Find Criminal Records in Sterling Heights
Sterling Heights criminal court records are maintained by the 41-A District Court on Dodge Park Road and the Macomb County 16th Circuit Court for felony matters. Sterling Heights is one of the largest cities in Macomb County with a population over 130,000. You can search criminal cases online through MiCOURT, visit the district court in person, or submit a written records request. This page explains how to find court case files, police records, and public criminal records in Sterling Heights.
Sterling Heights Overview
Courts Handling Sterling Heights Criminal Cases
The 41-A District Court at 40111 Dodge Park Rd. is the primary court for criminal matters in Sterling Heights. It handles misdemeanor cases, traffic offenses, civil infractions, and the early stages of felony cases including arraignment and preliminary examination. The court's phone number is (586) 446-2500. Misdemeanor cases are fully resolved at this court. Felony cases, after the preliminary exam, move to the Macomb County 16th Circuit Court.
Sterling Heights is in Macomb County. The 16th Circuit Court, located in Mount Clemens at 40 N. Main St., handles all felony trials from Sterling Heights. The Macomb County Clerk's Office at macombgov.org maintains records for circuit court criminal cases. The city's main website is at sterling-heights.net.
| District Court | 41-A District Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 40111 Dodge Park Rd., Sterling Heights, MI 48313 |
| Phone | (586) 446-2500 |
| Circuit Court | Macomb County 16th Circuit Court |
| Circuit Location | 40 N. Main St., Mount Clemens, MI 48043 |
| City Website | sterling-heights.net |
41-A District Court Criminal Records
The 41-A District Court handles misdemeanor criminal cases and civil infractions in Sterling Heights. Misdemeanor offenses carry penalties up to one year in jail and fines. Common case types include OWI, domestic assault, petty theft, and drug possession. All criminal cases in Sterling Heights, including felonies, begin at the 41-A District Court for arraignment.
Court records at the 41-A District Court are public under Michigan Court Rules MCR 8.119, except for sealed or restricted files. You can request copies from the clerk's office in person or by mail. The file for each case typically contains the complaint, bond order, pretrial notes, plea information, and sentencing records. For felony cases that have moved to circuit court, you would need to contact the Macomb County Clerk for those records.
The Sterling Heights Police Records Bureau at (586) 446-2805 handles requests for police reports. That office is separate from the court clerk and handles FOIA requests for law enforcement records.
How to Search Sterling Heights Criminal Court Records
The MiCOURT system at micourt.courts.michigan.gov/case-search/ is the state's free online case search tool. It covers the 41-A District Court and the Macomb County 16th Circuit Court. You can search by person name, case number, or attorney. The system shows case status, party names, and docket activity. This is the fastest way to check if a case exists and see basic information without visiting the courthouse.
For full records or certified copies, visit the 41-A District Court clerk's office at 40111 Dodge Park Rd. Bring the case number or the full legal name of the person you are searching. Staff can locate the case and prepare copies. The standard copy fee is about $1.00 per page. Certified copies cost more. You can also send a written request by mail with a check for the estimated copy fee.
The Sterling Heights city website at sterling-heights.net has links to city departments, police contacts, and information about city services and public records.
Sterling Heights Police Records and FOIA
Police records from the Sterling Heights Police Department, including incident reports and arrest records, are available under Michigan's Freedom of Information Act, MCL 15.231. Submit a FOIA request to the Police Records Bureau at (586) 446-2805. You can also mail or hand-deliver a written request to the police department at 40333 Dodge Park Rd., Sterling Heights, MI 48313.
Michigan FOIA law requires a response within 5 business days, with a possible 10-day extension. Copy fees run between $0.10 and $1.00 per page plus labor. Low-income requesters can seek a fee waiver under MCL 15.234 by submitting a DIR-103 Affidavit of Indigency. The first $20 in fees is waived for qualifying individuals.
Note: Police records and court records are two different things. Court case records governed by MCR 8.119 must be requested from the 41-A District Court clerk, not the police department.
For state-level law enforcement records, use the Michigan State Police FOIA portal at michigan.gov/msp/services/foia.
Court Record Fees and Request Process
The 41-A District Court charges standard copy fees of around $1.00 per page. Certified copies require an additional fee. Call (586) 446-2500 to confirm the current fee schedule before you visit or mail a request. Payment can be made in person by cash, check, or money order. Ask about credit card options when you call.
For ICHAT statewide criminal history searches through the Michigan State Police, the fee is $10 per name search at michigan.gov/ichat. You register online, pay by card, and get results right away. ICHAT covers statewide arrest and conviction data, including Sterling Heights cases reported to the state police database. This is a useful supplement to a court case search, not a replacement for it.
Legal Help in Sterling Heights
Michigan Legal Help at michiganlegalhelp.org has free guides on criminal records, expungement under Michigan's Clean Slate laws, and how to navigate district and circuit courts. The site explains what records are public, how to request them, and how to dispute errors in criminal history data.
The Michigan Courts site at courts.michigan.gov has official forms and general information about the court system. Legal aid organizations in Macomb County may also provide free or low-cost help to residents who qualify. For e-filing information, see the MiFILE available courts list at mifile.courts.michigan.gov/availablecourts.
Macomb County Criminal Court Records
Sterling Heights is in Macomb County. Felony cases from Sterling Heights go to the Macomb County 16th Circuit Court. The county page has more on the circuit court, the county clerk, and how to access the full range of Macomb County criminal records.
Nearby Cities
Other nearby cities in Macomb County and the metro area also have criminal court records pages.