Gogebic County Arrest Records Lookup
Gogebic County arrest records are held by the Sheriff's Office in Bessemer, the 32nd Circuit Court, and Michigan statewide databases. Located in the far western Upper Peninsula on the Wisconsin border, Gogebic County handles criminal records through local, state, and online channels covered in detail below.
Gogebic County Overview
How to Search Gogebic County Arrest Records
Gogebic County is the westernmost county in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. It shares its southern border with Wisconsin and is largely forested and rural. Bessemer serves as the county seat and is home to the Sheriff's Office and the 32nd Circuit Court. Ironwood, the largest city in the county, also has a local police department with its own records.
Arrest records in Gogebic County can be found through several channels. The Sheriff's Office in Bessemer handles county-level arrests and jail bookings. The Michigan ICHAT system at apps.michigan.gov lets you search statewide criminal history for $10 per query. The Michigan court case portal is free and shows cases filed in local courts.
The Michigan State Police also plays a large role in this part of the UP. If an arrest involved state troopers, you may need to request records from MSP rather than the county Sheriff. Both sources may be needed for a complete picture.
Gogebic County Sheriff's Office
The Gogebic County Sheriff's Office is based in Bessemer and provides law enforcement to the entire county outside of city limits. They manage the county jail, handle arrests, and keep local booking records. This is the main point of contact for recent arrest information.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Agency | Gogebic County Sheriff's Office |
| Address | 200 N Moore St, Bessemer, MI 49911 |
| Phone | 906-667-0203 |
| Website | gogebiccountymi.gov |
| Jurisdiction | Gogebic County, Michigan |
To request records, call the Sheriff at 906-667-0203 during business hours. For formal requests, a written submission is best. Include the subject's full name, date of birth, and approximate date of the incident. Staff can also direct you to the county clerk's office for court-related documents.
Ironwood Police Department handles arrests within city limits. Their records are separate from the county Sheriff. If the arrest occurred in Ironwood, contact the Ironwood PD directly for local incident data.
Gogebic County Jail and Inmate Records
The county jail in Bessemer is operated by the Sheriff's Office. To find out if someone is currently detained there, call 906-667-0203. Booking confirmations are typically available over the phone. More detailed records require a formal request.
The Michigan OTIS system shows anyone in a state correctional facility. It is run by the Michigan Department of Corrections and is free to use. Below is the OTIS search tool.
Search OTIS by name to find sentence details, the current facility, and release dates. It does not track county jail inmates. County jail holds pretrial detainees and people serving short sentences. State prisons hold those serving longer terms after sentencing.
Michigan Court Case Search for Gogebic County
Gogebic County criminal cases are filed in the 32nd Circuit Court, which also serves Ontonagon County. The Michigan One Court of Justice case search tool is available free at courts.michigan.gov/case-search.
You can search by full name or case number. Results include the charges, case status, hearing dates, and how the case ended. You do not need to log in or pay to use the portal. It is updated regularly as court proceedings occur.
An arrest does not automatically create a court record. If the prosecutor decided not to file charges, you may find an arrest report at the Sheriff's Office but nothing in the court system. Use both for a full picture of someone's Gogebic County record.
Michigan's court case search portal is shown here.
ICHAT Criminal History: Gogebic County
ICHAT is the Michigan State Police's Internet Criminal History Access Tool. It provides official background check results for anyone with a Michigan criminal record. It costs $10 per search and is accessible at apps.michigan.gov.
You will need the person's full name and date of birth. After you pay online, results come back immediately. ICHAT is governed by MCL 28.241 and includes formal convictions from all 83 Michigan counties, including Gogebic.
The tool does not include arrests that did not lead to charges or convictions. It may also lack very old records that were not entered into the digital system. ICHAT works best when combined with the court case portal and a direct request to the Sheriff.
FOIA Requests in Gogebic County
Under Michigan's Freedom of Information Act, MCL 15.231, you have the right to request public records from any government agency in Gogebic County. This includes arrest reports, jail logs, and incident records from the Sheriff's Office or any other county body.
Submit your request in writing. Agencies must respond within 5 business days. They can grant, deny, or request a 10-day extension. Denials must cite a specific legal exemption. Fees for copies and staff time are allowed but must be reasonable under the law.
To request records from the Michigan State Police, use the online FOIA portal at michigan.gov/msp/services/foia. MSP is active throughout the Upper Peninsula and is the agency of record for many incidents in rural Gogebic County.
If your request is denied and you believe the denial is wrong, you can appeal to the head of the agency. After that, you can go to circuit court to challenge the denial.
Michigan Sex Offender Registry in Gogebic County
The Michigan Public Sex Offender Registry, or PSOR, is free to search at mspsor.com. It lists all registered offenders in Michigan, including those living in Gogebic County. The registry is maintained under MCL 28.721.
Search by name, ZIP code, or address. Results show photos, current addresses, and offense details. Gogebic County law enforcement maintains registrant data for the county and reports updates to the Michigan State Police.
The PSOR search form is shown below.
Michigan Clean Slate Expungement in Gogebic County
Michigan's Clean Slate law, MCL 780.621g, gives people with eligible convictions a path to have their records set aside. When expunged, a record is removed from ICHAT and public court databases. Gogebic County residents would file their petition with the 32nd Circuit Court in Bessemer.
Waiting periods apply, and not all offenses qualify. Life felonies, crimes against children, and sex offenses requiring registry are not eligible. The process takes several months and may involve a court hearing.
Automatic expungement is also available for some older low-level offenses. You do not need to file for those cases. Contact a legal aid organization or an attorney familiar with Michigan law to find out if your record qualifies.