Criminal records in Delta County, Michigan, can be accessed through several online tools, official court systems, law enforcement agencies, and the county clerk's office. DeltaCourt.us can help find publicly available criminal case information for Delta County. Additional access points include the state's MiCOURT case search portal, the Michigan State Police criminal history database, the Delta County Sheriff's Office, and the Delta County Clerk's Office in Escanaba.
How to Search Criminal Records in Delta County
Several methods are available for searching criminal records in Delta County. The information you'll need depends on the method you choose, but having the person's full legal name, date of birth, or case number will make any search more effective.
Online Search Options
- DeltaCourt.us — Search for publicly available court record information associated with Delta County criminal cases.
- MiCOURT Case Search — Michigan's statewide court case search portal. You can look up cases filed in the 47th Circuit Court (felonies) and the 94th District Court (misdemeanors) by party name or case number. Note that some courts only display limited information for criminal cases.
- Michigan State Police ICHAT — The Internet Criminal History Access Tool (ICHAT) searches public criminal history record information maintained by the Michigan State Police, Criminal Justice Information Center. Results include convictions from courts across the state.
- MDOC Offender Tracking (OTIS) — Search for individuals currently or formerly in the custody of the Michigan Department of Corrections. This does not cover county jail inmates.
- Michigan Sex Offender Registry — A public registry of convicted sex offenders maintained by the Michigan State Police.
In Person
Visit the Delta County Clerk's Office at the county courthouse in Escanaba to search court records using public access terminals or request assistance from staff. Circuit court felony records are maintained by the County Clerk, while misdemeanor records are held at the 94th District Court.
By Mail or Written Request
- Court records: Send a written request to the Delta County Clerk at the address above. Include the defendant's full name, approximate date of the case, and case number if known. Enclose any applicable copy fees.
- Statewide criminal history: Submit a request through the Michigan State Police ICHAT system online, or file a FOIA request with the Michigan State Police for records not available through the public portal.
- County-level FOIA: Delta County accepts Freedom of Information Act requests for public records held by county departments, including the Sheriff's Office.
What You'll Need to Begin a Search
- Defendant's full legal name (first and last name at minimum)
- Date of birth (helpful for narrowing results)
- Case number (if known — speeds up the search significantly)
- Approximate year or date range of the case
Search Delta County Criminal Cases by Case Number
Michigan courts use a standardized case numbering format. Understanding it helps you search more efficiently on MiCOURT or at the clerk's office.
A typical Delta County case number looks like this: 2024-00123-FH
- 2024 — The year the case was filed.
- 00123 — A sequential number assigned to the case within that year.
- FH — A two-letter suffix indicating the case type.
Common criminal case type suffixes in Michigan:
| Suffix | Case Type |
|---|---|
| FH | Circuit Court felony (high court) |
| FY | District Court felony (preliminary exam stage) |
| SM | Misdemeanor — District Court |
| SD | Drunk driving / OWI — District Court |
| AR | Arraignment |
When searching by case number on MiCOURT, select the correct court — 47th Circuit Court for felony cases or 94th District Court for misdemeanors — then enter the case number exactly as formatted.
Charges, Case Status, Hearings, and Court Results in Delta County
Charges
- Statute codes: Each charge references a section of the Michigan Compiled Laws (MCL). For example, MCL 750.110a covers home invasion.
- Severity: Charges are classified as felonies (handled in 47th Circuit Court), misdemeanors (handled in 94th District Court), or civil infractions.
- Amended charges: Prosecutors may amend original charges through plea negotiations. Both the original and amended charges typically appear on the case record.
Case Status
| Status | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Pending | Case is open and proceedings are ongoing |
| Active | Case has active orders or conditions (e.g., probation) |
| Disposed | Case has reached a final resolution |
| Closed | All obligations fulfilled; case is administratively closed |
Hearing Types
- Arraignment: Defendant is formally advised of charges and enters an initial plea.
- Preliminary hearing: District Court determines whether probable cause exists to bind a felony case over to Circuit Court.
- Pre-trial conference: Attorneys discuss potential resolutions, motions, and trial preparation.
- Trial: Bench trial or jury trial where evidence is presented.
- Sentencing: Judge imposes penalties after a guilty plea or conviction.
- Review hearing: Court checks compliance with probation or other conditions.
Court Results
| Result | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Guilty | Defendant convicted by plea or verdict |
| Not guilty | Defendant acquitted at trial |
| Dismissed | Charges dropped by the court or prosecutor |
| Nolle prosequi | Prosecutor declines to pursue the case |
| Deferred / Delayed sentence | Sentencing postponed; charge may be dismissed upon compliance (under MCL 771.1) |
| Acquitted | Found not guilty after trial |
How to Request Certified Criminal Records in Delta County
Certified copies carry an official court seal and are accepted for legal proceedings, employment verification, and background checks. The office that handles your request depends on the record type.
Court Records (Certified Copies)
For certified copies of felony case documents, contact the Delta County Clerk's Office. For misdemeanor records, contact the 94th District Court directly.
You can request certified copies:
- In person at the clerk's office during business hours
- By mail — send a written request with the case number, defendant's name, the specific documents needed, and a check or money order for the applicable fees
Bring a valid government-issued photo ID when requesting records in person. Written requests should include your name, mailing address, and contact phone number.
Statewide Criminal History Records
For a comprehensive criminal history report covering all Michigan courts, use the Michigan State Police ICHAT system. This is the state's official criminal history repository. Fingerprint-based background checks for employment or licensing are also processed through the Michigan State Police.
Fees, Copy Costs, and Processing Times for Criminal Records in Delta County
| Service | Fee | Source / Notes |
|---|---|---|
| ICHAT public criminal history search | $10.00 per search | Michigan State Police — ICHAT |
| Certified copy of court document | $10.00 for the first page, $1.00 each additional page | MCL 600.2546 (Michigan court copy fee schedule) |
| Non-certified court document copy | $1.00 per page | MCL 600.2546 |
| Court record search fee | $10.00 | Per Michigan court fee schedule |
| FOIA request (Delta County) | Varies — labor and copy costs per Michigan FOIA statute (MCL 15.234) | Delta County FOIA policy |
Processing Times
- ICHAT searches: Results are typically returned immediately online.
- In-person requests: Simple copy requests at the clerk's office are often fulfilled the same day, depending on staff availability.
- Mail requests: Allow 5–10 business days for processing and return mailing.
- FOIA requests: Delta County must respond within 5 business days under Michigan's FOIA statute. The county may extend the response period by an additional 10 business days if needed.
Fees are subject to change. Contact the Delta County Clerk's Office to confirm current costs before submitting a request.