Clinton County Public Records / Clinton County Arrest Records

Clinton County Arrest Records

Are Arrest Records Public in Clinton County

Arrest records in Clinton County, Michigan, are generally accessible to members of the public under the Michigan Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), codified at MCL § 15.231 et seq. This statute establishes that public bodies, including law enforcement agencies, must disclose public records upon request unless a specific statutory exemption applies. Clinton County arrest records are maintained primarily by the Clinton County Sheriff's Office and the Michigan State Police, both of which are subject to FOIA obligations.

It is important to distinguish between an arrest record and a conviction record. An arrest record documents the act of being taken into custody by law enforcement and does not indicate guilt or a criminal conviction. A conviction record, by contrast, reflects a formal finding of guilt by a court of law. Under Michigan law, individuals who are arrested but not convicted retain certain privacy interests, and some records related to non-conviction arrests may be subject to expungement or restricted access under MCL § 780.621, Michigan's expungement statute. The Michigan State Police maintains statewide criminal history records and provides guidance on the scope of public access to such information.

Clinton County Sheriff's Office 1347 E. Townsend Rd, St. Johns, MI 48879 (989) 224-5200 Clinton County Sheriff's Office

What's in Clinton County Arrest Records

Clinton County arrest records contain a standardized set of data fields compiled at the time of booking and throughout the custodial process. The following categories represent the information typically documented in an arrest record:

Arrestee Identifying Information:

Full legal name and known aliases
Date of birth and age at time of arrest
Gender, race, and physical descriptors (height, weight, eye and hair color)
Home address at time of arrest
Photograph (mugshot) taken during booking

Arrest Details:

Date, time, and location of arrest
Name and badge number of arresting officer(s)
Arresting agency (e.g., Clinton County Sheriff's Office, St. Johns Police Department)
Narrative description of circumstances leading to arrest

Charge Information:

Specific criminal charges filed
Michigan Penal Code statute references for each charge
Classification of offense (felony, misdemeanor, or civil infraction)

Warrant Information (if applicable):

Warrant number and issuing court
Date warrant was issued
Jurisdiction of originating warrant

Booking Information:

Booking number assigned by the detention facility
Date and time of booking
Name of booking officer
Facility where the individual was processed

Bond/Bail Information:

Bond type (personal recognizance, cash, surety)
Bond amount set by the court
Bond conditions imposed

Court Information:

Case number assigned by the Clinton County 29th Circuit Court or 65A District Court
Scheduled arraignment or hearing dates
Assigned judge or magistrate

Custody Status:

Current custody status (held, released, transferred)
Release date and method of release

Additional Information May Include:

Prior arrest history on file with the agency
Fingerprint records submitted to the Michigan State Police
Notations regarding detainers or holds from other jurisdictions

How To Look Up Arrest Records in Clinton County in 2026

Members of the public may obtain Clinton County arrest records through several official channels. The following steps outline the standard process for submitting a records request:

Identify the holding agency. Determine whether the arrest was processed by the Clinton County Sheriff's Office, the St. Johns Police Department, or another municipal law enforcement agency within the county.
Submit a FOIA request. Pursuant to MCL § 15.235, a written FOIA request must be submitted to the FOIA Coordinator of the relevant agency. Requests may be submitted in person, by mail, or electronically where the agency permits.
Include required identifying information. The request should specify the subject's full name, date of birth, and approximate date of arrest to facilitate an accurate search.
Pay applicable fees. Agencies may charge fees for labor, duplication, and mailing costs in accordance with MCL § 15.234. Fee waivers may be available in certain circumstances.
Await the agency's response. Under current law, the agency must respond within five business days of receiving the request, with a possible extension of up to ten additional business days.

Clinton County Sheriff's Office — Records Division 1347 E. Townsend Rd, St. Johns, MI 48879 (989) 224-5200 Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Clinton County Sheriff's Office

St. Johns Police Department 106 E. Walker St, St. Johns, MI 48879 (989) 224-8911 Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. St. Johns Police Department

How To Find Clinton County Arrest Records Online

Several official online platforms currently provide access to arrest and criminal history information related to Clinton County residents and detainees.

MiCOURT Case Search: The Michigan judiciary operates the MiCOURT Case Search portal, which allows members of the public to search court case records by name or case number. This system includes criminal case filings originating from Clinton County's 29th Circuit Court and 65A District Court. Note that some courts display criminal conviction information only when sentencing occurred within seven years of the search date.
Michigan Offender Tracking Information System (OTIS): The Michigan Department of Corrections maintains the offender tracking database, which provides information on individuals currently or previously incarcerated in state correctional facilities. This resource is particularly useful for locating individuals sentenced to state prison following a Clinton County conviction.
Michigan State Police Criminal History Records: The Michigan State Police provides access to statewide criminal history records, the Sex Offender Registry, and the Michigan Clean Slate expungement program. Members of the public may submit a name-based criminal history request through the MSP's Internet Criminal History Access Tool (ICHAT).
Clinton County Sheriff's Office Website: The Sheriff's Office may publish current inmate rosters or recent arrest logs on its official website, subject to applicable exemptions.

How To Search Clinton County Arrest Records for Free?

Several no-cost methods are available for accessing Clinton County arrest information through official government sources.

MiCOURT Case Search (no fee): The MiCOURT Case Search portal is available to the public at no charge and provides case-level information for criminal proceedings in Clinton County courts.
Michigan OTIS (no fee): The state's offender search tool is freely accessible online and does not require registration or payment to search for individuals in the state correctional system.
In-person inspection at the courthouse: Members of the public may inspect court records in person at the Clinton County Courthouse without charge. Fees apply only when copies are requested.
FOIA requests with fee waivers: Individuals who qualify under MCL § 15.234 may request a waiver or reduction of FOIA processing fees, particularly when disclosure is in the public interest.

Clinton County Courthouse — 29th Circuit Court 100 E. State St, St. Johns, MI 48879 (989) 224-5140 Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. 29th Circuit Court

Clinton County 65A District Court 100 E. State St, St. Johns, MI 48879 (989) 224-5150 Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. 65A District Court

How To Delete Arrest Records in Clinton County

Michigan law provides two primary mechanisms for limiting public access to arrest records: expungement (legal erasure from public view) and sealing (restricting access to authorized parties). Expungement under MCL § 780.621 results in the setting aside of a conviction or arrest record, effectively removing it from public criminal history databases. Sealing restricts access without fully erasing the record and is less commonly applied in Michigan compared to expungement.

Eligibility for Expungement in Michigan:

Arrests that did not result in conviction are generally eligible for expungement.
Certain misdemeanor and felony convictions may be expunged after applicable waiting periods under the Michigan Clean Slate Act.
Serious violent offenses, certain sex offenses, and traffic offenses are typically excluded from expungement eligibility.
Automatic expungement of eligible offenses may occur under the Clean Slate provisions without a petition in some circumstances.

Steps to Petition for Expungement:

Obtain a copy of the arrest or conviction record from the Michigan State Police or the sentencing court.
Complete the Application to Set Aside Conviction (form MC 227) available from the Michigan courts.
File the application with the court in which the conviction or arrest occurred — in this case, the Clinton County 29th Circuit Court or 65A District Court.
Serve copies on the Michigan Attorney General's office and the prosecuting attorney.
Attend the scheduled expungement hearing.

Clinton County Prosecutor's Office 100 E. State St, St. Johns, MI 48879 (989) 224-5145 Clinton County Prosecutor's Office

What Happens After Arrest in Clinton County?

The criminal justice process in Clinton County follows a structured sequence from the point of arrest through final case disposition.

Arrest and booking: Following an arrest, the individual is transported to the Clinton County Jail for booking, where identifying information, fingerprints, and photographs are collected.
Arraignment: The arraigned individual appears before a magistrate or judge, typically within 24 to 48 hours of arrest, to be formally informed of charges and to have bond conditions set.
Preliminary examination (felony cases): In felony matters, a preliminary examination is held in the 65A District Court to determine whether probable cause exists to bind the case over to the 29th Circuit Court.
Pre-trial proceedings: Both parties engage in discovery, motion practice, and plea negotiations.
Trial or plea: The case proceeds to jury or bench trial, or is resolved through a negotiated plea agreement.
Sentencing: Upon conviction, the court imposes a sentence in accordance with Michigan sentencing guidelines.
Appeals: Convicted individuals retain the right to appeal to the Michigan Court of Appeals and, subsequently, the Michigan Supreme Court.

How Long Are Arrest Records Kept in Clinton County?

Arrest record retention in Michigan is governed by state law and agency-specific retention schedules. Under the Michigan Records Management Services guidelines and applicable provisions of the Michigan Compiled Laws, law enforcement agencies are required to maintain arrest records for defined minimum periods.

Arrest records without conviction: Records of arrests not resulting in conviction are generally retained for a minimum period established by the Michigan State Police records retention schedule, often ranging from three to seven years depending on the offense classification.
Felony conviction records: Records associated with felony convictions are typically retained permanently by the Michigan State Police Criminal Justice Information Center.
Misdemeanor conviction records: Misdemeanor records are generally retained for a minimum of seven years, though many agencies maintain them indefinitely.
Juvenile records: Juvenile arrest records are subject to separate retention and confidentiality rules under Michigan's juvenile code.
Different agencies, different requirements: The Clinton County Sheriff's Office, the Michigan State Police, and the courts each maintain independent records systems with retention schedules that may differ from one another.

Records retention serves the dual purpose of preserving evidence for ongoing or future legal proceedings and maintaining accountability within the criminal justice system. The Michigan State Police oversees the statewide criminal history repository and publishes guidance on applicable retention standards.

How to Find Mugshots in Clinton County

What Mugshots Are A mugshot is a standardized photographic record taken by law enforcement at the time of booking. Mugshots are considered part of the official arrest record and document the physical appearance of an individual at the time of their arrest.

Where Mugshots Are Maintained Mugshots are maintained by the Clinton County Sheriff's Office as part of the booking record. Copies may also be transmitted to the Michigan State Police as part of the statewide criminal history record.

Finding Mugshots Members of the public may request mugshots through a formal FOIA request submitted to the Clinton County Sheriff's Office. The request should identify the subject by full name, date of birth, and approximate arrest date.

Can They Be Found Online At present, Clinton County does not operate a publicly accessible online mugshot database. Some third-party websites aggregate and publish mugshot images; however, these sources are not official government repositories and may not reflect current or accurate information.

Obtaining Mugshots Officially Official mugshot requests are processed through the Clinton County Sheriff's Office Records Division. Applicable duplication fees may apply pursuant to MCL § 15.234.

Restrictions on Mugshot Access Mugshots associated with arrests that have been expunged under MCL § 780.621 are no longer subject to public disclosure. Juvenile booking photographs are confidential under Michigan's juvenile justice statutes and are not available to the general public.