Find Clinton County Police Records
Clinton County police records are held by the Clinton County Sheriff's Office and, separately, by the St. Johns Police Department. These records include incident reports, arrest records, accident reports, and jail data for the county's townships and rural areas. Clinton County is located in mid-Michigan, directly north of Lansing. This page explains how to request Clinton County police records through Michigan's FOIA process, what contact information you need, and what statewide tools are available to support your search.
Clinton County Records at a Glance
Clinton County Sheriff's Office
The Clinton County Sheriff's Office is located at 1347 East Townsend Road, St. Johns, MI 48879. You can reach the office by phone at (989) 224-5200 or by fax at (989) 224-1382. For general inquiries and records requests, email sheriff@clinton-county.org. The inmate information line is a separate toll-free number at (866) 932-6506, which handles questions about people currently in the county jail.
The county website at clinton-county.org is the main resource for county services including the sheriff's office. From that site you can navigate to FOIA request information, department contacts, and public records procedures. The sheriff's office handles FOIA requests internally, so all written requests for police records go directly to the sheriff's department rather than a separate county records office.
The Clinton County website at clinton-county.org connects you to the sheriff's office, FOIA request information, and other public record resources. It is the right starting point for any police records request in the county.
Requesting Clinton County Police Records
Michigan's Freedom of Information Act at MCL § 15.231 gives everyone the right to request public records from government agencies. No reason is required, and there is no residency requirement. This right applies to police incident reports, arrest records, accident reports, jail records, and dispatch logs held by the Clinton County Sheriff's Office.
To submit a FOIA request, put it in writing and describe the records you need clearly. Include the record type, date or date range, any names involved, and a case or incident number if you have one. Send your request by email to sheriff@clinton-county.org, by fax to (989) 224-1382, by mail to 1347 East Townsend Road, St. Johns, MI 48879, or bring it in person during business hours.
Under MCL § 15.235, the agency must respond within 5 business days of receiving your written request. They may extend by up to 10 additional business days with written notice explaining the reason. If the agency denies your request, they must tell you in writing which exemption under MCL § 15.243 applies and why. You then have 180 days to appeal the denial to the agency head.
Note: Email and fax requests are treated as received on the next business day after transmission. Count your 5-day response window from that point, not the day you sent it.
City of St. Johns Police Department
The City of St. Johns has its own police department with records that are kept separate from the county sheriff. If the incident you are researching took place inside St. Johns city limits, contact the St. Johns Police Department directly. They handle FOIA requests for city police records independently of the county.
When you are not sure which agency handled a call, contact the Clinton County Sheriff's Office first at (989) 224-5200. They can confirm whether the sheriff's department or the city police responded to a given incident. That information saves time and makes sure your request goes to the right place.
Clinton County Court Records
Clinton County has the 65A District Court, which can be reached at (989) 224-5150. The Circuit Court is at 100 East State Street, St. Johns. These courts maintain records for criminal and civil cases handled in the county. Court records are separate from police records but often tell the rest of the story after an arrest or incident.
The Michigan Courts Case Search portal is free to use and lets you look up case data by name or case number. It covers all Michigan courts including those in Clinton County. You can see charges, hearing dates, and case outcomes without submitting a formal records request. For certified copies of court documents, contact the circuit court clerk's office directly.
Fees for Clinton County Police Records
Michigan law at MCL § 15.234 sets the fee schedule for public records. Standard paper copies cost $0.10 per page. Labor is billed at the rate of the lowest-paid employee who can process the request, in 15-minute increments. Searches that take under 15 minutes do not have a labor charge. If the estimated fee is more than $50, the agency may ask for a 50% deposit before it starts the work.
If you qualify as indigent, you can apply for a fee waiver covering the first $20 of any FOIA request. Submit an affidavit with your request showing that you receive public assistance or cannot afford the fees. The waiver is available up to twice per calendar year per requester. If you have an unpaid prior request, the agency can hold new requests until the balance is resolved.
Statewide Michigan Police Record Resources
ICHAT gives you criminal history records covering all 83 Michigan counties. Run by the Michigan State Police, it costs $10 per search and is available at michigan.gov/msp/services/ichat. ICHAT covers felonies and serious misdemeanors but not juvenile records, traffic offenses, or records from other states. It is a good option when you need a general background check rather than a specific incident report from Clinton County.
For accident reports investigated by the MSP, use the Michigan Traffic Crash Purchasing System. Third-party options like buycrash.lexisnexisrisk.com may also carry Clinton County crash reports. The Michigan Public Sex Offender Registry at mipsor.state.mi.us is free and searchable by name or geographic area.
Nearby Counties
Clinton County sits in mid-Michigan near several other counties, each with its own sheriff and records process.