Rochester Hills Felony Records Search

Rochester Hills felony records are part of the Oakland County court system. The 52-3 District Court serves Rochester Hills and the city of Rochester for all misdemeanor matters and early felony proceedings. Felony cases that clear the preliminary examination move to Oakland County Circuit Court in Pontiac for trial and sentencing. This page explains where to find Rochester Hills felony records, how to search them, and what the case files typically contain.

52-3 District Court - Rochester Hills

The 52-3 District Court at 700 Barclay Circle in Rochester Hills handles all district-level criminal matters for both Rochester Hills and the city of Rochester. This is the court where felony arrests first come before a judge. The arraignment, bond setting, and preliminary examination all happen here. If the judge finds probable cause at the prelim, the case is bound over to Oakland County Circuit Court. Misdemeanor cases stay at the 52-3 District Court through sentencing.

The court at 700 Barclay Circle is the main point of contact for early case records in Rochester Hills felony matters. Records held here include the original complaint or warrant, arraignment orders, bond conditions, and any preliminary exam transcripts. Call the court at (248) 650-4690 to ask about record access procedures, hours, and copy fees before visiting. Staff can help you search by name or case number during business hours.

The Rochester Hills Police Department is located at 2715 Dequindre Road and can be reached at the non-emergency line (248) 656-3600. The City Clerk's office is at 1000 Rochester Hills Drive, phone (248) 656-4660. FOIA requests for city law enforcement records go through the city clerk or directly to the police department.

Oakland County Circuit Court

Rochester Hills felony cases that are bound over from the 52-3 District Court go to Oakland County Circuit Court at 1200 N Telegraph Road in Pontiac. This is the 6th Circuit Court, which handles all felony trials, plea hearings, and sentencing for Oakland County. The court clerk at (248) 858-0344 handles record requests and copy services. Public case records are available in person at the clerk's office during normal business hours.

Oakland County offers the Oakland Court Explorer tool at courtexplorer.oakgov.com for online case searches. This covers the 6th Circuit Court, the 52-3 District Court, and all other Oakland County courts. You can search by party name, case number, or attorney and see case activity, hearing dates, and charge descriptions. Oakland Court Explorer is one of the more detailed county-level search tools in Michigan and is the best starting point for any Rochester Hills felony records search.

Note that Oakland Court Explorer shows case information but does not provide downloadable court documents. For full case files or certified copies, a visit to the circuit court clerk in Pontiac or a written request is required.

How to Search Rochester Hills Felony Records

The best place to start is Oakland Court Explorer. This tool is designed for Oakland County and covers both the 52-3 District Court and the Oakland County Circuit Court. Search by full name to see all case activity in Oakland County tied to that person. The results show charge descriptions, case status, and court events in date order. It is free and available any time.

For a statewide search, use MiCOURT, the Michigan Supreme Court's free case search tool. MiCOURT covers all 83 Michigan counties and all court levels. It is useful when you want to check if someone has cases in other counties in addition to Oakland. You can search by name or case number. Results include charge descriptions and case status from any Michigan court that has a matching record.

For a formal criminal history background check, use ICHAT through the Michigan State Police. The fee is $10 per person search. ICHAT returns statewide conviction data and is used most often for employment and licensing background checks. It does not show pending cases or arrests without convictions, but it gives a broad view of someone's Michigan felony history.

To get certified copies of Rochester Hills felony case documents, visit the Oakland County Circuit Court clerk at 1200 N Telegraph Road in Pontiac. Bring the person's full name and any case numbers found during your online searches. The clerk can pull case files and make copies while you wait.

What Rochester Hills Felony Records Include

Rochester Hills felony case files at Oakland County Circuit Court cover the full record from the time the case arrived from the 52-3 District Court. The felony information is the formal charging document that lists each count and the statute violated. The arraignment record at the circuit level shows the plea entered and the bond terms set by the judge. Pre-trial motions, responses, and court orders accumulate as the case moves toward resolution.

At the end of a Rochester Hills felony case, the most important documents are the plea agreement or trial verdict and the sentencing order. The sentencing order shows the crime of conviction, the prison or jail term, probation conditions, fines, restitution, and any registration requirements. This document is what most agencies, courts, and individuals need when verifying a conviction. It is public and available from the Oakland County Circuit Court clerk.

The 52-3 District Court holds records from the early phase of Rochester Hills felony matters. These include the original arrest complaint or warrant, arraignment minutes, and preliminary exam records. Misdemeanor cases from Rochester Hills stay entirely at the district court and are never transferred to circuit court. Check the 52-3 District Court first if you are looking for a misdemeanor case or early felony documents.

Rochester Hills City and Court Resources

The City of Rochester Hills official website provides contact information for the Rochester Hills Police Department, the city clerk, and links to local resources relevant to searching Rochester Hills felony records.

The city website is useful for locating FOIA request procedures, police department contacts, and city clerk information when seeking law enforcement records tied to Rochester Hills felony cases.

Expungement of Rochester Hills Felony Convictions

Michigan's expungement law at MCL 780.621 allows eligible people with Rochester Hills felony convictions to petition the circuit court to set those records aside. Petitions are filed at Oakland County Circuit Court in Pontiac, where the conviction was entered. You complete form MC 227, pay a $50 fee to the Michigan State Police, serve copies on the Rochester Hills Police Department and the Oakland County Prosecutor, and then attend a hearing where the judge decides.

The Clean Slate law at MCL 780.621g provides for automatic expungement of certain eligible felony convictions after required waiting periods. For felonies, the general waiting period is seven years from the date sentence was completed. This process happens without a petition for qualifying convictions. Crimes resulting in death or serious injury, crimes against children, sex offenses requiring registration, and other serious categories are not eligible for automatic expungement.

Michigan Legal Help offers free online tools to check expungement eligibility and guides for filing at Oakland County Circuit Court. The circuit court clerk at (248) 858-0344 can also answer questions about the petition process and provide the required forms for Rochester Hills cases.

FOIA Requests for Rochester Hills Records

Michigan FOIA under MCL 15.231 gives the public the right to request records from government agencies. Court case files at the 52-3 District Court and Oakland County Circuit Court are public records available through the clerk's offices without a formal FOIA request. For law enforcement records from Rochester Hills PD, you need to submit a written FOIA request.

Send FOIA requests for Rochester Hills Police Department records to the City Clerk at 1000 Rochester Hills Drive, Rochester Hills, MI 48309, or call (248) 656-4660. You can also contact Rochester Hills PD directly at (248) 656-3600. Michigan FOIA law requires agencies to respond within five business days of receiving a written request. An extension of up to 10 days is allowed if the agency sends you written notice. Copy fees are set by statute and must be reasonable.

Nearby Cities

These qualifying Oakland County and surrounding area cities also have felony records pages.

Oakland County Felony Records

Rochester Hills is part of Oakland County. All felony cases for Rochester Hills residents are tried at Oakland County Circuit Court in Pontiac. Visit the county page for full details on courts, record access, fees, and search tools.