Find Felony Records in Grand Rapids
Grand Rapids felony records are filed and maintained through the 61st District Court and the Kent County Circuit Court. Grand Rapids is the largest city in West Michigan and the second largest in the state. Felony preliminary examinations begin at the 61st District Court before cases move to the Kent County Circuit Court for trial and sentencing. Both courts have online search tools and in-person access for public record requests.
Grand Rapids Overview
61st District Court Grand Rapids
The 61st District Court at 61 Sheldon Blvd SE serves Grand Rapids and handles all felony preliminary examinations for the city. This is the first court a felony case enters after arrest and arraignment. The court also takes care of misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic violations, and civil claims up to $25,000. The court operates as part of the Kent County court system and can be reached at (616) 632-5700.
During the preliminary examination phase, the judge decides whether enough evidence exists to send the case to the Kent County Circuit Court for trial. If the case is bound over, the full felony record moves to the circuit court. If the case is dismissed at prelim, the district court retains the record. All records at the 61st District Court are accessible through the Kent County courts website and the statewide MiCOURT portal.
| Court | 61st District Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 61 Sheldon Blvd SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 |
| Phone | (616) 632-5700 |
| Court Website | kentcountycourts.gov |
| Kent County Case Search | Search Court Records |
Note: Some older district court records may only be available in person and may not be loaded into the online portal.
Kent County Circuit Court
The Kent County Circuit Court handles all felony trials, guilty pleas, and sentencing for Grand Rapids and the rest of Kent County. The court is located on the 17th floor of the courthouse at 180 Ottawa Ave NW in Grand Rapids. You can reach the circuit court clerk at (616) 632-5480. This court is part of the Kent County court system which also runs the 61st District Court, so the same website at kentcountycourts.gov covers both courts.
Kent County has one of the most well-developed online court search systems in Michigan. The Kent County case search at kentcountymi.gov lets you look up both circuit court and district court cases. You can search by party name or case number and view charges, hearing dates, and dispositions. For the most complete picture, cross-check this with the MiCOURT portal and ICHAT.
How to Search Grand Rapids Felony Records
There are several ways to find felony records in Grand Rapids. Online tools are fast and free for most basic searches. In-person visits give you full access to case files and certified copies.
Start with the Kent County case search portal at kentcountymi.gov for cases filed in the Grand Rapids area. This covers both district and circuit court records and does not require any fee to use. You can search by name or case number and see charges, case status, and hearing history. The MiCOURT statewide portal is another free option that searches across Michigan courts.
For a certified criminal history report, use the Michigan State Police ICHAT system. It pulls felony conviction data from courts across the state for $10 per search. You need the person's full name and date of birth. ICHAT is the best tool when you need a complete record rather than a single case lookup.
To visit in person, go to the 61st District Court for preliminary exam and misdemeanor records, or to the Kent County Circuit Court on the 17th floor for felony trial records. Bring a photo ID and the name of the person you are researching. Staff can pull case files and provide copies. Fees apply for copies.
What Grand Rapids Felony Records Include
Felony case files in Grand Rapids contain the charging document, all motions and responses filed by both sides, transcripts of hearings, any plea agreement, the jury verdict or judge's findings, and the sentencing order. The circuit court file is the official record of the entire case from arraignment through final disposition.
You will typically find the defendant's name and date of birth, the charges with the specific Michigan statute cited, the case number, the date each event happened, the judge's name, and the final outcome. If the defendant was sentenced to prison, the judgment notes the minimum and maximum terms. Probation conditions, fines, and restitution orders are included as well. Victim names and certain personal data are usually redacted before copies are given to the public.
Most felony records in Grand Rapids are public under Michigan court rules and MCL 15.231. Some documents may be sealed by court order. Records involving juvenile defendants are not public and require a court order to access.
Grand Rapids Court Resources
The City of Grand Rapids website provides links to city departments including the Grand Rapids Police Department and City Clerk, which handle records requests for police reports and city records.
This screenshot shows the Grand Rapids city portal at grandrapidsmi.gov, where you can find police department contact information and FOIA resources for city-level records requests related to felony cases.
The Grand Rapids Police Department at 1 Monroe Center St NW, phone (616) 456-3400, handles police report requests. The City Clerk at 300 Monroe Ave NW, phone (616) 456-3010, handles other city record requests. For state-level background checks, use ICHAT or the Michigan Courts portal at courts.michigan.gov.
Expungement in Grand Rapids
Grand Rapids residents who have felony convictions on their record may qualify to have them set aside under Michigan's Clean Slate law. MCL 780.621 allows you to petition the Kent County Circuit Court to expunge a felony conviction after the required waiting period. The waiting period begins when your sentence, parole, or probation ends. How long you must wait depends on the type of offense and your prior record.
The 2021 Clean Slate amendments added automatic expungement under MCL 780.621g for certain lower-level felonies. After a set number of years without a new conviction, eligible offenses may be cleared without any court filing. Serious violent felonies, crimes against minors, and certain other offenses are excluded from both petition and automatic expungement. Michigan Legal Help has free step-by-step guides for filing an expungement petition in Kent County.
FOIA Requests in Grand Rapids
Under MCL 15.231, Michigan's Freedom of Information Act, you can request records from public agencies in Grand Rapids. Police report requests go to the Grand Rapids Police Department. For court records not available online, contact the 61st District Court or Kent County Circuit Court clerk. You can also use the SCAO request form available at courts.michigan.gov/scao-forms.
Agencies have five business days to respond to a FOIA request. Extensions are permitted with written notice. Fees may apply for search time and copying. Be specific in your request: include the person's full name, case number if known, and the time period covered. Vague requests are harder to process and may take longer to fulfill.
Nearby Cities
These nearby Michigan cities also have felony records pages with local court and search details.
Kent County Felony Records
Grand Rapids is the county seat of Kent County. All Grand Rapids felony cases are processed through the Kent County court system. For full county-level information, visit the Kent County felony records page.