Barry County Police Records
Barry County police records are maintained by the Barry County Sheriff's Office in Hastings, Michigan. These records include incident reports, arrest records, accident reports, jail records, and civil process information. You can request Barry County police records by emailing foia@barrycounty.org, submitting in person at 1212 W. State Street, or mailing a written FOIA request to the sheriff's office during regular business hours.
Barry County Police Records at a Glance
Barry County Police Records and What They Cover
The Barry County Sheriff's Office maintains records for all law enforcement activity in the county handled by county deputies. Incident reports document everything from property crimes to domestic calls, including names of involved parties, the date, time, and location of the incident, charges filed, and the responding deputy's narrative. These records are generally public once a case closes or charges are on file. Records tied to active investigations may be withheld under MCL § 15.243, which allows agencies to protect files that could interfere with ongoing police work.
Arrest records from the Barry County Jail include booking details, charges, bond status, and release information. Jail inquiries can be directed to (269) 948-4804. The sheriff's office also keeps civil process records and concealed carry weapon permit records. Records Division hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, at extension 4804 off the main line.
Accident reports are a common request at the Barry County Sheriff's Office. The flat fee for an incident or accident report is $22.00. This is above the standard per-page rate set by Michigan FOIA but is permitted under state law for flat-fee pricing on specific record types. You can request accident reports by mail or in person along with the fee. For crash reports handled by the Michigan State Police, use the Michigan Traffic Crash Purchasing System instead.
Barry County Central Dispatch also holds certain records. Their FOIA page is at barry911.org/foia. If your request relates to dispatch logs or 911 call records, submit it there rather than to the sheriff's office.
Barry County Sheriff's Office Contact
The Michigan State Police at michigan.gov/msp provides statewide resources for criminal history searches, FOIA submissions, and traffic crash reports. For Barry County-specific records, contact the Barry County Sheriff's Office directly.
The Barry County Sheriff's Office is at 1212 W. State Street, Hastings, MI 49058. Sheriff Dar Leaf leads the office, with Undersheriff Jason Sixberry as second in command. The main police services line is (269) 948-4801. The business line is (269) 948-4805. The jail can be reached at (269) 948-4804. Records inquiries go to (269) 948-4801, extension 4804. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
For FOIA requests, email foia@barrycounty.org. This is the fastest way to submit for most records. For dispatch and 911 records, use the Barry County Central Dispatch FOIA page at barry911.org/foia separately from the sheriff's office process. The county clerk can be reached at (269) 945-1284 for county-level FOIA matters.
Note: Barry County requires requesters to explain their connection to an incident report if they are not a named party in the case. Be ready to include that information in your FOIA request.
How to Submit a FOIA Request in Barry County
Michigan FOIA at MCL § 15.231 et seq. gives any person the right to request public records. MCL § 15.233 says no reason is required and no residency requirement applies. These rules cover all Barry County agencies, including the sheriff, central dispatch, and the county clerk.
Write a FOIA request letter or fill out the county's standard form. Include the incident date, location, names of parties involved, and any case or incident number you have. Add your full name, mailing address, phone number, and email. Note your preferred delivery method: mail, email, or in-person pickup. Email the request to foia@barrycounty.org or mail to the Barry County Sheriff's Office at 1212 W. State Street, Hastings, MI 49058. You can also submit in person at the office during business hours.
The office must respond within 5 business days under MCL § 15.235. A 10-day extension is allowed with written notice. Email submissions are considered received on the next business day. If denied, you have 180 days to appeal. A circuit court action is available if the appeal fails.
Barry County Records Fees
Barry County charges $22.00 for incident and accident reports. This flat fee is higher than the standard $0.10 per page set by MCL § 15.234, but agencies in Michigan can set flat fees for certain common record types. For other records, standard FOIA rates apply: $0.10 per page for copies, labor at the rate of the lowest-paid capable employee, and up to 50% of that rate for fringe benefits, all calculated in 15-minute increments.
A 50% deposit is required if the estimated total exceeds $50. Low-income requesters can claim a $20 fee waiver with an affidavit of public assistance or indigency. This waiver applies twice per calendar year and cannot be used for requests made on behalf of a paying third party. Always ask for a fee estimate before submitting a large or complex request to avoid surprises.
Nearby Counties
Barry County is in southwest Michigan. Records from neighboring counties are available through the links below.