Oceana County Arrest Records

Lawful arrests occur in Oceana County, Michigan, when law enforcement believes a person is involved in committing, planning, or participating in a criminal act. Depending on the circumstances, an arrest can occur with or without a warrant and consists of seizing an individual by legal authority and taking them into custody.

Oceana County arrest records are documents created directly after an arrest. Law enforcement creates these records to document every arrest process and keep track of a history of arrests that concern a particular person. Arrest records are also crucial for judicial processes and can be found in Oceana County court records.

Are Arrest Records Public in Oceana County?

Yes, arrest records are classified as public records under the Michigan Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). The FOIA guarantees that every citizen can access law enforcement records at every level in Michigan, except those incarcerated, when they request the records. Therefore, almost anyone can request an arrest record from law enforcement in Oceana County.

However, the FOIA and Section 28.243 of the Michigan legislature restrict specific categories of arrest records from public disclosure. Records exempt from public disclosure are limited, or the information on the records is redacted.

Some examples of restricted records in Oceana County include:

• Juvenile arrest records.
• Arrest records that are part of an undercover investigation.
• Arrest records that, if made public, will reveal any investigative techniques.
• Arrest records of any person in a witness protection program.
• Medical and treatment records.
• Arrest records that reveal the personal information of an arresting officer.
• Arrest record details that could jeopardize an ongoing investigation.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Most public arrest records produced by any law enforcement office in Oceana County contain the following information:

• The name of the arrested person
• The arrestees mugshot
• The age, sex, height, and hair color of the suspect
• The arrestee's last known address
• The cause of the arrest
• Charges against the suspect
• Name and address of the arresting agency
• Parole information
• Bail information

Oceana County Arrest Statistics

Statistics obtained from the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting portal show that the Oceana County Sheriff's Department made 445 arrests between January 2023 and January 2024. Most arrests were made for theft and larceny(228), making up 51% of the recorded arrests. The second most common crime that led to arrest in Oceana County was driving under the influence (76), which accounted for 17% of the total arrests recorded.

Simple assault (41), liquor law violations (26), and drug/narcotic offenses (18) were additional crimes that contributed to the total number of arrests; they accounted for 9%, 6%, and 4% of all arrests, respectively.

Find Oceana County Arrest Records

Interested persons may find Oceana County arrest records at any law enforcement office authorized to make arrests in Oceana County. The Information Services Unit, or records division of Oceana's law enforcement branches, handles requests for arrest records. These divisions handle a number of duties, but above all, they keep track of all the department's criminal histories through a shared database. For the majority of citizens, they serve as their main point of contact since they give them access to documents like criminal history, arrest, and accident reports. The records division also has access to the Internet Criminal History Access Tool (ICHAT), which can be used to look up arrest records on a statewide level.

The departments can be contacted by phone, mail, or in-person to seek records. Inquirers are advised to contact the office before making a request to inquire about the availability of a record, the request process, and any fees involved. In-person, any law enforcement office accepts "walk-in" requests for records checks. Mail requests may be sent by letter detailing the needed records, along with the necessary fees. Each record check can take 5-20 minutes, depending on how much of the record needs to be verified and whether the individual has a record to report. The following information may be required from requestors:

• The date of the arrest
• The name of the arrested person
• The agency that made the arrest
• Booking number

Most people arrested within the borders of Oceana County are temporarily held at the police department before they are sent to the Oceana County jail. Persons seeking to enquire whether someone is currently housed in the correctional facility may call (231) 873-3967.

Free Arrest Record Search in Oceana County

A convenient—though unofficial—option for locating Oceana County arrest information is a third-party record aggregator. These privately operated sites compile data from multiple public sources and present it in a keyword-searchable format that can be accessed from any internet-enabled device. Searches typically rely on names, arrest dates, or docket numbers.

Free tiers often display only summary details; more comprehensive reports, cross-jurisdiction checks, or document downloads usually require a paid upgrade. Because data may be outdated or incomplete, verification with the Oceana County Sheriff’s Office, the Michigan State Police Internet Criminal History Access Tool (ICHAT), or the relevant court clerk is advisable before relying on the information for official purposes.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

It depends. Generally, an arrest will stay on a person's record forever unless steps are taken to remove it. However, automatic expungement statutes permit the erasure of arrest records after a while. The standard way to remove arrest records from public access is to petition the court to have them expunged.

Expunge Oceana County Arrest Records

Expungement is the legal process of eliminating arrest and other criminal records from a person's criminal history record. Sometimes, an expungement is called a "set-aside" or "record-sealing".

Both juvenile and adult arrest records can be expunged. However, not everybody can have their records expunged. Before an individual applies to expunge Oceana County arrest records, they must be eligible under MCL - Section 780.621. Michigan also has an automatic expungement statute that allows the Michigan state police to eliminate arrests that fall into the following categories:

• Misdemeanors that are punishable by less than 93 days' imprisonment.
• First-time non-violent offenses.
• Persons who were arrested in cases of the wrong identity
• Persons who have been proven innocent in court or had their case dismissed.

There is a stipulated waiting period before arrest records are automatically expunged. Those with additional offenses not qualifying for automatic expungement can still go through the conventional application process. Eligible persons may expunge Ocean County arrest records by following these steps:

• The first step is to file an expungement petition with the Oceana County court. The petition form can be obtained at the Oceana County clerk's office or the Michigan State Police website. The form may also be completed with the assistance of a legal professional.
• To submit an expungement petition, individuals are required to obtain a certified copy of their judgment order and arrest records from the criminal records division of the Oceana County law enforcement. Details from these records may be used to complete the expungement form.
• Applicants may then make copies of the application and submit them to the Attorney General's office, the Oceana County Court, and the agency that made the arrest.
• A judge at the county court will then review the application and grant the request if it meets the legal criteria for expungement. However, some judges are strict and may set a hearing date for individuals who prove they should be considered for expungement.

Oceana County Arrest Warrants

An arrest warrant is a document that a judge or magistrate issues to compel someone to appear in court to respond to a criminal charge. After being signed, an Oceana County warrant is usually added to the Michigan Law Enforcement Information Network (LEIN) database, which is open to all law enforcement personnel. An active warrant allows a police officer to arrest a person without notice in selected cases. In certain situations, the person subject to a warrant may receive notice from the court.

The Oceana County District Court is legally authorized to issue arrest warrants per the standards outlined in MCL 600.8511(e). If police have probable cause—a reasonable belief that a crime has occurred or is about to occur—they can get a warrant. However, police must present a judge with precise and comprehensive evidence to get a warrant. This evidence must provide a solid basis for the suspicion that a crime has been committed. A warrant issued by the Oceana County District Court usually contains the following information:

• The name of the person who is to be arrested
• The charges against the suspect
• The name of the issuing court
• The date and time when the warrant was issued

Individuals who want to perform an Oceana County arrest record search can visit the district court clerk's office. Every law enforcement office in Oceana County also has access to the LEIN database, which can be used to search for active arrest warrants.

Do Oceana County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No, Oceana County arrest warrants do not expire. Once issued, they remain active until the judge recalls them or when the subject of the warrant is brought before the issuing court.