Baraga County Police Records
Baraga County police records are kept by the Baraga County Sheriff's Office in L'Anse, Michigan, in the Upper Peninsula. These records include incident reports, arrest records, accident reports, jail information, and warrant data for incidents in this rural UP county. You can request Baraga County police records by filing a written FOIA request with the sheriff's office at 12 N Third St., L'Anse, or by calling ahead to confirm the best submission method.
Baraga County Police Records at a Glance
Police Records Available in Baraga County
Baraga County is a small Upper Peninsula county with the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community as a significant part of its area. The Baraga County Sheriff's Office is the primary law enforcement agency for non-tribal land in the county. The office holds incident reports for all deputy responses, detailing the date, location, parties involved, charges if any, and the officer's narrative. These reports become public once a case is closed or charges are on file. Active investigation records may be withheld under MCL § 15.243.
Arrest records document who was taken into custody, what charges were filed, and release details. Accident reports for crashes investigated by Baraga County deputies use the UD-10 form. You can order those through the Michigan Traffic Crash Purchasing System or request them directly from the sheriff's office. The Baraga Correctional Facility is also located in the county. That is a state prison, and records for state inmates are separate from county police records. State inmate records are searchable through the Michigan Department of Corrections OTIS system at mdocweb.state.mi.us.
The county seat website at keweenawbay.org provides information for the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community. Tribal law enforcement maintains its own separate records from the county sheriff. If an incident occurred on tribal land, you may need to contact tribal police directly rather than the county sheriff's office.
Baraga County Sheriff's Office
The Baraga County Sheriff's Office is at 12 N Third St., L'Anse, MI 49946. Call (906) 524-6177 for records inquiries. You can fax to (906) 524-6181. In an emergency, always call 911.
The Keweenaw Bay area community page at keweenawbay.org provides local information relevant to Baraga County. For county sheriff records specifically, contact the Baraga County Sheriff's Office at (906) 524-6177.
The sheriff's office also offers fingerprinting services. The fee is $60, and only cash is accepted. Fingerprinting hours are 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM daily, except Tuesdays. If you need fingerprinting done for background check purposes, plan your visit on a day other than Tuesday and bring exact cash.
The District Court for Baraga County can be reached at (906) 524-6100 ext. 202. The Circuit Court is at (906) 524-6100 ext. 301. These courts handle criminal and civil matters for the county. Court records are available through the Michigan Courts Case Search portal at no cost. The county clerk handles FOIA coordination for non-sheriff records; their number is (906) 524-6183.
Note: Fingerprinting at the Baraga County Sheriff's Office is closed on Tuesdays and requires $60 cash. No checks or cards are accepted for this service.
How to Request Baraga County Police Records
Michigan's Freedom of Information Act, found at MCL § 15.231 et seq. and enacted as Public Act 442 of 1976, gives any person the right to request public records from Michigan government agencies. MCL § 15.233 says no reason is needed and no residency requirement applies. This includes all agencies in Baraga County.
To request police records from the Baraga County Sheriff, put your request in writing. Describe the record specifically enough for staff to find it. Include the incident date, location, names of people involved, and a case or incident number if you have one. Add your full name, mailing address, phone number, and email. Mail or deliver your request to 12 N Third St., L'Anse, MI 49946, or call (906) 524-6177 first to ask about email or fax submission options.
The agency must respond within 5 business days under MCL § 15.235. One extension of up to 10 additional business days is allowed with written notice. If your request is denied, you have 180 days to file a written appeal with the head of the agency. If that appeal fails, a circuit court action is the next option. Michigan law allows courts to award attorney fees when a denial is found to be wrongful.
Records Fees in Baraga County
Baraga County follows Michigan's standard FOIA fee schedule under MCL § 15.234. Paper copies are $0.10 per page for standard sizes. Labor is billed at the hourly rate of the lowest-paid capable employee, plus up to 50% for fringe benefits, in 15-minute increments. Searches under 15 minutes carry no labor charge. Digital delivery is free if the office has the means to provide records electronically.
If the estimated total exceeds $50, a 50% deposit may be required. A full deposit may be required if you have unpaid prior FOIA requests. Low-income requesters can get the first $20 waived by submitting an affidavit of public assistance or indigency. This waiver can be used twice per calendar year. Fingerprinting fees are separate and not covered under FOIA: $60 cash only.
Nearby Counties
Baraga County is in Michigan's Upper Peninsula west of Marquette. Records from nearby counties are available through these links.