Search Police Records in Benzie County
Benzie County police records are kept by the Benzie County Sheriff's Office at 505 S. Michigan Ave in Beulah, Michigan. These records cover incident reports, arrest records, accident reports, inmate information, and warrant data for law enforcement activity in this northwest Michigan county. You can request Benzie County police records through the county FOIA process online, by mail, or in person at the sheriff's office or county building.
Benzie County Police Records at a Glance
What Benzie County Police Records Are Available
The Benzie County Sheriff's Office handles law enforcement for this small northwest Michigan county, including road patrols along the county's highways. The office keeps incident reports for all deputy responses, documenting the date, time, and location of each call, the names of parties involved, charges if any were filed, and a narrative from the responding officer. These reports are public once a case closes. Records tied to active investigations are withheld under MCL § 15.243.
Arrest records show who was booked into the Benzie County Jail, the charges they faced, and their release details. Inmate and jail records track people currently in custody. Accident reports for crashes handled by the sheriff follow the UD-10 form used statewide. The Michigan Traffic Crash Purchasing System is another option for crash reports archived statewide. Warrant records for Benzie County are handled by the 85th District Court, which has jurisdiction over warrant issuance in the county.
The county also makes FOIA request forms and its FOIA policy available online. The FOIA policy document is hosted at the county website. For court records, the Michigan Courts Case Search tool covers district and circuit court records for Benzie County and is free to search. Statewide criminal history is available through the Michigan State Police ICHAT tool for $10 per search.
Benzie County Sheriff's Office Details
The Benzie County Sheriff's Office is the primary law enforcement and records-holding agency for the county. The office address is 505 S. Michigan Ave, Beulah, MI 49617. Call (231) 882-4481 for records inquiries. The county building at 448 Court Place, Beulah, MI 49617 can be reached at (231) 882-0035 for other county services.
The Benzie County government website at benzieco.net provides information on county services, FOIA forms, and contact information for the sheriff's office and other county departments. Start there to find the current FOIA request form.
FOIA requests for Benzie County police records can be sent to the Benzie County Sheriff's Office, attention FOIA Unit, at the address above. An online form is available on the county website. For warrant records specifically, the 85th District Court has jurisdiction. The county clerk at (231) 882-9671 handles FOIA coordination for records outside the sheriff's department.
Benzie County's Law Enforcement Division handles road and highway patrol in addition to local calls. The office is the only county-level law enforcement agency. There is no city police department in Beulah. For statewide criminal history background checks, use the Michigan State Police ICHAT tool at michigan.gov/msp/services/ichat.
Note: Benzie County provides a detailed cost itemization form so requesters can review fee breakdowns before paying for large records requests.
Filing a FOIA Request in Benzie County
Michigan FOIA at MCL § 15.231 et seq. and Public Act 442 of 1976 gives any person the right to request public records. MCL § 15.233 says no reason is required and no residency requirement applies. These rules apply to all Benzie County agencies, including the sheriff and county clerk.
Write a FOIA request that describes the record you want clearly enough for staff to locate it. Include the date of the incident, the location, the names of people involved, and any case or incident number. Add your full name, address, phone number, and email. Submit by mail to the Benzie County Sheriff's Office at 505 S. Michigan Ave, Beulah, MI 49617, attention FOIA Unit, or use the online form available at benzieco.net. In-person submissions are also accepted during office hours.
Under MCL § 15.235, the office must respond within 5 business days. One extension of up to 10 additional days is allowed with written notice. Email and fax requests are treated as received on the next business day. Denial of your request must cite a specific exemption. You have 180 days to appeal a denial to the head of the agency. Circuit court action is available after a failed appeal.
Benzie County Records Fees
Benzie County follows the standard fee schedule under MCL § 15.234. Copies are $0.10 per page for standard letter or legal size paper. Non-standard formats cost actual price. Labor is billed at the hourly rate of the lowest-paid capable employee, with up to 50% for fringe benefits, calculated in 15-minute increments. Searches under 15 minutes carry no labor charge. Actual postage applies for mailed records.
A 50% deposit is required if the estimated total exceeds $50. Benzie County provides a cost itemization form so you can review the fee breakdown before you commit to paying. Low-income requesters can claim a $20 fee waiver by submitting an affidavit of public assistance or indigency. This waiver can be used twice per calendar year and does not apply to requests made for a paying third party.
Nearby Counties
Benzie County is in northwest Michigan along Lake Michigan. Records from nearby counties are available through the links below.