Roscommon County Police Records
Roscommon County police records are held by the Roscommon County Sheriff's Office at 111 S. Second Street in Roscommon, Michigan. These records include incident reports, arrest records, warrant data, and other law enforcement documents for incidents across this north-central Michigan county. You can request Roscommon County police records by visiting the sheriff's Records Division in person with valid ID, or by submitting a written FOIA request to the County Clerk's Office.
Roscommon County Police Records at a Glance
Roscommon County Police Records Overview
The Michigan State Police website at michigan.gov/msp is the hub for statewide law enforcement records tools including ICHAT criminal history checks, the sex offender registry, and traffic crash report purchasing. For Roscommon County incidents handled by state troopers rather than the county sheriff, the MSP is the correct source for those specific reports. Knowing which agency responded to the incident you are researching is the first step.
The Roscommon County Sheriff's Office is the primary law enforcement agency for the county. The office is at 111 S. Second Street, Roscommon, MI 48653. The main phone number is (989) 275-5101, extension 2. The Records Division is also reached at this number. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. In-person visits are accepted during those hours. Bring valid government-issued photo ID when requesting records in person.
Police records from Roscommon County include incident reports, arrest records, and warrant data. Incident reports document officer observations from each call response, including the names and addresses of parties involved, the date, time, and location of the incident, charges filed, and the officer's narrative of events. Arrest records contain booking information, charges, bond amounts, and case numbers. Warrant records may include active warrants with subject names, offense descriptions, case numbers, and bond information.
Written requests for records must include the requester's full name, date of birth, and any identifying information about the records sought. Include case numbers, names of parties involved, and dates when you have them. The more specific your request, the faster the Records Division can locate and process it. Records are typically available within 5 to 7 business days of a request being received. Once a case closes, records become public under Michigan law. Active investigation records may be withheld under MCL § 15.243.
Online Records Access for Roscommon County
Roscommon County has limited online record access compared to larger Michigan counties. For court records tied to Roscommon County cases, use the Michigan Courts Case Search portal, which is free and searchable by name, case number, or attorney. This tool covers district, circuit, and probate court records across all 83 Michigan counties and is updated regularly by the State Court Administrative Office.
For statewide criminal history background checks, the ICHAT system at the Michigan State Police costs $10 per name search. ICHAT covers felony and serious misdemeanor convictions from all Michigan counties including Roscommon. It does not include traffic offenses, juvenile records, expunged records, or records from other states. The search requires a credit card and returns results quickly for those who know they only need conviction data rather than the full content of a police report.
The Michigan Public Sex Offender Registry is free at mipsor.state.mi.us and lets you search by name, county, or address. The Michigan Offender Tracking Information System, known as OTIS, covers individuals currently in state prison or on parole or probation under the Department of Corrections. OTIS is free at mdocweb.state.mi.us. County jail records for people held locally in Roscommon County are separate from OTIS and must be requested from the sheriff's office directly.
Accident reports from Roscommon County can be purchased through the Michigan Traffic Crash Purchasing System for statewide UD-10 records. For crashes handled specifically by county deputies, contact the sheriff's Records Division at (989) 275-5101, extension 2, to request the report directly.
FOIA Process for Roscommon County Police Records
Michigan's Freedom of Information Act at MCL § 15.231 gives every person the right to request public records from government agencies in Michigan. No residency is required. Under MCL § 15.233, agencies cannot require you to state a reason for requesting records or prove your identity. These rules apply to all Michigan counties including Roscommon.
To request records through FOIA from Roscommon County, submit a written request to the County Clerk's Office or to the Roscommon County Sheriff's Office Records Division at 111 S. Second Street, Roscommon, MI 48653. Your request must describe the records clearly enough to allow the agency to find them. Include your full name, mailing address, and phone number. Provide dates, names of people involved, incident numbers, and any other information that helps narrow the search. Specify whether you want records mailed, emailed, or available for in-person pickup.
Under MCL § 15.235, agencies have 5 business days to respond to a written FOIA request. They may extend that by up to 10 additional business days with written notice. Roscommon County's records response time runs 5 to 7 business days in practice. If a request is denied, the agency must state in writing which exemption applies. You have 180 days to file a written appeal with the head of the agency or the county board. If that appeal is denied, you may file a civil action in circuit court. Courts that find improper denials may award attorney fees and costs to the requester.
Copies of standard records under FOIA cost $0.10 per page for letter or legal size paper per MCL § 15.234. Non-standard formats are billed at actual cost. Postage is actual cost. Labor is billed at the hourly rate of the lowest-paid county employee capable of completing the task, with up to 50% added for fringe benefits, in 15-minute increments. A 50% deposit may be required if the estimated cost exceeds $50. Indigent requesters may apply for a $20 fee waiver by submitting an affidavit twice per calendar year.
Note: Roscommon County sheriff's records are accessible in person with valid ID. If you are traveling from out of the area, call ahead at (989) 275-5101, ext. 2 to confirm hours and whether the records you need are ready before making the trip.
What Records May Be Withheld
Not every police record is available to the public. MCL § 15.243 lists the exemptions Michigan agencies can use to deny or limit access. The most common exemption for police records is the active investigation exemption. If disclosing a record would interfere with an open case, the agency can withhold it until the investigation closes.
Other exemptions cover personal privacy protections such as Social Security numbers, medical information, and home addresses in certain contexts. Records identifying confidential informants are withheld to protect their safety. Records that could endanger someone's life or safety are also exempt. Juvenile records are generally sealed under Michigan law. Attorney-client privileged communications and preliminary internal policy documents are also off limits. Agencies may redact exempt portions of a record and release the rest rather than withholding the entire document.
When a request is denied, the agency is required to tell you in writing which specific exemption applies and why it applies to the records you requested. This allows you to assess whether the denial is proper. If you believe the exemption does not apply, you can challenge it through the appeal process. The Michigan Attorney General's FOIA resources page at michigan.gov/ag/foia provides guidance for requesters who want to challenge a denial or learn more about their rights under state law.
Nearby Michigan Counties
Roscommon County is in north-central Michigan. Records from neighboring counties are maintained by their own sheriff offices and clerks.