Ogemaw County Arrest Records

In Ogemaw County, Michigan, law enforcement may make an arrest when an individual commits a crime in their presence. They may also arrest when they have probable cause to believe an individual has committed or is about to commit a crime. For minor offenses, arrestees may post bail and be released on the same day. For serious crimes or public safety concerns, they may be held longer. Detainees are typically taken to the Ogemaw County Correctional Facility on Houghton Avenue to await trial.

Note: The arrest records documented by law enforcement only show a portion of the records about an offence. To get the full account, requesters may need to consult other public records, including Ogemaw County court records and inmate records.

Are Arrest Records Public in Ogemaw County?

Ogemaw County arrest records are public under the Michigan Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). As such, interested parties may make an FOIA request directed to the local law enforcement agency or the court that handled the arrest.

However, certain records are kept private to protect individuals. For example, records on active investigations and expunged cases are not public. Such records are available only to the person involved, law enforcement officers, or anyone with a court order.

Ogemaw County Arrest Statistics

According to the 2018 FBI Uniform Crime Report for Ogemaw County, Michigan, that year there were 47 cases of violent crime, 21 rape cases, one robbery, 25 aggravated assaults, 88 property crimes, 29 burglaries, 51 larceny-thefts, and eight motor vehicle thefts. The average daily population at the county correctional facility was 132. That year, the overall crime rate was about 551 per 100,000 residents. The leading causes of arrests were drug possession and property offenses.

Find Ogemaw County Arrest Records

In Ogemaw County, record seekers may access arrest records through the Sheriff's office and other local law enforcement agencies. They provide various avenues through which requesters may submit record requests. They may request in person, online, by mail, or by email. Record seekers may reach out to the county Sheriff's office for enquiries on getting access to arrest records at:

Ogemaw County Sheriff's Office
806 W Wright St.
West Branch, MI 48661,
Phone: (989) 345-3111

In addition, Michigan State Police provides a tool, ICHAT, through which the public may get access to criminal history records of individuals across the state. Information available through the ICHAT includes arrest information for misdemeanors and felony charges.

Alternatively, for inmates in federal custody, requesters may find information about their arrest through the Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator tool. Using this tool, record seekers may get information about the location of the facility and the current status of the suspect's case proceedings. Moreover, record seekers may submit a FOIA request to the Federal Bureau Of Prisons via email with detailed information about the record they seek.

Ogemaw County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Arrest records and Criminal records in Ogemaw County are both law enforcement documents, but differ in their origin, function, and legal implications. Arrest records mainly contain information about an individual's arrest.

Arrest records are an essential aspect of a criminal record, documenting the incidents as they unfold from the period of arrest until the individual is arraigned in court. However, notably, arrest records do not give any idea about the case disposition, status, sentencing, or outcome. Therefore, to get a detailed picture of a criminal case, record seekers may not rely solely upon arrest records.

Conversely, criminal records give more comprehensive information about a criminal case, including information about the status of the arrestee's case and the outcome. Information in criminal records includes arrest details, court proceedings, sentences, convictions, bail, parole, and dismissals.

Moreover, arrest records in Ogemaw County are mainly the responsibility of law enforcement agencies. Criminal records are mainly maintained by the office of the county clerk, particularly when cases proceed to court.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

According to state law, arrest records generally remain indefinitely. Therefore, arrests often remain on individuals' records for the rest of their lives except they are expunged or sealed. Under Section 764.26a of the MCL, arrest records in which the arrestees' charges were dismissed before trial are automatically deleted. Also, under Michigan's Clean Slate Law, passed in 2020, some records are automatically set aside if the subject meets certain conditions. The law gives residents a chance at employment, accommodation, civil rights, and other privileges they stand to lose due to a stained record.

Ogemaw County Arrest Warrants

It is not always the case that suspects are arrested before or while committing a crime. Sometimes, law enforcement officials need to make arrests after an investigation has been carried out and leads to a suspect. Subsequently, the officer petitions the court for an arrest warrant.

An arrest warrant is a court order authorizing an officer to apprehend an individual and present them before the court to answer charges against them. To obtain a warrant, the officer submits evidence demonstrating probable cause to the judge. The judge examines the evidence and, if they are convinced that the minimum standard of probable cause has been met, they sign the warrant.

An Ogemaw County arrest warrant typically contains:

• The name of the suspect
• The alleged offense, including the statute violated
• The signature and title of the issuing judge
• Bail or release terms

Do Ogemaw County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No statute of limitations exists for arrest warrants in Ogemaw County. Warrants duly issued remain valid until the subject is taken into custody or the warrant is cancelled by the court.

Expunge Ogemaw County Arrest Records

Under Michigan expungement laws, Ogemaw County arrest records that did not result in a conviction or whose charges were dismissed qualify for automatic expungement. If an arrest led to a conviction, the subject of the record may apply for expungement under MCL 780.621. The law provides the criteria for eligibility and the waiting period before filing.

Petitioners must ensure their record meets Michigan's expungement rules before they apply. If they are eligible, they must:

• Complete form MC 227 or MC 227a.
• File it with the court in Ogemaw County that handled the case
• Under the current law, they do not have to pay a filing fee