Baraga County Released Inmates Search
Baraga County released inmates records are kept by the Baraga County Sheriff's Office in L'Anse. This small Upper Peninsula county has about 8,200 residents and a jail with only 18 beds. There is no online inmate roster for Baraga County, so finding released inmates information requires a phone call or written request to the sheriff office. State tools from MDOC can help you search for anyone who went through the state prison system. The Keweenaw Bay area has limited digital law enforcement resources, which makes direct contact with the sheriff the most reliable method.
Baraga County Overview
Baraga County Sheriff and Inmate Records
The Baraga County Sheriff's Office manages the county jail and all related records. Sheriff Joseph M. Brogan runs the department. With only 18 beds, the Baraga County Jail is one of the smallest facilities in Michigan. The jail serves L'Anse and the surrounding communities in the western Upper Peninsula. There is no online roster. If you want to check on released inmates from Baraga County, you need to call or visit the sheriff office.
The office sits at 12 S. Third St. in L'Anse. You can reach them by phone at (906) 524-6177 or fax at (906) 524-6469. Staff can tell you if someone is in custody or has been released. The county has limited online presence for law enforcement, so most information flows through phone calls and paper requests. This is typical for smaller Upper Peninsula counties where the population and booking volume are low.
| Office | Baraga County Sheriff's Office |
|---|---|
| Address | 12 S. Third St., L'Anse, MI 49946 |
| Phone | (906) 524-6177 |
| Fax | (906) 524-6469 |
| Sheriff | Joseph M. Brogan |
Note: Baraga County Jail does not post an online roster, so call (906) 524-6177 for released inmates status updates.
How to Find Baraga County Released Inmates
The most direct route is calling the Baraga County Sheriff's Office at (906) 524-6177. Give them a name and any dates you know. Staff will check the booking system and tell you if the person is still in custody or has been released. For a formal record, you will need to file a FOIA request. Under MCL 15.231, you have the right to request jail records from any Michigan county.
Send your FOIA request to 12 S. Third St., L'Anse, MI 49946. Include the full name of the person, the approximate dates, and a description of what records you need. The office gets five business days to respond. Fees are about $0.10 per page for copies. Labor charges may apply for searches that take staff time. Because Baraga County is small with limited online resources, the FOIA process is sometimes the only way to get a formal document about a released inmate.
The Baraga County government website gives basic contact information for the sheriff's office.
The Baraga County website shown above provides general county information and links to the sheriff's office.
For anyone who went through the state prison system, OTIS is your best free tool. It shows current inmates, parolees, probationers, and anyone discharged in the past three years. Search by name or MDOC number. If someone from Baraga County served time in a state facility, OTIS will show their record.
Baraga County sits in the western Upper Peninsula near the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community. Tribal law enforcement operates separately from the county sheriff. If you are looking for someone who may have been held by tribal police, those records go through a different process. The county sheriff only handles cases under state jurisdiction. For tribal matters, you would need to contact the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community directly. This is something people in the Baraga County area sometimes get confused about when searching for released inmates records.
State Resources for Baraga County Inmates
The Michigan Department of Corrections handles all state prison records. The Corrections Code (MCL 791.201) sets the rules for record keeping and public access. VINELink is free and lets you check the custody status of anyone in the Baraga County Jail or any Michigan facility. You can register for release alerts through VINE. It works around the clock.
The ICHAT criminal history system from Michigan State Police costs $10 per search. It gives you a broader picture than OTIS because it covers county-level arrests and convictions, not just state prison. For court records, the MiCOURT system lets you search by name or case number to see court outcomes tied to Baraga County cases.
Under MCL 791.230a, certain details about inmates stay confidential. Medical records and some personal information are protected. But the basic facts of a booking and release are public record. The Michigan Sex Offender Registry tracks offenders under MCL 28.721 and is another tool for checking released offenders by name or county. Historical prison records from 1839 through 1987 are housed at the Michigan State Archives in Lansing.
For people new to the process, start with the free options. Check OTIS and VINELink first. They cost nothing and cover a lot of ground. If you still need information specific to the Baraga County Jail, call the sheriff at (906) 524-6177. The office staff are used to these calls and can give you a quick status update on someone in custody. For formal records that you can print or use in legal matters, the FOIA request is the right path. It takes a bit longer but gives you a proper document.
Nearby Counties
These Upper Peninsula counties border Baraga County. Check with them if you are not sure where an arrest took place.