Alpena County Criminal Court Records

Alpena County criminal court records are kept at the County Clerk's office on West Chisholm Street in Alpena, Michigan. The 26th Circuit Court handles felony cases for both Alpena and Montmorency counties. You can access Alpena County criminal records through MiCOURT online, by visiting the courthouse in person, or by sending a written request to the clerk's office.

Where to Find Alpena County Criminal Court Records

The Alpena County Clerk's office on West Chisholm Street is where you go for criminal court records. The clerk handles filings and record requests for the Circuit Court and other local courts. Staff can look up cases by name or number and provide copies on request. The county government website at alpenacounty.org has additional contact information and department links.

Felony criminal cases go through the 26th Circuit Court, which covers both Alpena and Montmorency counties. The Circuit Court phone is (989) 354-9573. Misdemeanor and traffic cases are handled by the local District Court. If your case involves a felony, call the Circuit Court directly for the most accurate information on where to find the file.

The Alpena County government website provides access to clerk office contacts, court information, and department resources for criminal court records.

26th Circuit Court

The 26th Circuit Court is a shared circuit that covers both Alpena County and Montmorency County. All felony criminal cases from both counties go through this court. The court is located in Alpena and handles everything from arraignments and preliminary exams to jury trials and sentencing. If you are looking for a felony case from either county, this is the right court.

Circuit court criminal case records include the information or indictment, all motions filed by the prosecution or defense, transcripts from key hearings, plea agreements, and the judgment of sentence. These records are public under MCR 8.119 unless a judge has ordered them sealed. Older case files may be in storage and can take extra time to retrieve, so call ahead if you are requesting records from several years ago.

The Alpena County website has a dedicated page for the 26th Judicial Circuit Court with court information, staff contacts, and filing details.

How to Search Alpena County Criminal Court Records

The fastest way to start is with MiCOURT. This free state system searches participating courts by party name, case number, or attorney name. For Alpena County, MiCOURT often shows 26th Circuit Court cases with docket entries and basic case details. You can see charge information, case status, and upcoming hearings without having to visit the courthouse.

In-person access is available at the Alpena County Courthouse on West Chisholm Street. The clerk's staff can pull case files, make copies, and assist with certified document requests. Bring the defendant's full name or the case number if you have it. Mail requests are also accepted at the clerk's office address.

Note: Some older records may not appear in MiCOURT. For cases from more than a few years back, an in-person or mail request to the clerk is often more reliable than relying only on the online system.

MiCOURT is the free Michigan state case search system where you can look up Alpena County criminal court records by name or case number.

Record Request Fees and Procedures

Alpena County follows standard Michigan copy fee practices. Call the clerk's office at (989) 354-9520 to confirm current fees before submitting a request. Standard copy fees are typically around $1.00 per page, and certified copies carry an additional certification fee on top of that. For searches where the clerk must locate a case without a case number, a search fee may also apply.

For mail requests, write to the Alpena County Clerk at 720 W. Chisholm Street, Alpena, MI 49707. Include the full name of the person in the case, the approximate date or year, and what type of records you need. The clerk will let you know the total cost before processing. Payment is typically accepted by check or money order. In-person requests can often be completed the same day for recent cases.

Online Case Search Tools

MiCOURT at micourt.courts.michigan.gov is the state's primary free case search tool. Alpena County Circuit Court records are often included. The system is available 24/7 and does not require registration. You can search by party name or case number and see docket entries, hearing dates, and basic charge information.

For criminal history background checks, the Michigan State Police ICHAT system at michigan.gov/ichat provides name-based searches of the statewide criminal history database. This costs $10 per search and covers arrests and convictions from agencies across Michigan, not just Alpena County.

The MiFILE system at mifile.courts.michigan.gov handles electronic filing. Some Alpena County courts may participate. You can check the full list of available courts on the MiFILE site to see what is accessible online for this county.

FOIA and Court Record Access in Alpena County

A common question is whether you can use a FOIA request to get criminal court records in Alpena County. The answer is no, for the case files themselves. Under Michigan's FOIA law at MCL 15.231, court case records are specifically excluded because they are governed by MCR 8.119 instead. You must request those directly from the court clerk.

FOIA does apply to other county records. Administrative records, meeting minutes, budget documents, and non-court law enforcement records can be requested through FOIA. Contact the Alpena County Clerk's office to find the right FOIA coordinator for the agency you need. Under state law, the agency must respond within five business days and can extend that by ten more days for complex requests.

If you need state police records or a criminal history search, use the MSP FOIA portal at michigan.gov/msp/services/foia for MSP-specific files, or ICHAT for a general criminal history check.

Legal Resources for Alpena County

Michigan Legal Help at michiganlegalhelp.org has free resources for anyone navigating criminal court records in Michigan. The site explains the difference between court records and government records, how to make requests, and what to expect from the process. It covers all Michigan counties and is especially useful for people who are not familiar with the court system.

The Michigan State Police Records Resource Section can be reached at (517) 241-1934 for questions about criminal history records maintained at the state level. For MSP FOIA requests, use the online portal at michigan.gov/msp/services/foia.

Under MCL 28.241a, Michigan defines criminal history records broadly to include both felony and misdemeanor arrests, charges, and convictions along with personal identifiers. This is the type of record you can search through ICHAT or request from the MSP.

Cities in Alpena County

Alpena County is located on the northeastern shore of the Lower Peninsula. The county seat of Alpena does not have a dedicated city page on this site; criminal court records for residents of Alpena and surrounding areas are handled through the Alpena County pages. All felony cases go through the 26th Circuit Court at the Alpena County Courthouse on West Chisholm Street.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Alpena County. The 26th Circuit Court also serves Montmorency County, so check there for cases from that area.