Kent County, Michigan Arrest Records
Law enforcements in Kent County create arrest records after executing an arrest according to State laws. Arrest records are official reports of incidents that lead to an arrest within county limits. They are generally public under Michigan’s Freedom of Information Act(FOIA) to ensure transparency and fairness within the county's criminal justice system.
Kent County arrest records are typically maintained by the Sheriff's Office and other city police departments including the Grand Rapids Police Department (GRPD) and the City of Wyoming Police Department. Interested persons may request arrest records and information from these enforcement agencies. Note that public access to criminal offender record information(CORI) is governed by the CJIS Policy and the MCL (Michigan Compiled Laws) § 28.242a.
Are Arrest Records Public Information in Kent County, Michigan?
Yes. The Michigan Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) found in MCL 15.231 et seq. regulates the public's right to access government records, including arrest records. Under this law, arrest records are generally presumed public unless other statutory exemptions apply. Other statutes that may govern law enforcement disclosures of Kent County arrest records include MCL (Michigan Compiled Laws) §§ 28.241, 28.242, 28.242a and Michigan Juvenile Code (MCL 712A.28).
Per state laws, anyone except incarcerated persons may request access to publicly available arrest records via written requests containing adequate information about the desired records—residency, statement of purpose and identification is usually not required (MCL § 15.233). However persons requesting unredacted or confidential information may be required to provide adequate identification and authorization.
What Do Public Kent County Arrest Records Contain?
The contents of a Kent County arrest record may vary depending on the law enforcement agency handling the arrest. However, some general public-facing information typically found in arrest records are outlined below:
- Complete legal name and/or known aliases of the arrestee
- The subject's age/date of birth, gender, race
- The arrestee's physical markers and descriptions—weight, height, eye color, scars/tattoos, or any identifying marks
- Mugshots or booking photos
- Arrest date, time, and location
- Name of arresting agency and officer
- Bail or bond information
- Court case number and docket information
- Booking date, location, time and assigned number
- Filed charges and the relevant statutory citations
While these basic arrest and booking information are typically open to the public, law enforcement agencies may withhold or redact arrest data if:
- The information is related to an ongoing investigation
- The disclosure will interfere with law enforcement processes or invade a person's privacy
- The information can endanger the safety of witnesses, victims or officers
- The information is protected under privacy rights or juvenile code
Kent County, Michigan Arrest Search
There are several state and federal resources that provide the public with arrest data and inmate information. The Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) manages the Offender Tracking Information System (OTIS) that contains state-level information about convicted/sentenced inmates, parolees and persons under probation. Interested persons may search arrest information on the OTIS by name, age, offender status, assigned MDOC number, sex and race.
The OTIS does not feature arrest and inmate information of a person who has been off supervision for a period more than three years—The Michigan State Police Internet Criminal History Access Tool (ICHAT) provides such information for a fee of $10 per search. Federal search tools like the Bureau of Prisons' inmate locator may also be utilized to conduct a Kent County arrest or inmate search.
Kent County Inmate Locator
The Kent County Sheriff's Office allows the public to access inmate information via the Web Jail Viewer tool which serves as its online inmate locator. Inmate information about persons booked into the Kent County Correctional Facility can be retrieved from this web search tool by entering in a first name, last name or booking date.
Complete and official inmate and arrest information may also be obtained in person from the Kent County Sheriff's Office at
701 Ball Avenue North East
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Phone: (616) 632-6100
Fax: (616) 632-6122
Active Warrant Search in Kent County
An arrest warrant is an edict issued by a judge requesting a person's arrest upon receipt of an official complaint that the individual has allegedly committed a criminal activity. Arrest warrants are typically executed by law enforcement agencies and issued following the establishment of a probable cause. Arrest warrants issued in Kent County usually reveal the suspect's full name/aliases, the signatures of the issuer, description of the alleged offenses, and a directive to apprehend the named individual (MCR 6.102).
Arrest warrant information is generally considered public under the State's Freedom of Information Act (MCL 15.231 et seq.). There is no central repository for online access to warrant information in Kent County. However interested persons may obtain warrant information in person, via mail or phone at the County Sheriff's Office or a court clerk's office.
|
Agency / Resource |
Purpose |
Search Methods |
Notes |
|
Kent County Sheriff's Office |
Serves warrants and maintains warrant information |
Phone, in-person |
No official online repository |
|
Issues warrants |
In-person, phone, mail |
Online access may be available via court records featured on Michigan Courts Epay | |
|
Issues warrants |
In-person, phone, mail | ||
|
Maintains warrant information related to child support matters |
Phone |
Specific to child support cases |
How to Find Arrest Records for Free in Kent County
Kent County arrest records and data are available to the public free of charge via the Sheriff's Office inmate locator—the Web Jail Viewer. Interested persons may obtain limited arrest, booking and inmate information from this online locator by entering a name or booking date. It may be important to note that the information provided on the free inmate locator tool may not contain redacted data, older arrest information or comprehensive reports.
Moreso, concerned persons may review comprehensive arrest records from the Sheriff's Office at no cost. However, requesting copies of the records in their custody will require a fee. Interested persons may query the Sheriff's Office in person within regular hours to inspect or copy publicly available arrest records.
Kent County Arrest Report
Kent County arrest reports are official detailed narratives that provide insight into the circumstances preceding an arrest. Although used interchangeablely with arrest records, arrest reports are different as they are case specific, not usually publicly available and prepared by the officer in charge of an arrest.
Arrest records on the other hand are summarized entries of arrest incidents in criminal case management systems. Arrest records are typically maintained by law enforcement for background checks, criminal history reviews and personal inquiries.
How to Get an Arrest Record Expunged in Kent County
Per MCL § 780.621 et seq. eligible Kent County arrest records can be expunged (also known as a “set aside” in legal terms) thereby removing them from public access. While set aside records are not publicly available, they may be accessible to enforcement agencies and other authorized entities.
Not all offenses may qualify for setting aside and there are varying waiting periods attached to specific offenses that qualify for setting aside. For instance, felonies typically have a waiting period of ten years following the completion of the sentence while misdemeanors have a waiting period of seven years. Eligible persons may set aside not more than 3 eligible felony offenses and an unlimited number of eligible misdemeanors.
To apply for a setting aside, interested persons may follow the steps outlined below:
- Obtain and complete an application form
- Retrieve certified copies of the conviction from the State Police and get fingerprinted
- File all required documents with the clerk of the court where the conviction occurred
- Serve copies of the application to the Attorney general, prosecutor and the State Police
- Attend the scheduled hearing and wait for the judge's verdict
Once a petition for set aside is granted, the judge completes and issues an Order to Set Aside Conviction. Copies of the order will be provided to the petitioner, the local and state police mandating the removal of affected records from the public.
How Do You Remove Kent County Arrest Records From the Internet?
Pursuant to state laws, a set aside automatically results in the removal of eligible records from official online databases like the Michigan State Police's ICHAT tool. Persons who wish to remove their arrest records from the Internet may begin by petitioning a court to set aside qualifying records. For records maintained by third-party sites, the record subject may need to directly contact the management of such sites and request removal from public access.