OTIS, which stands for Offender Tracking Information System is employed by the Department of Corrections of the state of Michigan to provide pertinent background information that can be checked with the Michigan Department of Corrections. There is one catch though: only those who have been convicted or sentenced by the MDOC within the last three years will appear in the records system.
This website provides links to websites of other agencies that may be of importance in helping you search for criminal records in Michigan. You only have to open the site and click on the links.
The FBI has Most Wanted links that you can access for cases within its jurisdiction. The list is as follows:
The Michigan State Police has links on the above site for the following:
Another good source of criminal background information on people in the state of Michigan is the Criminal Justice Information Center. All arrests, convictions and charges of crimes committed in Michigan are available here. Agencies and offices that are connected to any arrests and convictions are the ones that provide the information to CJIC that will then be encoded into the system.
Criminal background information can be searched in two ways: through name or fingerprints. Every person who is arrested by any police enforcement agency is documented: the name, residence, date of birth, fingerprints and other personal information is databased in the system. If a crime that is committed provides fingerprints in the crime scene, they can be searched in the database and see if one matches the fingerprints found in the crime scene. The owner of the prints is then identified.
Convictions are public information, so anyone who is interested can request information for any purpose deemed necessary. Searches of criminal records may take from a few days to a few weeks, depending on how many cases are in the same category being searched for. Also, searches with insufficient preliminary information are more difficult to ocnduct, so lead time of at least a week can be expected.
In order to obtain Michigan background checks and criminal records, take the following steps:
Step 1.
Access and save the Michigan Background Check Request Form.
Step 2.
Fill out the request form and make sure to check off "Criminal History Record" under "Type of Application."
Step 3.
Mail the form along with a $10 certified check or money order to CJIC.
If you need more assistance or information, you may contact the Michigan State Police below:
Michigan State Police
Michigan Dept. of State Police, CJIC
Freedom of Information Unit
106 W. Allegan Street
Lansing, MI 48933
(517) 332-2521
You can find information about Michigan arrest records at the Michigan Department of Corrections' website. The Offender Tracker Information System (OTIS) allows users to access Michigan arrest records online.
In order to use OTIS, you will need to:
Step 1.
Log on to the Department of Corrections webpage to access the Michigan Tracking Information System. At the bottom of the page, click the link "Start Offender Search."
Step 2.
You will need to read and agree to the terms and conditions of Otis by clicking the "I Agree" button at the bottom of the page.
Step 3.
From there, you will be directed to fill in the fields with your search criteria and click the "Search" button. The records will then be displayed in alphabetical order. Click on the Offender Number to see more details.
If you need assistance accessing Michigan arrest records, you can contact the Department of Corrections at:
Michigan Department of Corrections
206 E. Michigan Ave.
Grandview Plaza
PO Box 30003
Lansing, MI 48909
(517) 335-1426
Where to Attain Michigan Criminal Records
The Criminal Justice Information Center (CJIC) of Michigan is the central repository for all Michigan criminal records. The CJIC performs name-based searches only, and fingerprint searches are only completed if ordered by law enforcement agencies. Fill out a request form and mail it with a $10 certified check or money order to CJIC.
Who Has the Ability to Obtain Michigan Criminal Records?
Michigan allows the general public to access Michigan background checks and criminal records, although these are limited to criminal convictions. Only law enforcement agencies and authorized employers may access complete criminal records. An individual, however, may review his entire criminal record.
Challenging an Incorrect Criminal Record
If a mistake turns up on your criminal record, contact the CJIC, and they will direct you on how to proceed with your claim.
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