Marquette County Arrest Records

Marquette County arrest records are official documents created by law enforcement to document an individual's arrest. These records are created when an individual is apprehended and detained for criminal offenses or suspected of committing a crime. They typically include personal details of the individual, arrest circumstances, charges, arrest date and time, and information about the arresting officer.

Once an arrest is made and the individual is booked, the arresting agency (i.e., the Marquette County Sheriff's Office and local police) collects detailed information about the person and the arrest circumstances. This information is stored as arrest records and reports.

Marquette County arrest records document each instance of arrest by law enforcement; they do not indicate guilt or conviction. The outcome of an arrest is typically recorded in other criminal justice records, such as Marquette County court records.

Are Arrest Records Public in Marquette County?

Yes. Arrest records are public in Marquette County under the Michigan Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), MCL 15.231 et seq. This law gives the public the right to access information about government agencies' activities, including law enforcement, to promote transparency. This means that most arrest records held by Marquette law enforcement agencies are accessible to the public upon request.

However, specific exemptions, as outlined in MCL § 15.243, limit public access to certain information within arrest records. Some examples of arrest information or records exempt from public access and which law enforcement agencies may redact or withhold include records that could interfere with ongoing investigations or invade personal privacy, records revealing confidential sources or sensitive information, arrest information that may endanger the safety of law enforcement personnel, and juvenile arrest records.

Note: Accessing restricted or exempt arrest records is typically possible only through a court order or if the requestor is a qualified individual, such as an attorney, investigator, or law enforcement official with legitimate grounds for access.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

A publicly available Marquette County arrest record includes the following details:

• The arrestee's personal information ( full name, date of birth, age)
• Physical description of the arrestee (height, weight, eye and hair color, and race)
• Arrest date, time, and location
• Arresting agency
• Arresting officer
• Nature or type of offense
• Charges filed
• Booking information (date and time of booking and facility)
• Bail and bond information, if applicable
• Release date (if released).

Marquette County Arrest Statistics

Per the Michigan Incident Crime Reporting (MICR) arrest report, Marquette County recorded 1,671 arrests in 2022. Of these, 168 were Part 1 and 1,503 were Part 2 arrests. Part 1 arrests included sexual assault (14), robbery (3), aggravated assault (37), arson (2), burglary and forced entry (5), burglary and entry without force (4), larceny-theft from building (12), larceny-theft from motor vehicle (2), larceny-theft of motor vehicle parts/accessories (2), larceny-other (16), motor vehicle theft (9), and retail fraud/theft (64).

Find Marquette County Arrest Records

Marquette County arrest records are available for inspection and copying by interested persons through the Marquette County Sheriff's Office and municipal police departments.

To request arrest records from the Marquette County Sheriff's Office, individuals should complete the "Freedom of Information Request Form" and submit it in person, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m., or by mail to the address below. Copies of these records cost $10.00. Local background checks cost $5 per name search.

Marquette County Sheriff's Office
236 West Baraga Avenue
Marquette, MI 49855
Phone: (906) 225-8435
Fax: (906) 225-8485

On the other hand, to request arrest records from a municipal police department in the county, such as the Negaunee City Police Department, individuals can submit a completed Police Records FOIA Request Form to the Negaunee City Police Department in person or by mail at:

Negaunee City Police Department
319 West Case Street
P.O. Box 70
Negaunee, MI 49866
Phone: (906) 475-4154

Interested individuals can also search for arrest records statewide by requesting a criminal history background check on someone from Marquette County through the Michigan State Police's Internet Criminal History Access Tool (ICHAT).

Free Arrest Record Search in Marquette County

Interested parties may contact the Marquette County Sheriff's Office or local police departments in the county's cities and towns for free searches of Marquette County arrest records. While these local law enforcement agencies typically allow requesters to inspect or look up arrest records at no charge, they require fees for producing copies. Most free searches of law enforcement records are available through online databases maintained by these agencies, with links provided on their official websites when such databases are available.

Alternatively, interested parties can use third-party websites to search for Marquette County arrest records. These sites offer searchable databases, which are usually free to use. Individuals can use them to search for and locate a Marquette County arrest record. However, arrest reports on these sites may be incomplete or even unavailable, as these websites operate independently.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

In Marquette County, Michigan, the duration for which arrest records stay on a person's record depends on the type of incident. Per Michigan's General Schedule for Local Law Enforcement, arrest/detention logs are kept for five years, while non-criminal incidents are held for three years after the case closes.

Misdemeanor records are retained for seven years once the case is resolved and no active warrants are present, while felony records remain on file for 20 years under similar conditions. Serious offenses, such as homicide and criminal sexual conduct, are retained for up to 110 years. Records for juvenile offenders are generally removed once they turn 17.

Expunge Marquette County Arrest Records

A person's arrest record in Michigan is automatically removed from their record if the charges were dismissed or resulted in an acquittal. For those whose arrests resulted in conviction, they can have them expunged automatically or by petition if eligible under Michigan's Public Act 193 of 2020 or MCL 780.621.

Public Act 193 of 2020 stipulates automatic expungement for certain types of convictions that meet specific criteria, along with any associated arrest records, after a defined waiting period. These include:

• Misdemeanor offenses with a maximum penalty of less than 92 days in jail (7-year waiting period).
• Up to four misdemeanors punishable by 93 days or more in jail (7-year waiting period).
• A maximum of two felonies (10-year waiting period).

In Marquette County, individuals whose arrest records qualify but have not been automatically expunged may submit an expungement application to the Michigan State Police (MSP) under MCL 780.621 for the qualifying arrests to be removed from the record.

The following convictions do not qualify for expungement under MCL 780.62:

• Offenses involving child sexually abusive materials or activities
• Human trafficking-related offenses
• Certain traffic violations
• Certain felony domestic violence offenses
• Second-degree child abuse
• Second-degree criminal sexual conduct.

Individuals can complete and submit Form MC 227 or Form MC 227a to the MSP to apply for expungement. Upon receiving the application, the MSP will process it, conduct a criminal history check, and submit a criminal history report to the Department of Attorney General.

The Department of Attorney General reviews the application and the criminal history report (this can take up to three months). If the application is approved, a hearing will be scheduled in the convicting court. The judge reviews the case and decides whether to grant the expungement order. If granted, the criminal record, including the associated arrest, will be wiped off records and removed from public access.

Note: The Attorney General's expungement assistance website provides more information on Michigan's record expungement process.

Marquette County Arrest Warrants

A Marquette County arrest warrant is a legal order authorizing law enforcement officers to arrest and detain a person suspected of committing a crime. Per Michigan law (MCL 764.1), a judge or district court magistrate can issue an arrest warrant if a law enforcement agency or prosecutor submits a criminal complaint against a person. This complaint, by law, must demonstrate probable cause—a reasonable belief that the named individual committed the alleged offense. Under MCL 764.1a(4), "reasonable cause" can be established through:

• An affidavit or sworn testimony from the complainant,
• Factual claims included in the complaint, and
• Additional sworn statements or affidavits from others, if referenced in the complaint.

Once an arrest warrant is issued upon these grounds in Marquette County, local law enforcement agencies, including the Marquette County Sheriff's Office and city police departments, are notified of the warrant. They then actively seek to execute the warrant by visiting locations where they believe the person may be found, such as their home, workplace, or other known locations. If the person has contact with law enforcement for any reason, such as a traffic stop, the warrant will show up during a routine check, leading to their arrest.

A Marquette County arrest warrant typically includes the following:

• Personal Details: Full name, aliases, date of birth, and physical description.
• Warrant Information: Type (felony or misdemeanor), case number, issue date, and issuing court.
• Charges: Description of alleged offenses.
• Bail Conditions: Any bail amount or bond requirements.
• Issuing Authority: Name and signature of the judge or magistrate.

Do Marquette County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No. Marquette County arrest warrants do not expire. They remain active and valid until the subject of the arrest warrant is arrested and taken into custody or the issuing court recalls the warrant. However, several factors can affect the status (validity) of a warrant, including the death of the accused (which would lead to the warrant being vacated), a court order recalling the warrant, the prosecution deciding not to pursue the case, or the statute of limitations on the underlying crime (though this doesn't automatically invalidate the warrant).