Cass County Police Records
Cass County police records are maintained by the Cass County Sheriff's Office in Cassopolis, Michigan, and by the Dowagiac Police Department for incidents within the city of Dowagiac. These records include incident reports, arrest records, accident reports, jail records, and animal control information. You can request Cass County police records by submitting a written FOIA request to the sheriff's office at 321 M 62 N, Cassopolis, or by calling (269) 445-8644 to confirm the best way to submit.
Cass County Police Records at a Glance
Cass County Police Records Available
Cass County is in the southwest corner of Michigan's Lower Peninsula, bordered by Indiana and near the tri-state area where Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio meet. Sheriff Clint Roach leads the Cass County Sheriff's Office, which is responsible for law enforcement in the unincorporated parts of the county. The office maintains incident reports for all deputy responses, covering the date, time, location, names of parties, charges filed, and the officer's account of what happened. Records for closed cases are public. Active investigation records may be withheld under MCL § 15.243.
The Cass County Sheriff also keeps arrest records documenting people booked into the county jail. Jail records track who is currently in custody. The office handles animal control records in addition to standard police records, which is worth knowing if your request involves an animal-related incident. Central Dispatch for Cass County is at (269) 445-1560 for non-emergency calls.
The city of Dowagiac has its own police department that maintains records for incidents within city limits. If your incident happened in Dowagiac, contact the Dowagiac Police Department rather than the county sheriff. The city's email for FOIA inquiries has been listed as chief@cassopolis-mi.us, though verifying the current contact through the city's website before sending is a good idea.
Accident reports from Cass County sheriff deputies use the UD-10 form. You can also access crash reports through the Michigan Traffic Crash Purchasing System for those archived by the MSP. Court records for Cass County are searchable through the Michigan Courts Case Search portal at no charge. Statewide criminal history is available through the Michigan State Police ICHAT tool for $10 per search.
Cass County Sheriff's Office Contact
The Cass County Sheriff's Office is at 321 M 62 N, Cassopolis, MI 49031. Sheriff Clint Roach leads the office. The main phone number is (269) 445-8644. For non-emergency dispatch, call (269) 445-1560. For emergencies, always call 911.
The Cass County government website at casscountymi.org provides information on county departments and services, including the sheriff's office. Use it to find current FOIA forms, contact details, and any updates to the submission process.
Records requests for Cass County police records should be directed to the sheriff's office at the address above. Call ahead to ask whether email or fax submission is accepted and what the current process looks like. Having the incident date, location, and names of parties ready makes the call more productive. The county clerk's office can handle FOIA requests for county-level records held outside the sheriff's department.
For inmate information, call the sheriff's office directly at (269) 445-8644. Cass County does not appear to offer an online inmate search portal, so a phone inquiry is the fastest option for custody status. The Michigan sex offender registry is free to search at mipsor.state.mi.us. State prison and parole records are searchable through the Michigan Department of Corrections OTIS system at mdocweb.state.mi.us.
Note: Incidents within Dowagiac city limits are handled by the Dowagiac Police Department, which maintains its own records separate from the Cass County Sheriff.
Filing a FOIA Request in Cass 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 confirms no reason is required and no residency requirement applies. These rules apply to all Cass County agencies including the sheriff, the county clerk, and the Dowagiac Police Department.
Write a FOIA request describing the record you want clearly 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 the Cass County Sheriff's Office at 321 M 62 N, Cassopolis, MI 49031. Call (269) 445-8644 to confirm whether email or fax submission is accepted for your type of request.
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 explaining the reason. Email and fax requests are treated as received on the next business day. Denied requests must cite a specific exemption. You have 180 days to appeal in writing to the head of the agency. A circuit court lawsuit is available after a failed appeal, and courts may award attorney fees when a denial is found to be wrongful.
Cass County Records Fees
Cass County follows the standard Michigan FOIA fee schedule under MCL § 15.234. Paper copies cost $0.10 per page for standard sizes. Labor is billed at the hourly rate of the lowest-paid capable employee, with up to 50% added for fringe benefits, calculated in 15-minute increments. Searches that take fewer than 15 minutes carry no labor charge. Actual postage applies for mailed records. Digital delivery is free if the agency can provide records electronically.
A 50% deposit is required if the estimated total exceeds $50. Full prepayment may be required if you have unpaid prior FOIA requests on file. Low-income requesters can claim a $20 fee waiver with an affidavit of public assistance or indigency. This waiver is available twice per calendar year and cannot be used when making a request on behalf of a paying third party.
Nearby Counties
Cass County is in southwest Michigan near the Indiana border. Records from neighboring counties are available through the links below.