Search Canton Township Arrest Records
Canton Township arrest records are maintained by the Canton Police Department and the Wayne County court system. If you need to look up an arrest, find an inmate, or check a criminal history tied to Canton Township, there are several official online tools you can use. This page walks you through each one, from the local police department to state-level databases, so you know where to start and what to expect when searching.
Canton Township Overview
How to Search Canton Township Arrest Records
Canton Township has its own police department, so arrest records start there. The Canton Police Department handles calls, makes arrests, and files reports for the township. Those reports then move through the Wayne County court system.
There are four main ways to find records. You can search the Wayne County inmate inquiry tool for current jail status. You can use the Michigan courts case search for district court filings. ICHAT gives you statewide criminal history. And a FOIA request to the Canton Police Department gets you copies of actual reports. Each tool serves a different purpose, and you may need more than one depending on what you are looking for.
Start with the inmate search if the arrest is recent. Use ICHAT or the court search for older cases. Use FOIA when you need the full incident report.
Canton Police Department
The Canton Police Department is the primary law enforcement agency for the township. They handle all local patrol, investigations, and arrests. Their records unit processes FOIA requests for incident reports and arrest documents.
The screenshot below shows the Canton Police Department website, where you can find department contacts, news, and information about how to request records.
The police department handles calls around the clock. For non-emergency matters like requesting reports or asking about a case, use the non-emergency line. Do not call 911 for records requests.
| Agency | Canton Police Department |
|---|---|
| Address | 1150 Canton Center Rd, Canton, MI 48188 |
| Non-Emergency | 734-394-5400 |
| Emergency | 911 |
| Website | canton-mi.org/police |
The Canton Township main website is at canton-mi.org. The screenshot below shows the township's homepage, which links to police services, court information, and other local government resources.
If you need the township's general contact or want to find out which department handles a specific request, start at the main township site and navigate to the police or records section.
FOIA and Police Records Request Process
Michigan's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), codified under MCL 15.231, gives the public the right to request records from government agencies. In Canton Township, that means you can request police reports, arrest logs, and incident records from the Canton Police Department.
To submit a request, you can contact the police department directly by phone, mail, or in person. Some agencies also accept requests by email. The agency has five business days to respond to a written request. They can grant it, deny it, or ask for more time. They must give a reason if they deny the request.
You may be charged a fee to cover copying or processing costs. The law caps how much agencies can charge, but fees still apply. Be specific in your request. Include the date, the person's name, and the type of record. This cuts down on back-and-forth and can speed up the process.
For state-level records or reports involving the Michigan State Police, submit your FOIA request through MSP at michigan.gov/msp/services/foia.
Inmate Search for Canton Township
People arrested in Canton Township are typically booked into the Wayne County Jail. The Wayne County inmate inquiry tool at inmateinquiry.waynecounty.com lets you search for current inmates by name.
The search shows booking information including the charge, bond amount, and booking date. It only shows people currently in custody. Once someone is released, their entry is removed from the active list. For past bookings, you need to contact the Wayne County Sheriff's Office directly or submit a FOIA request.
If a Canton Township arrest involved a more serious charge, the person may have been transferred to a state correctional facility. The Michigan Department of Corrections has its own offender search tool for those cases. The Wayne County inmate locator only covers the county jail.
35th District Court for Canton Township
The 35th District Court handles misdemeanor cases, civil infractions, and preliminary hearings for felonies in Canton Township. It also serves the City of Wayne and Westland. Court filings here become part of the public record.
| Court Name | 35th District Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 6465 N Canton Center Rd, Canton, MI 48187 |
| Phone | 397-5019 |
| Jurisdiction | Canton Township, City of Wayne, Westland |
| Case Search | courts.michigan.gov/case-search |
You can search court records online at courts.michigan.gov/case-search. Enter a name or case number and select the county. Results show the charge, case status, and court dates. Court records are a good supplement to arrest records because they show what happened after the arrest.
Felony cases that start in district court move to Wayne County Circuit Court after the preliminary exam. To follow a case all the way through, you may need to search both courts.
ICHAT Criminal History Search
ICHAT is Michigan's online criminal history search tool, run by the Michigan State Police. You can access it at apps.michigan.gov. It covers convictions statewide, including Canton Township cases that resulted in charges and a court outcome.
Under MCL 28.241, ICHAT searches cost $10 per name. You pay online and get the results immediately. The results show criminal convictions. An arrest with no conviction may not appear. That is an important distinction to understand.
ICHAT is useful for older cases or for checking if someone has a record across multiple Michigan counties. Because it pulls from statewide data, it may catch things that a single county or court search would miss. It is one of the most comprehensive tools for criminal history in Michigan.
Results from ICHAT do not include pending charges or arrests that have not yet been adjudicated. For current cases, the court case search or inmate inquiry is a better option.
FOIA Law and Clean Slate in Michigan
Michigan's FOIA law (MCL 15.231) covers most public records, but some are exempt. Arrest records tied to active investigations, juvenile files, and certain personnel records may be withheld. If a request is denied, the agency must explain why in writing.
Michigan's Clean Slate law (MCL 780.621g) allows people to petition to have certain convictions expunged from their record. If a court grants an expungement, the record is removed from public databases. That includes ICHAT. The general public cannot see an expunged record, though law enforcement may still have access in limited circumstances.
If your search returns no results, it could mean the person has no record, or it could mean their record was expunged. It could also mean the record is in a different county or under a different name. Using multiple search methods helps you get a clearer picture. For questions about specific statutes, visit legislature.mi.gov.
Sex Offender Registry for Canton Township
The Michigan Public Sex Offender Registry (PSOR) lists people convicted of sex offenses under MCL 28.721. You can search at mspsor.com by name or by location. The registry is free. It shows offense information, registration address, and other identifying details.
This registry is not the same as an arrest record database. PSOR shows people with sex offense convictions, not everyone who has been arrested. For Canton Township registrants, use the location or zip code search on the PSOR site.