Find Arrest Records in Detroit, Michigan
Detroit arrest records are public documents managed by the Detroit Police Department and Wayne County courts. This guide covers how to search for arrest reports, request records through FOIA, look up inmates at the Wayne County Jail, and access state criminal history databases for Detroit cases.
Detroit Overview
Searching Detroit Arrest Records
Detroit is the largest city in Michigan, and it sits entirely within Wayne County. Most arrest records for Detroit originate with the Detroit Police Department. Once a case moves through the courts, records may also appear in the 36th District Court or the 3rd Circuit Court, depending on the charge.
There are a few ways to search. You can submit a FOIA request directly to the DPD. You can look up an inmate through the Wayne County Jail search tool. You can check court case records online through the Michigan courts system. Or you can run a statewide criminal history check through ICHAT. Each method covers a different piece of the picture.
Not all arrest records are available online. Some require a formal written request. The sections below explain each path in detail.
Detroit Police Department Contact and Jurisdiction
The Detroit Police Department handles law enforcement for the entire city. It is one of the largest municipal police departments in the Midwest. For arrest records, reports, and FOIA requests, the DPD is usually your first stop.
| Agency | Detroit Police Department |
|---|---|
| Address | 1301 3rd Ave, Detroit, MI 48226 |
| Non-Emergency Phone | 313-596-2200 |
| Emergency | 911 |
| FOIA - Routine Records | DPDFOIA@detroitmi.gov |
| FOIA - Non-Routine Records | FOIA@detroitmi.gov |
| FOIA Fax | 313-224-5505 |
| Website | detroitmi.gov/departments/police-department |
The DPD website has current information on department services, news releases, and how to file records requests. If you are unsure whether a record is routine or non-routine, the next section explains that distinction in full.
The Detroit Police Department's main page gives you contact details for each division and links to public records tools.
The DPD site also links directly to the FOIA request portal, covered below.
How to Request Detroit Police Records Through FOIA
Michigan's Freedom of Information Act (MCL 15.231) gives you the right to request public records from the city. The Detroit Police Department splits FOIA requests into two categories: routine and non-routine. Knowing which type you need saves time.
Routine records are handled by the DPD Law Unit. These include:
- Specific police reports (when you have the report number)
- Simple arrest reports
- Non-critical motor vehicle accident reports
- 911 audio recordings and CAD reports
- Police dash-cam videos
- Mug shots
- Incident reports for domestic disputes, simple assault, or theft
Send routine requests to: DPDFOIA@detroitmi.gov
Non-routine records go to the City of Detroit Law Department instead. These include:
- Fatal accidents and critical injury incidents
- Homicide, narcotics, and gang-related cases
- Criminal sexual conduct and shooting investigations
- Death investigations and vice cases
- Video or audio other than 911 calls and dash-cam footage
Send non-routine requests to: FOIA@detroitmi.gov
You can also mail requests to: City of Detroit Law Department, Coleman A. Young Municipal Building, 2 Woodward Avenue, Suite 500, Detroit, MI 48226. Or fax to 313-224-5505.
When you submit any FOIA request, include your full name and address, a description of the incident, the date and time it occurred, the location, names of people involved, the report number if you have it, and the DPD unit or division if known. The more detail you give, the faster it gets processed.
One tip worth noting: avoid broad requests like "any and all records." Those are harder to fulfill and may require a deposit before the city starts pulling documents. Narrow your request to a specific report, incident, or date range. If a company is making the request, you must name a company representative in the form.
The city's FOIA portal walks you through the online submission process step by step.
The FOIA request page at detroitmi.gov explains what to include and where to send each type of request.
Detroit Inmate Search Through Wayne County
When someone is arrested in Detroit, they are typically booked into the Wayne County Jail. The Wayne County Sheriff's Office runs an online inmate search tool that lets you check who is currently in custody.
The search portal is free to use. You can look up inmates by name. The tool shows current booking status and basic case information for people held in Wayne County facilities.
| Inmate Search Portal | inmateinquiry.waynecounty.com |
|---|---|
| Alternate Search | sheriffconnect.com |
| Operated By | Wayne County Sheriff's Office |
The Wayne County inmate search portal is one of the fastest ways to confirm whether someone arrested in Detroit is still in custody.
The inmate inquiry site updates regularly and shows active bookings at Wayne County facilities, including people arrested by Detroit police.
Detroit Courts and Criminal Case Records
Detroit criminal cases are handled at two main courts, depending on the charge.
The 36th District Court handles misdemeanors, traffic offenses, and preliminary hearings for felony cases. It is located at 421 Madison Ave, Detroit, MI 48226. The main phone is 313-965-2300. Most lower-level criminal cases start and end here.
The 3rd Circuit Court handles felony cases after they move past the preliminary hearing stage. It is located at 1441 St. Antoine, Detroit, MI 48226. Wayne County's circuit court also handles civil cases and appeals from the district court.
The Michigan courts system has an online case search tool that covers both courts. You can search by name or case number.
| Michigan Case Search | courts.michigan.gov/case-search |
|---|---|
| 36th District Court | 421 Madison Ave, Detroit, MI 48226 - 313-965-2300 |
| 3rd Circuit Court | 1441 St. Antoine, Detroit, MI 48226 |
Court case records show charges, hearings, dispositions, and sentencing. They do not always show arrest details. For full arrest report details, you still need to go through the DPD FOIA process.
ICHAT: Michigan Criminal History for Detroit Residents
ICHAT is Michigan's Internet Criminal History Access Tool. It is run by the Michigan State Police and gives you access to statewide criminal history records, including arrests and convictions recorded in Detroit.
You can run a search at apps.michigan.gov. The fee is $10 per search. Results are based on fingerprint-verified records maintained under MCL 28.241. This makes ICHAT more accurate than a basic name search, since it is not thrown off by common names or name variations.
ICHAT searches cover arrests, charges, and dispositions from across the state. If you need a complete criminal history for someone who has lived in Michigan, this is the most thorough tool available. It is used by individuals, attorneys, and organizations that need verified records.
Results come back quickly, usually within minutes of payment. The record will show convictions and arrests that were reported to the state repository. Some older or local-only records may not appear.
Michigan Clean Slate and Detroit Arrest Records
Michigan's Clean Slate law, codified under MCL 780.621g, allows people to apply to have certain arrest and conviction records set aside. This applies to some Detroit cases as well. If a record is expunged, it is removed from public view and will not appear in most searches.
Not all records qualify. Serious felonies, certain violent offenses, and some other categories are excluded. But many misdemeanors and lower-level felonies may be eligible, especially after enough time has passed since the conviction or arrest.
Michigan also added an automatic expungement process under Clean Slate. Some qualifying records are set aside without requiring an application. The state legislature's website at legislature.mi.gov has the full text of the statute for reference.
If you believe a Detroit arrest record should have been expunged, but it still appears in a search, you can contact the Michigan State Police FOIA office at michigan.gov/msp/services/foia to raise the issue.
Legal aid organizations in Wayne County can also help people navigate the expungement process if cost is a concern.
Michigan Sex Offender Registry - Detroit
The Michigan Public Sex Offender Registry (PSOR) is free to use. It is maintained by the Michigan State Police under MCL 28.721. You can search by name, address, or zip code at mspsor.com. The registry includes registered offenders living or working in Detroit and across the state.