Manistee County Arrest Records

An arrest is one of the common pathways through which a person can enter the criminal justice system in Manistee County. After each arrest in Manistee, the suspect is taken to the police station or jail to be processed for the offense. Processing (or "booking") entails several activities, such as collecting the offender's personal information, inventorying their belongings, and collecting DNA and other samples. Peace officers use the information gathered during booking procedures to prepare the arrest record and other essential reports.

Manistee arrest records contain important information about an arrest that took place locally, including the identified suspect, the alleged offense, and whether a pursuit was necessary to apprehend a person. However, unlike the Manistee County court records, they do not reveal if a person was later convicted or sentenced for an offense.

Are Arrest Records Public in Manistee County?

Yes. Michigan's Freedom of Information Act ("FOIA"), codified in MCL 15.231 through 15.246, grants all persons (except those incarcerated in correctional facilities) access to the public records of public bodies, including the arrest records of law enforcement agencies. Consequently, any member of the public can inspect or receive copies of arrest records generated by police departments in Manistee County.

However, the FOIA (in § 15.243) exempts certain records/information from public viewing, such as:

• Investigative records compiled for law enforcement purposes, especially where public disclosure would:
  • interfere with law enforcement proceedings
  • unreasonably invade a person's privacy
  • reveal a confidential source, informant, or undercover personnel
  • endanger a person's life or safety
  • disclose law enforcement investigative techniques or procedures
• Records that, if disclosed, would compromise the security of custodial or penal institutions occupied by individuals arrested by the police, convicted of a crime, or admitted because of a mental disability
• Records/information subject to the attorney–client privilege or any other privilege (e.g., physician–patient)
• Medical and similar files
• Personally identifiable information, like Social Security numbers

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Manistee County public arrest records contain the following information:

• The full name of the arrested person (or arrestee), including known aliases
• The arrestee's age, race, sex, and ethnicity
• The arrest time and date
• Arrest type (e.g., On-View Arrest, Taken Into Custody (warrant), or Summoned/Cited)
• Charges, including the offense class (felony, misdemeanor, or local ordinance), offense degree, and statute violated
• Arresting agency
• Bail type and amount, if any

Manistee County Arrest Statistics

The Michigan State Police's (MSP) Criminal Justice Information Center publishes the Annual Crime in Michigan Reports, which detail crime trends and frequencies across Michigan's counties.

Per the 2022 Crime in Michigan Annual Report, Manistee County recorded 593 arrests. Of this number, 544 were classified as Part II offense arrests, and the remaining 49 were classified as Part I offense arrests. Among the identifiable offenses in the report, aggravated assault (11), retail fraud–theft (9), and larceny–theft from motor vehicle (7) were the most common arrest offenses.

More recent Manistee County arrest statistics can be obtained directly from local law enforcement agencies or via the Federal Bureau of Investigation's CDE portal.

Find Manistee County Arrest Records

Individuals looking for Manistee County arrest records can approach local law enforcement departments, such as the Manistee County Sheriff's Office, Manistee City Police Department, and Little River Band of Ottawa Indians Police Department. The specific agency to query should be the one whose officers made the arrest.

Usually, a person can visit an arresting agency during regular business hours to request arrest information. Some agencies also provide online channels to submit FOIA requests for arrest information—an example is how interested individuals can download and complete the local sheriff's FOIA Request Form to obtain arrest records; this form may be emailed or faxed to the office. The sheriff provides information about its FOIA Request Procedure online.

Nonetheless, anyone requesting a Manistee arrest record will need to provide at least the arrestee's name, birth date, or arrest date. They will also be required to pay any fees associated with their requests.

Interestingly, Manistee County arrest records can also be retrieved from the MSP. However, the MSP's information is specific to all felonies and serious misdemeanors punishable by over 93 days, for which state law requires reporting to the state repository (i.e., the MSP). For a fee, individuals can conduct name-based searches using the MSP's Internet Criminal History Access Tool (ICHAT) to obtain public criminal history record information, including notations of arrests.

Those who wish to find out if someone was confined in the Manistee County jail after an arrest can call (231) 723-6085. If the individual was transferred to state custody, the inquirer can search the Michigan Department of Corrections' Offender Tracking Information System (OTIS) for related information.

However, where the federal government has custody over the arrested person (especially where the party is awaiting trial for violating federal laws or has already been convicted of a federal crime), one can search the Find an Inmate system, provided by the Federal Bureau of Prisons, to determine the individual's holding facility and other pertinent data. Alternatively, a person can submit an FOIA request to the federal arresting department.

Free Arrest Record Search in Manistee County

FOIA requests made to law enforcement agencies to access arrest information typically bear no charges, so long as no copy of the requested record will be produced to satisfy a request. However, where a person requires copies of a public document, they may be charged a copy fee.

Moreover, members of the public can access third-party aggregator sites for a free arrest record search in Manistee County. These websites provide different public records, including arrests, upon a name search, and they may also offer limited search results for free. However, in many cases, the user may need to pay for complete access.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Arrests may remain on a person's public record indefinitely, enabling anyone (employers, landlords, colleagues) to find or view the record. However, specific laws or conditions allow past defendants to remove their arrest records from public access, provided they meet the state's eligibility criteria.

Expunge Manistee County Arrest Records

MCL 28.243(8) enables the automatic expungement of arrest records in Manistee County when a person was arrested for a crime and their charge(s) were dismissed before trial. In such cases, the arrest records, all biometric data, and fingerprints will be expunged, destroyed, or both (as appropriate), except if the prosecutor or judge objects within 60 days. In Michigan, an expungement is often called "record-sealing" or a "set-aside".

MCL 28.243(10) also permits the automatic expungement or destruction of arrest cards and biometric data related to a felony or any other qualifying offense in cases where the final case disposition was a finding of not guilty or the charges were nolle prossed.

However, when an arrest resulted in a conviction, the defendant must be eligible to set aside or expunge their conviction under Michigan law. Generally, the state has two expungement programs:

• Automated or Clean Slate, or
• Traditional expungement (where an individual must apply to the convicting court for a set aside).

Michigan's conviction expungement information and procedures (filing guidelines, ineligible offenses, waiting periods, etc.) are discussed in detail on several state government websites, including the MSP's Conviction Set Aside Public Information, the Michigan Attorney General's Expungement Assistance, and the state judiciary's Clean Slate pages.

Manistee County Arrest Warrants

Arrest warrants, in simple terms, authorize the arrest of a particular individual. These written orders are issued by judges or district court magistrates to law enforcement officers after a person disobeys a court order, fails to appear for a court hearing, or is accused of breaking the law.

Where an individual is alleged to have committed a criminal act, Michigan law (MCL 764.1, et seq.) and the U.S. Fourth Amendment require a probable cause determination, which is to say that the law enforcement complaint alleging illegal activity must present facts or evidence sufficient to justify the stated offender's arrest.

Manistee County arrest warrants name or describe the person to be apprehended, mention the issuing jurisdiction and date, describe the offense charged in the complaint, carry the issuing judge's signature, and order the defendant's immediate arrest and prompt appearance in court.

Do Manistee County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No, Manistee County arrest warrants do not expire. Regardless of the underlying offense (felony, misdemeanor, or other), a warrant remains active until the subject is arrested and appears in court. Individuals can also choose to surrender to local authorities to resolve their outstanding arrest warrants.