Access Chippewa County Felony Records

Chippewa County felony records are maintained at the Chippewa County Circuit Court in Sault Ste. Marie, the county seat of this large Upper Peninsula county. The circuit court handles all felony criminal matters filed in the county, and the full case file for each matter is open to the public unless sealed by court order. You can search cases online through MiCOURT, run a statewide criminal history check through ICHAT, or contact the clerk's office directly at (906) 635-6300. This page explains all the ways to find and access felony records in Chippewa County, Michigan.

Chippewa County Circuit Court Felony Records

The Chippewa County Circuit Court in Sault Ste. Marie handles all felony criminal matters filed in the county. Chippewa County is one of Michigan's largest counties by land area, covering the eastern tip of the Upper Peninsula along the Canadian border. All felony charges filed anywhere in the county go through this circuit court, from the initial arraignment through preliminary exam and up to trial or plea and sentencing.

The circuit court holds the full case file for each felony matter. That includes the complaint or criminal information, arrest warrant records, arraignment notes, preliminary exam records, motions, plea agreements, and sentencing orders. These are public records unless the court has ordered them sealed. You can reach the clerk's office by phone at (906) 635-6300. Staff can help you find a specific case file, get copies of documents, and handle FOIA requests for court records.

Sault Ste. Marie is one of Michigan's oldest cities and sits on the St. Mary's River across from its Canadian counterpart. Cases from the city and from the county's rural townships all go through the same circuit court. If you need records from a case that was filed years ago, the clerk's office can check archived records. Not all older cases appear in MiCOURT's online search, so a direct call to the clerk is the best way to check on older matters.

How to Search Chippewa County Felony Records

The best first step for any Chippewa County felony records search is MiCOURT, the Michigan Supreme Court's free statewide case search system. Search by full name or case number. Results show the register of actions for each case, which is a dated list of every filing, hearing, and court event. MiCOURT covers both circuit court and district court records for Chippewa County. It is available at any hour and costs nothing to use.

For a formal background check on a specific person, use ICHAT, the Internet Criminal History Access Tool run by the Michigan State Police. Each search costs $10 and returns a statewide criminal history report. ICHAT pulls conviction data from courts in all 83 Michigan counties, so any Chippewa County felony conviction in the system will appear. The report shows offense type, statute, disposition date, and sentence details.

To get records in person, visit the clerk's office at the Chippewa County Courthouse in Sault Ste. Marie. Call ahead at (906) 635-6300 to confirm hours and whether the file you need is accessible. Bring a name or case number. Staff can pull files and make copies. For law enforcement records such as arrest reports, contact the Chippewa County Sheriff's Office for FOIA requests. For state corrections records on people who served prison time, use OTIS, the Michigan Department of Corrections' Offender Tracking Information System.

What Chippewa County Felony Records Contain

A felony case file at the Chippewa County Circuit Court holds the full record of a criminal matter from start to finish. The file starts with the complaint or criminal information that sets out the charges. Arrest warrant details, arraignment notes, and preliminary exam records come next. As the case moves through the court, the file adds motions, plea agreements, and notes from key hearings. The register of actions is a date-ordered record of every step in the process.

Sentencing records show the outcome of the case. They include the offense of conviction, the sentence imposed, jail or prison time ordered, probation conditions, and fines. Presentence investigation reports prepared under MCL 771.14 are part of the court record but are generally restricted from public view. Most other case documents are public under MCL 15.231, Michigan's Freedom of Information Act. Certified copies of court orders can be obtained from the clerk for a fee.

ICHAT reports provide a quick summary of a person's Michigan criminal history. They include conviction type, statute, date, and sentence. They do not hold the full detail of a court case file, but they are a reliable way to verify a conviction statewide without making a trip to the courthouse.

Michigan Felony Records Search Resources

The Michigan Courts website connects you to resources across all 83 counties, including MiCOURT for online case searches and information on how local courts maintain public records.

This statewide portal provides access to MiCOURT and links to circuit court websites across Michigan, including resources specific to courts in the Upper Peninsula.

Expungement in Chippewa County

Michigan law allows eligible people to petition to have a felony conviction set aside from their public record. Under MCL 780.621, you file the petition at the circuit court where the conviction was entered. For Chippewa County convictions, that is the Chippewa County Circuit Court in Sault Ste. Marie. The process requires form MC 227, a $50 fee to the Michigan State Police, and notice to the county prosecutor. The court holds a hearing before deciding.

Michigan's automatic expungement law under MCL 780.621g may set aside certain eligible felony convictions automatically after 10 years without any action from the person. Violent crimes, crimes against minors, and some other categories are excluded. The Michigan Legal Help website has a tool to check eligibility and step-by-step guides for filing an expungement petition.

FOIA and Public Records Requests

Michigan's Freedom of Information Act at MCL 15.231 gives the public the right to request records from government bodies. Most felony case records are public. The county clerk handles FOIA requests for court records. The Chippewa County Sheriff's Office takes requests for arrest reports and other law enforcement records.

Agencies must respond to written requests within 5 business days and can extend that by up to 10 days with written notice. Copy fees must be reasonable under state law. Denied requests can be appealed. For Michigan State Police criminal history records, send requests to MSPRecords@Michigan.gov. Records that have not been digitized may take extra time and may require an in-person visit to the clerk's office to retrieve.

Cities in Chippewa County

Chippewa County's primary city is Sault Ste. Marie, the county seat. Sault Ste. Marie does not meet the population threshold for a dedicated felony records page on this site. All felony cases for Chippewa County residents are handled by the Chippewa County Circuit Court in Sault Ste. Marie.

Nearby Counties

These counties are near Chippewa County in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Each has its own circuit court for felony cases. Check the right county if you are unsure where a case was filed.