Eaton County Public Records /Eaton County Criminal Records

Eaton County Criminal Records

What Is Eaton County Criminal Records

Criminal records in Eaton County, Michigan, constitute official documentation of an individual's interactions with the criminal justice system within the county jurisdiction. These records encompass the complete history of a person's criminal activity as documented by law enforcement agencies, courts, and correctional facilities operating within Eaton County.

Criminal records typically include several distinct categories:

Arrest Records: Documentation of apprehensions by law enforcement agencies, which may not necessarily result in charges or convictions
Court Records: Official documentation of criminal proceedings, including arraignments, hearings, trials, and case dispositions
Conviction Records: Records of guilty verdicts or pleas, which become part of an individual's permanent criminal history
Incarceration Records: Documentation of periods of confinement in county jail facilities or state prisons

The distinction between arrest and conviction records is significant under Michigan's Criminal Procedure Act. Pursuant to MCL § 769.16a, arrest records without subsequent conviction may have different disclosure rules than conviction records.

Several agencies maintain criminal records in Eaton County:

Eaton County Sheriff's Office
1025 Independence Blvd
Charlotte, MI 48813
517-543-3512
Eaton County Sheriff's Office

56th Circuit Court
1045 Independence Blvd
Charlotte, MI 48813
517-543-7500
Eaton County Circuit Court

56A District Court
1045 Independence Blvd
Charlotte, MI 48813
517-543-4335
Eaton County District Court

Adult criminal records differ substantially from juvenile records. Under Michigan Compiled Laws § 712A.28, juvenile records are generally confidential and subject to stricter access limitations than adult records.

Are Criminal Records Public In Eaton County

Criminal records in Eaton County are generally considered public information pursuant to the Michigan Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), specifically MCL 15.231-15.246. This statute establishes the public's right to access government records, including most criminal justice information.

The Michigan FOIA states: "It is the public policy of this state that all persons, except those persons incarcerated in state or local correctional facilities, are entitled to full and complete information regarding the affairs of government and the official acts of those who represent them as public officials and public employees, consistent with this act."

However, not all criminal records are publicly accessible. Exceptions to public disclosure include:

Records pertaining to ongoing investigations (MCL 15.243(1)(b))
Juvenile records (protected under MCL 712A.28)
Records sealed or expunged by court order
Records where disclosure would constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy (MCL 15.243(1)(a))
Records specifically exempted from disclosure by statute

Adult conviction records are generally the most accessible type of criminal record. Court proceedings, unless specifically closed by judicial order, are open to public observation as guaranteed by the First Amendment and Michigan court rules.

The Michigan Court Rules further establish that court records are presumptively open to the public, with certain exceptions for sensitive information such as social security numbers, financial account numbers, and certain personal identifying information.

How To Look Up Criminal Records In Eaton County in 2026

Members of the public seeking criminal records in Eaton County may utilize several methods to obtain this information. The county maintains multiple access points for criminal record retrieval, each providing different types of information.

For in-person requests at the Eaton County Courthouse:

Visit the Eaton County Clerk's Office during regular business hours (Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM)
Complete a record request form, providing the subject's full name and, if possible, date of birth
Present valid government-issued photo identification
Pay applicable search and copy fees
Receive available records or instructions for retrieval

Eaton County Clerk
1045 Independence Blvd
Charlotte, MI 48813
517-543-2426
Eaton County Clerk

For criminal case records specifically, requestors may contact:

56th Circuit Court Records
1045 Independence Blvd
Charlotte, MI 48813
517-543-7500
Eaton County Circuit Court

Written requests may be submitted via mail to either office, including:

A completed records request form (available on the county website)
A self-addressed stamped envelope for return delivery
Payment for applicable fees (check or money order)
Clear identification of the records being requested

For certified copies of criminal court records, requestors must specify this requirement and pay additional certification fees. Under current Michigan court fee schedules, certification typically adds $10-$15 per document.

Requests made under the Michigan FOIA must be responded to within 5 business days, with a possible 10-day extension as permitted under MCL 15.235.

How To Find Criminal Records in Eaton County Online?

Eaton County provides several digital platforms for accessing criminal records information online. These resources offer varying levels of detail and cover different aspects of the criminal justice process.

The primary online resources include:

Michigan Courts Case Search - The Michigan Courts statewide case search system provides access to case information from participating courts, including Eaton County courts. Users can search by name, case number, or citation number to locate basic case information.
Eaton County Inmate Search - The Sheriff's Office maintains an online inmate lookup system that provides information on currently incarcerated individuals, including charges, booking dates, and scheduled release dates when available.
Michigan Offender Tracking Information System (OTIS) - For individuals sentenced to state prison or under state supervision, the Michigan Department of Corrections OTIS database provides comprehensive offender information.
Michigan State Police ICHAT - The Internet Criminal History Access Tool provides access to public criminal history records maintained by the Michigan State Police. This fee-based service ($10 per search) provides conviction information from across Michigan, including Eaton County cases.

When using these online systems, users should note:

Some systems require registration or payment of fees
Not all records are available online; older records may require in-person requests
Case information may be limited to basic details, with full documents requiring in-person retrieval
Search functionality typically requires accurate name spelling and may benefit from additional identifiers (DOB, case numbers)

For the most comprehensive online access, the Michigan Courts electronic records portal provides case information for participating courts, though document access may be limited.

Can You Search Eaton County Criminal Records for Free?

Michigan law provides for public inspection of non-exempt criminal records at no cost. Pursuant to MCL 15.233(3) of the Michigan Freedom of Information Act, "A public body shall furnish a requesting person a reasonable opportunity for inspection and examination of its public records, and shall furnish reasonable facilities for making memoranda or abstracts from its public records during the usual business hours."

Free inspection options in Eaton County include:

Eaton County Courthouse Public Access Terminals
1045 Independence Blvd
Charlotte, MI 48813
Available Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM

These terminals provide access to:

Circuit and District Court case information
Register of Actions (docket sheets)
Case scheduling information
Basic defendant information

While inspection is free, printing or obtaining copies typically incurs fees ($1.00-$2.00 per page for standard documents).

Several online resources also provide free access to limited criminal record information:

The Eaton County Sheriff's Office website offers a free inmate lookup function showing current jail population
The Michigan Offender Tracking Information System (OTIS) provides free access to information on state prisoners and parolees
The Michigan Sex Offender Registry offers free public access to registered sex offenders residing in Eaton County

It should be noted that while basic inspection is free, comprehensive criminal history reports through the Michigan State Police ICHAT system require payment of statutory fees. Additionally, certified copies of court documents incur certification fees as established by state law.

What's Included in a Eaton County Criminal Record?

Eaton County criminal records typically contain comprehensive information about an individual's interactions with the criminal justice system. The content of these records is standardized according to Michigan court and law enforcement record-keeping requirements.

Identifying Information:

Full legal name and known aliases
Date of birth and age
Physical description (height, weight, eye/hair color)
Identifying marks (tattoos, scars)
Last known address
State Identification Number (SID)
FBI number (if applicable)
Booking photographs ("mugshots")

Arrest Information:

Date, time and location of arrest
Arresting agency and officer
Booking number and facility
Initial charges filed
Bail/bond information
Pre-trial detention status

Court Case Information:

Court case number and jurisdiction
Filing date and court location
Formal charges filed (with Michigan statute citations)
Classification of offenses (felony/misdemeanor)
Arraignment details
Attorney information
Hearing dates and outcomes
Plea information

Disposition and Sentencing:

Final verdict or case outcome
Conviction date (if applicable)
Sentencing details:
- Incarceration terms
- Probation conditions
- Fines and court costs
- Restitution orders
- Community service requirements
Post-conviction proceedings
Appeal information

Additional Information:

Active warrants
Protective/restraining orders
Sex offender registration status
Probation/parole status
Compliance with court-ordered programs

The comprehensiveness of records may vary based on the source. Court records focus primarily on case proceedings and outcomes, while law enforcement records may contain more detailed arrest and investigative information. Records maintained by the Michigan Department of Corrections focus on incarceration and supervision details.

How Long Does Eaton County Keep Criminal Records?

Eaton County maintains criminal records according to retention schedules established by the Michigan Records Management Services and the State Court Administrative Office. These schedules dictate minimum retention periods for various types of criminal justice records.

Under Michigan Court Rule 8.119 and the Michigan Trial Court Records Management Standards, criminal records are subject to the following retention periods:

Felony Case Files: Minimum 50 years from date of filing
Misdemeanor Case Files: Minimum 20 years from date of filing
Traffic Misdemeanors: Minimum 10 years from date of filing
Civil Infractions: Minimum 2 years from date of filing
Juvenile Delinquency Records: Until age 30 (unless sealed earlier)
Search Warrants: 7 years after issuance
Arrest Records (no charges filed): 5 years from date of arrest

Law enforcement agencies in Eaton County maintain records according to schedules established by the Michigan State Police and local policies:

Incident Reports: Minimum 7 years
Arrest Records: Minimum 7 years
Investigation Files (major crimes): Permanent retention
Investigation Files (other): Minimum 7 years after case closure
Sex Offender Registration Records: Lifetime of the offender plus 30 years

It is important to note that these are minimum retention periods. Many records, particularly those related to serious offenses, may be retained permanently. Additionally, records that have been digitized may be maintained indefinitely in electronic format even after physical documents have been destroyed pursuant to retention schedules.

The Michigan Department of State Records Management Services oversees the development and implementation of records retention schedules for all state and local government agencies, including those in Eaton County.