Montmorency County Released Inmates Search

Montmorency County released inmates records are handled by the Montmorency County Sheriff's Office in Atlanta, Michigan. This small county in the northeastern Lower Peninsula has about 9,500 residents. An important detail is that Montmorency County closed its jail in July 2021. Inmates arrested in the county are now housed at neighboring county jails. If you need to search for someone who was released from custody in Montmorency County, you should call the sheriff office at (989) 785-4411 or file a FOIA request. State prison records are available through OTIS. Released inmates searches for Montmorency County may involve checking with multiple counties.

Montmorency County Sheriff and Jail Closure

The Montmorency County Sheriff's Office is based in Atlanta, Michigan. The office still handles law enforcement across the county, but the jail closed in July 2021. The facility was too old and too costly to maintain for such a small county. When someone gets arrested in Montmorency County now, they are transported to a neighboring county jail for housing. This is a common arrangement in rural Michigan.

The sheriff office can still help with released inmates questions. They keep records of arrests made in the county even though the jail is closed. Staff at (989) 785-4411 can tell you about arrests and where someone was taken after being booked. For older records from when the jail was still open, the sheriff office is the right place to ask. They maintain those historical booking and release records.

Since the jail closed, Montmorency County has agreements with nearby counties to house their inmates. Alpena County and Otsego County are among the facilities that take Montmorency County arrestees. If you are looking for someone recently arrested in Montmorency County, you may need to check with those neighboring jails as well.

How to Find Montmorency County Released Inmates

Searching for released inmates from Montmorency County takes extra steps because the jail is closed. But the records still exist and are accessible.

Start by calling the Montmorency County Sheriff's Office at (989) 785-4411. They can check records of arrests made in the county and tell you where the person was housed. For someone arrested before July 2021, the old jail records are still on file. For more recent arrests, the sheriff can tell you which neighboring county took the person. You would then need to contact that county's sheriff office to get release details.

For state prison records, OTIS from MDOC is free and covers the whole state. It shows current inmates, parolees, probationers, and people discharged within three years. If someone from Montmorency County served time in state prison, OTIS will have their record. Search by name or MDOC number.

VINELink can help track people arrested in Montmorency County. Even though the jail is closed, VINE tracks inmates across all Michigan counties. If someone arrested by the Montmorency County Sheriff is being held in Alpena or Otsego County, VINE can still show their status. You can sign up for release alerts too.

The Michigan State Archives holds historical prison records going back to 1839, which can help with old released inmates searches.

Montmorency County FOIA Records

Under MCL 15.231, you can request records from the Montmorency County Sheriff's Office through FOIA. Even though the jail is closed, the office still has arrest records, historical booking logs, and release data from before the closure. For more recent cases, the arrest record is with Montmorency County, but the booking and release records may be with whichever neighboring county housed the inmate.

Your request must be in writing. Describe which records you need and include the person's name, any known dates, and your contact info. The response window is five business days, with a ten-day extension possible. Fees run about $0.10 per page for copies. Labor costs may apply if staff time is needed. Under MCL 791.230a, certain inmate information stays confidential. Medical data and some personal details are exempt. Basic arrest and release facts are public.

Send FOIA requests to the sheriff at 12265 M-32 West, Atlanta, MI 49709. You can also drop it off in person during business hours.

State Resources for Montmorency County

State databases are especially useful for Montmorency County since the local jail is closed. The Michigan Department of Corrections runs OTIS for prison records. It is free. The ICHAT system from Michigan State Police costs $10 and gives a broader criminal history check covering arrests and convictions statewide. ICHAT is more complete than OTIS for full background details.

MiCOURT lets you search court cases by name or case number. Montmorency County cases go through the 26th Judicial Circuit. This helps connect arrests to court outcomes like sentencing and probation. The Michigan State Archives holds historical prison records from 1839 through 1987 for very old cases.

The Michigan Sex Offender Registry tracks offenders under MCL 28.721. You can search by name, zip code, or county to check if a released inmate in the Montmorency County area is on the list.

Nearby Counties

Since Montmorency County closed its jail, arrestees go to these neighboring counties. Check with their sheriff offices for custody and release info.