Arrest Records in Wayne County
An arrest record begins when a law enforcement agency books a person into a detention facility. In Wayne County, the Sheriff's office processes adult bookings at the Wayne County Criminal Justice Center, 5301 Russell Street, Detroit. Detroit Police, Michigan State Police, suburban departments, and federal agents also contribute arrests that route through Wayne County jails or referred to other facilities. The booking package includes the person's name, demographic information, the charges presented, the arresting agency, and the docket number from the receiving court.
Arrest records are not convictions and not full court files. The arrest record is the start point. The case may end in dismissal, deferred adjudication, plea, or trial. For the criminal court side, including charging documents, motions, and final dispositions, jump to Wayne County court records for circuit cases or the 36th District Court for Detroit district cases.
How to Search Wayne County Arrest Records
The fastest current arrest check is the Wayne County Sheriff Inmate Inquiry. The portal is at inmateinquiry.waynecounty.com. The Sheriff's inmate information page says that specific information about an inmate beyond what appears on the portal will not be shared with the general public, and that further information may be requested via FOIA.
- Open the Wayne County Sheriff Inmate Inquiry portal.
- Enter a name, subject number, or booking number.
- Filter by In Custody, booking date range, or housing facility.
- Open an inmate's profile to view booking, charges, court date, and crime class.
- Call inmate information at (313) 224-0797 for status questions not shown online.
For statewide criminal history, the Michigan State Police Internet Criminal History Access Tool and CHR services hold conviction-history data. The MSP page also explains the conviction set-aside process and the April 2023 effective date of Clean Slate automatic set asides.
The page explains that detailed charge, case, or bond information must come from the court of jurisdiction. The Sheriff inbox is not for legal pleadings; attorneys schedule client meetings through attorneyvisits@waynecounty.com.
Arrest Records vs Criminal Court Records
An arrest record is created at booking. A criminal court record opens when the prosecutor files charges and the court takes the case. Wayne County splits these by source. The Sheriff owns the booking and detention side. The court owns the case-file side.
| Arrest Record | Criminal Court Record | |
|---|---|---|
| Source | Wayne County Sheriff or arresting police agency | Third Circuit Clerk, 36th District Court, other district courts |
| Created When | At booking into the Criminal Justice Center | When charges are filed with a court |
| Contents | Booking, charges presented, mugshot, holding info | Pleadings, motions, orders, disposition, sentence |
| Online Tool | Sheriff Inmate Inquiry portal | Odyssey Public Access, 36th District Case Inquiry |
| Certified Copies | FOIA request to Sheriff | Clerk Records Division, $10 seal plus per-page fee |
Charges vs Convictions in Wayne County
Being charged is not being convicted. The Wayne County Prosecutor's Screening & District Courts Division reviews complaints from more than 50 law enforcement agencies and decides whether to file charges. After charges are filed, the case must move through court and end with either a plea, verdict, or other disposition before it counts as a conviction. The 36th District Court warns its public Register of Actions should not be used for background checks.
| Charge | Conviction | |
|---|---|---|
| Stage | Accusation at booking or filing | Final court ruling, plea, or verdict |
| Burden of Proof | Probable cause | Beyond a reasonable doubt or plea |
| Public Record | Yes, but may end in dismissal | Yes, subject to set-aside |
| Background Use | Should not be used alone | Verify through MSP CHR or court |
Sealed vs Expunged Records in Michigan
Michigan uses "setting aside" rather than "expungement," but the practical effect is the same for most users: a conviction becomes nonpublic. MCL 780.621 sets eligibility. MCL 780.621c lists exclusions, such as life-maximum felonies and some criminal sexual conduct offenses. Sealed records, by contrast, hide a case from public search but typically keep limited law enforcement access. Wayne County circuit and district courts may issue sealing orders in certain civil matters and protected files.
| Sealed | Set Aside / Expunged | |
|---|---|---|
| Visibility | Hidden from ordinary public search | Removed from public criminal history |
| Law Enforcement | Limited access for active investigations | Nonpublic copy retained for specific agencies under MCL 780.623 |
| Eligibility | Sealing by court order or rule | Application or automatic Clean Slate under MCL 780.621g |
| Effective Date | Per court order | Application changes 4/11/2021; automatic Clean Slate April 2023 |
Waiting periods and the $50 Michigan State Police processing fee for non-automatic applications are at MCL 780.621d. Setting aside a traffic conviction does not remove the entry from the Secretary of State driver record under MCL 780.621c.
The statute defines who may apply, the convicting-court requirement, and how multiple convictions are counted under the current Clean Slate framework.
Mugshots and Booking Photos
The Wayne County Sheriff inmate detail page inspected on May 20, 2026 did not show a mugshot in the live text output, but the booking record contains the underlying photo on file. Mugshots are generated at intake and become part of the booking package. Sheriff staff use the photo for jail operations. Public display through the inmate portal depends on the portal's current configuration. Mugshots not shown online may be requested through a Sheriff FOIA request, with response and fee rules under MCL 15.234 and MCL 15.235.
Statewide Criminal Records Search
For a Michigan-wide conviction history, the Michigan State Police runs the Internet Criminal History Access Tool (ICHAT). The MSP page on conviction set-asides explains the public information available after a record is set aside and notes the April 11, 2021 effective date for application changes and the April 2023 effective date for automatic Clean Slate. State-level corrections data, including current and former state prisoners, parolees, and probationers, is in the MDOC OTIS Offender Search. For more on post-release search, see the released inmates page.
MSP also handles the $50 set-aside processing fee tied to applications filed under MCL 780.621d. The conviction set-aside page directs applicants to the convicting court for filing.
Background Check Considerations
Wayne County court portals are public service tools, not screening engines. The Third Circuit warns Odyssey should not be used for background checks. The 36th District Court gives the same warning for its Register of Actions. Name searches alone can produce false matches because multiple people share names and dates of birth, and offenders may use aliases. Employers, landlords, and licensing bodies should rely on FCRA-compliant consumer reporting agencies or on Michigan State Police CHR services.
Important: This site is not a consumer reporting agency under the FCRA. Do not use Wayne County arrest records here for employment, credit, tenant, or insurance decisions.
Restricted Criminal Records in Wayne County
Juvenile delinquency, child protective, and abuse-and-neglect records are restricted by law and court rule. Adoption records and certain mental health records sit under additional confidentiality protections. Sealed cases may not appear in portal output at all. Set-aside or Clean Slate convictions are nonpublic under MCL 780.623, with the nonpublic record retained for specific law enforcement and licensing uses.
FOIA exemptions under MCL 15.243 can apply to active investigations, informant or security data, and other categories. Wayne County Sheriff law-enforcement-investigatory records may be withheld under those rules during ongoing matters.
Wayne County Prosecutor's Office
Michigan counties have Prosecuting Attorneys rather than District Attorneys. The Wayne County Prosecutor's Office prosecutes felonies through the Trial Division in the Third Circuit Criminal Division and handles screening, preliminary exams, misdemeanors, and state traffic violations through its Screening & District Courts Division across 25 district and municipal courts. The division includes a Pre-Trial Diversion Program, Pre-Exam Program, Behavioral Health Program, Drug Court, and Check Enforcement Program. The Wayne County Prosecutor page hosts current office information, victim services, and conviction integrity contacts. The Prosecutor reviews complaints from more than 50 law enforcement agencies in Wayne County.