Van Buren County Released Inmates
Van Buren County released inmates records are available through the sheriff office in Paw Paw, Michigan. This southwestern Michigan county has around 75,000 residents and runs a jail with about 120 beds. The sheriff department handles law enforcement across a mix of small towns and rural areas, including South Haven, Hartford, Bangor, and the county seat of Paw Paw. If you need to find out whether someone was released from the Van Buren County Jail, there are a few different paths to take. This page covers the local sheriff office, state databases, and the FOIA process so you know exactly how to search for Van Buren County released inmates records.
Van Buren County Overview
Van Buren County Sheriff and Jail
The Van Buren County Sheriff's Office operates the county jail in Paw Paw. It holds roughly 120 inmates at capacity. Bookings come from local police departments throughout the county as well as sheriff deputy arrests. The jail processes people from South Haven, Hartford, Bangor, Lawton, Mattawan, and other communities in Van Buren County.
To check on a released inmate, call the sheriff office during business hours. Staff can look up a person's custody status and confirm whether they have been released. For written records, you need to file a FOIA request. The sheriff office follows Michigan's Freedom of Information Act procedures, which means you put your request in writing and they have five business days to respond. The FOIA process is the same across all Michigan counties.
Van Buren County sits between Kalamazoo County to the east, Allegan County to the north, Berrien County to the south, and Cass County to the southeast. Arrests near those borders could end up in a different county's jail. If you are not sure where someone was booked, checking with the Van Buren County Sheriff first is a reasonable starting point since they can sometimes tell you if a person was transferred elsewhere.
| Office | Van Buren County Sheriff's Office |
|---|---|
| Address | 205 S. Kalamazoo Street, Paw Paw, MI 49079 |
| Phone | (269) 657-3101 |
| County Seat | Paw Paw |
Search Van Buren County Released Inmates Records
Finding released inmates from Van Buren County involves checking local and state sources. Here are the main options.
The sheriff office is the direct source for county jail records. Call (269) 657-3101 and ask about the person. Have their full name ready. Staff will check the jail management system and tell you the person's status. If they have been released, you can ask for the release date. For detailed records like full booking reports, submit a written FOIA request to 205 S. Kalamazoo Street, Paw Paw, MI 49079. Include the person's name and any dates you know.
The OTIS system from MDOC handles state prison records. It is free. Search by name or MDOC number to find current inmates, parolees, and anyone discharged from state custody in the past three years. If someone from Van Buren County was sentenced to state prison, OTIS is the place to look for their release information.
VINELink covers Van Buren County and lets you search for inmates across Michigan. Sign up for release alerts and get notified when someone's status changes. This is particularly useful for people waiting on a specific release from the Van Buren County Jail.
VINELink provides free custody status checks and release notifications for inmates held in Van Buren County and throughout Michigan.
Note: Van Buren County borders several other counties, so confirm where the arrest happened before searching for released inmates records.
Van Buren County FOIA Requests
Under MCL 15.231, the Van Buren County Sheriff's Office must respond to FOIA requests for public records. This includes released inmates records, booking logs, and arrest reports. Write your request and send it to the sheriff office by mail, fax, or in person. Be specific about what you want and include names and dates.
The office has five business days to respond. A ten-day extension is possible. Copy fees are typically $0.10 per page, and labor charges may apply based on the lowest-paid staff rate. Under MCL 791.230a, medical records and certain personal data about inmates cannot be released. However, basic booking information, charges filed, and release dates are public and should be provided through FOIA.
State Resources for Van Buren County
The Michigan Department of Corrections runs OTIS for state prison searches. ICHAT from the Michigan State Police costs $10 and gives you statewide criminal history coverage. The MiCOURT case search handles court records from participating courts. The 36th Circuit Court serves Van Buren County for felony cases.
The Michigan Sex Offender Registry lets you look up registered offenders in Van Buren County under MCL 28.721. For very old records, the Michigan State Archives keeps prison records dating back to 1839. Contact them at (517) 373-1408 for historical released inmates research tied to Van Buren County.
Nearby Counties
Van Buren County is in southwestern Michigan. These counties share a border with it.