Criminal Court Records in Ontonagon County
Ontonagon County criminal court records are kept at the county courthouse in Ontonagon and can be requested in person, by mail, or by email through the County Clerk's office. This page explains how to access criminal case filings, get copies of court documents, and use online tools to search for records in Ontonagon County.
Ontonagon County Overview
Ontonagon County Clerk and Circuit Court
The Ontonagon County Clerk and Register of Deeds is Stacy C. Preiss. The office is at the Ontonagon County Courthouse, 725 Greenland Road, Ontonagon, MI 49953. You can reach the clerk by phone at (906) 884-4255 or by email at spreiss@ontonagoncounty.org. The Circuit Court Clerk is Jerri Corey, reachable at jcorey@ontonagoncounty.org. Both contacts are available for criminal record requests in Ontonagon County.
Ontonagon County is in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, on the shores of Lake Superior. It is one of the least populated counties in the state. Court operations here are smaller in scale than in southern Michigan counties. Staff handle record requests directly, so calling or emailing ahead is usually the most efficient approach. The county website is at ontonagoncounty.org and the specific clerk page is at ontonagoncounty.org/county-offices/county-clerk-register-of-deeds/.
For mail requests, write to: Ontonagon County Clerk, 725 Greenland Rd, Ontonagon, MI 49953. Include the case name or number, the approximate year, and the documents you need. Attach a check or money order for the fees.
| Address | 725 Greenland Road, Ontonagon, MI 49953 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (906) 884-4255 |
| Clerk Email | spreiss@ontonagoncounty.org |
| Circuit Court Clerk | Jerri Corey / jcorey@ontonagoncounty.org |
Circuit Court Criminal Cases in Ontonagon County
Ontonagon County is served by the 32nd Judicial Circuit, which it shares with Gogebic County. The Circuit Court handles all felony criminal cases filed in Ontonagon County. When a felony case is filed, the court generates a public record that includes the charging documents, court orders, plea records, and the final judgment. Under MCR 8.119, these records are open to the public unless sealed by a judge.
District Court in Ontonagon County handles misdemeanor cases, civil infractions, and the early stages of felony proceedings before they transfer to the Circuit Court. If you are looking for a lower-level criminal case or an arraignment record, contact the District Court. For felony case records and post-conviction documents, the Circuit Court files are your source.
Michigan's criminal history records are defined by MCL 28.241a and include arrests, charges, and convictions. Court records and criminal history records overlap but are maintained separately. Criminal history comes from law enforcement; court records come from the clerk's office. Both may be relevant when researching a case in Ontonagon County.
Searching Ontonagon County Criminal Records
For in-person access, visit the courthouse at 725 Greenland Road in Ontonagon during regular business hours. Bring the name of the subject and any case information you have. The clerk's staff can search by name or case number. Because Ontonagon County is small and remote, calling ahead at (906) 884-4255 or emailing the clerk before your visit is a good idea. It saves a trip if the records you need require a special request.
Online, the statewide MiCOURT tool at micourt.courts.michigan.gov/case-search/ is your best starting point. It is free and covers courts across Michigan including the Upper Peninsula. Search by name or case number to get basic case information. MiCOURT does not show full case documents, but it confirms what is on file before you make a formal request.
The Ontonagon County government website at ontonagoncounty.org provides court and clerk information for criminal case record requests in the Upper Peninsula county.
The Ontonagon County Clerk and Register of Deeds page has contact details for both the county clerk and the circuit court clerk for criminal case inquiries.
Fees and Procedures for Court Records
Ontonagon County follows Michigan's standard court record fee schedule. Copy fees vary by document type and whether you need a certified or plain copy. Certified copies are required when you need legal proof of a court order. Standard copies work for personal research. Call (906) 884-4255 or email the clerk to confirm current fees before you send payment.
For mail requests, send a check or money order made payable to the Ontonagon County Clerk. Include your full mailing address, the case name or number, the approximate year, and the exact documents you are requesting. A self-addressed stamped envelope helps speed up the return. For email requests, send your request to spreiss@ontonagoncounty.org and ask about payment options, since some remote offices accept money orders only.
Note: Fee waivers are available for qualifying indigent requesters under MCL 15.234 for FOIA-related requests. For court record copies under MCR 8.119, ask the clerk about their specific waiver process.
Online Tools for Ontonagon Criminal Records
The primary online resource for Ontonagon County criminal records is MiCOURT at micourt.courts.michigan.gov/case-search/. This free statewide tool covers Michigan courts including those in the Upper Peninsula. You can search by name or case number and see basic case data without registering or paying. If MiCOURT does not show the case you need, the records may be older or not yet in the system, in which case an in-person or mail request to the clerk is the next step.
Michigan State Police ICHAT at michigan.gov/ichat provides a name-based criminal history search across all of Michigan for $10 per search. This is useful when you want to know about someone's criminal record statewide, not just in Ontonagon County. You need to register and pay by card. ICHAT covers arrests and convictions from agencies that report to the MSP criminal history system.
MiFILE at mifile.courts.michigan.gov/availablecourts shows which Michigan courts accept electronic filings. Check whether Ontonagon County's courts are listed for your case type before attempting to file online. Smaller UP counties may have limited e-filing availability.
FOIA and Court Records in Ontonagon County
Court records and FOIA records are different things. Criminal court case files in Ontonagon County are governed by MCR 8.119 and are requested from the clerk. Michigan's FOIA law under MCL 15.231 covers records held by other county and state agencies, not the court itself. If you need a police report from the Ontonagon County Sheriff's office, that is a FOIA request sent to the sheriff, not the clerk.
The 5-business-day FOIA response window applies to county agency requests under MCL 15.231. The agency can extend by 10 days for complex requests. FOIA copy fees range from $0.10 to $1.00 per page. For Michigan State Police records, use the portal at michigan.gov/msp/services/foia. That portal handles MSP-held records specifically, not local county law enforcement records.
Michigan Legal Help at michiganlegalhelp.org explains both FOIA and court record access in plain language. It is a reliable free resource for people researching criminal cases in Ontonagon County.
Legal Help in Ontonagon County
Residents of Ontonagon County looking for legal guidance on criminal matters can use several free resources. Michigan Legal Help at michiganlegalhelp.org is the best starting point. It has guides on criminal records, expungement, and court procedures that are specifically written for Michigan residents without legal experience.
The Michigan Courts website at courts.michigan.gov lists legal aid organizations by county. Legal aid groups sometimes cover large geographic areas in the Upper Peninsula and may serve Ontonagon County. Call the clerk's office for referrals to local legal help as well. For MSP FOIA requests, use michigan.gov/msp/services/foia. For e-filing options, check mifile.courts.michigan.gov.
Cities in Ontonagon County
Ontonagon is the county seat and the main community in Ontonagon County. All criminal cases filed in the county go through the 32nd Circuit Court at the Ontonagon County Courthouse. No cities in Ontonagon County meet the population threshold for individual city pages on this site.
Nearby Counties
Ontonagon County borders these Upper Peninsula counties. If a case was filed in a nearby jurisdiction, use the links below to find that county's court resources.