Antrim County Arrest Records
How To Look Up Arrest Records in Antrim County in 2026
AntrimRecords.us provides publicly available data related to arrest records, booking information, and associated court activity in Antrim County, Michigan. Members of the public may find records that include the following categories of information:
- Arrest and booking records
- Criminal court case filings
- Inmate custody status
- Charge and disposition data
- Bond and release information
Records available through official and third-party sources may not reflect the most current status of a case, and the presence of an arrest record does not indicate a conviction.
Members of the public may search arrest records through several official channels, including the Antrim County Sheriff's Office, the 13th Circuit Court, the 86th District Court, and the Michigan State Police. The online services portal maintained by Antrim County provides direct access to civil and criminal case records for both the 13th Circuit Court and the 86th District Court, as well as e-filing tools and other public-facing resources.
Online Methods:
1. County Sheriff's Office Arrest Records
The Antrim County Sheriff's Office maintains booking records and current inmate information accessible to the public. The inmate information page provides custody status, booking details, and charge information for individuals currently held at the Antrim County Jail. Records are updated on a rolling basis as bookings and releases occur. Members of the public may search by name to locate individuals currently in custody or recently booked.
2. Local Police Departments
Antrim County is served primarily by the Antrim County Sheriff's Office, which holds jurisdiction over unincorporated areas and smaller municipalities. The City of Bellaire and other incorporated communities may maintain their own police records. Press releases and public arrest logs, where issued, are published through the Sheriff's Office and may include names, charges, and arresting agency information.
3. County Clerk of Court Case Search
Court cases arising from arrests in Antrim County are filed in either the 13th Circuit Court or the 86th District Court, depending on the severity of the charges. Members of the public may search criminal case records through the Antrim County Courts page or through the statewide Michigan Courts case search portal, which includes records from the Antrim Circuit Court, Antrim Juvenile Division, and Antrim Probate Court. Searching by an individual's name will return associated case numbers, charge descriptions, and hearing dates.
4. State Law Enforcement Database
The Michigan State Police maintains the Criminal Justice Information Center (CJIC), which serves as the state's central repository for criminal history records. Members of the public may submit a request for a criminal history background check through the Michigan State Police. The standard fee for a public criminal history check is $10.00 per subject. The state repository includes arrest and disposition data submitted by law enforcement agencies and courts throughout Michigan.
In-Person Access:
Sheriff's Office:
Antrim County Sheriff's Office
203 E. Cayuga Street
Bellaire, MI 49615
Phone: (231) 533-8627
Sheriff's Office – Antrim County
- Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
- Members of the public requesting records in person should bring a valid government-issued photo identification and, where available, the subject's full legal name, date of birth, and approximate date of arrest.
- Copy fees apply per page; the schedule of fees is posted on the Sheriff's Office website.
Clerk of Court:
Antrim County Clerk's Office
203 E. Cayuga Street
Bellaire, MI 49615
Phone: (231) 533-6353
Courts – Antrim County
- Criminal case files may be inspected during regular business hours.
- Copy fees are assessed per page in accordance with Michigan law.
By Mail:
Written requests for arrest records may be directed to the Antrim County Sheriff's Office at 203 E. Cayuga Street, Bellaire, MI 49615. Requests should include the subject's full legal name, date of birth, date of arrest if known, booking number if available, and the requestor's return mailing address. Payment for copies should accompany the request. Processing time varies based on volume and record availability.
By Phone:
The Antrim County Sheriff's Office may be reached at (231) 533-8627 during regular business hours. Telephone inquiries are limited in scope; staff may confirm basic custody status but will refer detailed records requests to in-person or written submission. The requestor should have the subject's full name, date of birth, and approximate arrest date available when calling.
Through Legal Channels:
Attorneys of record may request records through formal discovery processes. Subpoenas directed to the custodian of records compel production of documents not otherwise available through routine public access. Records obtained through legal proceedings are governed by applicable court rules and protective orders.
Information Needed for Search:
- Full legal name (first and last name at minimum)
- Date of birth or approximate age
- Approximate date of arrest
- Booking number, if known
- Jurisdiction of arrest
Are Arrest Records Public in Antrim County
Arrest records in Antrim County are public records subject to disclosure under Michigan's Freedom of Information Act, MCL § 15.231 et seq., which establishes the right of members of the public to inspect and obtain copies of public records held by state and local government bodies. Arrest records are treated as public documents because they reflect the exercise of governmental authority and serve the interests of transparency, public safety, community awareness, journalistic inquiry, legal proceedings, and background screening.
What Arrest Information Is Public:
- Arrestee name and known aliases
- Date and time of arrest
- Location of arrest
- Arresting agency
- Charges filed at the time of arrest
- Booking number
- Booking photograph (mugshot)
- Bond and bail information
- Current custody status
- Basic demographic information including age and physical description
Limitations on Public Access:
- Juvenile arrest records are restricted or sealed under Michigan law
- Expunged arrest records are removed from public access following a court order
- Records sealed by court order are not available for routine public inspection
- Information pertaining to active investigations may be withheld
- Identities of undercover officers and confidential informants are exempt from disclosure
- Victim-identifying information is protected in certain categories of cases
- Participants in witness protection programs are not identified in public records
Constitutional and Legal Basis:
Michigan's FOIA framework reflects the constitutional principle that government operations are subject to public scrutiny. The First Amendment protects the press and public's interest in accessing information about law enforcement activity. Due process considerations require that arrest records accurately reflect the status of proceedings, including dismissals and acquittals, to prevent undue prejudice to individuals whose charges were not pursued.
Who Can Access Arrest Records:
- Members of the general public
- Media organizations and journalists
- Employers, subject to restrictions under the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act
- Landlords, subject to applicable housing discrimination laws
- Licensing agencies
- Background check companies operating under FCRA compliance
- Attorneys and legal professionals
- Academic researchers
Restrictions on Use:
The federal Fair Credit Reporting Act governs the use of arrest records in employment and housing decisions. Michigan employers are subject to state-specific employment discrimination provisions. The distinction between an arrest and a conviction is legally significant; an arrest record does not establish guilt, and its use in adverse employment or housing decisions may be subject to legal challenge.
What's in Antrim County Arrest Records
Personal Identification Information:
- Full legal name and any aliases
- Date of birth and age at time of arrest
- Sex and race
- Height, weight, eye color, and hair color
- Identifying marks such as scars or tattoos
- Address at time of arrest, which may be partially redacted
Arrest Details:
- Date and time of arrest
- Location of arrest
- Arresting agency and, in some cases, the name and badge number of the arresting officer
- Booking date, time, and assigned booking number
- Warrant information, if the arrest was warrant-based
Charges Information:
- Specific criminal charges and applicable statute numbers
- Charge descriptions and classifications (felony or misdemeanor)
- Number of counts per charge
- Domestic violence or gang-related designations, where applicable
Booking Information:
- Name and location of the booking facility
- Intake timestamp
- Booking photograph
- Fingerprints are collected during booking but are not included in public-facing records
Custody and Bond Information:
- Current custody status
- Bond amount as set by the court
- Bond type, which may include cash bond, surety bond, personal recognizance, or no bond
- Release date and time, if the individual has been released
- Conditions of release, where publicly available
Court Information:
- Assigned court case number
- Court jurisdiction
- Scheduled arraignment date
- Court location and, where available, judge assignment
What's Typically NOT in Public Arrest Records:
- Detailed narrative of the arrest or police report
- Witness statements and victim information
- Evidence collected during the investigation
- Medical or mental health information
- Social Security number, which is redacted from public records
- Financial account information
Difference Between Arrest Records and Related Documents:
- Police reports contain detailed incident narratives not included in booking records
- Court records document legal proceedings that follow an arrest
- Criminal records reflect convictions and sentences, not merely arrests
- Background checks aggregate information from multiple sources beyond a single arrest record
How Much Does It Cost to Get Arrest Records in Antrim County?
The Antrim County Sheriff's Office assesses fees for copies of public records in accordance with Michigan's Freedom of Information Act, MCL § 15.234, which permits public bodies to charge for the labor, duplication, and mailing costs associated with fulfilling records requests.
| Record Type | Standard Fee |
|---|---|
| Paper copies (per page) | $0.10–$0.25 per page (labor and duplication) |
| Certification of records | Varies by office |
| Electronic format | May be provided at reduced or no cost |
| Search fee | Permitted when labor exceeds a threshold |
| Inspection (no copies) | No charge for inspection only |
- Accepted payment methods at the Sheriff's Office include cash, check, and money order payable to Antrim County.
- Fee waivers may be available for indigent requestors who submit a written waiver request demonstrating inability to pay, as provided under Michigan FOIA.
- Court records obtained through the Clerk's Office are subject to separate fee schedules established by the Michigan Supreme Court.
- Members of the public may inspect records at no charge; fees apply only when copies are requested.
- The Michigan State Police charges $10.00 per subject for a public criminal history background check.
How To Delete Arrest Records in Antrim County
Michigan law provides two primary mechanisms for limiting public access to arrest records: expungement, which results in the setting aside of a conviction or arrest record, and sealing, which restricts access without full destruction of the record. Under Michigan's Clean Slate Act, MCL § 780.621, eligible individuals may petition the court to set aside qualifying convictions and arrests, removing them from public-facing databases maintained by law enforcement and the courts.
Expungement is available in the following circumstances:
- Arrests that did not result in charges being filed
- Charges that were dismissed by the court
- Acquittals following trial
- Certain misdemeanor and felony convictions after the applicable waiting period
- Convictions for offenses that have been decriminalized or reclassified
The steps to petition for expungement in Antrim County are as follows:
- Obtain a copy of the criminal record from the Michigan State Police to confirm eligibility.
- Complete the Application to Set Aside Conviction (form MC 227), available through the Michigan Courts.
- File the petition with the Antrim County Circuit Court or District Court, depending on the court of conviction.
- Serve copies of the petition on the Michigan Attorney General's Office and the prosecuting attorney.
- Attend the scheduled hearing, at which the court will determine whether to grant the petition.
- If granted, the court transmits the order to the Michigan State Police, which updates the state criminal history repository.
Antrim County 13th Circuit Court
203 E. Cayuga Street
Bellaire, MI 49615
Phone: (231) 533-6353
Courts – Antrim County
Juvenile records are subject to separate sealing procedures under Michigan's juvenile code and are not addressed through the standard adult expungement process. Records sealed by court order remain accessible to law enforcement agencies but are not available for routine public inspection or standard background checks.
What Happens After Arrest in Antrim County?
Immediate Post-Arrest Process:
1. Transport to Jail
Following an arrest, the individual is transported to the Antrim County Jail, located at 203 E. Cayuga Street, Bellaire, MI 49615, which is operated by the Antrim County Sheriff's Office. Transport time varies based on the location of the arrest within the county.
2. Booking Process
Upon arrival at the jail, the booking process is initiated. The process includes recording personal information, photographing the individual, collecting fingerprints, conducting a criminal history and outstanding warrants check, inventorying personal property, completing a medical screening, and assigning housing classification. The booking process takes approximately one to four hours depending on facility volume.
3. First Appearance/Initial Hearing
Under Michigan law, an arrested individual must be brought before a magistrate or judge without unnecessary delay, and in practice this occurs within 24 to 48 hours of arrest. At the initial appearance, the court formally notifies the individual of the charges, determines bond, advises the individual of the right to counsel, and, if the individual is indigent, initiates the appointment of a public defender. Hearings may be conducted via video conference.
Bond/Bail Process:
Cash Bond: The full bond amount is paid in cash and is refunded at the conclusion of the case, minus applicable fees. The amount is set by the judge or magistrate based on the bond schedule and case-specific factors.
Surety Bond: The individual retains a licensed bail bondsman, pays a non-refundable premium of approximately 10 percent of the total bond amount, and the bondsman posts the full amount with the court.
Personal Recognizance (PR Bond): The individual is released on a written promise to appear at all future court dates. No monetary payment is required. Eligibility is based on community ties, employment status, criminal history, the nature of the charges, and assessed flight risk.
No Bond: The court may order that an individual be held without bond in cases involving serious violent offenses, demonstrated flight risk, danger to the community, probation or parole violations, immigration holds, or active out-of-state warrants.
4. Release or Continued Detention
If bond is posted, the individual is processed for release, which takes approximately one to eight hours. Written conditions of release are provided, and the individual must appear at all scheduled court dates. Failure to appear results in bond forfeiture and issuance of a bench warrant. If bond is not posted, the individual remains in custody and is assigned to general population pending further court proceedings.
Accessing Legal Representation:
Public Defender:
Antrim County Public Defender
203 E. Cayuga Street
Bellaire, MI 49615
Phone: (231) 533-6353
Eligibility for appointed counsel is based on financial need. The application is completed at the time of the initial appearance.
Private Attorney:
Individuals have the right to retain private counsel at any stage of the proceedings. The State Bar of Michigan maintains a lawyer referral service accessible through its official website. Attorney-client consultations at the jail are confidential.
Charging Decision:
The Antrim County Prosecutor's Office reviews the arrest and determines whether to file formal charges, request additional investigation, decline prosecution, or file modified charges. For felony offenses, the prosecutor may proceed by information following a preliminary examination or, in some cases, by grand jury indictment. The arraignment follows the filing of charges, at which the defendant enters a plea. The majority of defendants enter an initial plea of not guilty.
Court Process Overview:
The pretrial phase includes discovery, pretrial motions, and pretrial conferences. The prosecution and defense exchange evidence, including police reports, witness statements, physical evidence, and audio or video recordings. Pretrial motions may address suppression of evidence, dismissal of charges, or other procedural matters. Plea negotiations may result in a resolution prior to trial.
Case resolution options include dismissal, diversion programs such as drug court or mental health court, plea agreement, or trial. If convicted, the defendant proceeds to sentencing, at which the court may impose incarceration, probation, fines, restitution, community service, treatment requirements, or a combination thereof.
Timeline Overview:
- Arrest to first appearance: 24–48 hours
- First appearance to arraignment: days to several weeks
- Arraignment to trial or resolution: several months, varying by case complexity
- Misdemeanor cases: resolved within weeks to a few months
- Felony cases: resolved within several months to over a year
- Michigan's constitutional speedy trial guarantee requires that cases proceed without unreasonable delay
Important Contacts:
Antrim County Sheriff's Office (Jail)
203 E. Cayuga Street
Bellaire, MI 49615
Phone: (231) 533-8627
Inmate Information – Antrim County
Antrim County Clerk of Court
203 E. Cayuga Street
Bellaire, MI 49615
Phone: (231) 533-6353
Courts – Antrim County
Antrim County Prosecutor's Office
203 E. Cayuga Street
Bellaire, MI 49615
Phone: (231) 533-6353
What to Do If Arrested:
- Remain calm and cooperative with law enforcement.
- Do not physically resist arrest.
- Exercise the right to remain silent by politely declining to answer questions.
- Request an attorney immediately and do not waive that right.
- Refrain from discussing the case with anyone other than retained or appointed counsel.
- Contact family or a trusted individual to assist with bail.
- Attend all scheduled court dates without exception.
- Comply with all conditions of release.
How Long Are Arrest Records Kept in Antrim County?
Records Retention Overview:
Retention of arrest records in Antrim County is governed by Michigan's records retention schedules established under state law and applicable local policies. Records are maintained by the Sheriff's Office, the Clerk of Court, and the Michigan State Police Criminal Justice Information Center, each of which applies its own retention schedule based on the type of record and the disposition of the associated case.
Arrest Records Retention by Type:
Felony Convictions: Records are retained permanently by the Sheriff's Office, the Clerk of Court, the Michigan State Police, and the FBI's National Crime Information Center. Felony conviction records are part of the permanent criminal history of the individual.
Misdemeanor Convictions: Court records for misdemeanor convictions are retained permanently in electronic form. Local law enforcement records are retained in accordance with the applicable Michigan records retention schedule.
Dismissed Charges: Arrest records associated with dismissed charges may remain in law enforcement and court databases unless the individual obtains an expungement order. The records may not appear on standard background checks but remain accessible to law enforcement.
Acquittals: Court records reflecting a not-guilty verdict are retained permanently in electronic court systems. Local law enforcement records are retained per the applicable schedule. These records may be eligible for expungement.
Charges Not Filed: Booking records for arrests that did not result in charges being filed are subject to shorter retention periods and may be eligible for expungement upon petition.
Digital vs. Physical Records:
Electronic records management systems maintained by the Sheriff's Office and the courts are retained for extended periods, with felony and serious offense records retained permanently. Physical booking paperwork, fingerprint cards, and photographs are retained in accordance with the Michigan records retention schedule. Third-party commercial databases may retain records indefinitely and are not subject to the same update requirements as official government repositories.
Retention by Agency:
Antrim County Sheriff's Office
203 E. Cayuga Street
Bellaire, MI 49615
Phone: (231) 533-8627
Sheriff's Office – Antrim County
Booking records and arrest reports are retained per the Michigan local government records retention schedule. Investigative files are retained based on case outcome, with serious offense files retained permanently.
Antrim County Clerk of Court
203 E. Cayuga Street
Bellaire, MI 49615
Phone: (231) 533-6353
Courts – Antrim County
Felony case files are retained permanently. Misdemeanor and traffic case files are retained per the applicable court records schedule. Electronic records are retained permanently in the statewide court management system.
Michigan State Police – Criminal Justice Information Center: The state repository retains criminal history records, including arrest and disposition data, in accordance with state policy. Records are updated when courts and law enforcement agencies submit disposition information. The Michigan Courts case search reflects current case status for Antrim Circuit Court, Antrim Juvenile Division, and Antrim Probate Court.
FBI Database: The National Crime Information Center and the Interstate Identification Index retain records at the federal level on a permanent basis. These records are accessible to law enforcement agencies nationwide and are used in employment background checks for positions requiring federal clearance.
Effect of Disposition on Retention:
A conviction results in permanent retention across all relevant databases. A dismissal may leave records in place unless expungement is obtained. An expungement order directs the Sheriff's Office and the Michigan State Police to update or seal the record; however, the FBI database may retain a notation of the original arrest. Third-party background check companies are not automatically updated upon expungement and may require direct notification to correct their records under the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
Impact on Background Checks:
Under the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act, most employment background checks report criminal history for a period of seven years, though convictions may be reported indefinitely. Michigan law does not currently impose a blanket prohibition on reporting non-conviction arrests, though the use of such records in employment decisions may be subject to challenge. Individuals who have obtained expungement orders should monitor third-party databases and submit correction requests where inaccurate information persists.
Lookup Arrest Records in Antrim County
- Antrim County Sheriff's Office – public records and booking information
- Antrim County Jail inmate information and custody status
- Antrim County online services – circuit and district court case records
- Antrim County Courts – criminal case filings and dispositions
- Michigan Courts statewide case search – Antrim Circuit, Juvenile, and Probate Court