Marquette County Released Inmates Database

Marquette County released inmates records are kept by the Marquette County Sheriff's Office and the Michigan Department of Corrections, which operates multiple state prison facilities in the county. As the largest county in Michigan's Upper Peninsula with roughly 67,000 residents, Marquette sees more arrests and bookings than most UP counties. The county jail has about 150 beds. Northern Michigan University is also based here, which adds to the population during the school year. To check if someone has been released from the Marquette County Jail or a state prison in the area, you can call the sheriff or search the OTIS database online.

Marquette County Sheriff and Released Inmates

The Marquette County Sheriff's Office is the primary law enforcement agency for the county. It runs the county jail, which has about 150 beds. That makes it one of the bigger jail facilities in the Upper Peninsula. The jail processes bookings from sheriff's deputies, Marquette City Police, Michigan State Police, and other agencies working in the area. Most people arrested in Marquette County pass through this facility.

The sheriff office is at 236 West Baraga Avenue in Marquette. Call (906) 225-8435 to check on someone's custody status. Staff can tell you if a person is still being held or if they have been released. For formal copies of booking or release records, you need to submit a written request. The office handles these requests during regular business hours, Monday through Friday.

Marquette County is unique in the UP because it also hosts several MDOC state prison facilities. The Marquette Branch Prison is one of the oldest in Michigan. Inmates held at state prisons in the county are under MDOC jurisdiction, not the sheriff. Their records are in the OTIS database, not with the county.

Search Marquette County Released Inmates

There are multiple ways to track down released inmates in Marquette County. The right tool depends on whether the person was in the county jail or a state prison. Given that Marquette County has both, you might need to check more than one source.

For county jail records, call the sheriff office at (906) 225-8435. Provide the full name of the person and any other details you have, like a date of birth or arrest date. The staff can look them up in the booking system and tell you their current status. If they have been released, the staff can usually confirm when. For a written record, file a FOIA request. Mail it to 236 W. Baraga Avenue, Marquette, MI 49855. You can also fax or hand deliver the request.

For state prison records, OTIS is the main search tool. It is free. You can search by name, MDOC number, gender, race, age range, or offense type. OTIS shows current prisoners, parolees, probationers, and anyone discharged within the last three years. Since Marquette Branch Prison is in this county, many inmates in the system may list Marquette as their facility location even if they were sentenced elsewhere.

Use VINELink for real-time custody alerts. You can look up any person held in Marquette County and register for notifications. VINE will call or email you when the person's status changes. This is especially helpful for victims who need to know when someone gets out.

The MDOC homepage above is the starting point for accessing OTIS and other corrections resources relevant to Marquette County released inmates.

Marquette County Released Inmates FOIA Process

Michigan law under MCL 15.231 gives the public a right to request government records. This includes booking logs, arrest reports, and release records from the Marquette County Sheriff's Office. Write a clear request that describes what you need. Include the person's name, approximate dates, and your contact information.

The sheriff office must respond within five business days. Extensions of up to ten additional days are allowed for complex requests. Fees are typically $0.10 per page for copies, plus labor costs if the search takes significant time. Labor gets billed at the hourly rate of the lowest paid employee who can do the work. For most single-record requests, expect to pay under $10.

Keep in mind that MCL 791.230a protects some inmate information from public release. Medical records, mental health evaluations, and certain security details cannot be disclosed. But the core booking data like the charge, dates, and outcome are generally public record and available through FOIA.

State Resources for Marquette County

The Michigan Department of Corrections has a strong presence in Marquette County. The Marquette Branch Prison houses hundreds of inmates. MDOC runs the OTIS search tool, which is available to anyone at no cost. Use it to look up state prisoners, parolees, and recently discharged offenders connected to Marquette County or any part of the state.

For a broader criminal history search, try ICHAT through the Michigan State Police. It costs $10 and covers all arrests and convictions statewide. This is useful when you want to know about someone's full record across multiple counties, not just their most recent state prison sentence. Results come back right away after you pay online.

MiCOURT provides access to court case records. Search by name or case number to see what happened in Marquette County courts or any other Michigan court. This system shows charges, hearings, and dispositions. It can help you understand the full picture behind a released inmate's case.

• Michigan State Archives for historical prison records from 1839 to 1987
• Sex Offender Registry for registered offenders under MCL 28.721
• MDOC FOIA office at (517) 373-0450 or MDOC-OLAFOIA@michigan.gov for state prison records
• Michigan State Archives at (517) 373-1408 for records predating the digital era

Nearby Counties

Marquette County borders several other Upper Peninsula counties. If you are looking for someone who may have been arrested nearby, check these neighboring sheriff offices.