Detroit Background Check Records
Detroit background check records come from several sources including the Detroit Police Department, Wayne County courts, and the Michigan State Police criminal history database. Detroit is Michigan's largest city with around 632,000 residents, and its records system spans multiple agencies depending on what type of record you need and how far back you're looking.
Detroit Overview
Detroit Police Department Records and Reports
The Detroit Police Department handles requests for crash reports, crime reports, and police clearances. The Records Division moved to the 3rd Precinct at 2875 W. Grand Blvd, Detroit, MI 48202. This is the main location for getting police reports in person. Services that were previously at 4700 W. Fort Street now operate from this address.
To get a crash report, you need the exact date of the accident, the cross streets where it happened, and a valid ID. Crime reports require either a 10-digit report number or a valid ID. If someone else is picking up your report, they need written consent from you, a copy of your photo ID, and their own valid ID. Both crash and crime reports cost $10.00 cash or money order. Bring the exact amount since change is not given.
Key phone numbers for the Detroit Police Department Records Division:
- Records and Reports: (313) 596-1908
- Office of Chief Investigator: (313) 596-2499
- Non-emergency line: (313) 596-5700
The DPD Identification Unit at the 3rd Precinct handles police clearances and fingerprinting services. If you need a police clearance letter for Detroit, this is where you go. The department can also help clear old arrest segments from your ICHAT record when appropriate. Visit detroitmi.gov for the most current information on records access.
The Detroit Police Department records page shows available services and how to request them online.
This page lists report types, fees, and contact details for the Records Division at the 3rd Precinct.
Search Detroit Background Check Records Online
The fastest way to run a Detroit background check is through the Michigan State Police ICHAT portal. ICHAT stands for Internet Criminal History Access Tool. It covers felonies and serious misdemeanors from all 83 Michigan counties. A search costs $10 per name and results come back right away. You need the person's full legal name and date of birth.
ICHAT does not include traffic records, juvenile records, local misdemeanors punishable by 93 days or less, suppressed records, federal cases, or out-of-state criminal history. For a broader search, you may need to check multiple systems. The tool works well for getting a quick look at Michigan-based felony and misdemeanor conviction records. More information is at michigan.gov/msp/services/chr.
Detroit's main website also provides access to city records.
Detroit's online records access is managed through the city portal at detroitmi.gov.
Wayne County Court Records for Detroit
Detroit falls under Wayne County for court records. Most criminal cases go through the 3rd Circuit Court, which handles felony cases. The Frank Murphy Hall of Justice at 1441 St. Antoine, Detroit, MI 48226 is where the Wayne County Criminal Division operates. You can call (313) 224-6262 for criminal case records from 1983 onward.
Older court records from 1942 to 1983 are held at the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center, Room LL-61, at 2 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI 48226. If you're searching for historical case records from Detroit, you may need to visit this location. Staff can help you find what you need, though older records may require more time to locate.
You can also search court cases through the Michigan Courts online case search system. This statewide tool lets you look up cases by name or case number. Under Michigan Court Rule 8.119(J), the public has the right to inspect court records during business hours at no cost. Copies carry a per-page fee under MCL 15.234.
Michigan State Police ICHAT Criminal History
Michigan's ICHAT database is maintained by the Michigan State Police Criminal Justice Information Center. For Detroit residents, this is often the first step in a background check. The system holds records reported by police agencies, prosecutors, and courts from across all 83 counties.
The Michigan State Police records page lists everything ICHAT covers and how to access it.
The MSP site at michigan.gov/msp/services/chr explains how to start a name-based or fingerprint-based criminal history search.
Fingerprint-based checks go through the Livescan system and take about 7 business days for licensing or certification purposes. For personal or immigration reasons, fingerprint checks sent by mail to the MSP take 3 to 5 weeks and cost $30. Each alias or maiden name is a separate $10 charge on ICHAT. If you need results quickly, the online ICHAT search is the better choice.
FOIA Requests in Detroit
Detroit public records not available online can be requested through the Michigan Freedom of Information Act, 1976 PA 442. You can submit a FOIA request to the Detroit Police Department, City of Detroit, or Wayne County depending on what records you need. Each agency has its own form and process.
Under Michigan FOIA law, an agency must respond within 5 business days of receiving your request. They can extend that by 10 more days with notice. Fees for copies are allowed under MCL 15.234, which lets agencies charge reasonable costs. If a request is denied, you have 180 days to appeal.
The MSP also accepts FOIA requests for state police records by email at MSPRecords@Michigan.gov or by fax at 517-241-1935. For MSP records, you can also use their online portal at michigan.gov/msp/services/foia. Online submissions carry a $2.00 processing fee.
Note: Ongoing investigations and records protected by law are exempt from FOIA disclosure.
Michigan OTIS and Sex Offender Registry
The Michigan Department of Corrections runs the Offender Tracking Information System, or OTIS, at michigan.gov/corrections. OTIS covers people currently in prison, on parole, or on probation in Michigan. It also includes those discharged within the past 3 years. Detroit has a significant portion of Michigan's correctional population, so OTIS is a useful tool when checking someone's recent supervision status.
For sex offender information, the Michigan Public Sex Offender Registry at mipsor.state.mi.us lets you search by name or by location. You can search near a specific address to see registered offenders in a Detroit neighborhood. The registry shows compliance status and conviction details.
Project Clean Slate and Record Clearing in Detroit
Michigan's Clean Slate law, passed in 2021 and expanded in 2023, allows automatic sealing of certain convictions after 7 years for misdemeanors and 10 years for felonies. First-time OWI violations became eligible for set-aside under the 2021 bills. Detroit residents with old records may qualify to have some of those records sealed from public view.
Detroit at Work Career Centers offer Project Clean Slate services to help Detroit residents clear old arrest segments from their ICHAT record. The process involves getting an ICHAT printout through the program staff, then taking it to the DPD Identification Unit at the 3rd Precinct to request removal of old arrest entries that should not appear. If you need a government-issued ID to complete this process, the Detroit ID Program can help. Call 1-800-408-1599 or visit DetroitMi.gov/DetroitID for details.
Michigan Legal Help at michiganlegalhelp.org also has guides on expungement and the Clean Slate process. This is a good first stop if you want to understand your options before taking any steps.
Wayne County and Nearby Cities
Detroit is the county seat of Wayne County. For county-level court records, circuit court cases, and county clerk records, visit the Wayne County page. Several other cities near Detroit also have background check pages: