Search Detroit Warrant Records
Detroit warrant records are held by the Detroit Police Department and the 36th District Court in Wayne County. As Michigan's largest city, Detroit processes a high volume of criminal cases and warrants each year. The 36th District Court is the busiest in the state. You can search court records through the Wayne County CJIS system or the state MiCOURT portal. The police department handles warrant checks at its main office on Woodward Avenue. This page covers all the ways to find active warrants, bench warrants, and arrest records in Detroit.
Detroit Quick Facts
Detroit Police Department Warrant Search
The Detroit Police Department is at 7310 Woodward Ave., Detroit, MI 48202. Call them at (313) 596-2200. The department is one of the largest in the Midwest. It runs its own records division that handles warrant checks for the public. Walk-in requests are taken during normal hours. You will need the full name of the person and a date of birth if you have it.
Arrest warrants in Detroit are issued by judges under MCL 764.1a. Each one needs a sworn complaint that shows probable cause. The warrant lists the charge and a command to bring the person to court. Police can serve warrants at any time. Felony warrants do not expire. Misdemeanor warrants last six years under MCL 764.1b. Any peace officer in the state can execute a warrant per MCL 764.15.
The department also processes bench warrants and civil warrants. Bench warrants come from judges when a person misses a court date or breaks a court order. Civil warrants may be tied to unpaid fines or failure to appear in civil cases. If you are unsure about a warrant, call the non-emergency line and ask the records clerk for a check.
36th District Court Records
The 36th District Court sits at 421 Madison St., Detroit, MI 48226. It is the largest district court in Michigan. The main number is (313) 965-2300. The criminal division can be reached at (313) 965-2310. For warrant questions, call (313) 965-2320. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 4:30 PM.
This court handles all misdemeanor cases in Detroit. It also does arraignments for felony cases before they move to Wayne County Circuit Court. The court processes thousands of cases each month. Clerks can pull up case records and let you know if a bench warrant is open. You can check the register of actions for any public case. It shows all the filings and hearings from start to finish.
Under MCL 764.3, a court must have good reasons for issuing a bench warrant instead of a summons. Bench warrants are common in Detroit due to the high case volume. If someone misses a court date, the judge can issue a bench warrant the same day. You should check with the clerk if you think you might have an open warrant.
Note: The 36th District Court has a separate warrants line at (313) 965-2320 for faster service on warrant questions.
Wayne County and Detroit Felony Cases
Detroit sits in Wayne County. Felony cases that start in the 36th District Court move to the Wayne County Circuit Court for trial. The circuit court handles all felony warrants after arraignment. If you are looking for a felony warrant tied to a Detroit case, check with the Wayne County Clerk's office or use the Wayne County CJIS system online.
Wayne County is the most populated county in Michigan. It covers Detroit and several other cities. The circuit court building is at 2 Woodward Ave. in Detroit. The county prosecutor files felony charges and can give info on case status. For a full look at Wayne County warrant records, see our Wayne County page.
Detroit Warrant Records Online
The MiCOURT Case Search tool is free and covers the 36th District Court. You can search by name or case number. It shows case status, charges, and hearing dates. MiCOURT does not flag active warrants directly, so you will need to look at case details to spot a failure to appear or a bench warrant entry.
The Michigan ICHAT system is run by the state police. It costs $10 per search. You need the person's full name, date of birth, race, and gender. ICHAT pulls up felony convictions and serious misdemeanors from across the state. It does not show active warrants or minor offenses. Results come back fast when there is no record on file.
The screenshot below shows the Detroit Police Department website, which has info on how to check for warrants and report crimes in the city.
You can also find links to the department's records division and contact info on their site.
The MDOC OTIS system tracks people under state corrections control. It covers current inmates, parolees, and people on probation. OTIS may show warrant info if someone violated their parole or probation terms. The tool only covers people in the MDOC system within the last three years.
Below is the 36th District Court search page, where you can look up case records for Detroit criminal and civil cases.
The court search shows docket entries and case status for all public cases filed in the 36th District Court.
FOIA Requests in Detroit
Michigan's Freedom of Information Act under MCL 15.231 gives you the right to request government records. You can file a FOIA request with the Detroit Police Department or the 36th District Court for warrant records tied to closed cases. Put your request in writing. Describe what records you want. You do not need a reason.
The agency has five business days to respond. They can take a 10-day extension for large requests. Copies cost $0.10 per page. Labor fees may apply if the search takes a lot of staff time. Active warrant records may be withheld under MCL 15.243 if release would hurt law enforcement. Records from closed cases are more likely to be released. Send your request by mail, email, or drop it off at the records office.
Warrant Types and Resolution in Detroit
Detroit courts issue several types of warrants. Arrest warrants come from a judge after a sworn complaint. Bench warrants are for missed court dates. Search warrants let police search a place for evidence. Civil warrants can come from debt cases or code violations.
Search warrants in Detroit follow MCL 780.651. A judge must find probable cause based on a sworn statement. The warrant must describe the place and what to seize. Officers have 10 days to carry out the search under MCL 780.654. After that, it expires. Returns of service are filed with the court.
To resolve an open warrant, you can turn yourself in at the 36th District Court or the Detroit Police Department. Bring a valid ID. The court may set bond or schedule a hearing. For bench warrants, some people hire a lawyer to file a motion to quash the warrant before turning themselves in. This can sometimes avoid jail time. It depends on the judge and the charge. Talk to a lawyer if you are not sure what to do.
Court records in Detroit are public under MCR 8.119. Anyone can view case files at the clerk's office. Some records are sealed by court order. Cases with minors are not open. Personal protection orders are kept private. Once a warrant is served and the case moves through court, those records open up to the public.
Nearby City Warrant Records
If you need warrant records from cities near Detroit, these pages may help. People sometimes have cases in more than one city, so it is worth checking nearby areas too.