Benzie County Released Inmates
Benzie County released inmates records are managed by the Benzie County Sheriff's Office in Beulah. This small northern Michigan county near Sleeping Bear Dunes has about 18,000 residents and a jail with roughly 30 beds. There is no online inmate roster for Benzie County, which means you need to call the sheriff office or submit a written request to get details on released inmates. State databases like OTIS and VINELink provide additional ways to search for anyone who went through the Michigan corrections system from this area.
Benzie County Overview
Benzie County Sheriff and Jail Records
The Benzie County Sheriff's Office handles all jail operations and released inmates records for the county. Sheriff Ted Schendel leads the department from Beulah. The jail has about 30 beds. It is a small facility that serves the communities around Crystal Lake and the Lake Michigan shoreline in northwest Michigan. Because of the low volume and small size, the county does not offer an online inmate roster.
The sheriff office is at 505 S. Michigan Ave. in Beulah. Call (231) 882-4484 to reach them. The fax number is (231) 882-4485. Staff can check the system during business hours and let you know if someone is in the jail or has been released. For formal records, a written FOIA request is the way to go. The office handles released inmates questions just like any other Michigan county sheriff, following state law on public records and confidentiality.
Benzie County sees more booking activity during the summer months when the population swells with visitors to the Sleeping Bear Dunes area. The jail stays busy in those months. But overall, it is a quiet county with modest law enforcement needs compared to more populated areas of the state.
| Office | Benzie County Sheriff's Office |
|---|---|
| Address | 505 S. Michigan Ave., Beulah, MI 49617 |
| Phone | (231) 882-4484 |
| Fax | (231) 882-4485 |
| Sheriff | Ted Schendel |
Note: Benzie County Jail does not have an online roster, so call (231) 882-4484 for released inmates information.
Search Benzie County Released Inmates
Without an online roster, finding Benzie County released inmates starts with a phone call. Dial (231) 882-4484 and give the staff a name and any dates you have. They can check their booking system and tell you if the person is still in custody or has been let go. This is the quickest method for a simple status check on someone held at the Benzie County Jail.
For a formal document, file a FOIA request under MCL 15.231. Your request must be in writing. Include the person's full name, the date range, and what records you need. Mail it to 505 S. Michigan Ave., Beulah, MI 49617. You can also fax it. The office has five business days to respond. Fees are about $0.10 per page for copies, and labor charges may apply for time-consuming searches.
The Benzie County government website provides general information about the sheriff's office and other county departments.
The Benzie County website shown above offers sheriff office contact details and links to county services.
For state prison records, OTIS is free and covers current inmates, parolees, and people discharged in the past three years. Search by name or MDOC number. If someone from Benzie County served time in state prison and was released, OTIS will have their record. The Corrections Code (MCL 791.201) governs how MDOC manages these records.
Benzie County Released Inmates Records Access
The FOIA process for Benzie County is the same as every other Michigan county. Write up your request clearly. The sheriff office will search their records and get back to you within five business days. A ten-day extension is possible if the request is complex or involves a lot of records. Most requests for released inmates information are straightforward and get handled in the normal time frame.
Under MCL 791.230a, some inmate details are protected. Medical records and certain personal information will not be released. But the basic facts of a booking are public. That includes the person's name, the charges, the booking date, and when they got out. If you are trying to find out when someone was released from the Benzie County Jail, these basic facts are what the sheriff office will provide.
State Tools for Benzie County Inmates
Several state resources help with Benzie County released inmates searches. The Michigan Department of Corrections runs OTIS for state prison records. VINELink is free and lets you check custody status for anyone in the Benzie County Jail or any Michigan facility. You can register for alerts through VINE. It sends a call or email when someone's custody status changes. This runs around the clock and costs nothing.
The ICHAT system from Michigan State Police costs $10 per search and gives statewide criminal history results. The MiCOURT case search ties arrests to court outcomes. Search by name or case number. For sex offense information, the Michigan Sex Offender Registry tracks registered offenders by name or zip code under MCL 28.721. Historical prison records going back to 1839 are at the Michigan State Archives in Lansing.
Benzie County shares its northern border with Leelanau County and sits just west of Grand Traverse County. The Traverse City area draws a lot of people, and sometimes arrests that seem like they happened in one county actually get processed in another. If you cannot find someone in the Benzie County records, try checking Grand Traverse or Manistee counties as well. The Crystal Lake area and the Lake Michigan shoreline in Benzie County see more law enforcement activity during the summer, which can affect when and where bookings happen.
Nearby Counties
Benzie County borders several northern Michigan counties. Check with these sheriff offices if you are not sure where an arrest took place.