Access Background Check Records in Westland
Westland background check records are available through the Westland Police Department, Wayne County courts, and the Michigan State Police ICHAT system. Westland is in Wayne County, and its residents have access to both city police records and the Wayne County court system for felony case history.
Westland Overview
Westland Police Department Records
The Westland Police Department is at 36701 Ford Road, Westland, MI 48185. The main phone is (734) 722-9600 and the fax is (734) 722-3220. The department handles incident reports, background check assistance, fingerprinting, and FOIA requests for Westland residents.
Westland criminal records are public under Michigan FOIA, except for records related to ongoing investigations and other legally protected information. You can request police reports and incident records from the department. The department processes requests under Michigan's 1976 PA 442, which requires a response within 5 business days. A 10-day extension is available with written notice.
An overview of Westland police records available to the public.
Westland public records are also accessible through michigan.staterecords.org/wayne/westland, which aggregates publicly available Wayne County records for Westland.
Fingerprint Checks at Westland Police
Westland Police Department offers fingerprint-based background checks for residents who need them. To get a fingerprint check, obtain the criminal record background check form from your requesting agency. Fill out sections III and IV and submit it to the Westland Police Department at 36701 Ford Road. Turnaround time is within 7 days. Call (734) 722-9600 to confirm current hours and fees before going in.
Fingerprint checks through the Westland Police connect to the Michigan State Police Livescan system for state-level results. For licensing requiring FBI records as well, the Livescan system searches both databases. For personal fingerprint submissions not tied to licensing, use the RI-008 form and mail directly to the Michigan State Police.
Wayne County Court Records for Westland
Westland is in Wayne County, so felony cases go through the Wayne County 3rd Circuit Court at the Frank Murphy Hall of Justice, 1441 St. Antoine, Detroit, MI 48226. Call (313) 224-6262 for criminal case records from 1983 onward. For older records from 1942 to 1983, contact the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center, Room LL-61, 2 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI 48226.
For misdemeanor and traffic cases, the 18th District Court serves Westland. You can search Wayne County and Westland court cases through the Michigan Courts online case search system. Enter a name or case number to find case details, docket entries, and hearing information.
Under Michigan Court Rule 8.119(J), the public can inspect court records in person at the courthouse during business hours at no charge. Copy fees apply under MCL 15.234. Certified copies cost more than standard copies.
Westland Criminal History Through ICHAT
The Michigan State Police ICHAT system at apps.michigan.gov/ichat is the fastest way to run a background check for Westland residents. Enter the subject's full legal name and date of birth. Each $10 search returns immediate results covering all Michigan felony and serious misdemeanor records from all 83 counties. Pay with a credit card through the online portal.
ICHAT does not include traffic violations, juvenile records, suppressed or sealed records, local misdemeanors punishable by 93 days or less, federal criminal history, or records from other states. For a more thorough check, combine ICHAT with a Wayne County court records search and, if needed, a fingerprint-based Livescan check.
More information on ICHAT and all MSP background check options is at michigan.gov/msp/services/chr.
Michigan State Police criminal history access page.
The MSP site covers both name-based ICHAT searches and fingerprint-based checks through the Livescan network.
FOIA Requests in Westland
Westland residents can submit FOIA requests to the City of Westland, the Westland Police Department, or Wayne County agencies. Michigan's 1976 PA 442 governs all public records requests. Submit a written description of the records you need, including dates and relevant case or incident numbers if you have them. The city must respond within 5 business days. Fees for copies follow MCL 15.234.
For MSP records, submit requests at michigan.gov/msp/services/foia or email MSPRecords@Michigan.gov. There is a $2.00 processing fee for online submissions. Michigan Legal Help at michiganlegalhelp.org has guides on FOIA rights and what to do if your request is denied.
Michigan OTIS and Sex Offender Registry
Michigan's OTIS system at michigan.gov/corrections tracks people currently under state correctional supervision in Michigan. This includes prisoners, parolees, and probationers, plus those discharged within the past 3 years. Westland residents can search OTIS by name to check current supervision status.
The Michigan Public Sex Offender Registry at mipsor.state.mi.us lets you search for registered sex offenders in Westland and Wayne County by name or by proximity to a specific address. The registry shows compliance status and conviction details for each registered offender in Michigan.
Michigan Clean Slate and Record Clearing
Michigan's Clean Slate law allows automatic sealing of eligible misdemeanor convictions after 7 years and eligible felony convictions after 10 years. First-time OWI violations are also eligible for set-aside under the 2021 bills. Once sealed, records no longer show on public ICHAT searches.
Westland residents who want to check eligibility or petition for early expungement can get free guidance at Michigan Legal Help, michiganlegalhelp.org. Expungement petitions for Westland cases go to the Wayne County 3rd Circuit Court at the Frank Murphy Hall of Justice in Detroit. The site has step-by-step guides to help you through the process.
Note: Even after sealing, law enforcement retains access to sealed records through their internal systems. Sealing only affects public searches through ICHAT and similar tools.
Wayne County and Nearby Cities
Westland is in Wayne County. For Wayne County circuit court records, county clerk resources, and other county information, see the Wayne County page. Nearby cities with background check pages include: