Kalamazoo Felony Records

Kalamazoo felony records are kept within the Kalamazoo County court system. Kalamazoo is both the county seat and the largest city in Kalamazoo County in southwest Michigan. The 8th District Court handles misdemeanor cases and felony preliminary proceedings for the city. The 9th Circuit Court manages all felony trials and sentencing in the county. Records from both courts are open to the public and available through online search tools and in-person visits. This page explains where to find Kalamazoo felony records, how to access them, and what information the court files contain.

8th District Court - Kalamazoo

The 8th District Court in Kalamazoo handles all misdemeanor cases and the preliminary stages of felony charges originating in Kalamazoo. Located at 150 E. Crosstown Parkway, the district court is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Felony arraignments and preliminary examinations are heard here before cases are bound over to the 9th Circuit Court. This court also shares its building with the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety.

The 8th District Court covers a broad service area within Kalamazoo County. Records held by this court include misdemeanor case files, felony arraignment documents, bond condition orders, and preliminary examination records. You can submit mail requests to 150 E. Crosstown Pkwy, Kalamazoo MI 49001. In-person requests are also accepted during business hours. The court website at kalcounty.com/courts provides additional contact information and court procedures.

9th Circuit Court - Kalamazoo County

The 9th Circuit Court at 227 W Michigan Avenue in Kalamazoo is the trial court for all felony cases in Kalamazoo County. Once the 8th District Court binds a case over after a preliminary exam, it comes here for arraignment at the circuit level, pre-trial conferences, plea or trial, and sentencing. The circuit court is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The clerk's office at (269) 383-8837 handles all record requests and copy services.

Standard copy fees at Kalamazoo County courts are $1 per page, and certified documents cost $10 per document. Free in-person inspection of case files is allowed at the clerk's office. Public access terminals are available so you can review electronic case records on-site without paying copy fees. This makes Kalamazoo County one of the more accessible Michigan counties for in-person record research. The Kalamazoo County Clerk's office is at 201 W. Kalamazoo Avenue Room 104, reachable at (269) 383-8840.

The Kalamazoo County Probate Court is at 1536 Gull Road at (269) 383-8666, but probate records are separate from felony criminal case records. The Kalamazoo County Sheriff at 1500 Lamont Avenue at (269) 383-8821 maintains arrest records and incident files for county law enforcement operations, including those in Kalamazoo city. The Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety handles city policing and arrest records at (269) 337-8994.

How to Search Kalamazoo Felony Records

Searching Kalamazoo felony records is straightforward. The main free tool is MiCOURT, Michigan's statewide case search system. Type in a full name or case number and the system returns results from all courts in the state, including the 8th District Court and 9th Circuit Court. MiCOURT shows party names, charge descriptions, case status, and upcoming hearing dates. You can access it any time from any device.

The Kalamazoo County courts website at kalcounty.com/courts provides court-specific resources and links for case research. For in-person searches, the 9th Circuit Court clerk's office at 227 W Michigan Avenue allows you to use public access terminals at no charge to view electronic case records. You can also request printed copies for $1 per page and certified copies for $10 per document.

Kalamazoo County also has online jail inmate search capability for people currently in custody. This does not show full criminal history but can confirm current detention status. For a full statewide criminal history, use ICHAT at apps.michigan.gov/ichat for $10 per search. ICHAT is run by the Michigan State Police and covers conviction records from all 83 Michigan counties.

What Kalamazoo Felony Records Contain

Felony records from Kalamazoo cases at the 9th Circuit Court include all court filings from the time the case arrived from the 8th District Court through the final judgment. The formal felony information or complaint names the charges and statute violations. The arraignment record shows the initial plea and bond terms. Pre-trial motions, responses, and scheduling orders are all part of the file. If the case went to a jury trial, you can find voir dire records, exhibit lists, and the verdict form.

Sentencing orders from the 9th Circuit Court detail the full penalty. These show the prison or jail term, any probation conditions, community service requirements, fines, restitution amounts, and any sex offender registration requirements. This document is what most people need when they are asked to produce proof of a conviction or its terms. Copies cost $1 per page or $10 for a certified copy.

The 8th District Court holds the preliminary records from the early part of the case. These include arraignment minutes from the first hearing and any preliminary exam transcript. Misdemeanor case files stay entirely at the district court and are never transferred to the circuit court. If you need records from a misdemeanor case, go directly to the 8th District Court at 150 E. Crosstown Parkway.

Kalamazoo County Courts Resources

The Kalamazoo County Courts website provides access to the 8th District Court and 9th Circuit Court resources, including contact information and procedures for searching Kalamazoo felony records.

The Kalamazoo County courts portal covers both district and circuit court resources for Kalamazoo felony case research and record requests.

The Kalamazoo County Sheriff's Office website provides information on arrest records, jail inmate searches, and FOIA procedures for law enforcement records tied to Kalamazoo felony cases.

The sheriff's office site includes links to the online inmate search tool and information on how to request police records related to Kalamazoo felony arrests.

Expungement of Kalamazoo Felony Records

Under MCL 780.621, people with Kalamazoo felony convictions may petition the 9th Circuit Court to have those convictions set aside. The petition must be served on the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety and the Kalamazoo County Prosecutor, and the petitioner must attend a court hearing. The judge weighs the nature of the offense, the person's conduct since conviction, and the public interest before deciding.

Michigan's Clean Slate law at MCL 780.621g also provides for automatic expungement of eligible felony convictions after required waiting periods. The general waiting period for felonies is seven years from the date of sentence completion. Crimes that resulted in death or serious injury, crimes against children, human trafficking offenses, and sex crimes requiring registration are excluded from automatic expungement. For those who do not qualify automatically, the petition route remains available.

Michigan Legal Help has a free online tool that helps you determine if your Kalamazoo felony conviction qualifies for expungement. The 9th Circuit Court clerk at (269) 383-8837 can provide petition forms and explain local filing requirements.

FOIA Requests for Kalamazoo Criminal Records

Michigan FOIA under MCL 15.231 governs public access to government records in Michigan. Court records at the 8th District Court and 9th Circuit Court are generally public and can be obtained through the clerk's offices. Law enforcement records, including incident reports and arrest files, are held by the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety or the Kalamazoo County Sheriff and require a FOIA request.

For Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety records, contact the department at 150 E Crosstown Pkwy, Kalamazoo MI 49001, or call (269) 337-8994. For records involving Kalamazoo County Sheriff, contact the sheriff at 1500 Lamont Avenue, Kalamazoo MI 49048, or call (269) 383-8821. FOIA requests must be in writing. Michigan law generally requires a response within five business days, though agencies may take up to ten additional days for complex requests.

Nearby Cities

These qualifying Michigan cities near Kalamazoo also have felony records pages.

Kalamazoo County Felony Records

Kalamazoo city is in Kalamazoo County. All felony cases go through the 9th Circuit Court. Visit the county page for full information on courts, record access, and fees.