Houghton County Felony Records
Houghton County felony records are filed with the 12th Circuit Court in Houghton, in Michigan's Keweenaw Peninsula area of the Upper Peninsula. The 12th Circuit covers Houghton, Baraga, and Keweenaw counties. If you need to search for felony records, check on a criminal conviction, or get copies of court documents tied to Houghton County, this guide explains the steps and tools available, from the state's online systems to direct contact with the courthouse.
Houghton County Overview
12th Circuit Court - Houghton County
The 12th Circuit Court is based in Houghton and covers Houghton, Baraga, and Keweenaw counties. It handles all felony criminal cases filed in each of these counties. The clerk's office in Houghton can be reached at (906) 482-1150. Houghton is home to Michigan Technological University and sits in the Keweenaw Peninsula on Lake Superior. The circuit court serves this remote but active community.
For anyone searching for felony records tied to Houghton County, the 12th Circuit Court clerk is the direct source. The clerk maintains case files for all felony proceedings in the county and can pull records by name or case number. If you are making a request by phone or mail, calling (906) 482-1150 first is the best way to confirm what you need and what the current copy fees are.
Online searches are available through the MiCOURT portal for free case lookups and the ICHAT system for a $10 comprehensive criminal history check across all Michigan counties.
| Court | 12th Circuit Court |
|---|---|
| County Seat | Houghton, MI |
| Clerk Phone | (906) 482-1150 |
| Circuit Coverage | Houghton, Baraga, Keweenaw |
| Court Website | courts.michigan.gov |
Michigan Courts and Felony Record Access
The Michigan Courts website provides court directories, SCAO forms, and links to MiCOURT for all 83 counties including Houghton. It is the main statewide resource for court information.
This screenshot shows the Michigan Courts portal at courts.michigan.gov. Houghton County residents can use this site to locate the 12th Circuit Court, find SCAO forms, and access the MiCOURT case search portal for online felony record lookups covering Houghton and the surrounding Upper Peninsula counties.
How to Search Houghton County Felony Records
The ICHAT criminal history tool is your best option for a complete record check tied to Houghton County. For $10, you enter a name and date of birth and get results from Michigan State Police records covering all 83 Michigan counties. All non-expunged felony convictions and active cases appear in the results. Given Houghton County's remote location, ICHAT can save you a trip to the courthouse when you just need confirmation of a criminal history.
MiCOURT at micourt.courts.michigan.gov is the free case-level search option. You can look up Houghton County cases by name or case number. The portal shows charge details, court dates, and case outcomes. Coverage is better for recent cases. For older records, a phone call to the clerk at (906) 482-1150 is the most reliable path.
In-person visits to the 12th Circuit Court in Houghton are the only way to get certified copies or to view complete case files. Call ahead to confirm hours and fees. Staff can search by name and retrieve any file on record. Given the remote location of the courthouse, calling or mailing a FOIA request is often more practical for those not in the immediate area.
Note: Records from Baraga or Keweenaw county cases that moved through the 12th Circuit are also held at the Houghton courthouse, since all three counties share one circuit court.
What Houghton County Felony Records Contain
Felony case records at the 12th Circuit Court in Houghton include the full history of the criminal proceeding. The file starts with the complaint or information listing the charges and continues with every motion, order, and entry added over the life of the case. The sentencing order closes out the record and summarizes all terms imposed by the judge.
A Houghton County felony record will show the defendant's name and date of birth, the charge cited by statute, the case number, the judge who handled it, all hearing dates, the outcome, and the sentence. Probation conditions, fines, and victim restitution amounts are in the sentencing documents. Post-conviction activity, including appeals and resentencing motions, is added to the file as it occurs.
The Freedom of Information Act at MCL 15.231 provides the legal basis for public access to court records in Michigan. The criminal history statute at MCL 28.241 governs how courts report criminal case data to the Michigan State Police for inclusion in statewide records.
Expungement of Houghton County Felony Records
People convicted of felonies in Houghton County may be able to have those records set aside under MCL 780.621. File the petition with the 12th Circuit Court in Houghton after the required waiting period. The court sets a hearing, the prosecutor is notified, and the judge decides whether to grant the expungement. If granted, the conviction is removed from public records and from ICHAT results.
Automatic expungement under MCL 780.621g may apply to some Houghton County convictions without any filing required. The process runs after the clean period ends. It excludes violent felonies, sex offenses, and crimes involving children. Michigan Legal Help has free eligibility tools and filing guides that apply to Houghton County cases.
Cities in Houghton County
Houghton County includes the city of Houghton and nearby communities in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. No cities in Houghton County meet the population threshold for individual city pages on this site.
Nearby Counties
Houghton County is part of the 12th Circuit along with these neighboring Upper Peninsula counties, which also route felony cases through the Houghton courthouse.