Ann Arbor Booking Release Records
Ann Arbor booking releases are created when the Ann Arbor Police Department arrests someone and processes them into the local system. After booking, most people are held at the Washtenaw County Jail while their case moves through the courts. This page covers how to search for Ann Arbor booking records, how to file a FOIA request with the police department, how to look up someone at the Washtenaw County Jail, and what other resources are available for finding inmate information in the Ann Arbor area.
Ann Arbor Overview
How Booking Releases Work in Ann Arbor
An arrest in Ann Arbor starts at the city level. The Ann Arbor Police Department processes the person, records the charges, takes fingerprints and photographs, and creates the official booking record. That record is part of the case file from that point forward. Most of the time, the person is then transferred to the Washtenaw County Jail for continued custody pending arraignment or trial.
Ann Arbor is the county seat of Washtenaw County, so the county jail is close by and serves as the main detention facility for city arrests. Release can happen multiple ways. A judge may release someone on their own recognizance at arraignment. Bond payment results in release from county custody. Charges dismissed early in the process also result in release. When any of these happen, the booking release is logged. That combined record of booking and release is what most people are looking for when they search Ann Arbor booking releases.
Both the police department and the county jail maintain separate records. You may need both to get the full story of an arrest. Neither requires you to be a party to the case to request information.
Ann Arbor Police Department Records
The Ann Arbor Police Department is at 301 E. Huron St., Ann Arbor, MI 48104. The main line is 734-794-6000. The department's records page at a2gov.org explains what types of records are available and how to request them. Ann Arbor does not publish a public real-time booking roster. Getting specific arrest records requires a formal written request.
The FOIA contact for Ann Arbor Police records requests is through the city's FOIA page at a2gov.org/FOIA. You can submit your request by email, mail, or in person. For the department to locate a specific record, your request should include the date of the incident, the location, and the names of the people involved. Vague requests may be returned or denied on the basis that the record could not be found.
Ann Arbor must have a designated FOIA coordinator under MCL 15.236. That person handles all requests, processes fee estimates, and sends written responses including any denials. If you believe a denial was improper, you can appeal to the city's chief administrative officer or take the matter to circuit court.
Washtenaw County Jail Booking Records
Most people arrested by Ann Arbor Police are held at the Washtenaw County Jail after their initial processing. The Washtenaw County Sheriff operates the jail and handles all custody and release records from that point. Jail information is available at washtenaw.org/736/Jail. Inmate services information is at washtenaw.org/1693/Inmate-Services. The online inmate search is free and shows current custody status, bond amounts, and booking dates for active inmates.
The Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office is at ewashtenaw.org. The jail holds pre-trial detainees and sentenced inmates. It also offers work release programs, educational services, and medical care. For FOIA requests targeting county jail records, contact the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office directly. Jail records and city police records are separate, maintained by separate agencies, and require separate requests if you need both.
Note: Washtenaw County participates in VINELink, so you can search Ann Arbor area inmates at vinelink.com without contacting the jail directly.
Requesting Booking Releases via FOIA
Michigan's Freedom of Information Act at MCL 15.231 provides the legal right to request records from public agencies. The Ann Arbor Police Department and the Washtenaw County Sheriff are both subject to this law. Booking records, arrest reports, and incident reports are generally public once a case is closed or an investigation is complete.
To request records from Ann Arbor Police, submit a written request through the FOIA process at a2gov.org/FOIA. Include the incident date, location, and the names of the parties. The city has 5 business days to respond under MCL 15.234. They can extend by up to 10 more days for complex requests, but written notice is required. Fees cover labor, copies, and postage. If estimated costs exceed $50, a deposit may be required before work begins. People receiving public assistance or facing financial hardship can file an Affidavit of Indigency to waive up to $20 of the processing fee.
Some records are exempt from disclosure under MCL 15.243. These include records tied to open investigations, confidential informant details, and personal information that would clearly invade someone's privacy. When a record is partially withheld, the agency must release the remaining portions and give a written explanation. The 1983 case Pennington v. Washtenaw County Sheriff established that sex crime complainant information is exempt as an invasion of privacy, which is one example of how courts have interpreted the limits of FOIA in this area.
You do not need to cite the FOIA statute in your request. Just make it clear you are asking for a specific public record and describe it with enough detail for the agency to locate it.
OTIS and State Records
The Michigan Department of Corrections runs the Offender Tracking Information System (OTIS). This free tool covers current state prisoners, parolees, MDOC-supervised probationers, and people who discharged from state supervision within the last three years. If someone convicted after an Ann Arbor arrest is sent to state prison, they will no longer appear in the Washtenaw County Jail system. OTIS is where you find them at that point.
OTIS does not cover county jail inmates. The two systems are separate. Use the Washtenaw County inmate search for people still in local custody. Use OTIS for those who have entered the Michigan state prison system. You can search by last name. No account is required and there is no fee to use OTIS.
The OTIS search page shown above is at mdocweb.state.mi.us. Use it when someone convicted after an Ann Arbor arrest has moved from county jail into the state prison system. Results show current facility, custody status, and projected release dates for those under MDOC jurisdiction.
VINELink Victim Notification
VINELink is a free nationwide tool for searching inmate custody status. Most Michigan county jails participate, including Washtenaw County. You can search by name, case number, or inmate ID. The service runs 24 hours a day. It does not require an account to search, and no fee applies for basic lookups.
Registered users can sign up for automatic alerts. When someone's custody status changes, such as a release, transfer, or court date, VINELink sends a notification by phone, email, or text message. This is useful if you need to track someone's custody status over time. Registration is free and available to anyone, not just crime victims. Multiple cases can be tracked at the same time through a single account.
Additional Resources
The Michigan State Police ICHAT tool covers public criminal history for all 83 Michigan counties. It shows felony convictions and serious misdemeanors reported by courts and law enforcement statewide. You search by name and date of birth. A fee applies per search. ICHAT does not show arrests without convictions. Use it alongside a FOIA request when you need both arrest details and conviction history.
Michigan Legal Help at michiganlegalhelp.org has guides on FOIA, criminal records, and how the booking and release process works in Michigan. Legal aid organizations in Washtenaw County, including the Washtenaw County Public Defender's Office, provide assistance to eligible residents. The State Bar of Michigan lawyer referral service connects people with private attorneys for matters requiring professional legal help.
Nearby Cities
These nearby qualifying cities also have booking records and FOIA processes. All have their own police departments and arrest records under Michigan law.