Genesee County Arrest Records
Genesee County arrest records are maintained by the Genesee County Sheriff's Office and the courts of the 7th Judicial Circuit. These records cover bookings, charges, and case outcomes for individuals processed through the county jail and local law enforcement agencies. You can search records through state databases, submit a FOIA request, or check court filings online. This page explains how the system works, who keeps what, and where to look.
Genesee County Overview
Genesee County Sheriff's Office
The Genesee County Sheriff's Office is the main law enforcement body for the county. Sheriff Christopher R. Swanson leads the office, which handles patrol, civil process, court security, and jail operations. The office is located at 1002 S. Saginaw St., Flint, MI 48502. The main line is 810-257-3406. For jail-related calls, use 810-257-3426.
The sheriff's office processes all county-level arrests. When someone is booked, staff create a record that includes name, date of birth, charges, booking date, and any bond information. These records are part of the official public record once charges are filed, though some details may be withheld during active investigations.
The county's public records portal is at gc4me.com. That site covers county departments, services, and some basic access tools. For detailed arrest and booking data, you'll generally need to go through the state ICHAT system or file a FOIA request.
Genesee County Jail
The Genesee County Jail sits at the same address as the sheriff's office: 1002 South Saginaw Street, Flint, MI 48502. It operates as a direct supervision facility with an official capacity of 580 beds. In practice, the average daily population often runs between 580 and 620 inmates, meaning the jail frequently operates above its rated capacity.
Because of that overcrowding, the county reopened the Flint City Lockup at 210 West Fifth Street, Flint, MI 48502 in 2021. That facility holds up to 110 inmates on a short-term basis and helps ease pressure on the main jail. Both facilities work together to manage the county's detention needs.
More information about the jail, including inmate search tools, is available at geneseecountyjailmi.org. The site provides basic lookup functions and contact details for staff. If you need to reach someone detained at the jail, that site is a good starting point.
Booking records from the jail become part of the public record once charges are formally filed. Bond amounts, charges, and court dates are typically accessible through the jail site or through the 7th Circuit Court's case management system.
Jail Programs: I.G.N.I.T.E. and G.H.O.S.T.
The Genesee County Jail runs two programs that have earned attention well beyond the county's borders. Both reflect a shift in how the jail approaches its role, not just as a place to hold people, but as a place where intervention is possible.
The I.G.N.I.T.E. program launched in 2020. The idea was simple: give inmates structured time in the classroom. Participants attend two hours of school per day, five days a week. Since the program began, inmates have logged more than 35,000 hours of coursework. More than 27 returning citizens found jobs after release. Harvard University studied the program, and other jurisdictions have since replicated the model. It's one of the more studied jail education efforts in the country right now.
G.H.O.S.T. stands for Genesee Human Oppression Strike Team. The team was created in 2019 to target human trafficking and criminal sexual conduct offenses. Since then, the unit has made more than 150 arrests. The approach is victim-centered, meaning the team focuses on identifying and helping victims alongside making arrests. That focus has earned the unit national recognition from law enforcement organizations and advocacy groups. Few county-level units in Michigan have received that kind of attention for anti-trafficking work.
Both programs are run out of or in coordination with the sheriff's office. They don't affect how public records are handled, but they're part of the broader picture of how Genesee County manages its jail population and public safety mission.
How to Search Genesee County Arrest Records
There are several ways to search for arrest records in Genesee County. Each method gives you access to different types of information, so the right choice depends on what you're looking for.
ICHAT (Internet Criminal History Access Tool)
ICHAT is the state's main criminal history database. It's run by the Michigan State Police and covers conviction records statewide. You can access it at apps.michigan.gov. The fee is $10 per search, and the system is authorized under MCL 28.241. ICHAT is best for confirmed conviction records, not pending arrests.
Court Case Search
The Michigan court system provides online case access at courts.michigan.gov/case-search. You can search by name and find case filings, hearing dates, and dispositions. This covers cases handled by the 7th Circuit Court and the 67th District Court in Flint. Both courts are located at or near 900 S. Saginaw St., Flint, MI 48502.
StateRecords
The site michigan.staterecords.org/genesee aggregates publicly available records for Genesee County. It's a useful starting point if you're not sure which agency holds the record you need.
FOIA Request
You can request records directly from the sheriff's office under the Michigan Freedom of Information Act, MCL 15.231. The FOIA Coordinator is Attorney Brian MacMillan. Requests can be sent to 900 S. Saginaw St., Ste. #102, Flint, MI 48502, or by email at bmacmillan@co.genesee.mi.us. The MSP FOIA process is separate and handled at michigan.gov/msp/services/foia.
OTIS (Offender Tracking Information System)
If you're looking for someone currently in state prison or recently released, use OTIS at mdocweb.state.mi.us/otis2/otis2.html. This is run by the Michigan Department of Corrections and covers state-level custody, not county jail.
Sex Offender Registry
The Michigan Public Sex Offender Registry (PSOR) is at mspsor.com, authorized under MCL 28.721. This is a free, public search tool.
Arrest Record Screenshots
The screenshot below comes from michigan.staterecords.org/genesee, which aggregates Genesee County public records including arrest data. It shows the search interface available through that portal.
The StateRecords portal pulls together data from multiple sources and can help narrow down which agency holds the specific record you need.
This second screenshot is from citydirectory.us, showing county-level contact and office information for Genesee County, including sheriff's office details.
That page includes address and phone data that can help you identify the right office to contact for records.
Understanding Record Access Rules
Michigan treats arrest records differently depending on whether charges were filed and what happened afterward. An arrest alone does not result in a public conviction record unless the case ends in a guilty plea or verdict. Records for cases that were dismissed, nolle prossed, or resulted in acquittal may still appear in databases but are not counted as convictions.
Michigan's Clean Slate law, MCL 780.621g, allows certain individuals to petition for expungement of eligible convictions and arrests. If a record has been expunged, it will not appear in ICHAT results for the general public. Law enforcement agencies retain access to expunged records in some circumstances. If you believe a record you're finding should be expunged, consult an attorney familiar with Michigan expungement law.
Juvenile records are handled separately. Most juvenile adjudications are not public. Adult records for people 17 and older at the time of offense are generally public once charges are filed. If someone was charged as an adult but the case was handled in a specialty court, different rules may apply.
For the most current and complete information on what you can and can't access, the Michigan Legislature's site at legislature.mi.gov provides the full text of relevant statutes.
7th Circuit Court and District Courts
Felony cases in Genesee County go through the 7th Circuit Court at 900 S. Saginaw St., Flint, MI 48502. Misdemeanor cases are handled by the 67th District Court, also in Flint. Both courts maintain case records that are searchable through the Michigan court system's online portal at courts.michigan.gov/case-search.
Case records from these courts include charging documents, hearing schedules, plea records, and sentencing information. They do not always include police reports or arrest narratives, those may require a separate FOIA request to the arresting agency.
If you need certified copies of court records, you must contact the clerk's office directly. Fees apply for certified copies. The court clerk can also confirm whether a case is sealed or restricted from public view.
Cities in Genesee County
Flint is the largest city in Genesee County and the county seat. It has its own arrest records page with more detail on city-specific resources and law enforcement contacts.
Other cities and townships in Genesee County, including Burton, Grand Blanc, Swartz Creek, and Flushing, do not have separate pages on this site. For those areas, the county-level resources on this page apply.
Nearby Counties
Genesee County borders several other Michigan counties. Each has its own sheriff's office, jail, and court system. If a record you need was filed in a neighboring county, use the links below.