Michigan Inmate Search

Michigan Inmate Search is a process that allows individuals to search for information online on inmates currently incarcerated in state prisons.

The Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) maintains the state inmate search database. It collects and updates the information in the database regularly to provide accurate and up-to-date information to the public.

The department's goal is to provide transparency and accountability to the public by making information about inmates in their custody accessible to the public. The inmate search database is part of the department's efforts to promote public safety and reduce recidivism by providing information to victims, families, and the public.

When you perform an inmate search in Michigan, you can find several types of information about the inmate, including:

The inmate's full name, MDOC number, date of birth, and other identifying information
The facility where the inmate is currently housed, along with the facility's address and phone number
Conviction and sentence
Parole and probation status
Disciplinary record
Visiting information

In some cases, the MDOC may limit the information in the inmate search database to protect the privacy and safety of the inmate, their family members, or others involved in the case.

Furthermore, the online database may experience technical issues, such as server downtime or slow loading times, impacting the system's ability to access and use.

What Are Michigan Inmate Records?

Michigan Inmate Records are official and comprehensive documents that contain information about individuals incarcerated within the state.

All Michigan law enforcement branches compile inmate records, including municipal police officers, sheriff's deputies, federal agents, and corrections officers.

The MDOC stores and manages all inmate records and makes them accessible online so that friends, relatives, and the general public may quickly do an inmate search.

It is preferable to get a Michigan Inmate Record instead of performing an online inmate search if you want complete information about an offender in the state.

When you request these records, it can typically give you any of the following:

Inmate's personal information and physical description like height and weight
Arrest and conviction information
Incarceration details like custody status, place of confinement, and release date
The disciplinary actions against the inmate while incarcerated
Educational and vocational programs the inmate participated in while incarcerated
Crime details
Court dates
Sentencing information
Mugshot
Fingerprints
DNA samples
Evidence such as audio and video recordings
Police reports
Information about warrants
Trial records
Visitation and contact information for the inmate's approved visitors

Michigan Inmate Records are public records, which means they are accessible to the public under the state's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). However, sensitive information, such as the inmate's medical or mental health records, is only accessible to authorized persons.

What Are Michigan Prison and Jail Records?

In Michigan, there are differences between prisons and jails.

The state, represented by the MDOC, runs the prisons that house individuals convicted of more serious crimes, typically felonies. In contrast, local county governments, specifically the county sheriff's departments, operate jails that detain individuals awaiting sentencing, trial, or transfer to a prison or other correctional facility.

In most cases, prisons in Michigan hold individuals sentenced to more than one year of imprisonment. In comparison, jails have individuals sentenced to less than one year in a correctional facility.

Another critical difference between prisons and jails in Michigan is the level of security. Prisons typically have higher levels of security than jails, with measures such as razor wire, security cameras, and armed guards.

Jails may have some security measures in place, but they are generally temporary holding facilities and may not have the same level of security as prisons.

Nonetheless, here are some statistical data you should learn about Michigan Prison and Jail Records:

In Michigan, 95% of convicts are male, and only 5% are female.
State and municipal government correctional spending in Michigan grew by 219% between 1979-1980 and 2012-2013, from $761M to $2.4B.
Michigan's prison population declined by 18% between 2007 and 2016.

Check this report to learn more about Michigan Prison and Jail Records.

What Are the Types of Prisons and Jails in Michigan?

Knowing the state's penal system is essential for a successful Michigan Inmate Search. Here's what you should learn about the different types of correctional facilities in Michigan:

Michigan State Prisons

The diversified inmate population of Michigan necessitates the construction of several state prisons. Each has a distinct demography, security level, and purpose.

The level of security in Michigan state prisons can be as maximum, medium, and minimum.

The maximum level of security has the highest level of protection, including secure perimeters and highly trained staff. In contrast, the minimum has less restrictive security measures and may allow inmates to participate in work-release or other community programs.

Medium-security prisons have fewer security measures than maximum-security facilities but still, have secure perimeters and other safety protocols.

Some state prisons in Michigan provide specialized care for inmates who have mental health, medical, or other special needs. They may have higher levels of staffing and specialized treatment programs.

Other facilities provide a highly disciplined, military-style environment for young, first-time offenders. They focus on discipline, physical fitness, and education.

Furthermore, some facilities house female inmates and may provide specialized services such as parenting classes, prenatal care, and substance abuse treatment.

As of 2023, there are 27 active state prisons in Michigan. You can use this Prisons page of MDOC to locate them.

Michigan Federal Prisons

The Federal Bureau of Prisons (FBOP) operates Michigan federal prisons that house individuals convicted of federal crimes and sentenced to serve time in a federal correctional facility.

In addition to incarceration, federal prisons offer education and other resources to convicts suffering from drug addiction and mental illness.

As of 2023, there are two federal prisons in Michigan, and these are:

It's important to note that the number and location of federal prisons can change over time, as the FBOP regularly adjusts the inmate population and the facilities used to house them.

Michigan County Jails

Michigan county jails are correctional facilities operated at the county level in the state. These facilities house recently arrested suspects awaiting bail, pretrial detainees, and convicts sentenced to short periods.

In addition to housing inmates, Michigan county jails may offer various services and programs, such as educational and vocational training, drug and alcohol treatment, and mental health counseling. These programs help inmates develop the skills they need to reintegrate into society upon their release successfully.

As of 2020, Michigan has 88 jails in 83 counties. Note that this number may have changed since then. The MDOC has been collecting data and generating reports from each local county jail for many years. Thus, you can contact the department to get the updated list of operating county jails in Michigan.

Each county jail is run by the local police or sheriff's office. Several of the local counties and sheriff's offices have their websites, making it simple to contact them.

Michigan Juvenile Detention Centers

Michigan juvenile detention centers, administered by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, hold minors awaiting trial or sentencing in the juvenile justice system, serving a sentence, and those adjudicated delinquents.

These detention centers in Michigan offer various services, including education, counseling, and medical care, to help address juvenile needs while in detention.

As of 2023, there are two juvenile detention centers in Michigan, and these are:

How To Perform Inmate Search in Michigan?

The Michigan Inmate Search tool operated by MDOC is called Offender Tracking Information System (OTIS). It contains information on felons and misdemeanants who are or were under MDOC supervision.

You can find information on inmates, probationers, and parolees within three years of their supervised release on this system. OTIS will not give information on offenders released over three years.

When using this system, enter the person's name, MDOC number, sex, race, age, offender status, or any marks or tattoos.

Note that you can only use OTIS to find inmates in state prisons administered by MDOC. It means you must employ different methods when looking for information on inmates housed in federal prisons, county jails, and juvenile detention centers.

If the inmate is in federal prison, you can check the FBOP inmate search. You can also contact or visit the facility website to ask for inmate information.

If you want information from an inmate in county jail, you can call the sheriff's office directly or visit their website and look for a search option or a roster of current inmates.

Details about inmates in juvenile detention centers are not available to the general public. Therefore, an internet search is not feasible. Juvenile records in Michigan are confidential and sealed until a convict reaches the age of 18.

But suppose you are one of the inmate's friends, family members, or an authorized person. In that case, you can get information from the juvenile inmate in Michigan by calling either of the two facilities listed above.

How To Contact an Inmate in Michigan?

You can contact an inmate in Michigan state prisons through electronic messages, traditional mail, and telephone calls.

You can send electronic messages to prisoners using JPay. The MDOC will enable inbound electronic communication to convicts from family members and anyone with a JPay account.

After creating an account, you must pay "stamps" or get a JPay subscription to send electronic communications to inmates.

The prisoner will get your message through a kiosk in their housing unit. They can also respond with up to 75 responses by buying "electronic stamps" from the kiosk using JPay. Inmates must pay a small fee if they want printed copies of the electronic messages.

You can also mail letters, cards, and photos to inmates in Michigan prisons. You will need to address the envelope with the inmate's full name, their MDOC number, the name of the housing facility, and the facility's address.

Lastly, inmates in state prisons can make outbound collect and prepaid calls via an authorized third-party provider. They can have up to 20 persons on their approved numbers list, which they can update quarterly.

Michigan's phone service provider is the Public Communications Services (PCS), run by Global *Tel Link (GTL). You can open an AdvancePay GTL account by calling 1-855-466-2832 or visiting their website.

Once you have created an account, the service will charge you a call fee plus a per-minute rate. If interested, you can significantly minimize your inmate phone expense by setting up an account using a local facility number.

The methods used in contacting an inmate in a state prison in Michigan are comparable to other types of correctional facilities in the state. Still, it is best to visit the website of the in-charge facility or contact the staff to get accurate communication rules and procedures.

How To Visit an Inmate in Michigan?

Before visiting an inmate in a state prison, you must use the Michigan Inmate Search OTIS to verify that the inmate is presently incarcerated at that institution.

Once confirmed, ask the MDOC to include you or any family member on the visiting list of the prisoner. You can request by completing and submitting a visiting application form in a self-addressed stamped envelope.

Each inmate in Michigan state prisons can have up to ten people, mostly immediate family members, on their visiting list form.

Once approved as one of the official visitors of the inmate, you can visit convicts during the visitation days and hours set by the MDOC for each institution. Though ten visitors are on the list, up to only five visitors at once may visit the inmate, not counting children under two.

Before visiting a Michigan state prison inmate, read MDOC visiting standards for complete visitation rules and regulations.

Other correctional facility types in Michigan have different rules and schedules for inmate visitation. Thus, it is best to check the county sheriff's official website (county jail inmates) and facility websites (federal prison and juvenile detention center inmates) for specific visiting rules.

How To Send Money to an Inmate in Michigan?

You can send money to an inmate in Michigan primarily through a third-party fund processing company, GTL Financial Services.

Here are your four options for sending money to a prisoner in Michigan:

Kiosk Deposit

With a small transaction fee, you can deposit money to an inmate funds account by visiting certain institutions with GTL kiosks.

Using a kiosk to send money to an inmate is as simple as using an ATM.

Online Deposit

Online deposit is the most convenient way of sending money to an inmate in Michigan. With a debit or credit card, you can fund an inmate's account online via GTL ConnectNetwork. Depositing money online also incurs a fee.

Phone Deposit

Another option to send money to an inmate's account is phoning GTL at 888-988-4768. Like other methods, you must pay a fee to transfer the money.

Mail Deposit

The cheapest but most extended method of transferring cash to an inmate in Michigan is through mail deposit.

You need a money order payable to GTL Financial Services and a completed deposit form to deposit money through the mail. Mail the money order and deposit form to the GTL lockbox address.

GTL does not charge a fee for processing money orders issued to Michigan prisoners, but your money order deposit is limited to $300.

Note that sending money to a prisoner is not feasible without the information from the Michigan Inmate Search OTIS. This information includes the inmate's name, current location, and MDOC number.

Other types of correctional facilities in Michigan may utilize different or multiple companies to handle inmate money deposits. Check the appropriate facility website to learn how to send money to a specific inmate.

But most of these facilities allow credit card and cash deposits at lobby kiosks, online, and over the phone. Some also let relatives and friends mail money orders and cheques.

Counties in Michigan

List of Content

What Are Michigan Inmate Records?
What Are Michigan Prison and Jail Records?
1. What Are the Types of Prisons and Jails in Michigan?
How To Perform Inmate Search in Michigan?
How To Contact an Inmate in Michigan?
How To Visit an Inmate in Michigan?
How To Send Money to an Inmate in Michigan?