Dearborn Criminal Court Records
Dearborn criminal court records are filed at the 19th District Court on Michigan Avenue for misdemeanor matters and at the Wayne County 3rd Circuit Court for felony cases. You can search Dearborn criminal cases online through MiCOURT, visit the 19th District Court in person, or contact the Wayne County Clerk for felony circuit court records.
Dearborn Overview
Courts That Handle Dearborn Criminal Cases
The 19th District Court at 16077 Michigan Ave. is the primary court for all criminal cases originating in Dearborn. The court phone is (313) 943-2060. It handles misdemeanor charges from start to finish and serves as the first court for any felony case, handling arraignments, bail hearings, and preliminary examinations. Misdemeanor cases get fully resolved in the 19th District Court. Felony cases, if probable cause is found at the preliminary exam, move up to the Wayne County 3rd Circuit Court.
The 3rd Circuit Court in Detroit handles all felony prosecutions from Dearborn and the rest of Wayne County. It is at 1441 St. Antoine St. in Detroit. The Wayne County Clerk's office maintains the criminal case files for circuit court matters. Call (313) 224-5523 to reach the Wayne County Clerk. For certified copies of circuit court felony records, contact that office directly. The full felony case file includes the charging documents, motion practice, any plea or trial transcript, victim impact statements if applicable, and the sentencing order.
Dearborn City Hall is at 16901 Michigan Ave., Dearborn, MI 48126, and the main number is (313) 943-2000. The city has its own police department, the Dearborn Police Department, which maintains local police records. Court records are separate from police records and must be requested from the court clerk. The 19th District Court is also on Michigan Avenue and accessible during regular business hours.
| District Court | 19th District Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 16077 Michigan Ave., Dearborn, MI 48126 |
| Phone | (313) 943-2060 |
| Circuit Court | Wayne County 3rd Circuit Court, Detroit |
| City Hall | 16901 Michigan Ave., Dearborn, MI 48126 |
| City Phone | (313) 943-2000 |
19th District Court Records
The 19th District Court is Dearborn's local court and holds the original record for all criminal cases that originate in the city. Court records are public under MCR 8.119 unless a judge has ordered them sealed. A typical misdemeanor case file includes the complaint or citation, bond order, docket entries showing court appearances and filings, any plea agreement, and the sentence. If the matter involves a civil infraction or traffic offense, those records are also here.
To get copies, visit the clerk's window at 16077 Michigan Ave. during business hours. Bring the case number or the full name of the defendant. Staff can search the system and tell you what documents are in the file. Standard copy fees are around $1.00 per page. Call (313) 943-2060 ahead of time to confirm the current fee schedule and business hours. Mail requests are accepted. Send the request along with a check or money order to the court and allow extra time for processing.
MiCOURT at micourt.courts.michigan.gov provides free access to case status and docket information for 19th District Court cases. You can look up a case by name or number without visiting the court. This shows the charges, docket events, and current case status. It does not give you the full documents but is a useful first step to confirm a case exists and to get the case number before contacting the clerk.
How to Search Dearborn Criminal Court Records
Use MiCOURT at micourt.courts.michigan.gov to search Dearborn criminal court records online. It covers both the 19th District Court and the Wayne County 3rd Circuit Court. Search by name or case number to see case status, charges, docket entries, and party information. The system is free and open to the public without registration. Most cases from recent years are in the system.
For in-person access, visit the 19th District Court at 16077 Michigan Ave. in Dearborn. The court is open Monday through Friday during regular business hours. For circuit court felony records from Dearborn, go to the Wayne County Clerk's office in Detroit or call (313) 224-5523. Mail requests for circuit court records can be sent to the Wayne County Clerk, Frank Murphy Hall of Justice, 1441 St. Antoine St., Detroit, MI 48226.
Dearborn Police Department records are separate from court records. The Dearborn Police Department can be reached at (313) 943-2240 for non-emergency matters. Police incident reports and arrest records are available through FOIA requests under MCL 15.231. Submit a written FOIA request to the Dearborn City Clerk or Police Department FOIA coordinator. The city website at cityofdearborn.org has information on how to file these requests.
The Michigan Courts website at courts.michigan.gov provides access to MiCOURT and statewide court resources for searching Dearborn criminal cases online.
Dearborn Police Records and FOIA
The Dearborn Police Department maintains incident reports, arrest records, and related law enforcement records. These are public records available through FOIA under MCL 15.231. To request these records, submit a written FOIA request to the City of Dearborn. Include your name, a description of what you are looking for, the approximate date of the incident, and any case numbers you have. The city must respond within 5 business days.
FOIA copy fees in Dearborn are set under Michigan law. Standard copies cost between $0.10 and $1.00 per page. Labor charges apply when staff must search for records. Indigent requesters can apply for a fee waiver of the first $20 under MCL 15.234 by filing a written affidavit. Police records and court records are separate systems. Police records document what the department investigated. Court records document what the courts decided. You may need both depending on what you are looking for.
ICHAT at michigan.gov/ichat provides statewide criminal history search for $10 per name. Results come from the Michigan State Police database and include arrests and convictions from Dearborn courts along with other Michigan agencies. This is useful for a background check but does not give you specific case documents.
Record Fees and Request Procedures
Standard copy fees at the 19th District Court are around $1.00 per page. Certified copies, which carry the court seal, cost more. Call (313) 943-2060 to confirm the current fee schedule before you visit. At the circuit court level, Wayne County also charges $1.00 per page with higher fees for certified copies. The Wayne County Clerk at (313) 224-5523 can give you a fee estimate before you send a mail request.
Mail requests to the 19th District Court at 16077 Michigan Ave., Dearborn, MI 48126. Include the case number or name, the documents you need, and a check or money order for the fee. Do not send cash. For circuit court records, mail to the Wayne County Clerk, 1441 St. Antoine St., Detroit, MI 48226. Allow extra time for mail requests, especially for older cases that may be stored off-site or in archives.
Michigan's MiFILE e-filing system at mifile.courts.michigan.gov/availablecourts may offer online document access for some Wayne County cases. Check the available courts list for current participation by the 19th District Court and the 3rd Circuit Court before making a trip or mailing a request.
Legal Resources for Dearborn Residents
Michigan Legal Help at michiganlegalhelp.org offers free guides on court records, expungement, and navigating the Wayne County court system. The Michigan Courts website at courts.michigan.gov has official forms and resources for self-represented litigants. The State Bar of Michigan's Lawyer Referral Service at (800) 968-0738 can connect you with a licensed attorney in Wayne County.
Dearborn has a significant Arabic-speaking community, and legal aid resources in the area include ACCESS (Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services), which provides a range of social and legal assistance to residents in need. Michigan Legal Help also has some multilingual guides available. For expungement under Michigan's Clean Slate law, check the eligibility criteria at Michigan Legal Help to see if a conviction can be set aside.
Wayne County Criminal Court Records
Dearborn is in Wayne County. Felony cases from Dearborn go to the Wayne County 3rd Circuit Court in Detroit. The county page has full details on the circuit court, county clerk's office, and how to access the complete range of Wayne County criminal court records.
Nearby Cities
These cities near Dearborn in Wayne County also have criminal court records pages on this site.