Clinton County Criminal Court Records

Clinton County criminal court records are maintained by the County Clerk in St. Johns, Michigan. The 29th Circuit Court handles felony criminal cases for the county, while the 65A District Court handles misdemeanor matters and arraignments. Clinton County offers both online case search tools and in-person access at the courthouse. You can look up criminal court records through the county's case inquiry system, through MiCOURT, or by contacting the clerk's office directly at (989) 224-5102.

Clinton County Clerk and Court Contacts

The Clinton County Clerk's office is at 100 E. State Street, Suite 2600, in St. Johns. The main number is (989) 224-5102. For circuit court-specific matters, call (989) 224-5140. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Staff handle records for both the 29th Circuit Court and the 65A District Court.

The 29th Circuit Court covers both Clinton and Gratiot counties. Judges alternate between the two counties. Felony criminal cases in Clinton County are handled here, and the full case file is kept by the clerk's office. The 65A District Court at the same address handles misdemeanor criminal cases, civil infractions, and the first stages of felony proceedings. That court's criminal division can be reached by email at DCCriminal@clinton-county.org.

How to Search Clinton County Criminal Court Records

Clinton County provides its own online case inquiry tools. For circuit court cases, use the Circuit Court Case Inquiry at clinton-county.org/306/Circuit-Court-Case-Inquiry. For district court cases, use the District Court inquiry at clinton-county.org/496/Court-Case-Inquiry. Both tools let you search by name or case number and see basic case status and docket information.

You can also use MiCOURT for a statewide search that includes Clinton County courts. MiCOURT is free and shows party names, hearing dates, and case status across Michigan courts.

For in-person access, visit the Clinton County Courthouse at 100 E. State Street in St. Johns. Bring a case number or full name of the party. Mail requests are also accepted; include a self-addressed stamped envelope and payment when submitting by mail.

The Clinton County Clerk's Office page at clinton-county.org has links to court records search tools, contact information, and records request procedures.

Copy Fees for Clinton County Court Records

Clinton County has a tiered fee structure for paper copies. The first 10 pages cost $2.00 per page. After that, additional pages drop to $0.50 per page. Certified copies cost $1.00 per page plus a $10.00 certification fee per document. So a ten-page certified record would run $30.00 total.

For mail requests, send a self-addressed stamped envelope along with your check or money order. Payment should be made out to Clinton County Clerk. Contact (989) 224-5102 first to get a cost estimate if you have a case number. Under MCL 15.234, indigent requesters may seek a waiver of the first $20 in fees by submitting a written affidavit of indigency.

Clinton County's Circuit Court Case Inquiry portal lets you search for criminal case records online without a visit to the courthouse.

Online Case Search Options

Clinton County has two dedicated online search tools: the circuit court inquiry and district court inquiry linked above. These cover most active and recent cases. For older cases or cases not appearing in the county tools, use MiCOURT at micourt.courts.michigan.gov as a backup. MiCOURT is the statewide system and may have records that the county tools do not show.

For criminal history background checks beyond specific case records, the Michigan State Police ICHAT tool at michigan.gov/ichat runs name-based searches for $10 each. ICHAT shows arrests and convictions from Clinton County and other agencies statewide. It is a useful supplement when you need a broader picture of someone's history rather than the details of one case.

FOIA and Court Records

Court case files in Clinton County are not subject to Michigan's Freedom of Information Act. FOIA under MCL 15.231 covers administrative government records. Criminal court case files are governed by MCR 8.119 and must be requested from the court clerk directly. A FOIA request submitted to Clinton County for court records will be denied.

For non-court records such as county agency documents or law enforcement reports not tied to a pending case, submit a FOIA request to the appropriate county department. The clerk's office can direct you to the right FOIA coordinator for the type of record you need.

Legal Resources for Clinton County

Michigan Legal Help at michiganlegalhelp.org offers free guides on court procedures and record requests for all Michigan counties, including Clinton. It has tools for people trying to understand their own records or pursue expungement under Michigan's Clean Slate law. The site also explains the difference between FOIA and court record access, which can help avoid common mistakes when making requests.

For state-level criminal history inquiries, contact the Michigan State Police at (517) 241-1934 or visit michigan.gov/msp/services/foia. Under MCL 28.241a, criminal history records include personal identifiers alongside felony and misdemeanor arrests, charges, and convictions reported to state repositories.

Cities in Clinton County

Clinton County is a largely rural county in mid-Michigan. St. Johns, the county seat, and other communities in the county do not have dedicated city pages on this site. Criminal court records for the county are handled through the 29th Circuit Court and 65A District Court in St. Johns.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Clinton County. If a case was filed in a neighboring area, check the appropriate county page.