Sanilac County Sheriff and Police Records

Sanilac County police records are public documents held by the Sanilac County Sheriff's Office Records Bureau in Sandusky. These records include incident reports, arrest records, accident reports, jail data, and more. You can request Sanilac County police records by contacting the Records Bureau by email, fax, mail, or in person. This page explains the full process and points you to the right offices and tools for getting what you need.

Sanilac County Sheriff's Office Records Bureau

The Sanilac County Sheriff's Office Records Bureau is located at 65 N. Elk Street, Sandusky, MI 48471. The main phone number is (810) 648-2000. The records fax line is (810) 648-5162. Bureau hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. You can email the Records Bureau at scsrecords@sanilaccounty.net. The sheriff's office main page is at sanilaccounty.gov/public_safety/sanilac_county_sheriffs_office. The county website at sanilaccounty.gov links to all departments and public safety services.

Sanilac County is located in Michigan's Thumb region, a rural area on the east side of the Lower Peninsula. Most law enforcement in the county is handled by the sheriff's office. If you need police records tied to an event that happened in a small city or village with its own department, call the sheriff at (810) 648-2000 first to confirm which agency responded and holds the records.

The Michigan State Police website gives access to ICHAT, the Traffic Crash Purchasing System, and MSP FOIA tools, all of which complement Sanilac County's local records resources.

Records the Sanilac County Sheriff's Office maintains include police reports, accident reports, arrest records, jail records, and body-worn camera footage when available. Agency policies and procedures may also be requested through FOIA. The Records Bureau page is at sanilaccounty.gov/public_safety/sanilac_county_sheriffs_office/divisions/records_bureau.php.

How to File a Sanilac County FOIA Request

Michigan's Freedom of Information Act at MCL § 15.231 et seq. gives any person the right to request public records. You do not need to be a Sanilac County resident, and you do not need to explain why you want the records. The Sanilac County Sheriff's Office has a dedicated FOIA page at sanilaccounty.gov/public_safety/sanilac_county_sheriffs_office/services/records_requests_foia.php that explains the process in detail.

You can also download the fillable FOIA request form directly from the county. The form is available as a PDF at the county FOIA page. Once you fill it out, submit it by one of these methods:

• Email: scsrecords@sanilaccounty.net (put "FOIA" in the subject line)
• Fax: (810) 648-5162
• Mail: Sanilac County Sheriff's Office, Records Bureau, ATTN: FOIA Coordinator, 65 N. Elk Street, Sandusky, MI 48471
• In Person: Records Bureau window during business hours (Mon-Fri 8am-4pm)

Your request must include your full name, address, and contact information. Describe the records you want with enough detail for the office to find them. Include the date range, names of people involved, and a case or incident number if you have one. Under MCL § 15.235, the agency must respond within 5 business days. They can extend this by up to 10 more business days with written notice. Email and fax requests count as received the next business day after transmission.

If your request is denied, the agency must tell you in writing which exemption under MCL § 15.243 applies. Active investigations are a common reason for denial. You can appeal a denial within 180 days. The appeal goes to the Sheriff or the county board of commissioners. Fee disputes must be appealed within 45 days. If the appeal fails, you can file a civil action in circuit court.

Sanilac County Police Record Fees

Sanilac County follows Michigan's standard FOIA fee structure under MCL § 15.234. Paper copies are $0.10 per page for letter or legal size paper. For non-paper media, the agency charges actual cost. Labor is billed at the hourly rate of the lowest-paid employee who can do the work. Fringe benefits can be added at up to 50% of the labor rate. Labor is charged in 15-minute increments, with nothing owed if the search takes under 15 minutes. Mailing is billed at actual postage cost.

If the total estimated cost exceeds $50, Sanilac County can require a 50% deposit before starting work. If you had a prior unpaid request, the county may require full payment up front. Low-income requesters can apply for a $20 fee waiver by submitting an affidavit of indigence. This waiver is available up to twice per year. Nonprofits may qualify for fee reductions in certain cases. Always request a written estimate before submitting a large or complex FOIA request.

Sanilac County Police Records Available

Records available from the Sanilac County Sheriff's Office Records Bureau include police reports for incidents across the county, arrest records, accident reports for vehicle crashes handled by the sheriff, and jail records for people held at the county jail. Body-worn camera footage may be available on a case-by-case basis. Agency policy documents and procedure manuals may also be requested.

Court records for Sanilac County are separate from sheriff records and are available through the county clerk or the Michigan Courts Case Search tool online. Criminal history records covering all 83 Michigan counties are available through ICHAT. Juvenile records are restricted under Michigan law and are generally not available through a standard FOIA request. Records sealed by court order are also withheld.

State Resources for Sanilac County Records

ICHAT, the Internet Criminal History Access Tool run by the Michigan State Police, covers felony and serious misdemeanor records from all 83 Michigan counties. The fee is $10 per search. Access it at michigan.gov/msp/services/ichat. The Michigan Courts Case Search is free and covers court records from all Sanilac County district and circuit courts.

The Michigan Sex Offender Registry is searchable by name, address, or county at mipsor.state.mi.us. For people in state prison or on parole, use the Michigan OTIS system at mdocweb.state.mi.us/OTIS2/otis2.aspx. For traffic crash reports handled by the MSP, use the Michigan Traffic Crash Purchasing System. For FOIA questions or to challenge a denial, the Michigan Attorney General has resources at michigan.gov/ag/foia.

Nearby Counties

Sanilac County borders several other Thumb-region and east Michigan counties, each with its own sheriff's office and records process.