Find Michigan County Jail Inmates, MDOC Prisoners, Court Cases and Release Alerts
Michigan does not operate one combined county-jail roster. A person arrested locally is usually searched through the county sheriff or city lockup, while a person serving a state prison sentence is searched through the Michigan Department of Corrections Offender Tracking Information System.
This guide helps you choose the correct database, fix a failed search, read custody and bond results, find court information, register for release notifications, and handle the next steps for visitation, phone calls, mail, money, medical concerns or transfers.
Michigan county jails are operated locally.
State prisoners, parolees and probationers.
Free 24-hour custody and court alerts.
83 separate county governments.
July 28, 2026 against official sources.
Which Michigan inmate search should you use?
Search the county sheriff jail roster or city lockup where the arrest occurred. Do not use OTIS for a normal county-jail booking.
Use MDOC OTIS. It covers current prisoners, parolees, probationers and people discharged from MDOC supervision within three years.
Use the case or docket number in MiCOURT Case Search or contact the district or circuit court of record.
Use MI-VINE to verify available custody information and register for telephone, email or text notifications.
Use Michigan State Police ICHAT. It is a paid public-record search, not a live inmate locator or warrant search.
Use the Federal Bureau of Prisons locator or contact the federal agency. Michigan jail and OTIS systems do not cover every federal detainee.
How to find a person in a Michigan county jail
Michigan has 83 counties. Each sheriff controls its own jail information, and the search fields, update times, mail rules, bond methods and visitation systems vary by county.
Information to prepare
How to use Michigan OTIS correctly
The Offender Tracking Information System is an MDOC database. It is not a statewide county-jail roster and should not be the first search for a person arrested locally today.
- Current MDOC prisoners.
- Parolees and probationers under MDOC supervision.
- People discharged from MDOC supervision within the previous three years.
- Public location, supervision, sentence and status information when available.
- County-jail inmates and city-lockup detainees.
- People sentenced only to a local jail.
- People arrested and convicted but not yet sentenced to MDOC.
- Information exempt under Michigan FOIA.
- People off MDOC supervision for more than three years.
No Michigan inmate record found? Follow this order
How to read a Michigan jail or OTIS result
| Field | What it means | What to do next |
|---|---|---|
| Booking or subject number | The local identifier for the current jail record. | Use it for calls, visits, mail, deposits and property questions. |
| MDOC number | The state corrections identifier for a person under MDOC jurisdiction. | Use it for OTIS, prison mail, visiting and account services. |
| Booking date | When the person entered that jail’s booking process. | Compare it with the known arrest date and recent-custody timeline. |
| Charge | The allegation or offence listed by the arresting agency or court. | Check the court record because charges can change or be dismissed. |
| Bond | The current amount or release condition associated with a case. | Confirm all cases and holds with the jail or court before paying. |
| Court or docket number | The identifier used by the district or circuit court. | Use MiCOURT or contact the court of record. |
| Facility or housing | The current jail, prison or housing assignment. | Confirm before travelling because assignments can change. |
| Parole or supervision status | The MDOC status after or instead of incarceration. | Use the listed field office for supervision-related questions. |
| Projected or earliest date | An eligibility or planning date, not necessarily physical release. | Use MI-VINE and the responsible agency for live status. |
How major Michigan county inmate systems differ
These examples show why a statewide page cannot use one set of jail rules. Always follow the county holding the person.
| County | Official search style | Useful local fact | Live action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wayne | Sheriff Inmate Inquiry with subject number, booking history, bond, charges and court dates. | A person may have multiple bookings, bonds and docket numbers; verify the active booking. | Search Wayne County |
| Oakland | County inmate locator and inmate-information page. | Oakland warns that charge and bond information may be up to 72 hours out of date and directs users to the court of jurisdiction. | Search Oakland County |
| Macomb | JailTracker locator. | The Sheriff warns it will not call to demand fees, gift cards, bitcoin or payment over the phone. | Search Macomb County |
| Kent | Web Jail Viewer and inmate-information phone line. | Kent warns that true identity can only be confirmed through fingerprint comparison and an arrest is not a conviction. | Search Kent County |
| Washtenaw | Sheriff corrections and incarcerated-individual information. | The county separates inmate information, video visits, mail, bonding and money instructions by service. | Open Washtenaw Corrections |
Find a Michigan court case, hearing or bond condition
Jail records are custody records. The court of jurisdiction controls the official case, charge changes, hearings, bond conditions and disposition.
Use MI-VINE for release, transfer, escape and court alerts
MI-VINE is a free, confidential 24-hour service for crime victims, families and the public. It provides available custody and court information and can send notifications after registration.
Verify available current custody information by telephone or online.
Register for available release, transfer, escape and other custody changes.
County jail and court notifications may be available by telephone, email or text.
Free, confidential and available 24 hours.
Toll-free: 877-886-5401
You found the person—what should you do next?
Match birth date, booking or MDOC number, arrest date and facility.
Call before visiting because court trips, classification and transfers can change location.
Verify all cases, bond types, payment methods and holds before paying.
Use the case number to confirm the hearing and current charges.
County-jail rules differ; MDOC visitors require application and approval.
Use only the exact facility address and vendor named by the agency.
Call the facility and ask for the medical, classification or shift-supervisor process.
Register with MI-VINE and recheck the official locator.
Do not travel until physical release is confirmed; pending release is not completed release.
Michigan inmate visitation: know which rules apply
| Issue | County jail | MDOC prison |
|---|---|---|
| Approval | May require registration, ID and advance scheduling; rules vary by sheriff. | Visitor generally must qualify, be added to the prisoner’s list and receive application approval. |
| Processing time | Varies from same-day kiosk registration to advance approval. | Visiting applications may take up to four weeks. |
| Scheduling window | County-specific. | At least 48 hours but no more than seven days in advance. |
| Visit length | Often short in-person or video blocks; verify locally. | Published in-person blocks vary; video visits are up to 20 minutes. |
| Video cost | Vendor and rate vary. | Current published rate is $0.16 per minute, with a $3.20 hold for a 20-minute session. |
| Facility schedule | Use the sheriff’s visitation page. | Use the specific prison’s schedule and quarantine status. |
MDOC visiting process
Mail, phone calls and money: avoid using the wrong system
Use the exact address and inmate number published by that sheriff. Some counties scan mail at an out-of-state processing centre, while others deliver inspected physical mail.
Write the prisoner’s full name and MDOC number plus the facility address. Incoming personal mail and envelopes are photocopied in black and white; originals are shredded.
Legal and confidential correspondence follows separate rules. Do not send it through an ordinary scanning address without checking the agency’s legal-mail instructions.
County jail and MDOC deposit systems are separate. Confirm the vendor, inmate number, fee and account type before submitting money.
Phone, tablet, commissary and bond funds may be separate accounts. A trust-account deposit may not pay for calls.
Do not mail clothing, food, cash, gift cards or a package unless the facility explicitly permits it through an approved process.
OTIS, jail rosters, MiCOURT and ICHAT are different records
| Tool | Best for | Does not replace |
|---|---|---|
| County jail roster | Current local custody, booking, charges, bond and housing. | Court docket, complete criminal history or MDOC record. |
| MDOC OTIS | State prisoners, parolees, probationers and recent MDOC discharges. | County-jail search or complete background check. |
| MiCOURT Case Search | Available district and circuit court case information. | Live custody confirmation or confidential court files. |
| Michigan ICHAT | Name-based public Michigan criminal-history information. | Live jail search, warrants, federal, tribal, juvenile or out-of-state records. |
| Fingerprint record | Identity-based personal or authorised background record. | Immediate custody location. |
| MI-VINE | Custody and court notifications. | A personal safety plan or direct agency confirmation. |
How to correct or challenge inaccurate inmate information
Michigan correctional contacts and map
Grandview Plaza
206 E. Michigan Avenue
P.O. Box 30003
Lansing, MI 48909
Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Eastern.
Use for general state-prison and facility-administration questions.
Corr_Records_Info@michigan.gov
Use for MDOC current-prisoner record questions, not county-jail records.
Use for inaccurate, incomplete or out-of-date MDOC public information.
Contact local law enforcement first when immediate police action is needed.
P.O. Box 30003, Lansing, MI 48909.
Michigan inmate-search checklist before you leave the page
Michigan jail inmate search FAQs
Is there one statewide Michigan jail inmate search?
No. County jails and city lockups are local. Use the sheriff or detention agency for the county where the person was booked.
How do I find someone recently arrested in Michigan?
Identify the arresting city and county, search the official county roster, then call if the booking is too recent to appear.
What does Michigan OTIS show?
Current MDOC prisoners, parolees and probationers, plus people discharged from MDOC supervision within the previous three years.
What does OTIS not show?
County-jail inmates, city-lockup detainees, jail-only sentences, some exempt records and people off MDOC supervision for more than three years.
Why can I not find someone in a Michigan jail search?
The person may still be in intake, listed differently, in another county or city lockup, released, transferred, hospitalised or moved to state or federal custody.
How do I receive release notifications?
Register through MI-VINE online or call 800-770-7657 for available custody and court alerts.
How do I find a Michigan court date?
Use the docket number in MiCOURT Case Search and verify the date with the court of record.
Can ICHAT locate a current inmate?
No. ICHAT is a paid name-based public criminal-history search, not a live custody locator.
How does MDOC visitation work?
The visitor generally must qualify, be placed on the prisoner’s list, submit an application, receive approval and then schedule within the MDOC window.
How do I correct an inaccurate record?
Contact the county jail for custody data, the court for charge or disposition data, or MDOC for supervision and OTIS information.
Official live-action resources
The article above explains the rules and decision process. These links are reserved for searches, registration, scheduling or other actions that must occur on the responsible system.