Keweenaw County Felony Records
Keweenaw County felony records are handled through the 12th Circuit Court, which serves Keweenaw, Baraga, and Houghton counties in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Keweenaw is one of the least populated counties in the state, but its felony records follow the same public access rules as any other Michigan county. You can search for cases through state online tools or by contacting the circuit court clerk directly in Eagle River.
Keweenaw County Overview
12th Circuit Court - Keweenaw County
The 12th Circuit Court covers Keweenaw, Baraga, and Houghton counties. For Keweenaw County felony cases, the court is based in Eagle River, the county seat. Given the small population, the court handles a relatively low volume of felony matters compared to downstate circuits. The clerk's office manages all public records access and can respond to requests by phone or mail.
The Keweenaw County Clerk can be reached at (906) 337-2229. Because of the county's remote location, many residents use online tools first before making an in-person trip. The state provides free case lookup through MiCOURT and the Michigan Courts website, both of which include Keweenaw County circuit court records.
| Court | Keweenaw County Circuit Court (12th Circuit) |
|---|---|
| County Seat | Eagle River, MI |
| Clerk Phone | (906) 337-2229 |
| Circuit Covers | Keweenaw, Baraga, Houghton Counties |
| State Courts | courts.michigan.gov |
Keweenaw County is on the Keweenaw Peninsula in the far north of the Upper Peninsula. If you need records from the shared 12th Circuit, cases from all three counties appear in the same court system. Be sure to confirm which county a case was filed in when searching.
How to Find Keweenaw County Felony Records
The best starting point for a free online search is MiCOURT. This is the official Michigan courts case lookup system. It covers circuit courts across the state, including the 12th Circuit that serves Keweenaw County. Enter a party name or case number to get results. The system shows charges, hearing dates, and case status.
You can also search the Michigan Courts website for links to county-specific resources and case access tools. For a certified criminal history check, the Michigan State Police offers the ICHAT service online. ICHAT costs $10 per search and requires a name and date of birth. It searches the statewide criminal history database and returns a name-based report. This is the most thorough option for background check purposes.
To check on a person currently in state prison or on parole, use the Michigan Department of Corrections OTIS offender tracking system. OTIS is free and searches by name or MDOC number. For in-person records requests, contact the Keweenaw County Clerk at (906) 337-2229 to confirm hours and procedures before making the trip.
Note: Mail-in requests are often more practical for Keweenaw County given its remote location; call the clerk's office first to ask about copy fees and turnaround time.
What Keweenaw County Felony Records Include
Felony records in Keweenaw County document the full criminal case from first filing through final judgment. The public file includes the charging document, register of actions, court orders, plea or verdict, and the sentencing judgment. These records are open under MCL 15.231, Michigan's Access to Public Records Act.
Each case file shows the defendant's name, charges and charge codes, case number, court dates, and the outcome. Sentencing records note the length of any prison or jail term, probation conditions, fines, and court costs. If the case involved a plea agreement, the terms of that agreement appear in the record. Felony cases that go to trial will also have jury selection records and transcripts.
Not all records are public. Records involving juveniles, sealed cases, and certain identity-related details are restricted. Standard public record requests will not return those. The clerk's office can tell you what is available in a specific file before you travel to review it.
The Michigan Courts homepage provides access to statewide felony case search tools including MiCOURT, which covers Keweenaw County records.
This state portal is the main online resource for finding Keweenaw County felony case information without needing to contact the clerk's office directly.
Expungement of Keweenaw County Felony Records
Michigan allows certain felony convictions to be set aside under MCL 780.621. A set-aside means the conviction is removed from the public record, though law enforcement agencies can still access it. Keweenaw County convictions that qualify must be petitioned through the 12th Circuit Court.
The Clean Slate Act under MCL 780.621g allows automatic set-aside for certain offenses after a waiting period. For convictions that do not qualify automatically, you must file a petition using form MC 227. The standard waiting period is five years after completing your sentence. Multiple prior felony convictions may disqualify you. Crimes like murder, criminal sexual conduct, and offenses against minors do not qualify for expungement.
Get the MC 227 petition form and filing instructions through the Michigan Courts website. File the petition in Keweenaw County at the 12th Circuit Court. If your case involved multiple counties, you file in each county where you were convicted. Consider contacting Michigan Legal Help for free guidance on whether your conviction qualifies.
Public Records and FOIA in Keweenaw County
Michigan's Freedom of Information Act, found at MCL 15.231, applies to all government agencies in Keweenaw County. You can request records from the county clerk, sheriff, or prosecutor. Agencies must respond within five business days. They may grant the request, deny it with a written explanation, or ask for more time if the records are extensive.
Court records that are already public can be obtained directly at the clerk's counter without a formal FOIA letter. You just ask for the record by case number or party name and pay any copying fee. FOIA requests are more useful for records held by the sheriff or other non-court agencies, such as incident reports or jail booking logs.
The state also offers the OTIS offender tracking database for free searches of MDOC records. This is a quick way to check if someone is currently incarcerated or on supervision without filing any request. For county-level FOIA questions, contact the Keweenaw County Clerk at (906) 337-2229.
Cities in Keweenaw County
Keweenaw County has no cities that meet the population threshold for individual city pages. Eagle River is the county seat. All felony cases for county residents go through the 12th Circuit Court.
Nearby Counties
Keweenaw County is connected to the rest of the Upper Peninsula through Houghton County. Felony cases are filed based on where the offense occurred.