Branch County Public Records /Branch County Criminal Records

Branch County Criminal Records

What Is Branch County Criminal Records

Criminal records in Branch County, Michigan, are official government documents that chronicle an individual's interactions with the criminal justice system, from initial law enforcement contact through final court disposition. These records are generated and maintained by multiple agencies across the county and state.

Key distinctions among record types include:

Arrest records vs. conviction records: An arrest record documents that law enforcement took an individual into custody based on probable cause. A conviction record reflects a formal finding of guilt by a court. An arrest does not constitute a conviction, and individuals may have arrest records without corresponding convictions.
Felony vs. misdemeanor: Felonies are serious offenses punishable by more than one year of incarceration in a state facility. Misdemeanors carry lesser penalties, typically up to one year in a county jail.
Adult vs. juvenile records: Adult criminal records are generally accessible to the public. Juvenile adjudication records are routinely sealed under Michigan law and are not available for public inspection except under specific statutory exceptions.
Active warrants vs. historical records: Active warrants reflect current judicial orders for an individual's arrest. Historical records document past charges, proceedings, and dispositions.

Agencies responsible for maintaining Branch County criminal records include:

Branch County Sheriff's Office — maintains arrest logs, booking records, and jail rosters
Branch County Circuit Court — handles felony cases, including charges, arraignments, pleas, trials, sentencing, and probation matters
Branch County District Court — processes misdemeanor cases and preliminary felony examinations
Michigan State Police — maintains statewide criminal history records through the Criminal Justice Information Center

Records typically contain charges filed, arraignment details, plea information, trial outcomes, sentencing orders, and probation or parole conditions. Under Michigan Compiled Laws § 28.243, the Michigan State Police is designated as the central repository for criminal history record information in the state.

Branch County Circuit Court 31 Division Street, Coldwater, MI 49036 (517) 279-4317 Branch County Circuit Court

Branch County District Court 31 Division Street, Coldwater, MI 49036 (517) 279-4321 Branch County District Court

Are Criminal Records Public In Branch County

Criminal records in Branch County are generally public documents under Michigan's Freedom of Information Act. Pursuant to Michigan Compiled Laws § 15.231 et seq., all persons are entitled to inspect and receive copies of public records held by state and local government bodies. Adult conviction records, court case filings, and most court proceedings fall within the scope of publicly accessible information.

Records that are public include:

Adult conviction records and court dispositions
Felony and misdemeanor case filings
Sentencing orders and probation terms
Arrest logs maintained by law enforcement agencies
Sex offender registration information

Records that are restricted or exempt from public disclosure include:

Juvenile adjudication records, which are sealed pursuant to Michigan law
Records pertaining to ongoing criminal investigations, where disclosure would interfere with law enforcement proceedings
Expunged or set-aside convictions, which are removed from public view following a court order under Michigan's expungement statute
Certain victim information and protected identifying data
Mental health and medical records associated with criminal proceedings

Members of the public may inspect court records during regular business hours at the Branch County courthouse. Requests for copies may be subject to applicable fees as established by the court or the county clerk's office.

How To Look Up Criminal Records In Branch County in 2026

Members of the public may obtain Branch County criminal records through several official channels. The following steps outline the process for accessing these records:

Identify the appropriate agency. Determine whether the record sought originates from a court proceeding, a law enforcement arrest, or the statewide criminal history database. Circuit Court records cover felonies; District Court records cover misdemeanors and traffic offenses.
Visit or contact the Branch County Clerk's Office. The County Clerk maintains court records and can assist with locating case files. Public counter hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Submit a written records request. Requestors may submit a written request under the Michigan Freedom of Information Act. Requests should identify the subject by full name and date of birth and specify the records sought.
Search online court databases. The Michigan One Court of Justice provides online case search tools for court records statewide.
Request a statewide criminal history report. The Michigan State Police Internet Criminal History Access Tool (ICHAT) allows members of the public to search criminal history records maintained at the state level.
Contact the Branch County Sheriff's Office for arrest records, booking information, and active warrant inquiries.

Branch County Clerk's Office 31 Division Street, Coldwater, MI 49036 (517) 279-4200 Branch County Clerk

Branch County Sheriff's Office 14 Division Street, Coldwater, MI 49036 (517) 279-4411 Branch County Sheriff's Office

How To Find Criminal Records in Branch County Online?

Several official online portals currently provide access to Branch County criminal records without requiring an in-person visit.

MiCOURT Case Search: The Michigan One Court of Justice operates the Michigan court case lookup portal, which allows members of the public to search for case numbers, party names, and case status information across participating Michigan courts. Users may search by name or case number. Note that some courts display only case numbers and conviction information, and Michigan and federal law preclude disclosure of certain information to the public through this system.
ICHAT — Michigan State Police: The public criminal history search tool maintained by the Michigan State Police allows name-based searches of criminal history records compiled by the Criminal Justice Information Center. A fee is assessed per search for most requestors. The system returns conviction-based records for adults.
Branch County Sheriff's Jail Roster: The Sheriff's Office may maintain a current jail roster accessible through the county website, listing individuals currently held in the Branch County Jail.
Branch County Court Clerk Portal: In-person access to case files is available at the courthouse. Some records may require in-person inspection and are not available through online systems.

Registration is not required to use the MiCOURT case search tool. ICHAT requires users to create an account and pay a per-search fee before results are returned.

Can You Search Branch County Criminal Records for Free?

Michigan law provides that members of the public have the right to inspect public records at no charge. Pursuant to Michigan Compiled Laws § 15.234, a public body may charge a fee only for the cost of providing copies, not for the inspection of records itself. Accordingly, individuals may inspect court records in person at the Branch County courthouse at no cost.

Free resources currently available include:

In-person inspection at the Branch County Circuit and District Courts — No fee is charged to view case files during public counter hours (Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.)
MiCOURT Case Search — Basic case information, including case numbers and party names, is available at no cost through the online court search portal
Branch County Sheriff's Jail Roster — Current inmate information may be available at no charge through the Sheriff's Office website
Arrest logs — Law enforcement agencies are generally required to make arrest logs available for public inspection without charge

Fees apply when requesting certified copies of court documents, obtaining a full statewide criminal history report through ICHAT, or requesting records that require extensive staff research time. Copy fees at Branch County courts are set by local court rule and the county clerk's fee schedule.

What's Included in a Branch County Criminal Record?

A complete Branch County criminal record may contain several categories of information depending on the source agency and the nature of the case.

Identifying Information

Full legal name and known aliases
Date of birth
Physical description, including height, weight, hair and eye color
Mugshot photograph
Last known address
State Identification (SID) number assigned by the Michigan State Police
FBI number, where applicable

Arrest Information

Date, time, and location of arrest
Arresting agency (Sheriff's Office, local police department, or state police)
Booking number and jail facility
Charges filed at the time of arrest
Bail or bond amount set

Court Case Information

Case number and court of jurisdiction (Circuit or District Court)
Filing date and case type
Specific charges and applicable statutes, including felony class or misdemeanor designation
Plea entered (guilty, not guilty, no contest)
Attorney of record and prosecuting authority

Disposition Information

Verdict or case outcome
Conviction date, if applicable
Sentencing details, including incarceration length, fines, restitution, and probation conditions
Appeals filed and outcomes
Probation or parole status

Additional Record Elements

Active or recalled warrants
Protective or restraining orders
Sex offender registration status
DUI/OWI convictions and traffic-related criminal offenses
Pending charges or open cases

How Long Does Branch County Keep Criminal Records?

Branch County and the State of Michigan maintain criminal records according to established retention schedules. Retention periods vary by record type and the agency responsible for custody.

Court case records (felony convictions): Retained permanently by the Michigan court system
Court case records (misdemeanor convictions): Retained for a minimum of seven years following case closure, with many courts retaining records permanently
Arrest records without conviction: Retained according to local law enforcement agency schedules; may be subject to expungement upon court order
Juvenile records: Sealed upon the subject reaching adulthood and destroyed or retained in restricted form pursuant to Michigan statute
Statewide criminal history records: Maintained indefinitely by the Michigan State Police Criminal Justice Information Center unless expunged by court order
Jail booking records: Retained by the Branch County Sheriff's Office in accordance with the Michigan Records Retention and Disposal Schedule for local units of government

The Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget publishes the official Michigan Local Government Records Retention Schedule, which governs how long county agencies must preserve various categories of public records. Expungement of eligible convictions under Michigan's set-aside statute removes records from public access but does not necessarily result in physical destruction of all agency copies.