Van Buren County Felony Records
Van Buren County felony records are held at the 29th Circuit Court in Paw Paw. This court handles all felony criminal cases filed in the county. You can search Van Buren County felony records online through MiCOURT, the statewide case portal. For a full statewide criminal history check, the Michigan State Police ICHAT tool is your best option. This page explains where records are kept, how to request them, and what information they contain.
Van Buren County Overview
29th Circuit Court Felony Records
The 29th Circuit Court is located in Paw Paw and handles all felony criminal matters in Van Buren County. When a felony charge is filed, the case moves through district court for a preliminary examination before heading to circuit court for trial or plea. The circuit court clerk keeps every case file, including charging documents, motions, court orders, and the final judgment of sentence.
To access records, contact the Van Buren County Clerk's office at (269) 657-8218. The clerk's office can locate case files by name or case number, confirm whether a record exists, and provide copies. Written requests under the Michigan Freedom of Information Act, at MCL 15.231, are processed by the clerk. Agencies must respond within five business days of receiving a written request.
Van Buren County is in southwest Michigan, bordered by Allegan, Kalamazoo, Cass, and Berrien counties. The county seat of Paw Paw is about 20 miles west of Kalamazoo. The courthouse serves all official court business for the county.
| Court | 29th Circuit Court - Van Buren County |
|---|---|
| Location | Paw Paw, MI |
| Clerk Phone | (269) 657-8218 |
| Online Records | MiCOURT Case Search |
How to Search Van Buren County Felony Records
Go to MiCOURT first. The Michigan Supreme Court runs this portal and it covers all participating courts statewide, including Van Buren County. Search by party name, case number, or date range. The register of actions for each case shows every filing and court event in order. MiCOURT is free and available any time.
To run a statewide criminal history check, use ICHAT from the Michigan State Police. A search costs $10 and needs a full name and date of birth. The tool pulls from the Criminal Justice Information Center database, which includes felony arrests, convictions, and pending charges from all 83 Michigan counties. Results appear right away and are stored for seven days.
The free OTIS database from the Michigan Department of Corrections shows state prisoners, parolees, and probationers under MDOC supervision. If a person was sentenced to state prison for a Van Buren County felony, they may be in OTIS. The database keeps records for three years after an offender is discharged from supervision.
For arrest records, contact the Van Buren County Sheriff's Office. Send a FOIA request in writing with the subject's name, date of birth, and the approximate date of the arrest. The sheriff handles booking records and incident reports for the county.
What Van Buren County Felony Records Contain
A felony case file in Van Buren County starts with the complaint or information laying out the charges. Arrest warrants and arraignment notes come next. The file grows over time to include pretrial motions, plea agreements, transcripts, and court orders. The register of actions is a dated list of every event in the case. It is one of the most useful parts of a court file for anyone trying to understand the history of a case.
Sentencing records show what crime a person was convicted of, how long their sentence is, and what fines or probation terms apply. Presentence investigation reports under MCL 771.14 are included in the file but are not public. Everything else in the case file is open to the public under MCL 15.231, unless a court has sealed it.
An ICHAT report gives a quick summary. It shows the offense type, the MCL statute code, conviction date, and sentence. It is a good starting point but does not contain the same level of detail as the actual court file.
Michigan Felony Records Search Resources
The Michigan Courts website lists contact information for all 83 circuit courts, links to MiCOURT, and downloadable forms including the expungement petition form MC 227.
Use this statewide portal to reach the 29th Circuit Court in Paw Paw and connect to the tools available for searching Van Buren County felony records online.
Expungement in Van Buren County
Michigan law allows eligible people to petition to have felony convictions set aside. Under MCL 780.621, you file the petition at the circuit court where the conviction was entered. For Van Buren County convictions, that is the 29th Circuit Court in Paw Paw. You need form MC 227, a $50 processing fee paid to the Michigan State Police, and copies served on the county prosecutor and the Michigan Attorney General.
Michigan's automatic expungement law, MCL 780.621g, may clear some convictions automatically after ten years without any action on your part. Many offenses do not qualify, including serious violent crimes and crimes involving minors. Visit Michigan Legal Help to check whether your conviction qualifies and to get free step-by-step guidance.
FOIA Requests for Van Buren County Records
Under MCL 15.231, the public has the right to request records from government agencies. Court documents go to the county clerk. Arrest and incident records go to the sheriff's office. Your written FOIA request should describe the records clearly and include the subject's name, date of birth, and the approximate date of the case or arrest. Agencies have five business days to respond. Copy fees must be reasonable under state law.
Cities in Van Buren County
Van Buren County includes several communities, but none meet the population threshold for dedicated felony records pages on this site. All felony cases for residents of this county are handled at the 29th Circuit Court in Paw Paw.
Nearby Counties
Van Buren County borders these counties. Each has its own circuit court for felony cases. Check the right county if you are unsure where a case was filed.