Clinton County Felony Records

Clinton County felony records are maintained at the Clinton County Circuit Court in St. Johns, where all felony criminal matters for the county are filed, processed, and archived. The court's records are open to the public unless sealed by court order, and you can search cases online through MiCOURT, request a statewide criminal history through ICHAT, or contact the clerk's office at (989) 224-5140. Clinton County sits in central Michigan between Lansing to the south and Gratiot County to the north, and all felony cases filed within its boundaries go through the circuit court in St. Johns.

Clinton County Circuit Court Felony Records

The Clinton County Circuit Court in St. Johns handles all felony criminal matters filed in the county. Felony charges go through the district court for a preliminary examination before moving up to circuit court. The circuit court then holds the full proceeding through plea or trial to sentencing. The complete case file for each matter is part of the public record unless the court seals it by order.

The clerk's office in St. Johns is the place to go for court records. You can call the clerk at (989) 224-5140 to ask about a specific case, confirm whether a record exists, or find out about fees for copies. Staff can take FOIA requests for court documents. Note that Lansing, which is the state capital, sits in Ingham County to the south. Cases that arose in Lansing go through Ingham County Circuit Court, not Clinton County. If you are unsure which county a case belongs to, MiCOURT lets you search across all Michigan courts at once by name or case number.

Clinton County is a growing county in mid-Michigan. It has gained population from people moving outward from the Lansing metro area. The circuit court in St. Johns handles cases from across the county's townships and cities. For any felony filed in Clinton County, this is the court that holds the record.

How to Search Clinton County Felony Records

The fastest way to start is MiCOURT, the Michigan Supreme Court's free statewide case search system. You can search by full name or case number. Results show the register of actions for each case, listing every filing, hearing, and court order by date. MiCOURT covers both the circuit court and district court for Clinton County. It is available at any time and costs nothing to use.

For a statewide 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 from conviction records in all 83 Michigan counties. Any Clinton County felony conviction in the system will appear in the results along with the offense, statute, date, and sentence details.

To get records in person, visit the clerk's office in St. Johns. Call (989) 224-5140 ahead of time to confirm hours and check whether a specific file is accessible. Bring a name or case number. For law enforcement records such as arrest reports, FOIA requests go to the Clinton County Sheriff's Office. For state corrections records on people who served prison time, use OTIS, the Michigan Department of Corrections' Offender Tracking Information System.

What Clinton County Felony Records Contain

A felony case file at the Clinton County Circuit Court holds the full record of a criminal matter. The file starts with the complaint or criminal information that sets out the charges. Arrest warrant records, arraignment notes, and preliminary exam records follow. As the case moves through the court, the file grows to include motions, plea agreements, and notes from key hearings. The register of actions gives a complete date-by-date account of every court step.

Sentencing documents are often what people need most. They show the offense of conviction, the sentence imposed, jail or prison time, probation conditions, and fines ordered. Presentence investigation reports prepared under MCL 771.14 are part of the record but are generally restricted from public view unless a court orders otherwise. Most other case documents are public under MCL 15.231, Michigan's Freedom of Information Act. Certified copies of court orders are available from the clerk for a fee.

ICHAT reports give a quick statewide summary of a person's conviction record. They include offense type, statute, date, and sentence. They do not hold the level of detail found in a full court file, but they are a fast and reliable way to check someone's Michigan felony history without visiting the courthouse.

Michigan Felony Records Search Resources

The Michigan Courts website connects you to court resources across all 83 counties, including MiCOURT for online case searches and guidance on how local courts maintain and provide access to their records.

This image shows the Clinton County courts homepage at clinton-county.org, where you can find contact details for the clerk's office, court schedules, and links to online case search tools including MiCOURT.

Expungement in Clinton 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 Clinton County convictions, that is the Clinton County Circuit Court in St. Johns. 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 whether to grant the petition.

Michigan's automatic expungement law under MCL 780.621g may set aside certain eligible felony convictions automatically after 10 years. Violent crimes, crimes against minors, and several other categories are excluded from automatic relief. The Michigan Legal Help website has a tool to check whether a conviction may be eligible and provides step-by-step guides for filing a 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 Clinton 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 by up to 10 days with written notice. Copy fees must be reasonable under state law. Denied requests can be appealed in writing. For Michigan State Police criminal history records, send requests to MSPRecords@Michigan.gov. Records not yet in digital form may take extra time and may require a visit to the clerk's office to retrieve.

Cities in Clinton County

Clinton County's largest city is St. Johns, the county seat. Note that Lansing, the state capital, is located in neighboring Ingham County and is not part of Clinton County. No cities in Clinton County meet the population threshold for dedicated felony records pages on this site. All felony cases for Clinton County residents go through the Clinton County Circuit Court in St. Johns.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Clinton County in central Michigan. Each has its own circuit court for felony cases. Check the right county if you are unsure where a case was filed.