Detroit Public Records

Detroit public records are held by multiple agencies across the city and Wayne County. You can search court cases, request police reports, look up property records, and file FOIA requests for documents created by city departments. This guide covers the main sources and how to get what you need.

Wayne County Public Records

Detroit is the county seat of Wayne County, and many public records for Detroit residents are held at the county level. The Wayne County Register of Deeds at 600 Randolph, Suite 406, Detroit, MI 48226 handles all property records. You can reach them at (313) 224-0286. The Wayne County Clerk at (313) 224-5530 handles vital records, court filing records, and other county-level documents.

Wayne County land records are searchable online at waynecountylandrecords.com. Images go back to 1915. You can search by owner name, address, document type, or instrument number. Basic on-demand users pay $5.00 for a search and $1.00 per page for documents. This is one of the most comprehensive online property records systems in Michigan.

For a full view of Wayne County public records resources, fees, and offices, see the Wayne County Public Records page.

Detroit Court Records

Detroit court cases run through multiple courts. The Third Judicial Circuit Court handles felony criminal cases and civil cases for Wayne County. You can search Wayne County court cases at 3rdcc.org/OPA.aspx. The 36th District Court handles misdemeanors, civil cases under $25,000, and traffic violations for the city. The statewide MiCOURT portal at micourt.courts.michigan.gov also lets you search cases from participating courts.

MiCOURT is free to use. You can search by party name, case number, or attorney bar number. The system shows docket entries, case status, and scheduled hearings. It does not show sealed cases, juvenile records, or adoption files. Dates of birth were removed from search results in April 2022 under Michigan Court Rule 1.109.

To get certified copies of court records, contact the clerk's office at the specific court. The 36th District Court is at 421 Madison Street, Detroit, MI 48226. The Third Circuit Court is at 1441 St. Antoine Street, Detroit, MI 48226. Fees for copies vary by court and document type.

Note: Court records in Michigan are governed by MCR 8.119, which presumes records are public unless sealed or exempted by statute.

Detroit Criminal History and Inmate Records

Michigan State Police maintains the Internet Criminal History Access Tool (ICHAT) at apps.michigan.gov/ICHAT. The cost is $10 per search. ICHAT covers felony convictions and serious misdemeanor arrests reported from all 83 Michigan counties, including Wayne County. It does not include traffic records, juvenile records, or local misdemeanors under 93 days.

The Michigan State Police Criminal History Records page at michigan.gov/msp/services/criminal-history-records has details on what ICHAT covers and how to request fingerprint-based checks. Fingerprint checks are used for licensing and other sensitive purposes and cost $50 to $70 through approved vendors.

The above screenshot shows the MSP Criminal History Records portal where you can access ICHAT and learn about background check options available to Detroit residents and employers.

For current Wayne County jail inmates, check the inmate search portal at sheriffconnect.com. This shows booking information and current charges. Mugshot photos are not posted online and require a FOIA request to the Wayne County Sheriff. For state prison inmates, the Michigan Department of Corrections Offender Tracking Information System (OTIS) is free at mdocweb.state.mi.us/otis2/otis2.aspx. OTIS covers current inmates, parolees, and probationers under MDOC supervision.

Detroit FOIA Requests

Detroit city records are subject to the Michigan Freedom of Information Act, MCL 15.231 et seq. The City of Detroit processes FOIA requests through its Law Department. You can submit a request online at detroitmi.gov. Requests can also be sent by mail to the City of Detroit Law Department, Coleman A. Young Municipal Center, 2 Woodward Avenue, Suite 500, Detroit, MI 48226.

The standard response time under MCL 15.235 is 5 business days. The city can extend this by up to 10 additional business days with written notice. Your request must be in writing and describe the record well enough for staff to locate it. Include "FOIA" in your subject line or on the envelope. You do not have to explain why you want the records.

Fees follow MCL 15.234. Labor costs are capped at 6 times the state minimum hourly wage. Copy fees are the actual cost of duplication. The first $20 is waived for indigent requesters who provide a notarized affidavit. If you disagree with a denial, you can appeal in writing to the head of the public body within 180 days.

The Detroit FOIA portal shown above lets you submit requests online, track status, and receive documents electronically. This is the fastest way to get city records in Detroit.

For Wayne County FOIA requests, use the form at waynecounty.com/county/foia-request-form.aspx. Wayne County charges $0.10 per page for standard copies.

Detroit Property Records

Property records for Detroit are maintained by the Wayne County Register of Deeds. The online portal at waynecountylandrecords.com gives access to real estate documents from 1915 forward. This includes deeds, mortgages, liens, and land contracts. Records from 1915 to 1982 are indexed by book and page number. Records from 1983 forward are indexed by name, instrument number, and address.

Delinquent property tax information for Detroit parcels is available through the Wayne County Treasurer at waynecounty.com/pta. Search by parcel ID or address to see outstanding tax amounts. The City of Detroit Assessor's Office also keeps assessment records and tax rolls for city properties.

Note: Michigan law under MCL 565.201 requires property documents to be recorded with the Register of Deeds to be legally valid against third parties.

Vital Records in Detroit

Births, deaths, and marriages that occur in Detroit are registered with the state through the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS). You can order certified copies of vital records at michigan.gov/mdhhs/doing-business/vitalrecords. The first certified copy costs $34. Each additional copy of the same record is $16.

Online ordering is available through VitalChek at vitalchek.com, though this adds a processing fee. You can also request records by mail with a completed form, copy of ID, and payment. In-person requests go to the MDHHS office at 333 S. Grand Ave, Lansing, MI 48933, or to the Wayne County Clerk's office in Detroit. Birth records less than 100 years old have access restrictions. You must show you are the named person, a parent, legal guardian, legal representative, or heir.

Sex Offender Registry - Detroit

The Michigan Public Sex Offender Registry is maintained by the Michigan State Police and is free to search at mspsor.com. You can look up offenders by name, address, ZIP code, or registration number. Results include the offender's name, photo, date of birth, address, offense details, and vehicle information. You can also view a map of registered offenders in a specific area of Detroit or any other Michigan city.

Michigan's sex offender registration requirements are governed by MCL 28.721 et seq. The registry lists three tiers of offenders based on offense severity. Some offenders must register for 15 years, while those in the highest tier must register for life. Non-compliant offenders are listed separately. The registry is updated regularly by the MSP Sex Offender Registry Unit in Lansing.

Nearby Cities

These cities are close to Detroit. Each has its own public records offices and FOIA processes.