Michigan Inmate Search Guide

Michigan Inmate SearchOTIS, County Jails and MDOC Lookup Guide

Michigan operates two separate systems for tracking incarcerated people: the state OTIS database (run by MDOC) for prison and parole records, and 83 independent county sheriff rosters for local jail inmates. Knowing which system to search saves families hours of frustration.

✓ All 83 Michigan Counties 📅 Updated August 2026 📄 Sources: MDOC, MI Legislature
83
Counties
~32,800
State Inmates
26
Active Facilities
Free
OTIS Search
Quick Answer

To find a Michigan state prisoner or parolee, search the free MDOC OTIS database by last name or MDOC number. For someone in a county jail (not yet sentenced or serving under one year), go directly to the county sheriff roster for the area of arrest. OTIS does not include county jail inmates. If both return nothing, check bop.gov/inmateloc for federal custody.

How Michigan Custody Works — Which Database to Search First

🚪
Arrest
City lockup or booking center. Usually 24 to 72 hours. Call city police.
→
⚖️
Pre-Trial
Transferred to county jail while awaiting trial or bail hearing. County Sheriff Roster.
→
📋
Sentenced
Short sentences stay in county jail. Felonies go to MDOC reception center.
→
🏛
State Prison
Receives MDOC number. Enters OTIS. Transferred to assigned facility.

ⓘ During transfer, the person may briefly not appear in either system. Call MDOC at (517) 335-1426 if searches fail.

County Jail vs. State Prison — Side-by-Side Comparison

County Jail
Run ByCounty Sheriff’s Office
Who’s HerePre-trial detainees, misdemeanor sentences under 1 year
SearchEach county sheriff website separately (no statewide aggregator)
CostFree (most counties)
VINELinkAvailable for many Michigan jails at vinelink.com
MDOC State Prison
Run ByMichigan Dept. of Corrections (MDOC)
Who’s HereFelony sentences over 1 year, parolees, probationers
Searchmichigan.gov/corrections/otis
CostFree, no account required
Phone(517) 335-1426 — MDOC Public Information

All 83 Michigan Counties — Jail Roster Directory

Each county runs its own independent jail. Not all counties maintain online rosters — call the booking desk when the web search returns nothing.

ⓘ Counties marked with UP are in the Upper Peninsula. Many UP counties do not have online rosters and require a direct call to the sheriff’s booking desk.

Wayne
Detroit
Sheriff / CLEMIS
Oakland
Pontiac
CLEMIS
Macomb
Mount Clemens
Sheriff
Kent
Grand Rapids
Web Jail Viewer
Genesee
Flint
Sheriff
Washtenaw
Ann Arbor
Sheriff
Ingham
Lansing
Sheriff
Kalamazoo
Kalamazoo
Sheriff
Ottawa
Holland
Detention Roster
Muskegon
Muskegon
Inmate Locator
Saginaw
Saginaw
Sheriff
Jackson
Jackson
Sheriff
Berrien
St. Joseph
Sheriff
Monroe
Monroe
Sheriff
Bay
Bay City
Sheriff
Livingston
Howell
Sheriff
St. Clair
Port Huron
Sheriff
Calhoun
Battle Creek
Sheriff
Eaton
Charlotte
Sheriff
Allegan
Allegan
Sheriff
Ionia
Ionia
Sheriff
Isabella
Mount Pleasant
Sheriff
Midland
Midland
Sheriff
Clare
Harrison
Sheriff
Gratiot
Ithaca
Sheriff
Shiawassee
Corunna
Sheriff
Clinton
St. Johns
Sheriff
Lapeer
Lapeer
Sheriff
Tuscola
Caro
Sheriff
Huron
Bad Axe
Sheriff
Sanilac
Sandusky
Sheriff
Lenawee
Adrian
Sheriff
Hillsdale
Hillsdale
Sheriff
Branch
Coldwater
Sheriff
St. Joseph
Centreville
Sheriff
Cass
Cassopolis
Sheriff
Van Buren
Paw Paw
Sheriff
Barry
Hastings
Sheriff
Montcalm
Stanton
Sheriff
Mecosta
Big Rapids
Sheriff
Osceola
Reed City
Sheriff
Lake
Baldwin
Sheriff
Newaygo
White Cloud
Sheriff
Mason
Ludington
Sheriff
Oceana
Hart
Sheriff
Manistee
Manistee
Sheriff
Benzie
Beulah
Sheriff
Grand Traverse
Traverse City
Sheriff
Leelanau
Leland
Sheriff
Antrim
Bellaire
Sheriff
Charlevoix
Charlevoix
Sheriff
Emmet
Petoskey
Sheriff
Cheboygan
Cheboygan
Sheriff
Otsego
Gaylord
Sheriff
Montmorency
Atlanta
Sheriff
Alpena
Alpena
Sheriff
Presque Isle
Rogers City
Sheriff
Alcona
Harrisville
Sheriff
Iosco
Tawas City
Sheriff
Arenac
Standish
Sheriff
Gladwin
Gladwin
Sheriff
Roscommon
Roscommon
Sheriff
Crawford
Grayling
Sheriff
Wexford
Cadillac
Sheriff
Missaukee
Lake City
Sheriff
Kalkaska
Kalkaska
Sheriff
Marquette
Marquette
Sheriff (UP)
Chippewa
Sault Ste. Marie
Sheriff (UP)
Luce
Newberry
Sheriff (UP)
Mackinac
St. Ignace
Sheriff (UP)
Alger
Munising
Sheriff (UP)
Schoolcraft
Manistique
Sheriff (UP)
Delta
Escanaba
Sheriff (UP)
Menominee
Menominee
Sheriff (UP)
Dickinson
Iron Mountain
Sheriff (UP)
Iron
Crystal Falls
Sheriff (UP)
Houghton
Houghton
Sheriff (UP)
Keweenaw
Eagle River
Sheriff (UP)
Ontonagon
Ontonagon
Sheriff (UP)
Gogebic
Bessemer
Sheriff (UP)
Baraga
L’Anse
Sheriff (UP)

Michigan Offenders Under Supervision — At a Glance

MDOC-supervised population breakdown Source: MDOC May 2024 (approx.)
Probation
~44,973
State Prison
~32,949
Parole
~10,244
County Jails
Varies
Probation
State prison
Parole / County

Total MDOC-supervised: ~88,166 (approx., May 2024). County jail figures tracked separately by individual sheriffs.

Active MDOC Prison Facilities — All 26 Locations

Active as of September 2024 per MDOC. Crossed-out facilities are permanently closed.

RGC
Charles Egeler Reception and Guidance Center
Jackson — Reception Center for new inmates
WHV
Women’s Huron Valley Correctional Facility
Ypsilanti — Michigan’s only women’s state prison
JCF
G. Robert Cotton Correctional Facility
Jackson, Jackson County
ARF
Gus Harrison Correctional Facility
Adrian, Lenawee County
MBP
Marquette Branch Prison
Marquette, Marquette County
KCF
Kinross Correctional Facility
Kincheloe, Chippewa County
URF
Chippewa Correctional Facility
Kincheloe, Chippewa County
LRF
Earnest C. Brooks Correctional Facility
Muskegon, Muskegon County
MRF
Macomb Correctional Facility
New Haven, Macomb County
ICF
Ionia Correctional Facility
Ionia, Ionia County
RMI
Michigan Reformatory
Ionia — Level II/IV
LCF
Lakeland Correctional Facility
Coldwater, Branch County
SRF
Saginaw Correctional Facility
Freeland, Saginaw County
SLF
St. Louis Correctional Facility
St. Louis, Gratiot County
NCF
Newberry Correctional Facility
Newberry, Luce County
ECF
Oaks Correctional Facility
Eastlake, Manistee County
DRF
Carson City Correctional Facility
Carson City, Montcalm County
STF
Central Michigan Correctional Facility
St. Louis, Gratiot County
AMF
Baraga Correctional Facility
Baraga, Baraga County
LMF
Alger Correctional Facility
Munising, Alger County
MTU
Richard A. Handlon Correctional Facility
Ionia, Ionia County
SMT
Parnall Correctional Facility
Jackson, Jackson County
DDC
Detroit Detention Center
Detroit — Central Lockup
DRC
Detroit Reentry Center
Detroit — Reentry
JCS
Cooper Street Correctional Facility
Jackson — Reentry
IBC
Bellamy Creek Correctional Facility
Ionia — Reentry In-Reach
SMF
Standish Maximum Correctional Facility
Standish — Closed Oct 2009
WWP
Western Wayne Correctional Facility
Plymouth — Closed Dec 2004
NRF
Mound Correctional Facility
Detroit — Closed Jan 2012
WSR
West Shoreline Correctional Facility
Muskegon — Closed Mar 2018

ⓘ Always verify current facility status at michigan.gov/corrections before visiting or sending mail.

Step-by-Step Search Guide — From Arrest to Prison Record

  1. 1
    Determine if this is a county jail or state prison situation
    If the arrest happened recently and no felony conviction has been entered, the person is in a county jail, not state prison. See our County Jail vs. State Prison guide — linked in Related Resources below — to confirm which system applies before searching.County jail first — always for recent arrests
  2. 2
    Search OTIS for state prison and parole records
    Go to michigan.gov/corrections/otis and enter the person’s last name. For uncertain spellings, type the first three letters followed by an asterisk (example: SMI*). Searching by MDOC number is the most accurate method and returns a single result.
  3. 3
    Check the county sheriff roster if OTIS returns nothing
    OTIS does not include county jail inmates. For Wayne County, use the Sheriff portal or call (313) 224-0797. For Kent County, use the Web Jail Viewer or call 616-632-6300 (Option 1). For Oakland County, search CLEMIS or call (248) 858-1800. Find the specific county of arrest and search that sheriff site directly.
  4. 4
    Set up VINELink notifications for status changes
    Register at vinelink.com for automated alerts when the person is transferred, released, or their custody status changes. Michigan participates in VINE for both state prisons and many county jails. If VINELink is not loading, see the VINELink troubleshooting guide in Related Resources below.Free alerts — phone, email, or text
  5. 5
    Check federal databases if state and county searches both fail
    If all Michigan searches return nothing, the person may be in federal custody. Search bop.gov/inmateloc for Bureau of Prisons records, or use locator.ice.gov for immigration detainees. Federal inmates are not in OTIS or any Michigan county system.

Why Searches Fail — Common Mistakes and Fixes

MistakeWhy It HappensFix
Searching OTIS for a jail inmateOTIS only covers state prisoners, parolees, and probationers. County jail inmates are not in OTIS regardless of charge severity.Search the county sheriff roster for the location of arrest instead.
Name spelling mismatchOTIS stores the name as entered at commitment, which may not match legal name, nickname, or spelling variants.Use the wildcard asterisk after the first 3 letters (SMI*). Search by MDOC number if available.
Record gone after dischargeMichigan’s three-year rule lets MDOC remove records three years after supervision ends. A valid conviction can disappear from OTIS at that point.Contact MDOC at (517) 335-1426 or check Michigan State Police ICHAT for historical records.
Searching during transfer windowNewly sentenced inmates process through the Charles Egeler Reception Center (RGC) before assignment. OTIS may show RGC for weeks.Wait and re-search OTIS. The MDOC number remains the same throughout.
Assuming a county aggregator existsThere is no single Michigan county jail search portal. Each of the 83 counties runs an independent system.Find the specific county of arrest and search that county sheriff site directly.
Forgetting federal chargesDrug trafficking, immigration violations, and federal weapons offenses route to federal prison, not MDOC.Search bop.gov and locator.ice.gov separately from any Michigan database.

What Michigan Families Need to Know — Three Facts Most Guides Skip

⌛
The Three-Year Disappearance Rule
Michigan law (enacted 2008) lets MDOC remove a person from OTIS three years after their supervision discharge date. Someone who served 10 years in prison but finished parole over three years ago simply does not appear in OTIS, even though their conviction remains on record. Call MDOC at (517) 335-1426 for records older than three years.
👥
Michigan Has One Women’s Facility for All Security Levels
Women’s Huron Valley Correctional Facility (WHV) in Ypsilanti is Michigan’s only state prison for women. It operates across security Levels I, II, and IV under one roof and houses its own reception center. If you are searching for a woman in MDOC custody, WHV is almost always the current or previous facility, regardless of sentence length.
🔍
No Statewide County Jail Search Portal Exists
Unlike some states with a unified jail search, Michigan has no single portal covering all 83 county jails. Each county operates independently. Many rural Upper Peninsula counties do not have online rosters at all and require a direct call to the sheriff’s booking desk. Always identify the county of arrest first, then search that specific system.

Frequently Asked Questions — Real Answers for Families

Use the MDOC OTIS database at michigan.gov/corrections/otis for anyone in state prison, on parole, or on probation. For someone in a county jail, visit the specific county sheriff website or call their booking desk. OTIS and county jail systems are separate and do not share data.
OTIS stands for Offender Tracking Information System. It is the Michigan Department of Corrections free public database covering all state prisoners, parolees, and probationers under MDOC supervision, plus those discharged within the past three years. Search by name, MDOC number, or demographic filters at michigan.gov/corrections/otis.
OTIS excludes county jail inmates, city lockup detainees, people awaiting sentencing, and anyone discharged more than three years ago. A name spelling mismatch is also frequent. Try the wildcard search (first 3 letters plus asterisk) or search the county sheriff roster for the area of arrest.
Yes. OTIS is completely free through the official MDOC website. Most county sheriff jail rosters are also free. No account or payment is required. Avoid third-party sites that charge fees for the same public information available free at michigan.gov/corrections/otis.
Search the Wayne County Sheriff online inmate inquiry portal or call (313) 224-0797. The Criminal Justice Center is at 5301 Russell St., Detroit, MI 48211. OTIS will not show county jail inmates — the two systems are completely separate.
Yes. Michigan law allows MDOC to remove a person’s OTIS record three years after their supervision discharge date. If someone completed parole or probation more than three years ago, they no longer appear in OTIS results, even if their conviction stands on record elsewhere. Contact MDOC at (517) 335-1426 for older records.
Search by name or MDOC number in OTIS. The record shows the earliest release date and parole-eligible date. Release dates can shift based on disciplinary actions, parole board decisions, or earned credits. Treat any date shown as an estimate subject to change. See the inmate release date guide in Related Resources below for more detail.
An MDOC number is the unique identifier assigned when a person enters Michigan state custody. It is the most accurate way to search OTIS. Find it on court paperwork, commitment orders, or by calling MDOC at (517) 335-1426. It remains the same for the person’s lifetime in the MDOC system.

Related Inmate Search Resources — All States and Support Guides

USA Jail Lookup Editorial Team
Corrections Research Staff — Updated August 2026

This guide was compiled using official MDOC documentation, Michigan Legislature session laws governing OTIS, the MDOC Facilities directory, and the Michigan House Fiscal Agency May 2024 corrections budget summary. All facility statuses, phone numbers, and search URLs are sourced from official government pages. Figures cited are approximate and sourced as noted. About our research process

Disclaimer: USAJailLookup.com is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by the Michigan Department of Corrections, any county sheriff’s office, or any government agency. Information is provided for informational purposes only and is drawn from publicly available records. Custody status, facility assignments, and release dates change frequently. Always verify directly with MDOC at michigan.gov/corrections/otis or the relevant county sheriff’s office. This page does not constitute legal advice.
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