Ottawa County Arrest Records

Ottawa County arrest records are official documents containing details of an individual's arrest and detainment by law enforcement agencies on suspicion of criminal activity. They may include personal information on the suspect, booking, offenses, and charges.

After an arrest, the suspect is booked into the Ottawa County Correctional Facility until bail release or arraignment. While booking the arrestee, the officer in charge gathers information about the arrestee and everything related. This information constitutes arrest records that can be used by other criminal justice agencies and courts when needed.

The Ottawa County Sheriff's Office and other law enforcement divisions generate and maintain arrest records in the county. However, other documents are maintained by adjacent justice system divisions, including Ottawa County Court Records. In any case, obtaining an arrest record involves contacting the record custodian and providing information about the record of interest.

Are Arrest Records Public in Ottawa County?

Yes. Per Michigan's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), arrest records are public in Ottawa County. An individual may request to inspect, copy, or obtain copies of public records from the appropriate law enforcement official in the county (MCL—Section 15.231).

However, the open record policy does not apply to all arrest records material, as some information may be private and exempt from disclosure under MCL - Section 15.243 of FOIA. The following are some of the exemptions:

• Personal information of the subject, if public disclosure of the information, will be a form of privacy invasion.
• Information that may disclose the identity of a reliable source or pose a danger to the safety of a law enforcement official
• Investigation files for law enforcement purposes
• Information that may deprive a person of the right to a fair court trial
• Any detail that will disclose the identity of a party or witness to a crime

Individuals seeking to access exempt arrest records in Ottawa County may submit written permissions from the record subject or through a court to authorize disclosure. A record request and eligibility requirements are usually required to obtain other records from the authorized custodians.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Some of the information on Ottawa County arrest records includes the following:

• Subject's personal information (full name, phone number, and date of birth)
• Physical Description details such as gender, height, weight, eye color, body marks, and race
• Booking information (time and date of the arrest and booking, specifics on the holding facility, bond type and amount, and the arrestee's release date if applicable)
• Arrest information, which includes the time and location of the arrest and the details of the arresting officer.
• The type of offense committed and any associated criminal charges.

Ottawa County Crime Rate

In 2022, the Michigan State Police gathered violent and property crime data across various counties, including Ottawa County. This report contains the Michigan Incident Crime Reporting (MICR) offense file class for Index and Non-Index crimes for each county and its corresponding city/townships.

According to this data, the total crime is 19,097, with an index crime total of 3,314 and a non-index crime total of 15,783. Amongst the property crimes, the most prevalent was larceny (2,137), followed by burglary (249) and motor vehicle theft (179). For violent crimes, the most rampant crime was aggravated assault (464), followed by rape (258), robbery (15), and murder (3).

Ottawa County Arrest Statistics

The Michigan State Police also published 2022 arrest reports for index and non-index crimes in Ottawa County and its municipalities. This report also counts all arrests in cases where one person was arrested, and that arrest was connected to various separate incidents. Per the 2022 arrest report, the most prevalent arrests were for robbery, larceny, motor vehicle theft, and retail fraud. In summary, county law enforcement made 3,961 arrests, including 478 arrests for index crimes and 3,483 for non-index crimes.

Find Ottawa County Arrest Records

Individuals who want to obtain Ottawa County records on inmates may visit the official website, County Sheriff's Office, in person or online. The Corrections Division of the Ottawa County Jail provides information on current in-custody inmates in the county. To search for inmates, the individual may enter details such as complete last name, first name, booking date, and gender.

The Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) keeps records of inmates incarcerated in state facilities. The Offender Tracking Information System (OTIS) provides information on parolees and probationers who were released within three years. To search the MDOC database, the request will be required to enter details such as the offender's name, MDOC number, sex, age, race, marks, and offender status.

For certified inmate records, the requester should make a formal written request containing the following information:

• Inmate's last and first names
• Date of birth
• The nature of the crime
• Booking or release dates
• MODC identification number.

All requests may be sent in person or through mail to:

Michigan Department of Corrections
Grandview Plaza
206 E. Michigan Avenue
P. O Box 30003
Lansing, MI 48909.

Free Arrest Record Search in Ottawa County

According to Michigan FOIA (MCL § 15.234), law enforcement agencies in Ottawa County may charge a fee for searching arrest records and providing copies of such documents. These fees differ across local agencies for searching, mailing, duplication, or examination. This means that individuals may find it difficult to access or obtain copies of Ottawa County arrest records for free from official record keepers.

The Ottawa County Sheriff's Office provides online access to arrest information by submitting written requests for criminal reports to the Records Unit. The requester may use the Ottawa County FOIA Center to process requests and manage workflow for its users. The cost of reports varies depending on the time spent on each request.

Get Ottawa County Criminal Records

Criminal records or criminal history are official documents on an individual's interactions with the criminal justice system, which include arrests, charges, convictions, and sentences. These records are gathered from information submitted by law enforcement agencies, courts, and Ottawa County, Michigan correctional facilities.

The Michigan State Police division also allows requesters to search for criminal history records using the Michigan State Police's ICHAT (a name-based background check). The criminal history record includes a personal description of the person and information on misdemeanor convictions and felony arrests and convictions. Fees may apply to search for documents using this database.

Ottawa County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Arrest records detail the arrest information, while criminal records have more to do with the outcome of the arrest. Generally, arrest records show that a person is suspected of a crime. These records may also include personal information, such as age, address, and social security number, as well as facts about the arrest, such as fingerprints, photographs, and arrest charges. Law enforcement agencies and other judicial institutions in the county usually generate them.

On the other hand, a criminal record details a person's criminal history, including arrests, detentions, and convictions, after someone has gone through the county's legal system. These records can show information such as charges, date of offense, case disposition, presiding judge, defense attorney, court dates, and bond amount.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

In Michigan, the duration for an arrest to remain on a record depends on the type of crime, arrest record, and the information it contains. Michigan's General Schedule for Local Law Enforcement states that arrest log data may be retained for five years before it can be destroyed. The following is information on retaining other criminal offenses on a record:

• Arrest records on non-criminal incidents must be retained for three years after the incident file is closed before they are destroyed.
• The Schedule also states that arrest records on misdemeanor incidents remain on file for seven years after the incident file closes.
• Arrest records on felony incidents must be retained for 20 years after the incident's case file closes, and the arrestee has no active warrant, which is then destroyed.
• Arrest records on homicide and criminal sexual conduct incidents are also retained until their incident's case file closes, and the arrestee has no active warrant but for a significantly longer time.

Meanwhile, juvenile offenders may be given a clean slate after they become 17 years old. This is because a juvenile's arrest record is usually removed once the juvenile comes of age. However, Michigan's General Schedule only applies to local law enforcement agencies, like the Ottawa County sheriff's office, jail division, and police department.

Expunge Ottawa County Arrest Records

An expungement is a way to remove past offenses or clear certain criminal convictions from one's public record. When a record is expunged, it is no longer accessible to the public so employers and other public members cannot find or use it. According to Michigan Public Act 193 of 2020, arrest records whose charges have been dismissed or acquitted automatically qualify for expungement. If the arrest leads to a conviction, it is also eligible to be expunged.

The following are some of the crimes that are ineligible for expungement in Michigan (MCL - Section 780.621):

• Convictions that carry a life imprisonment sentence, including attempts to commit felonies
• Felony domestic violence conviction on record and a prior misdemeanor conviction for the same
• Sexual offenses such as assault to commit criminal sexual conduct, offenses on child sexual abuse materials, and convictions for using a computer to commit certain sex crimes
• Convictions on child abuse, human trafficking, and all degrees of criminal sexual conduct
• Traffic offenses involving impairment like driving while intoxicated or those that lead to injury or death.

Individuals may visit the Michigan Attorney General's expungement assistance official website to expunge records in Michigan. To set aside eligible arrests and convictions in the state, applicants must fill out and submit certain application forms, especially MC 227. These forms are found in the website's 'Applications & Checklists' section.

The Michigan State Police (MSP) checks the expungement application forms and required documents to process the Criminal History Report. Once the Criminal History Report is completed, the Attorney General will respond to the applicant's request for an expungement hearing. There is no cost for filing an expungement application; the applicant may wait up to 8 months to complete the process.

Ottawa County Arrest Warrants

In Ottawa County, an arrest warrant is a legal document from a judge or magistrate that authorizes law enforcement officers to arrest someone for committing a crime or violating court orders. The information in an arrest warrant includes:

• The suspect's complete name and location.
• The offense of the charged crime.
• The command that the suspect be arrested and brought before the issuing judge.

Sometimes, Michigan law allows police officers to make arrests without warrants in certain circumstances. For instance, if the officer believes there is sufficient evidence to suspect an individual committed a crime, an arrest warrant may be issued to apprehend the person for further investigation. Once an arrest warrant is issued in Michigan, law enforcement officers may search for the subject of the warrant to arrest and bring them into custody.

Ottawa County Arrest Warrant Search

To find an active warrant in Ottawa County, reach out to the County Sheriff's Office, where the warrant was issued in person or online.

12220 Fillmore Street
West Olive, MI 49460
Phone: (616) 738-4000
Fax: (616) 738-4062
Email: sheriffs.office@miottawa.org.

The office's website provides an online link to search active warrants within the county. This tool allows requesters to access information about individuals' outstanding warrants. The requester may require the individual's first and last name on the warrant. Search results will display information on active arrest warrants, including warrant numbers, issuing agencies, and charges.

Do Ottawa County Arrest Warrants Expire?

Arrest warrants in Ottawa County do not expire. This means an arrest warrant may be executed during a regular traffic stop, background check, or public search. The subject of the warrant can do little or nothing to avoid its execution before being put under custody. However, an Ottawa County arrest warrant may be void if the court recalls it or the statutes of limitations expire on the offense.