Midland County Police Records

Midland County police records are public documents maintained by the Midland County Sheriff's Office and local law enforcement agencies serving the county. Midland County is in central Michigan and its agencies handle incident reports, arrest records, accident reports, and booking data for a mix of urban and rural areas. The sheriff's office in Midland is the primary county-level source for police records, while the City of Midland Police Department maintains its own records for incidents within city limits. This page explains how to find and request Midland County police records through the FOIA process and what state tools are available.

Midland County Sheriff's Office Records

The Midland County Sheriff's Office is at 2727 Rodd St., Midland, MI 48640, and can be reached at (989) 839-4626. The sheriff's website at midlandcounty.org/234/Sheriffs-Office provides department information and guidance on records requests. The sheriff handles incident reports, arrest records, jail booking data, and accident reports for the unincorporated parts of the county and many townships. The county jail, operated by the sheriff, maintains active booking and inmate records.

To request records from the Midland County Sheriff, submit a written FOIA request. Mail it to 2727 Rodd St., Midland, MI 48640, or deliver it in person during business hours. Check the sheriff's website for any online submission options. Include your name, address, phone or email, and a clear description of the records you want. Give the record type, date range, and any names or case numbers. The more specific you are, the faster the agency can respond.

The City of Midland Police Department maintains its own records for incidents inside the city and handles its own FOIA requests. If the event you are asking about happened within Midland city limits, contact the city police records division, not the county sheriff. Both agencies operate under the same Michigan FOIA rules, but they are separate agencies with separate records. Call the sheriff at (989) 839-4626 if you are not sure which agency handled a specific call.

The MSP website gives access to ICHAT criminal history records, the Traffic Crash Purchasing System, and FOIA tools for state-level records covering Midland County incidents handled by state troopers.

How to Request Midland County Police Records

Michigan's Freedom of Information Act at MCL § 15.231 et seq. gives any person the right to request public records. No residency requirement applies. You do not need to state your reason. The law covers incident reports, arrest records, booking data, dispatch logs, and other law enforcement documents held by Midland County agencies.

Your request must be in writing. Include your name, address, phone or email, and a clear description of the records. Under MCL § 15.233, describe the records clearly enough for the agency to locate them. Give the record type, date range, and any names or case numbers. Mail or deliver the request to the Midland County Sheriff at 2727 Rodd St., Midland, MI 48640. Under MCL § 15.235, the agency must respond within 5 business days. They can extend by up to 10 more days with written notice.

Under MCL § 15.243, the agency may withhold records tied to active investigations, personal privacy, or safety. Any denial must be in writing with the specific exemption cited. You have 180 days to appeal the denial to the head of the agency. If the agency-level appeal is denied, you can file a civil action in Midland County Circuit Court. Courts may award attorney fees when they find a denial was improper.

Midland County Records Fees

Under MCL § 15.234, paper copies cost $0.10 per page. Labor is charged at the hourly rate of the lowest-paid employee who can handle the task, billed in 15-minute increments. No charge applies to searches that take under 15 minutes. Fringe benefits can add up to 50% of the labor rate. For requests where the estimated cost exceeds $50, the agency can ask for a 50% deposit before starting work.

Indigent requesters can apply for a $20 fee waiver by submitting an affidavit of indigency. The affidavit shows you receive public assistance or cannot afford to pay. You can claim this waiver up to twice per calendar year. Always ask for a written cost estimate before submitting a large or complex request to the Midland County Sheriff or any local agency.

County FOIA portals in Michigan follow the same state rules. Check midlandcounty.org/234/Sheriffs-Office for current submission details or call (989) 839-4626 to confirm your options for submitting a Midland County police records request.

Accident Reports in Midland County

Michigan crash reports use the UD-10 form. If the Michigan State Police investigated the crash, buy a copy through the Michigan Traffic Crash Purchasing System. For crashes handled by the Midland County Sheriff or Midland City Police, file a FOIA request with the responding agency.

LexisNexis BuyCrash at buycrash.lexisnexisrisk.com and ReportBeam at reportbeam.com provide faster access to Michigan accident reports without a formal FOIA request. Reports are typically ready within 7 to 10 days of the crash. These services are commonly used by insurance companies and attorneys in central Michigan.

ReportBeam and similar platforms offer a fast route to Midland County traffic crash reports without filing a FOIA request. Reports are often ready within a week of the incident date.

Statewide Records Tools for Midland County

ICHAT, run by the Michigan State Police, covers criminal history records from all 83 Michigan counties. The fee is $10 per search at michigan.gov/msp/services/ichat. It covers felonies and serious misdemeanors but not traffic violations, juvenile records, or records from other states.

The Michigan Courts Case Search is free and covers court records from all Michigan courts including Midland County's 42nd Circuit Court. The Michigan Public Sex Offender Registry at mipsor.state.mi.us is free and statewide. OTIS at mdocweb.state.mi.us covers state prison and parole records at no cost. The Michigan Attorney General's FOIA guidance at michigan.gov/ag/foia helps with questions and appeals.

Michigan Courts Case Search covers all Midland County court records from the 42nd Circuit Court and local district courts. Free and searchable by name or case number, it shows charges, hearing dates, and final outcomes.

The MSP FOIA page details how to request records from state troopers who serve Midland County. Use it when MSP responded to the incident rather than the county sheriff or city police.

Nearby Counties

Midland County borders several other central Michigan counties, each with its own sheriff's office and records process.