeer County arrest records are accessible to the public. The state laws permit record custodians to withhold documents whose disclosure is not in the public interest. Examples of such records include:

• Records that may jeopardize the safety of arresting officers.
• Data that may interfere with an ongoing investigation process.
• Information on crime victims’ identities.
• Documents that could affect an individual's right to a fair trial or adjudication.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

In Lapeer County, Michigan, public arrest records include the following details:

• Arrestee’s names and known aliases, physical-identifying attributes, and addresses
• Charge description
• Booking information
• Arresting agency
• Arrest date and location

Lapeer County Arrest Statistics

Per the Michigan Incident Crime Report, Lapeer County’s law enforcement agencies recorded a total of 1,050 arrests in 2022. The report covered arrests for crimes like robberies, aggravated assaults, arson, and motor vehicle thefts. As of September 2024, there was no information on the inmate population in Lapeer County. However, the state’s correctional facilities had a total of 32,986 inmates by December 31, 2023.

Find Lapeer County Arrest Records

Persons or entities can find Lapeer County arrest records at the county sheriff’s office. The county sheriff allows mail or in-person requests for arrest records. To access records via these options, requesters must fill out and send a completed FOIA request form to the sheriff’s office at:

3231 John Conley Drive
Lapeer, MI 48446
Phone: (810) 667-0440

Likewise, Lapeer County arrest records are accessible in inmate records. The records typically contain some arrest details, like the arrestee’s name, arrest charges, booking information, and bond amount.

Record seekers use online search sites maintained by government entities to obtain inmate records. The Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC), via the Offender Tracking Information System, hosts a searchable platform for inmates incarcerated in state correctional institutions. Users seeking to obtain records on the portal must input the following details:

• Inmate’s first and last name, sex, age, and race.
• MDOC number

In contrast, the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ inmate locator features information on inmates in federal penal institutions. To find records on the portal, users may search by inmate name or prison-identifying number.

Free Arrest Record Search in Lapeer County

Government agencies generally provide free online or offline access to Lapeer County arrest records. Interested parties may use the following official search sites to find free online arrest records:

• The MDOC’s Offender Tracking Information System.
• The Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator.

Lapeer County sheriff’s office may provide free access to arrest records. Record seekers must make in-person requests to the county sheriff during open hours.

Third-party search sites are an alternative option for finding free arrest records in Lapeer County. Such sites are typically easy to use and do not have restrictions that are commonly found in official search sites. For instance, there are no location-based restrictions on third-party sites. Nevertheless, third-party search sites are unregulated and are not reliable sources for finding Lapeer County arrest records.

Lapeer County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

In Lapeer County, arrest records differ from criminal records in the following aspects:

The records contain different information.

Arrest records generally provide information on information received or created in relation to an arrest event. The record may include the arrestee’s personal information, arrest charges, location, and date. In contrast, criminal records contain information about an individual’s criminal history. Citizens will find arrest, court, and inmate information in criminal records.

Different agencies are responsible for keeping the records.

Lapeer County’s law enforcement agencies are the custodian of arrest records generated in the county. These agencies create arrest records after an arrest event. In contrast, the Michigan State Police’s Criminal Justice Center is the custodian of criminal history records. The agency creates criminal records by collecting information from law enforcement agencies, courts, and correctional facilities.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Lapeer County arrest records are available in publicly maintained domains until expunged or sealed. The county has set guidelines for expunging or sealing arrest records.

Expunge Lapeer County Arrest Records

In Lapeer County, you can expunge arrest records by submitting a request or petition to the appropriate agency. For instance, arrestees can expunge dismissed and non-conviction arrest records by sending a request to the Michigan State Police. Note that the state police automatically expunge less severe misdemeanor records.

Who is eligible to expunge Lapeer County arrest records?

Per Section 780.621, you can expunge arrest records by fulfilling these legal requirements:

• The arrest charges were dismissed or did not lead to a court conviction.
• You were convicted of not more than two criminal offenses
• You do not have more than one felony conviction for a crime that carries a 10-year sentence
• You were convicted of violating sections MCL 750.448, 750.449 to 450, 1931 PA 328, and sections 448, 449, or 450 of the Michigan penal code.

How to expunge arrest records in Lapeer County

To expunge dismissed arrest records, arrestees must first confirm if the state police have already expunged the record. Arrestees can use the iCHAT portal to find this information. If the record is still available, arrestees must send a request for expungement to the state police at MSP-CRD-CSAAUTOMATIC@michigan.gov.

In contrast, you can expunge conviction records by taking these steps:

1. Request for your criminal record from the Michigan State Police.

2. Next, get a copy of the case file from the court that handled the criminal case.

3. Visit the local law enforcement agency to get fingerprinted.

4. Fill and print out an Application to Set Aside Convictions

5. Make copies of the aforementioned documents and send them to the following agencies:
   Lapeer County Prosecuting Attorney
   Lapeer County Probate Court
   255 Clay Street
   Lapeer, MI 48446
   Phone: (810) 667-0326
    

   Michigan State Police - CJIC
   P.O. Box 30266
   Lansing, Michigan 48909-7766.
    

   Department of the Michigan Attorney General Criminal Trials and Appeals Division
   G. Mennen Williams Building
   525 West Ottawa Street
   P.O. Box 30217
   Lansing, MI 48909

6. Enclose a $50 money order or check along with documents sent to the Michigan State Police.

7. Next, send a copy of the documents to the court that passed the conviction.

Wait for a response from these agencies and get a hearing date from the county court. The court judge will review the petition and review information from concerned agencies. If the petition is granted, the court will issue an expungement order and send it to all agencies holding the records.

Lapeer County Arrest Warrants

Arrest warrants are court orders that authorize the arrests of persons suspected of violating state or federal statutes. Per MCL-Section 764.1, a court judge or district court magistrate may issue arrest warrants after receiving a complaint signed by the prosecuting attorney.

Arrest warrants issued in Lapeer County must contain information on the following:

• The defendant’s name and physical identification features
• Arrest charges
• The arresting agency
• Court official’s signature.

Do Lapeer County Arrest Warrants Expire?

In Lapeer County, arrest warrants do not expire. They remain publicly accessible until the court recalls them or the defendant is arrested. In addition, the statute of limitations does not affect the validity of arrest warrants.