Dearborn Felony Records Database
Dearborn felony records are handled through the 19th District Court and the Wayne County Circuit Court. Dearborn is the largest city in Wayne County outside of Detroit and is home to Ford Motor Company's world headquarters. Felony cases in Dearborn begin with a preliminary examination at the 19th District Court before moving to the Wayne County Circuit Court for trial and sentencing. Both courts have public record access options, and the Michigan State Police ICHAT system provides statewide criminal history search capability.
Dearborn Overview
19th District Court Dearborn
The 19th District Court at 16077 Michigan Ave in Dearborn handles all misdemeanor criminal cases and felony preliminary examinations for the city. The court can be reached at (313) 943-2060. Like many city-operated district courts in Michigan, the 19th District Court is managed by the City of Dearborn rather than Wayne County. The court handles felony arraignments and preliminary exams that determine whether enough evidence exists to send a case to the Wayne County Circuit Court.
For Dearborn-specific case records at the district court level, you can visit the clerk's office in person at 16077 Michigan Ave during business hours. You can also search cases through the statewide MiCOURT portal, which covers Michigan district and circuit court records. Bring a photo ID and the full name or case number when you visit in person.
| Court | 19th District Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 16077 Michigan Ave, Dearborn, MI 48126 |
| Phone | (313) 943-2060 |
Wayne County Circuit Court
After the preliminary examination at the 19th District Court, felony cases from Dearborn move to the Wayne County Circuit Court, also known as the 3rd Judicial Circuit. The court is located in the Frank Murphy Hall of Justice at 1441 St. Antoine in Detroit. The main clerk line is (313) 224-5257 and the criminal division is (313) 224-2500. The 3rd Circuit Court website at 3rdcc.org has court information, directions, and links to online records.
The Wayne County Circuit Court operates an Odyssey public access portal at cmspublic.3rdcc.org where you can search felony cases by name or case number. This covers Dearborn felony cases that were bound over to the circuit court. In addition to the Odyssey portal, the MiCOURT statewide portal also searches Wayne County records. Use both tools if you are unsure where to find a specific case.
How to Search Dearborn Felony Records
Several tools are available for finding Dearborn felony records. The best method depends on what type of information you need and how current the case is.
For recent Dearborn felony cases, the Wayne County Circuit Court Odyssey portal at cmspublic.3rdcc.org is a good starting point. The free MiCOURT portal covers both the 19th District Court and the circuit court and lets you search by name or case number without any fee. For a complete Michigan-wide criminal history, the Michigan State Police ICHAT system searches all Michigan courts for $10 per search.
In-person searches at the 19th District Court at 16077 Michigan Ave cover district-level records. For felony trial and sentencing records, you must visit the Wayne County Circuit Court in Detroit. Call ahead to confirm hours and what identification you will need to bring. Copy fees apply for each page of records you take.
Note: The 19th District Court is a Dearborn city court. For police reports and arrest records, contact the Dearborn Police Department at 16099 Michigan Ave, (313) 943-2240, or by email at police@dearborn.gov.
What Dearborn Felony Records Show
A Dearborn felony case file includes the criminal complaint or information, all court motions and filings, records of hearings, the plea agreement or trial verdict, and the sentencing order. The record covers everything from the first court appearance at the 19th District Court through the final judgment at the Wayne County Circuit Court.
Records typically show the defendant's name and date of birth, the specific charges and Michigan statute numbers, the case number, the date of each event, the judge assigned, the final verdict or plea, and the sentence. Fines, restitution, and probation conditions are documented in the file. Some documents may be sealed by court order. Victim names and certain personal data are usually redacted. Juvenile records are not public and require a court order. Michigan court rules and MCL 15.231 govern public access.
Michigan Court System Resources
The Michigan Courts website at courts.michigan.gov provides the central directory for all Michigan court resources, including those covering the 19th District Court and Wayne County Circuit Court that handle Dearborn felony cases.
This screenshot shows the Michigan Courts portal at courts.michigan.gov, where you can access the MiCOURT case search tool, the SCAO forms library, and court directory information for the Wayne County courts that process Dearborn felony filings.
The Dearborn City Clerk at 16901 Michigan Ave, phone (313) 943-2090, handles certain city-level records requests. For state-level background checks and full criminal history, use the ICHAT system at apps.michigan.gov/ichat. The Michigan Courts website at courts.michigan.gov links to all court resources and the SCAO forms library for FOIA and court filing forms.
Expungement of Dearborn Felony Records
Michigan's Clean Slate law gives Dearborn residents with felony convictions a path to clearing their record. Under MCL 780.621, you can petition the Wayne County Circuit Court to set aside a felony conviction after the required waiting period. The waiting period begins when your sentence, parole, or probation ends. The length of the wait and eligibility depend on the type of offense and how many prior convictions you have.
The 2021 Clean Slate amendments under MCL 780.621g created automatic expungement for some lower-level felony convictions after a qualifying period without new offenses. Serious violent felonies, crimes against minors, and other categories are excluded. To file a petition, submit it to the Wayne County Circuit Court clerk at the Frank Murphy Hall of Justice in Detroit. Michigan Legal Help has free guides and forms for the expungement petition process in Wayne County.
FOIA Requests in Dearborn
Under MCL 15.231, Michigan's Freedom of Information Act, you have the right to request records from Dearborn public agencies. Police reports and arrest records go to the Dearborn Police Department at 16099 Michigan Ave, phone (313) 943-2240, or by email at police@dearborn.gov. For court records, contact the 19th District Court or the Wayne County Circuit Court clerk. The SCAO standard request form is available at courts.michigan.gov/scao-forms. Agencies must respond within five business days. Fees may apply for search time and copying.
Nearby Cities
These nearby Michigan cities have felony records pages with local court and search details.
Wayne County Felony Records
Dearborn is in Wayne County. All Dearborn felony cases are processed through the Wayne County court system. For full county-level information on courts, search tools, and resources, visit the Wayne County felony records page.