Presque Isle County Criminal Court Records

Presque Isle County criminal court records are kept at the County Clerk's office in Rogers City, Michigan. The 53rd Circuit Court handles felony cases while the 89th District Court covers misdemeanors and lesser charges. You can search these records online through state tools, request them by mail, or go to the courthouse in person to find the case files you need.

Presque Isle County Clerk and Court Contact

The Presque Isle County Clerk's office is the right place to start when you need criminal court records. County Clerk Darrin Darga runs the office at 151 E. Huron Ave. in Rogers City. Staff can look up cases by name or case number and help you get the documents you need. The office is open weekdays during normal business hours, so plan ahead if you are driving from out of town.

Both the 53rd Circuit Court and the 89th District Court operate out of the same county courthouse. If you need felony case records, the circuit court is the right place. Misdemeanor and traffic criminal records go through the district court. The clerk can point you in the right direction when you arrive, or you can call ahead to confirm which court holds the case you are looking for.

The Presque Isle County Clerk's website has contact information and details about record requests for criminal court cases in Rogers City.

53rd Circuit Court Criminal Cases

The 53rd Circuit Court covers Presque Isle County and is the primary court for felony criminal matters. Serious charges like assault, drug felonies, home invasion, and other major offenses all go through this court. When a felony case ends in a plea or goes to trial, the full case file stays at the circuit court level. These records include the charging documents, motions, judgments of sentence, and any probation orders.

Criminal records at the circuit court are public under Michigan Court Rules, specifically MCR 8.119, with certain exceptions for sealed cases or records involving minors. You do not need to be a party to the case to request copies. The court is part of Michigan's broader circuit court system, and the clerk's office can confirm which cases are accessible and which portions may be restricted by court order.

The 53rd Circuit Court page on the Presque Isle County website explains what types of cases are handled and how the court is organized.

Note: Court case records are not subject to Michigan's FOIA. You must request them directly from the court clerk under court rules, not through the county's FOIA coordinator.

How to Search Presque Isle County Criminal Records

The best free online tool for searching Presque Isle County criminal court records is MiCOURT. This is the state's official case search system. You can search by party name, case number, or attorney. Results show case status, docket entries, and upcoming hearing dates. Not every case appears online, but MiCOURT covers a broad range of courts and is the first place to check.

In-person searches at the clerk's office in Rogers City are the most thorough option. You can view the full case file and request certified copies on the spot. Bring the name of the party involved, an approximate year, and a case number if you have it. The clerk's staff will search the records and let you know what is available and how much copies will cost before processing your request.

For mail requests, send a written request to PO Box 110, Rogers City, MI 49779. Include the full name of the person, approximate case date, the type of record you need, and your contact information so the clerk can follow up on the fee amount. Allow extra time for older cases that may need to be retrieved from storage.

Fees for Criminal Court Records in Presque Isle County

Presque Isle County follows standard Michigan court copy fees. Plain copies of court records cost $1.00 per page. Certified copies run $10.00 plus the per-page fee, so a five-page certified document would cost $15.00 total. If the clerk's office must spend significant time searching for a case without a case number, a search fee based on staff time may apply under MCL 15.234.

For mail requests, the clerk will send you an invoice or call you before processing. Payment by check or money order is accepted for mail requests. Call the clerk at (989) 734-3288 to ask about the fee for a specific request before mailing a check. In-person requests can often be paid the same day.

Note: Fee waivers for indigent requesters may be available. A written affidavit of indigency may qualify you to have the first $20.00 of fees waived. Ask the clerk's office about this when you contact them.

Online Tools for Presque Isle County Records

Michigan provides several state-level tools for accessing criminal records. MiCOURT at micourt.courts.michigan.gov gives you free basic case information. The Michigan Courts homepage at courts.michigan.gov has guides on how to access records and explains the court structure. For e-filed cases, check the MiFILE available courts list to see if Presque Isle County courts participate.

The Michigan State Police ICHAT tool at michigan.gov/ichat lets you run a name-based criminal history search for $10.00. This is different from a court records search. ICHAT shows arrest and conviction data from participating agencies across Michigan and is useful when you want a broader picture rather than records tied to a specific case. You must register and pay online before running a search.

The 89th District Court handles misdemeanor and lesser criminal cases in Presque Isle County, with records maintained at the Rogers City courthouse.

FOIA vs. Court Record Requests

There is a clear line between FOIA requests and court record requests in Michigan. Under MCL 15.231, Michigan's Freedom of Information Act covers records held by government agencies in their administrative role. Court case files, though, are governed by Michigan Court Rules, particularly MCR 8.119. This means you cannot use a FOIA request to get a criminal case file from the Presque Isle County courts. You must go directly to the clerk's office and ask for the records under the court rules.

The distinction matters in practice. If you need a police report from the Presque Isle County Sheriff's office, that is a FOIA matter with the sheriff's department. If you need the court record from a criminal prosecution, that goes to the clerk's office. Open investigation files are generally exempt from FOIA, while closed case records at the court are often public. When in doubt, call the clerk's office and explain what you are looking for. They can tell you quickly which office handles your type of request.

For MSP FOIA requests, the Michigan State Police portal is at michigan.gov/msp/services/foia. These requests cover state police records, not local court files. The MSP Records Resource Section can be reached at (517) 241-1934 for questions about the process.

Legal Help and Resources

Michigan Legal Help at michiganlegalhelp.org is a free site that covers court procedures, how to request records, and how to handle common legal situations in Michigan courts. It is maintained by a nonprofit and applies to all 83 counties, including Presque Isle. If you are trying to understand what is in a criminal file or how to navigate the court system, this is a good place to start.

Under MCL 28.241a, Michigan defines criminal history records as government records containing personal descriptors along with felony and misdemeanor arrests, charges, and convictions. Knowing this definition can help when you write a records request and need to describe exactly what you are looking for. The clerk's office and state agencies use this language when processing requests.

Cities in Presque Isle County

Presque Isle County is a rural county in northeastern Michigan along Lake Huron. The county seat is Rogers City, which is the location of the courthouse. No cities in Presque Isle County meet the population threshold for a dedicated page on this site. All criminal cases in the county go through the 53rd Circuit Court or the 89th District Court in Rogers City.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Presque Isle County. If you need records from a neighboring area or are not sure which county handled your case, check the county where the charge was filed.