How do I find an inmate or search a jail roster?

Michigan Department of Corrections - MDOC (state prisons) / County Sheriff's Office or County Jail (county level - 83 counties)

Details

What you need to know

Fee

Online searches free; certified records requests may involve fees ONLINE OPTION: Yes - MDOC OTIS at michigan.gov/corrections/offender-search; county Sheriff websites for local jails WHERE TO GO: MDOC (state prisons); County Sheriff's Office or County Jail (county inmates)

Online Option

Yes - MDOC OTIS at michigan.gov/corrections/offender-search; county Sheriff websites for local jails

Where to Go

MDOC (state prisons); County Sheriff's Office or County Jail (county inmates)

County-specific variations apply

Michigan's 83 county sheriffs each operate their own jail facilities. Online access varies significantly - Wayne County, Oakland County, Kent County, Washtenaw County, and Macomb County have the most comprehensive online systems. Smaller Upper Peninsula counties and rural northern Lower Michigan counties may have very limited online access requiring direct phone calls. Some counties contract with neighboring counties for jail services.

Michigan Notes

Important state-specific details

Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) OTIS (Offender Tracking Information System): Michigan's comprehensive online offender search; covers currently incarcerated state inmates AND those on active parole supervision.
County jails operated by County Sheriffs - separate from MDOC; recent arrests will NOT appear in MDOC database.
Michigan Sex Offender Registry: michigan.gov/msp/divisions/foi (MSP) - Michigan Sex Offender Registry (MSOR); searchable online.
For visitation, phone calls, sending money, commissary, or mailing to a Michigan inmate: inmateaid.com has MDOC and county jail facility details.

Official Source

State office contact

State Office

Michigan Department of Corrections - michigan.gov/corrections | (517) 335-1426; OTIS Offender Search: michigan.gov/corrections/offender-search