Farmington Hills Background Check Records
Farmington Hills background check records can be found through the Farmington Hills Police Department, the Oakland County 6th Circuit Court, and the Michigan State Police ICHAT system. Farmington Hills is one of Oakland County's largest cities and uses the county court system for all felony criminal cases and major civil proceedings.
Farmington Hills Overview
Farmington Hills Police Department Records
The Farmington Hills Police Department handles police reports, background check assistance, fingerprinting, and FOIA records requests. Contact the department through the City of Farmington Hills website to request records. Michigan's Freedom of Information Act, 1976 PA 442, governs all public records requests. The department must respond within 5 business days with a possible 10-day extension.
Fingerprinting is available at the Farmington Hills Police Department for residents who need prints for licensing, adoption, or other authorized purposes. Fingerprint checks connect to the Michigan State Police Livescan system for state results and can include FBI results depending on the purpose. Call ahead to confirm hours, fees, and any scheduling requirements.
For criminal history searches, the department works with the Michigan State Police ICHAT system rather than maintaining a separate public criminal history database. Fees for police record copies follow MCL 15.234. Denied FOIA requests can be appealed within 180 days.
Oakland County Court Records for Farmington Hills
Farmington Hills is in Oakland County, so felony cases and higher court matters go through the Oakland County 6th Circuit Court in Pontiac. The circuit court handles serious criminal cases, civil cases over $25,000, and family court matters for all of Oakland County. Court Explorer at courtexplorer.oakgov.com provides online access to Oakland County circuit court case records including felony cases for Farmington Hills residents.
Misdemeanor and traffic cases for Farmington Hills go through the local district court. You can search Farmington Hills cases through the Michigan Courts online case search system by name or case number. Under Michigan Court Rule 8.119(J), the public can inspect court records during business hours at no charge. Copy fees apply under MCL 15.234.
The Oakland County Clerk's Office in Pontiac handles court filings, vital records, and other county records. Contact the clerk for certified copies of court documents or vital records including marriage, birth, and death certificates.
Farmington Hills Criminal History Through ICHAT
The Michigan State Police ICHAT system at apps.michigan.gov/ichat is the primary tool for background checks in Farmington Hills. Each $10 search per name returns immediate results covering all Michigan felony and serious misdemeanor records from all 83 counties. You need the subject's full legal name and date of birth. Credit card payment is required online.
ICHAT does not include local misdemeanors punishable by 93 days or less, traffic violations, juvenile records, suppressed or sealed records, federal criminal history, or out-of-state records. To get a broader picture, combine ICHAT with an Oakland County Court Explorer search. For certain purposes, a fingerprint-based Livescan check is more thorough than a name-based ICHAT search.
Michigan State Police criminal history records access page.
Access ICHAT at michigan.gov/msp/services/chr and learn about the full range of Michigan State Police background check options.
FOIA Requests in Farmington Hills
To request public records from the City of Farmington Hills, the police department, or Oakland County, submit a written FOIA request under Michigan's 1976 PA 442. The agency must respond within 5 business days with a 10-day extension available. Fees for copies are set under MCL 15.234. Denied requests can be appealed within 180 days to the FOIA coordinator and then to circuit court.
For Michigan State Police records, use the online portal at michigan.gov/msp/services/foia or email MSPRecords@Michigan.gov. Online submissions carry a $2.00 processing fee. Mailed payments go to Michigan State Police, Cashiers Unit, P.O. Box 30266, Lansing, MI 48909. Michigan Legal Help at michiganlegalhelp.org has free FOIA guides and appeal information.
Michigan OTIS and Sex Offender Registry
The Michigan Department of Corrections OTIS system at michigan.gov/corrections lets you check whether someone is currently under state correctional supervision in Michigan. OTIS covers prisoners, parolees, and probationers, plus those discharged within the past 3 years. Search by name to see supervision status and other available details.
For sex offender searches in Farmington Hills and Oakland County, use the Michigan Public Sex Offender Registry at mipsor.state.mi.us. Search by name, county, or proximity to a specific Farmington Hills address. The registry shows compliance status and conviction details for each registered offender.
Michigan offender tracking and supervision database.
OTIS at michigan.gov/corrections is Michigan's official correctional supervision records database.
Michigan Clean Slate and Record Sealing
Michigan's Clean Slate law passed in 2021 and expanded in 2023. It provides for automatic sealing of eligible misdemeanor convictions after 7 years and felony convictions after 10 years. First-time OWI violations also became eligible for set-aside. Sealed records no longer appear on public ICHAT searches.
Farmington Hills residents who want to check eligibility or petition for early expungement can use the free tools and guides at Michigan Legal Help, michiganlegalhelp.org. Expungement petitions for Farmington Hills cases go to the Oakland County 6th Circuit Court in Pontiac.
Oakland County and Nearby Cities
Farmington Hills is in Oakland County. For Oakland County 6th Circuit Court records, the county clerk, and county resources, see the Oakland County page. Other nearby cities with background check pages include: