Inmate and Jail Roster Search

Use this website and its resources for informational purposes only. Michigan has 101 jails in 83 counties. In 2019, the jail population was 17,020, which is steadily increasing. The prison system contains 38,053 inmates located in 39 correctional facilities. The state Offender Tracking Information System or OTIS lists information about prisoners, probationers, and parolees under supervision.

The tracking system also includes those inmates who have been discharged but are still in the three years after their supervision discharge date.
You cannot find information through OTIS that is exempt under the Michigan Freedom of Information Act for prisoners who have been arrested and convicted but not sentenced.

Information is not available about prisoners in county jail, city lockups, or offenders in jail only. You will need to look up inmates in the county where they are incarcerated.

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To find information about an inmate in the Michigan State prison system, you must fill out the form listed on mdoceb.state.mi.us/OTIS2/otis2aspx. Go to michiganpublicrecords.org. You will have the prison links and then the links to the most populous counties. For Prison, list the inmate’s last name and first name, MDOC Number if you have it, sex, race, age, status, marks, scars, or tattoos. Hit search, and the following information populates:

• Mug Shot
• Name: John Smith
• MDOC Number: 297968
• SID Number: 192522TX
• Racial Identification: Black
• Gender: Male
• Hair: Brown
• Eyes: Brown
• Height: 6’6″
• Weight 170 lbs
• MDOC Status: Active
• Location: Cooper Street Facility
• Earliest Release Date: 11/13/2022
• Maximum Discharge Date: 05/13/2032
• Identifying Marks: Tattoos, Scars
• Sentences and Charges: Murder w/weapon

For Counties, the information is:

• Mugshots (In Most Counties)
• Name: John Smith
• Date of Birth: 06/28/1980
• Charges: Reckless Driving

Quite a bit of information can be found in the records. The inmate search may take you out outside the state of Michigan. Anyone can perform a Michigan inmate search to find those incarcerated in state jails and prisons and find out why they are in jail. You must access the inmate lookup sites provided by the Sheriff’s offices in each county.

If you cannot locate an inmate on the website, you can call a prison/jail/correctional facility to locate an inmate. Use the phone number or form provided for the Sheriff in the county or city where the inmate is jailed. For example, in Wayne County (which includes Detroit), you can find an inmate by calling Jail Division 1 – 313-224-0797, Jail Division 2 – 313-224-2247, Jail Division 3 – 313-224-2222. Provide the name (first and last) of the inmate, sex, ethnicity, and, if available, the booking number and booking date.

Search for inmates by using the online form. You will need the name, subject number, booking number, booking date, and the housing facility. You can find the phone numbers for the Sheriff by searching the county in Michigan where the inmate is housed.

Visitation Guidelines and Hours

To have visitors, an inmate must complete a Visitor List form (CAJ-334) listing immediate family members and not more than ten other potential visitors. Once placed on the visiting list, you must complete a Visiting Application (CAJ-103) to request approval. The Visiting application must be submitted to the correctional facility mailroom or information desk.

You will need to contact the facility to find out the visiting schedule. Most correctional facilities follow a set day and time. For example

Visiting Day

Level II – General Population
Monday, Friday, and State-Recognized Holidays
3:30 P.M.
8:30 P.M.
Thursday
8:30 A.M.
2:30 P.M.
Sunday
8:30 A.M.
8:30 P.M.

Level V – General Population (Non-Contact)
Visiting Day
Visiting Start Time
Visiting End Time
Monday and State-Recognized Holidays
8:30 A.M.
2:30 P.M.
Thursday
3:30 P.M.
8:30 P.M.
Saturday
8:30 A.M.
8:30 P.M.

Administrative Segregation, Detention, and Temporary Segregation (Non-Contact)

Visiting Day

Thursday
3:30 P.M.
8:30 P.M.
Friday and State-Recognized Holidays
8:30 A.M.
2:30 P.M.
You must contact the Sheriff’s Office or the facility to find the correct visiting hours. You can also contact the Michigan Department of Corrections at:

Heidi E. Washington, Director
Grandview Plaza
206 E. Michigan Avenue
PO Box 30003
Lansing, MI 48909
517-335-1426

Basic visiting rules:

No item can ever be given to an inmate during a visit.
Tobacco-related products are not allowed when visiting.
You can communicate only with the inmate you’re visiting.
Your visit will be terminated if you engage in inappropriate or disruptive behavior.
Visitors must be dressed in clean clothes that are in good repair.
Undergarments must be worn; adults who are female must bear a bra.
Hooded garments are prohibited.
Extreme form-fitting clothing
Clothing that exposes excessive skin is prohibited.

Direct Inmate Communication

The communication for prisoner telephone service in Michigan is Global Tel*Link or GTL. (Beware of scammers using other prison call systems that are incompatible with the Michigan Department of Corrections.)

Collect Calls: Prisoners can call an approved number, and the charges will go to the number called. Collect calls cannot be made to office phones, cell phones, hospital phones, or commercial phones.

Prepaid Collect: You can go to GTL and use a prepaid collect option through Advance Pay. With this option, an inmate can call friends and family members once a calling account is established. Charges are deducted from the called account.

Debit: Debit calling gives inmates control of personal phone calls. Prisoners can purchase debit minutes through the institutional disbursement process. If you have a question, call GTL at 855-2832. Rates for GTL Prisoners are $0.0735 per minute.
Set Up an Account. If you need to set up a Prepaid Calling Account for an inmate, call GTL at 855-466-2832 or visit the website at https://web.connectnetwork.com/. Set up a prepaid account if you receive calls from prisons or correctional institutions. You can fund the account with a cashier’s check or money order. A $25 minimum payment amount is necessary if paying through the mail. Send payment to AdvancePaya Service Department, PO Box 911722, Denver, CO 80291-1722. Include your name, the facility’s name, and your phone number.

Blocking Calls

You can refuse an incoming call anytime by hanging up or pressing 1. The call was disconnected, and the prisoner was told the call was not accepted.
Incoming calls from a correctional facility can be blocked permanently by pressing “6” when prompted. The call will be disconnected.
A PIN will be assigned to unblock the number.

You can also inform the Warden at the facility. Written instruction and telephone restrictions will be placed on the prisoner after an impartial review of the request.
If a prisoner is threatening you, contact the facility. Your complaints will also be forwarded to the Parole Board, Crime Victims Notification, and the Warden.
You can fund a prepaid account via a lobby kiosk. GTL has kiosks in the lobby at several MDOC correctional facilities.

Outgoing Mail

Prisoners can send mail through the US Postal Service. There may also be an outgoing mail service for overweight or oversized packages. Inmates are required to pay the postage costs for any mail service used. Outgoing mail must contain the prisoner’s first and last name plus the address of the receiver. If mail does not contain the prisoner’s name and number, the outgoing mail may be destroyed. Personal mail must remain unsealed for inspection.

Incoming Mail

Mail service for inmates in Michigan is restricted to written or typed letters and photos. Incoming outgoing mail may be opened, inspected, and read. Legal mail will be opened in the presence of the inmate. No stamps, stickers, or other items can be mailed.

Incoming mail must have been delivered from the US Postal Service or through DTMB interdepartmental mail. No incoming mail left at the facility will be accepted except for attorneys.

Mail needs to be addressed to individual facilities in a specific county. For example,

Wayne County
Inmate’s Name and Number
Inmate’s Ward
570 Clinton Street
Detroit, MI 48226

Lena County Sheriff’s Office
4900 M32 W
Alpena, MI 49707
St. Clair Shores Police Jail

Inmate Name
Inmate ID
27665 Jefferson Avenue
St. Clair Shores, MI 48081

Prisoners cannot receive mail sent at bulk rate or pre-sorted standard indicated by the US Postal Service. Prisoners can receive books, magazines, and other publications if a member of the public orders the publication from an approved vendor. Inmates cannot receive catalogs.
Mail received via fax or email may be destroyed unless it is clear that it is emergency information, and the Warden authorizes delivery.

Prisoners cannot receive mail that threatens the facility’s order, security, or discipline or any mail that facilitates criminal activity or interferes with the prisoner’s rehabilitation. Mail that cannot be searched may be discarded to prevent controlled substances, Suboxone, Fentanyl, or other contraband that poses a threat to security.

Mail that contains glitter, lipstick marks, unusual stains, body fluids, perfumes, oils, or other foreign or unknown substances will be discarded.

Mail that contains photographs and pictures may be opened and inspected before delivery.
Mail written in a foreign language or braille may be translated by a translation service retained through a purchase order. All mail in a foreign language must be stamped “Translation Approved,” and the mail must be dated.

Sending Money to Inmates

The prison commissary is a store in the correctional facility where the inmates can purchase meats, snacks, and writing materials. Inmates are not allowed to have cash; instead, they use an account with funds from money deposited by friends and family members or earned as wages.

Certain items used to be used as trading currency by inmates. Cigarettes were popular, but most facilities have tobacco bans, and no cigarettes are allowed. Instead, inmates often use postage stamps, honey buns, and ramen noodles. Some facilities in Michigan allow inmates to use canned or tinned fish as currency. Trading is discouraged, but inmates do it anyway.
You can send money order funds to inmates in Michigan facilities via GTL Financial Services. Please fill out a deposit form to address the money order to GTL Financial Services and send it to:

GTL Financial Services
10005 Technology Bvd. West
Suite 130
Dallas, TX 75220

Include the Facility, State Name, Prisoner Name, and address. Money orders shall not exceed $300.

If you prefer to send money faster to an inmate, go through the website at www.ConnectNetwork.com or phone 888-988-4768. There will be fees involved, unfortunately.
You can deposit cash, credit, and debit at select facility kiosks. The fee for cash deposits will be $4.00 per transaction. $1 from each cash transaction will be credited to the prisoner benefit fund. For more information on depositing money to an inmate account, visit www.ConnectNetwork.com.

In many counties in Michigan, the commissary is contracted with Access Securepak for families to send pre-determined packages of commissary items. You must register on the Scurepak website, select Michigan as your state of interest, and select the correctional facility using the county’s name. Find the inmate, deposit funds, and order commissary items. You will be told how much the commissary pack is and what product you can send to an inmate.

Inmates can receive or purchase envelopes, stamps, shampoo, candy, and other personal items through the system.

Inmate Records, Bookings, and Mugshots

Booking Procedures

Defendants arrested and taken to jail are normally booked shortly upon arrival. Booking creates official arrest records and suspects who can post bail immediately cannot be released until after the booking process. Suspects who receive citations and are taken to jail must also go through a booking process.

Felony defendants are taken to the arresting agent to be booked, but misdemeanor defendants are not always required to go through the booking procedure.
The first step in the felony court process is the arrest and booking of the accused. The accused is taken to the police or Sheriff’s station for booking and recording personal information about the alleged crime. During this time, the accused can remain silent and request legal representation.
Standard booking procedures include searching for the suspect, taking a mugshot, and fingerprinting.
After the booking process, the initial appearance and bail hearing are held. Charges are formally presented during this appearance, and the accused can enter a plea.

Mugshots

Mugshots are used for many reasons. A mug shot helps to determine which of two people with the same name was arrested. A mugshot also helps to establish a suspect’s physical condition at the time of arrest. Mugshots help determine if police use of unlawful force was used.
Crime Statistics in Michigan

Crime in Michigan in 2020 is as follows: Total was 43,686, rating Michigan the 11th most crime-ridden state per capita in the Union.

Michigan’s criminal statistics are as follows:
Charges Misdemeanors Felonies Minors Convictions Pending
11,107 94.63% 5.07% 0.19% 84.18% 0.21%

Due to policies and procedures, the recidivism rate has dropped for the fourth year. This drop makes it the lowest recidivism rate in state history. The new and lower rate drops Michigan to fourth place in the nation.

More information about Michigan can be found by visiting the state’s website, or visiting individual county websites.

Michigan Justice System

Supreme Court of Michigan:

The highest court in the state.
It has seven justices who are elected to eight-year terms.
The Supreme Court has appellate jurisdiction over cases involving the interpretation of the state constitution, as well as cases of great public importance.

Address of MSC Clerk’s Office
Postal Address
P.O. Box 30052, Lansing, MI 48909
Street Address
925 W. Ottawa Street, Lansing, MI 48915

Court of Appeals:

The Michigan Court of Appeals is an intermediate appellate court with jurisdiction over most civil and criminal appeals from the circuit and probate courts.
It is divided into four districts across the state.

OFFICE HOURS
Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

Trial Courts:

Michigan has several trial courts, including circuit courts, district courts, probate courts, and municipal courts.

Circuit Courts: They are the general trial courts with jurisdiction over major civil and criminal cases. There is at least one circuit court in each of Michigan’s 83 counties. There are 57 circuit courts in Michigan. Circuit court judges are elected for six-year terms.

District Courts: They handle certain civil cases and most misdemeanor criminal cases.

Probate Courts: They deal with cases related to wills, estates, guardianships, and conservatorships. There are 78 probate courts in Michigan; probate judges are elected for six-year terms.

Municipal Courts: Some cities have their own municipal courts, which handle local ordinance violations and certain misdemeanors. There are approximately 100 district courts in Michigan. District court judges are elected for six-year terms.

Specialized Courts:

Michigan has various specialized courts, such as drug courts, family courts, and business courts, designed to address specific types of cases more effectively.

Judicial Nominating Commissions:

These commissions are responsible for recommending candidates to fill judicial vacancies, including those on the Michigan Supreme Court.
It’s important to note that court systems can undergo changes and reforms, and there may have been updates or changes to the Michigan judicial system since my last knowledge update. For the most current and specific information, I recommend checking with official state sources or legal resources.

Michigan’s land size is only the 22nd largest of the 50 states, but including the Great Lakes, over which it has jurisdiction, increases Michigan’s area considerably. The capital is Lansing, which is located in south-central Michigan. The state gets its name from michi-gama, a Chippewa word meaning large lake.

Michigan is split into two large land segments: the upper peninsula, eastward from northern Wisconsin between Lakes Superior and Michigan, and the lower peninsula, which reaches northward, surrounded by Indiana and Ohio. The two land masses of Michigan are connected by a 5-mile bridge, called Mackinac Bridge, across the Straits of Mackinac that separates Lake Michigan on the west from Lake Huron on the east.

Michigan became a state on January 26, 1837, as the 26th state of the Union. It is a mainspring in the economic life of the United States, and its largest city, Detroit, was at one time the capital of the automotive industry. The state is also prominent in agriculture and forestry and is one of the country’s leading tourist destinations.

Michigan’s constitution gives the state an executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government. The highest court in Michigan is the seven-member Supreme Court. This body hears appeals from lower courts and supervises the operation of the entire court system. The lower courts in Michigan include a court of appeals, circuit courts, probate courts, and courts of limited jurisdiction specified by the legislature.