Lenawee County Arrest Records
Are Arrest Records Public in Lenawee County
Arrest records in Lenawee County are considered public information under Michigan's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), Michigan Compiled Laws § 15.231-15.246. This statute establishes the public's right to access government records, including those related to arrests made by law enforcement agencies within the county. The Michigan FOIA presumes that all records are accessible to the public unless specifically exempted by law.
It is important to distinguish between arrest records and conviction records. An arrest record documents that an individual was taken into custody by law enforcement based on probable cause that they committed a crime. A conviction record, by contrast, indicates that the individual was found guilty of a criminal offense through the judicial process. Under Michigan law, both types of records are generally accessible to the public, though arrest records without subsequent conviction may be subject to certain restrictions after a specified period.
The Michigan State Police maintain the state's criminal history record repository pursuant to the C.J.I.S. Policy Council Act, MCL § 28.211 et seq. Law enforcement agencies in Lenawee County, including the Lenawee County Sheriff's Office, are required to submit arrest information to this central repository. While these records are public, certain information may be redacted to protect ongoing investigations, confidential informants, or personal privacy in accordance with exemptions outlined in MCL § 15.243.
What's in Lenawee County Arrest Records
Arrest records maintained by Lenawee County law enforcement agencies typically contain comprehensive information about individuals taken into custody. These records serve as official documentation of an arrest event and generally include the following categories of information:
Arrestee Identifying Information:
- Full legal name
- Date of birth
- Physical description (height, weight, eye color, hair color)
- Home address
- Identifying marks such as tattoos or scars
- Fingerprints
- Photograph (mugshot)
Arrest Details:
- Date and time of arrest
- Location of arrest
- Arresting agency
- Name and badge number of arresting officer(s)
- Circumstances leading to arrest
Charge Information:
- Criminal charges filed
- Michigan Compiled Laws statute citations
- Charge classification (felony or misdemeanor)
- Charge severity level
Warrant Information (if applicable):
- Warrant number
- Issuing court
- Date of issuance
- Judge who signed the warrant
Booking Information:
- Booking date and time
- Processing officer information
- Property inventory
- Medical screening results (non-confidential portions)
Bond/Bail Information:
- Bond amount
- Bond type (cash, surety, personal recognizance)
- Bond conditions
- Whether bond was posted
Court Information:
- Court of jurisdiction
- Case number
- Scheduled court appearances
- Judge assigned to the case
Custody Status:
- Current detention status
- Facility where detained
- Release date (if applicable)
Additional Information May Include:
- Prior arrest history
- Known aliases
- Vehicle information related to the arrest
- Witness statements (redacted as necessary)
- Officer narrative reports
The specific content of arrest records may vary depending on the arresting agency's policies and the nature of the case. Certain sensitive information, such as social security numbers, driver's license numbers, and medical information, is typically redacted from public versions of these records in accordance with privacy protections under Michigan law.
How To Look Up Arrest Records in Lenawee County in 2026
Members of the public seeking arrest records in Lenawee County may utilize several official channels to obtain this information. The county maintains multiple access points for record retrieval, each with specific procedures and requirements.
To request arrest records in person, individuals may visit:
Lenawee County Sheriff's Office
405 N. Winter Street
Adrian, MI 49221
517-263-0524
Lenawee County Sheriff's Office
The Sheriff's Records Division is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, excluding holidays. Requesters should:
- Complete a public records request form (available at the counter)
- Provide specific information about the record sought (name, date of birth, approximate date of arrest)
- Present valid government-issued photo identification
- Pay applicable fees (currently $5.00 for the first page and $0.25 for each additional page)
For written requests, individuals may submit a FOIA request by mail to the above address, addressed to "Records Division." The request should include:
- Requester's complete contact information
- Detailed description of records sought
- Preferred method of delivery (mail, email, in-person pickup)
- Signature and date
Electronic requests may be submitted through the Lenawee County FOIA Portal, which provides a standardized form for record requests. The portal allows for secure electronic submission and tracking of requests.
Pursuant to Michigan's FOIA (MCL § 15.235), the Sheriff's Office must respond to requests within 5 business days, though this period may be extended by an additional 10 business days if necessary. Responses will either provide the requested records, deny the request with explanation, or request additional time or clarification.
For certified copies of arrest records, which may be required for legal proceedings, requesters should specifically indicate this requirement on their application and expect to pay an additional certification fee.
How To Find Lenawee County Arrest Records Online
Lenawee County provides several digital resources for accessing arrest record information through official online channels. These electronic access points offer varying levels of detail and are updated according to different schedules.
The primary online resource is the Lenawee County Inmate Lookup tool, accessible through the Sheriff's Office website. This database provides:
- Current inmate status
- Booking information
- Charges
- Bond amounts
- Scheduled court dates
- Expected release dates for sentenced individuals
To use this system effectively:
- Navigate to the Sheriff's Office website
- Select the "Inmate Lookup" option
- Enter search criteria (last name is required; additional identifiers improve accuracy)
- Review the results displayed
For more comprehensive criminal history information, the Michigan State Police Internet Criminal History Access Tool (ICHAT) provides statewide arrest and conviction data. This system requires:
- Creation of a user account
- Payment of a fee ($10 per search)
- Subject's full name and date of birth
The Lenawee County Courts also maintain an online case lookup system that provides information on criminal cases resulting from arrests. This system includes:
- Case numbers
- Charges filed
- Court dates
- Case disposition
- Sentencing information
For the most current arrest information, the Lenawee County Sheriff's Office periodically posts recent booking information on their official social media channels, though these posts are not comprehensive and are typically removed after a short period.
Users should note that online systems may not contain complete arrest histories, particularly for older records that have not been digitized. Additionally, certain sensitive cases, such as those involving juveniles or ongoing investigations, may be excluded from public online access in accordance with Michigan law.
How To Search Lenawee County Arrest Records for Free?
Lenawee County residents and other interested parties have several options for accessing arrest records without incurring fees. These no-cost methods provide varying levels of detail and may require in-person visits to county facilities.
The Lenawee County Sheriff's Office provides limited free public access to recent booking information through:
Lenawee County Sheriff's Office Lobby Terminal
405 N. Winter Street
Adrian, MI 49221
517-263-0524
Lenawee County Sheriff's Office
This publicly accessible computer terminal in the Sheriff's Office lobby allows visitors to view basic booking information for recent arrests. The terminal is available during regular business hours (Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM) and provides:
- Arrestee name
- Booking date
- Charges
- Current custody status
The Lenawee County Sheriff's Office website also maintains a free "Daily Booking" section that lists individuals recently processed into the county jail. This information is typically updated once per day and remains available for approximately 72 hours.
For case information resulting from arrests, the public access terminals at the Lenawee County Courthouse provide free access to the court's case management system:
Lenawee County Courthouse
301 N. Main Street
Adrian, MI 49221
517-264-4597
Lenawee County Courts
These terminals are available during regular court hours (Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM) and allow searches by:
- Defendant name
- Case number
- Filing date range
- Case type
Local public libraries in Lenawee County also offer free internet access that can be used to view the publicly available portions of the Sheriff's Office website and court records system:
Adrian District Library
143 E. Maumee Street
Adrian, MI 49221
517-265-2265
Adrian District Library
While these free options provide basic arrest information, they typically do not include complete criminal history reports or detailed arrest narratives. Pursuant to Michigan FOIA (MCL § 15.234), agencies may charge reasonable fees for the labor and materials involved in providing copies of more detailed records.
How To Delete Arrest Records in Lenawee County
Michigan law provides specific mechanisms for limiting public access to arrest records through a process known as expungement (legal erasure) or setting aside a conviction. These processes are governed by Michigan's Set Aside Law, MCL § 780.621 et seq., which was significantly expanded by the Clean Slate legislation that took effect in April 2021.
Expungement legally erases an arrest or conviction record, removing it from public view and allowing the individual to legally state they have not been arrested or convicted of the expunged offense. Sealing, by contrast, restricts public access to records while maintaining them for law enforcement purposes.
Eligibility for expungement in Lenawee County depends on several factors:
- Nature of the offense
- Number of prior convictions
- Time elapsed since arrest or completion of sentence
- Subsequent criminal history
For arrests that did not result in conviction, individuals may request removal from public records after one year has passed, pursuant to MCL § 28.243. This process requires filing a petition with:
Lenawee County Clerk's Office
301 N. Main Street
Adrian, MI 49221
517-264-4599
Lenawee County Clerk
For convictions, the expungement process involves:
- Obtaining a certified record of conviction from the court where the case was handled
- Securing fingerprints from an authorized agency
- Requesting a certified criminal history from the Michigan State Police
- Filing a petition with the court of conviction
- Serving copies on the prosecutor's office, Michigan State Police, and Attorney General
- Attending a hearing before a judge
Under Michigan's Clean Slate legislation, certain misdemeanor convictions may be automatically set aside seven years after sentencing, and certain felonies may be automatically set aside ten years after sentence completion or release from incarceration, whichever is later. However, this automatic process excludes assaultive crimes, serious misdemeanors, crimes of dishonesty, and offenses punishable by 10 or more years in prison.
Individuals seeking expungement should be aware that the process is discretionary, and judges consider factors including the applicant's behavior since conviction and the potential impact on public safety. Legal assistance is strongly recommended, and Lenawee County residents may contact Michigan Legal Help for guidance on the expungement process.
What Happens After Arrest in Lenawee County?
Following an arrest in Lenawee County, individuals enter a structured criminal justice process governed by Michigan law and local court procedures. This process typically progresses through several distinct phases.
The initial post-arrest procedure involves booking at the Lenawee County Jail, located at:
Lenawee County Jail
405 N. Winter Street
Adrian, MI 49221
517-263-0524
Lenawee County Sheriff's Office
During booking, arrestees undergo:
- Photographing and fingerprinting
- Personal property inventory
- Basic medical screening
- Background check
- Initial charge documentation
Within 48 hours of arrest (excluding weekends and holidays), arrestees must be brought before a judge or magistrate for arraignment, as required by Michigan Court Rule 6.104. This initial court appearance typically occurs at:
Lenawee County District Court
301 N. Main Street
Adrian, MI 49221
517-264-4675
Lenawee County District Court
At arraignment, the judge:
- Formally presents charges
- Advises of constitutional rights
- Determines bail conditions
- Appoints counsel if the defendant qualifies
- Sets dates for future proceedings
For misdemeanor cases, defendants may enter a plea at arraignment. For felonies, the next step is a probable cause conference within 7-14 days, followed by a preliminary examination within 5-7 days after that conference, pursuant to MCL § 766.4.
The preliminary examination determines if sufficient evidence exists to bind the case over to Circuit Court. If so, the case proceeds to:
Lenawee County Circuit Court
301 N. Main Street
Adrian, MI 49221
517-264-4597
Lenawee County Circuit Court
At Circuit Court, defendants are arraigned again and proceed through:
- Pretrial conferences
- Motion hearings
- Plea negotiations
- Trial (if no plea agreement is reached)
Following conviction, either by plea or trial verdict, sentencing occurs typically 4-6 weeks later. Sentencing options in Lenawee County include:
- Probation
- Jail time
- Prison (for serious felonies)
- Fines and costs
- Community service
- Treatment programs
Throughout this process, arrest records are updated to reflect the case status, and upon final disposition, the Michigan State Police criminal history repository is updated pursuant to MCL § 28.243.
How Long Are Arrest Records Kept in Lenawee County?
Arrest records in Lenawee County are maintained according to Michigan's Records Retention and Disposal Schedule for law enforcement agencies, as established under Michigan Compiled Laws § 399.811 and administered by the Department of Technology, Management and Budget. These schedules establish minimum retention periods, though agencies may retain records longer than required.
For standard arrest records, the retention requirements include:
- Arrest reports for felony offenses: Minimum 25 years
- Arrest reports for high misdemeanors: Minimum 10 years
- Arrest reports for other misdemeanors: Minimum 7 years
- Arrest logs and booking information: Minimum 7 years
- Fingerprint cards: Permanent retention by the Michigan State Police
- Mugshot photographs: Minimum 7 years
Different agencies within the criminal justice system maintain separate record systems with varying retention requirements:
- The Lenawee County Sheriff's Office maintains arrest reports, booking information, and jail records
- The Michigan State Police maintains the central repository of criminal history information
- The Lenawee County Prosecutor's Office maintains case files related to prosecutions
- The Lenawee County Courts maintain case files and disposition information
For arrests that do not result in charges or convictions, Michigan law (MCL § 28.243) provides that fingerprint cards and arrest records may be removed from public access after one year upon request, though they remain in restricted law enforcement databases.
Records related to juvenile arrests are subject to different retention schedules and confidentiality requirements under Michigan Court Rule 3.925. Most juvenile records are automatically sealed when the individual reaches age 17 or 18, depending on the offense, and may be destroyed when the individual reaches age 30.
The extended retention of arrest records serves several important public purposes:
- Preserves evidence that may be needed for future legal proceedings
- Enables accurate background checks for employment in sensitive positions
- Provides statistical data for crime analysis and resource allocation
- Maintains accountability within the criminal justice system
- Supports the rights of individuals to access their own records
How to Find Mugshots in Lenawee County
Mugshots, officially known as booking photographs, are images taken during the arrest booking process that serve as visual identification records of individuals processed into the criminal justice system. In Lenawee County, these photographs are primarily maintained by the Sheriff's Office as part of the official arrest record.
Mugshots are typically taken at the Lenawee County Jail during the booking process. These photographs capture the arrestee's face from the front and profile views, often including a booking information board displaying the arrestee's name, booking number, and date of arrest. The primary purpose of these images is to provide visual identification for law enforcement and corrections personnel.
Members of the public seeking mugshots in Lenawee County have several potential access methods:
- Submit a FOIA request to the Lenawee County Sheriff's Office:
Lenawee County Sheriff's Office
405 N. Winter Street
Adrian, MI 49221
517-263-0524
Lenawee County Sheriff's Office
Requests should include:
- Full name of the individual
- Approximate date of arrest
- Date of birth (if known)
- Case number (if known)
-
Check the Sheriff's Office website, which may post recent booking photos for a limited time.
-
Review court records, which sometimes include booking photographs as part of the case file:
Lenawee County Clerk's Office
301 N. Main Street
Adrian, MI 49221
517-264-4599
Lenawee County Clerk
Unlike some jurisdictions, Lenawee County does not maintain a comprehensive public online database of all booking photographs. While commercial websites may aggregate and publish mugshots obtained from various sources, these third-party sites often contain outdated or incomplete information and may charge fees for removal.
Access to mugshots may be restricted in certain circumstances, including:
- Juvenile arrests (protected under Michigan Court Rule 3.925)
- Expunged or sealed records
- Ongoing sensitive investigations
- Cases where charges were dismissed or not filed
- Situations where release would constitute an unwarranted invasion of privacy
When requesting mugshots, be aware that Michigan's FOIA allows agencies to charge reasonable fees for search, retrieval, and duplication costs. The Sheriff's Office currently charges a standard processing fee plus per-page copying costs for photographic records.