Lenawee County Felony Records

Lenawee County felony records are maintained by the 39th Circuit Court in Adrian. All felony cases originating in Lenawee County go through this court, from arraignment to sentencing. The circuit court clerk's office handles public records requests and can be reached at (517) 264-4520. You can also search for Lenawee County felony cases using the state's free MiCOURT case lookup tool or the Michigan State Police ICHAT background check service.

39th Circuit Court - Lenawee County

The 39th Circuit Court in Adrian is the court of record for all felony cases in Lenawee County. Cases come to the circuit court after a district court judge finds probable cause at a preliminary examination. The circuit court then handles all further proceedings including pretrial hearings, trial or guilty plea, and sentencing. The clerk's office keeps the official case files and manages public access to records.

The Lenawee County Clerk and court can both be reached at (517) 264-4520. Adrian is the county seat and is located in southeast Michigan, south of Ann Arbor and north of the Ohio border. The county is bounded by Monroe, Washtenaw, Jackson, and Hillsdale counties. If you are searching for a case and are not sure of the county, the offense location determines where the case was filed.

Lenawee County is a mid-size county with a mix of agricultural and small-city communities. The county prosecutor handles felony cases on behalf of the state. For those who cannot afford an attorney, the circuit court coordinates public defender services. Court-appointed counsel is available for qualifying defendants in all felony proceedings.

How to Search Lenawee County Felony Records

Start with MiCOURT for a free online search. This Michigan Courts system covers the 39th Circuit and lets you search by party name or case number. Results include charges filed, case status, and hearing history. No account or fee is required to use it.

The Michigan State Police ICHAT service provides a certified criminal history report for $10. You enter a name and date of birth, pay by credit card, and receive a report from the state's fingerprint-based criminal history system. ICHAT is used for background checks in many legal and licensing contexts and is more thorough than a name-based court search.

To check on someone currently under Michigan Department of Corrections supervision, use the free OTIS offender database. This tool shows current prison or parole status by name or MDOC number. For in-person access to the full case file, visit the Lenawee County Circuit Court in Adrian or call (517) 264-4520 to ask about copying fees and office hours.

Note: ICHAT only returns records linked to a fingerprint card; arrests without a fingerprint on file may not appear.

What Lenawee County Felony Records Include

Lenawee County felony case files are public records under MCL 15.231. A complete file includes the complaint or information, warrant, bond order, register of actions, motions and responses, plea or trial records, presentence investigation report, and the judgment of sentence. Each document in the file has a date and describes what took place at that stage of the case.

The register of actions provides the case timeline. It logs every filing, hearing, and court order in chronological order. This is usually the best document to start with when reviewing a case because it tells you exactly what happened and when. From there, you can identify which specific documents you need and ask for copies. Standard copy fees apply at the clerk's counter.

Sentencing judgments show prison terms, probation conditions, fines, and court-ordered costs. If the defendant was sentenced to the county jail rather than state prison, the jail time appears here too. Sex offender registration obligations under MCL 28.241 are noted in the judgment when they apply. Records of post-conviction motions and appeals also appear in the public file if the defendant pursued them.

The Michigan Courts website provides access to MiCOURT and other resources for looking up Lenawee County felony records online.

The state courts portal is the main online resource for Lenawee County felony case searches before contacting the circuit court clerk directly.

Expungement of Lenawee County Felony Records

Michigan law provides a path to set aside felony convictions under MCL 780.621. A set-aside removes the conviction from public records. Law enforcement can still view it, but it will not show in most standard background checks. Lenawee County felony convictions must be petitioned through the 39th Circuit Court in Adrian.

Under the Clean Slate Act at MCL 780.621g, certain convictions are now automatically set aside after a waiting period. This process happens without filing a petition. For convictions that do not qualify automatically, you must file a petition using the MC 227 form. The waiting period is typically five years from the date you completed your sentence, including probation and parole.

Not all offenses qualify. Murder, criminal sexual conduct, and offenses against minors are among those permanently excluded. Having multiple prior felony convictions can also make you ineligible. Visit Michigan Legal Help for a free eligibility screening and guidance. The MC 227 form and instructions are available from the Michigan Courts website.

Public Records Access in Lenawee County

Michigan's FOIA statute at MCL 15.231 gives you the right to request records from Lenawee County government offices. This includes the circuit court, sheriff, and prosecutor. Agencies must respond within five business days. They can grant the request, deny it with written reasons, or ask for more time in complex cases.

Court records already in the public file do not require a formal FOIA request. You can ask for them at the clerk's counter. For records held by the county sheriff or other agencies, such as incident reports or jail logs, submit a written FOIA request. Describe the records you want clearly and include the time period if known. Agencies may charge fees for copying and staff research time.

The OTIS offender database is a free online tool for checking MDOC supervision status without any request. For Lenawee County records questions, call the court or clerk at (517) 264-4520. Michigan Legal Help also offers guidance on how to make a FOIA request if you run into problems.

Cities in Lenawee County

Lenawee County has no cities that meet the qualifying population threshold for individual city pages. Adrian is the county seat. All felony cases in the county go through the 39th Circuit Court in Adrian.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Lenawee County. Felony cases are filed based on where the offense took place.