Houghton County Police Records
Houghton County police records are held by the Houghton County Sheriff's Office, which covers this Upper Peninsula county from its office in Houghton. If you need incident reports, arrest records, accident reports, or jail records in Houghton County, Michigan, this guide walks you through the exact steps to request them, the costs involved, and the online tools you can use right now.
Houghton County Police Records at a Glance
Houghton County Sheriff's Office Records
The Houghton County Sheriff's Office is the main law enforcement agency for the county and the primary holder of police records. The office is at 403 East Houghton Ave, Houghton, MI 49931. The non-emergency line is (906) 337-2211. The main office number is (906) 482-0055. The corrections division can be reached at (906) 482-1742. The fax number is (906) 487-5949. You can also email the office at Info@houghtonsheriff.com.
The sheriff's office also operates a work camp at 23661 Airpark Blvd, Calumet, MI 49913. Records related to the work camp, including inmate placements, can be requested through the same FOIA process as other sheriff records. The office covers a large geographic area typical of Upper Peninsula counties. City police departments in Houghton and Hancock maintain their own records separately. The City of Houghton has its own police department, so requests for city incidents must go there, not to the sheriff's office.
The Houghton County Sheriff's Office website at houghtonsheriff.com lists contact information, department divisions, and links to the FOIA request page. Start here when you want to request records directly from the sheriff's office.
The FOIA request page at houghtonsheriff.com/foia-request provides the form and instructions for submitting a public records request to the Houghton County Sheriff's Office. Download the form, complete it, and submit by mail, email, fax, or in person.
Types of Police Records in Houghton County
The Houghton County Sheriff's Office holds several categories of police records. Incident reports cover all calls where a deputy responded and documented the situation. Arrest records include booking information, charges filed, and release dates. Accident reports, filed on the UD-10 form, document crashes where the sheriff's office was the responding agency. Jail and inmate records track who is held at the county facility.
Work camp records are a unique category for Houghton County given the sheriff's operation of the Calumet work camp. Criminal records and warrant information are also available through a written FOIA request. Some records may be withheld under MCL § 15.243 if the case is still active or if the record falls under one of the other listed exemptions. When a request is denied, the sheriff's office must put the reason in writing and cite the exact statute.
How to File a FOIA Request in Houghton County
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 ask for public records. No reason is required. Anyone can file, regardless of residency. The law applies to the Houghton County Sheriff's Office just as it does to every other public agency in the state.
All requests must be in writing. Use the FOIA form available at houghtonsheriff.com/foia-request, or write your own request letter. Describe the records well enough that staff can locate them. Include your name, address, and contact information. Add the date of the incident, names involved, and a case or report number if you have one. Submit by mail to 403 East Houghton Ave, Houghton, MI 49931, by email at Info@houghtonsheriff.com, by fax at (906) 487-5949, or in person during business hours.
Under MCL § 15.235, the agency must respond within 5 business days. Email and fax requests are deemed received the next business day. If the request is complex, they can extend by up to 10 additional business days. They must notify you in writing and give the specific reason. If they deny your request, you can appeal in writing within 180 days to the county board of commissioners. If a court finds the denial was improper, you may be entitled to attorney fees and costs under Michigan law.
Note: Write "FOIA Request" in the subject line when submitting by email or fax so the submission is processed correctly from the start.
Houghton County Police Record Copy Fees
MCL § 15.234 controls what Michigan agencies can charge for public records. Paper copies cost $0.10 per page for standard letter or legal size. Labor is charged at the hourly rate of the lowest-paid employee who can do the work, plus up to 50% for fringe benefits. Labor applies in 15-minute increments. No labor fee is charged for searches that take less than 15 minutes total. Digital media is billed at actual cost if the agency has the capability to provide it that way.
If the estimated total cost goes over $50, the office can ask for a 50% deposit before starting. If you have a prior unpaid request on file, they may ask for full payment upfront. Fee estimates are good for 45 days. Income-eligible requesters can claim a $20 waiver with a notarized affidavit showing receipt of public assistance or financial hardship. This waiver can be used twice per year and does not apply when you are requesting on behalf of someone who is paying you.
State Tools and Databases for Houghton County
Several Michigan state databases cover records connected to Houghton County. The Internet Criminal History Access Tool, ICHAT, is run by the Michigan State Police and covers felony and serious misdemeanor history from all 83 counties. The fee is $10 per search. Access it at michigan.gov/msp/services/ichat.
Court records for Houghton County appear in the Michigan Courts Case Search tool. The 12th Circuit Court handles felony cases, and the 98th District Court covers misdemeanors and traffic matters. Both courts post records in the online search tool for free. The Michigan Public Sex Offender Registry at mipsor.state.mi.us covers registered offenders in Houghton County and statewide. State corrections records, including people on parole or in prison, appear in the OTIS system at mdocweb.state.mi.us/OTIS2/otis2.aspx.
For accident reports where the Michigan State Police responded, use the MSP Traffic Crash Purchasing System. If a county deputy or city officer handled the crash, request the report from that agency directly. The Michigan Attorney General's FOIA page at michigan.gov/ag/foia provides guidance if you have been denied records or charged excessive fees.
Nearby Upper Peninsula Counties
Houghton County is in the Keweenaw Peninsula region of Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The counties below are neighbors, each with their own sheriff's office and records process.