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Michigan Court Records

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Detroit Arrest Records

In Detroit, arrest records are documents created by the Detroit Police Department (DPD), the Michigan State Police (MSP), and other law enforcement agencies operating within the city's limits to document the apprehension and incarceration of individuals for arrestable offenses. These documents outline the personal details of individuals in law enforcement custody, the reasons for their arrests, and the terms of their release. Michigan law grants law enforcement the authority to arrest individuals if they witness crimes, have evidence that identifiable individuals committed arrestable acts, or receive arrest warrants from the courts.

In Detroit, law enforcement agencies hold arrestees at the Detroit Detention Center (DDC) for short-term incarceration but transfer them to the Wayne County Jail System for longer detention after conviction. Record seekers should contact the Detroit Police Department for copies of Detroit arrest records. However, if they are evidential documents during criminal trials, they may become part of Wayne County arrest records.

Are Arrest Records Public in Detroit?

Detroit arrest records are publicly accessible, as mandated by Michigan's Freedom of Information Act. However, there are exceptions to the public disclosure of some arrest records. Per Michigan laws, Detroit arrest records are not public if they relate to:

  • Ongoing investigations
  • Confidential informants or undercover officers
  • Personal identifying details of third parties
  • Juvenile arrests
  • Security procedures or jail operations
  • Medical and mental health information
  • Law enforcement techniques and strategies
  • Information protected by court order or statute.

Notwithstanding their exemption, Detroit's publicly restricted arrest records are accessible to:

  • The individual named in the record
  • Defense attorneys
  • Prosecutors
  • Judges and court personnel
  • Law enforcement agencies
  • Probation and parole officers
  • Licensing or regulatory bodies
  • Federal authorities such as the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security
  • Individuals with court orders.

Individuals seeking access to Detroit arrest records should contact the Detroit Police Department Headquarters at:

1301 Third Street,
Detroit,
MI 48226
Phone: (313) 596-1800

Detroit Arrest Statistics

According to FBI arrest data, the Detroit Police Department arrested 34,988 individuals for various offenses within Detroit between January 1, 2021, and December 31, 2023. Within this period, weapon law violations, aggravated assaults, and simple assaults accounted for over 54% of arrest incidents within Detroit. The table below outlines the arrest statistics for Detroit between January 1, 2021, and December 31, 2023.

Offense Number of Arrests
Weapon Law Violations 8,656
Aggravated Assaults 6,584
Simple Assaults 3,729
Drug/Narcotic Violations 1,801
Stolen Properties 1,586
DUI 1,349
Vandalism 1,177
Larcenies 981
Motor Vehicle Theft 895
Robberies 823
Burglaries 744
Homicides 458
Disorderly Conduct 393
Sex-related Offenses 287
Fraud 223
Arson 132
Forgery 131
Prostitution 119
All Other Offenses 4,920

Data Source: FBI UCR database.

Find Detroit Arrest Records

Individuals seeking access to Detroit arrest records should fill out and submit the Michigan Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Form on the Detroit Police Records Page. Alternatively, download and complete a Police FOIA Request Form and submit it to the City of Detroit Law Department at:

Coleman A. Young Municipal Building
2 Woodward Avenue, Suite 500
Detroit,
Michigan 48226
Fax: (313) 224-5505
Email: DPDFOIA@detroitmi.gov.

Furthermore, information seekers may search for Detroit arrest records by name and booking numbers through the Wayne County Jail Inmate Search Portal.

Detroit Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Arrest and criminal records from Detroit provide insight into individuals' interactions with the local criminal justice system. While complementary, these documents are distinct. The following points highlight the differences between Detroit arrest records and criminal records

Detroit Arrest Records

  • Detroit arrest records are law enforcement details of the arrest and incarceration of individuals within the city limits.
  • Arrest records contain the personal information of individuals taken into custody for various offenses, the reasons for their detention, and the requirements for their release
  • A Detroit arrest record may not have a significant impact on the owner if it does not result in a criminal conviction. The court may set it aside if there are no charges or if it results in acquittal or dismissal

Detroit Criminal Records

  • Detroit criminal records are comprehensive details of individuals' interactions with Detroit's criminal justice system.
  • Unlike arrest records that may detail one arrest event, criminal records provide a complete account of criminal activities, including their trials and legal outcomes
  • Detroit criminal records are post-trial documents and are legal confirmation of guilty verdicts for criminal acts
  • Criminal records may harm job and housing opportunities or negatively impact social standing.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Arrest information may stay on records indefinitely unless the courts seal or remove it. The Michigan Clean Slate Law grants individuals the right to petition for the setting aside of their arrest and criminal records. There is automatic expungement for eligible convictions after 7 years (for misdemeanors) or 10 years (for felonies), without requiring individuals to file petitions. In Detroit, owners of arrest records may petition the 36th District Court or the Wayne County Circuit Court to set aside their arrest information if the arrest:

  • Results in a dismissal or does not lead to criminal charges
  • Is from an eligible misdemeanor or felony.

Intending applicants must also observe the applicable waiting period for the underlying offenses before filing petitions for expungement of their arrest records.

Detroit Arrest Warrants

In Detroit, an arrest warrant is a legal document that judges and magistrates of Detroit's 36th District Court – Criminal Division or the Wayne County Circuit Court issue to authorize law enforcement to take specific individuals into custody.
Law enforcement agencies in Detroit must demonstrate probable cause to secure arrest warrants from the courts. A judge or magistrate may issue one if:

  • There is evidence of crime
  • A suspect fails to appear for a criminal trial
  • An individual is a suspect in an ongoing criminal investigation
  • Parolees or probationers violate the terms of their release.

A typical Detroit arrest warrant will include:

  • The subject's full name, known aliases, and physical description
  • Date of issuance
  • Charges against the individual, noting the specific sections of Michigan law allegedly broken
  • The name and location of the issuing court
  • Orders for law enforcement to arrest and bring the individual before the court
  • The name and signature of the authorizing judge or magistrate.

Do Detroit Arrest Warrants Expire?

Detroit arrest warrants do not have expiry dates; they remain active until law enforcement takes the subjects into custody or the courts quash or recall them. However, certain legal and procedural factors may affect the validity or enforcement of a warrant over time. For instance, clerical errors, lack of probable cause, violation of constitutional rights, improper service, identity errors, and lack of jurisdiction may render a Detroit arrest warrant void.
Furthermore, if there is a statute of limitations on a crime in Detroit, the Wayne County Prosecuting Attorney's Office must file a case against the offender within that limitation period to request an arrest warrant. The courts may also dismiss old misdemeanor warrants if they become unenforceable.

Expunge Detroit Arrest Records

In Detroit, individuals may petition the 36th District Court or the Wayne County Circuit Court to set aside their arrest records if the arrests did not result in convictions or are for eligible misdemeanors and felonies. The following steps outline the process for setting aside arrest records in Detroit:

  • Confirm eligibility for expungement of the arrest record
  • Get a certified copy of the arrest/criminal records through the Michigan State Police (MSP) ICHAT System
  • Download and complete Michigan's Court Form 227
  • Get fingerprinted at an approved Live Scan fingerprinting provider and submit the fingerprints to the Michigan State Police (MSP) using the RI-008 form
  • File the petition with Detroit's 36th District Court (for misdemeanors) or the Wayne County Circuit Court (felonies)
  • Serve copies of the petition to the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office, the Michigan Attorney General's Office, and the Michigan State Police Criminal Records Division at least 35 days before the hearing date (if the court schedules one)
  • Attend the Court Hearing (if applicable) to counter objections and provide answers to questions
  • If the petition is successful, the judge will issue an Order to Set Aside Arrest Record and send it to the Michigan State Police and other relevant agencies to update their databases
  • Confirm the removal of the arrest record through the ICHAT System, the court clerk's office, and the Detroit Police Department.
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  • Criminal Records
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