Flint Booking Releases

Flint booking releases are generated by the Flint Police Department and processed through the Genesee County Jail in Genesee County. When someone is arrested in Flint, they go through a booking process that creates a public record. You can search those records using the tools on this page, or request them directly from the city or county. This guide covers the sources, the process, and the best ways to find what you need.

How Flint Booking Releases Work

When Flint police make an arrest, the person is taken to a holding facility and then transferred to the Genesee County Jail. The booking process collects the person's name, date of birth, photo, fingerprints, and the charges. All of that becomes part of the official booking record. Those records are public in most cases, and that is what we refer to as Flint booking releases.

The Flint Police Department operates its own short-term lockup for initial processing. After intake, most individuals move to the main county jail. The Genesee County Jail, located in Flint, holds pretrial detainees and sentenced individuals serving shorter terms. It has capacity for about 580 inmates, though it frequently runs at or above that number. The Sheriff's Office runs the jail and keeps all booking records for the facility. Anyone arrested by Flint officers ends up in this system, and the records follow them through the process from initial booking to release.

Booking records are not the same as criminal history. A booking record documents the arrest and the charges at the time of custody. It does not show the outcome of the case. Charges may be reduced, dropped, or result in conviction later. The booking release is a snapshot of what happened at the time of arrest.

Genesee County Jail Booking Records

The Genesee County Jail is the primary place where Flint booking releases are held. The Genesee County Sheriff's Office maintains all jail records. You can visit the Genesee County Jail website at geneseecountyjail.org to search for current inmates. The site lets you look up people by name and see basic booking information including charges and booking dates.

The jail roster shows who is currently in custody. It updates as people are booked and released. If someone was recently arrested in Flint, their name should appear in the system within a few hours of processing. The roster includes the inmate's name, booking date, charges, bond amount, and housing location. For people who have already been released, you may need to make a formal records request to get that information.

Note: The online roster only shows current inmates. For past booking records, use a FOIA request or contact the Genesee County Sheriff's Office directly.

Requesting Flint Booking Releases via FOIA

Michigan's Freedom of Information Act, found at MCL 15.231, gives the public the right to request government records. Both the city and the county handle FOIA requests. Your request goes to the agency that holds the record. Flint Police records go to the city. Jail records go to the county.

To request records from the Flint Police Department, use the public records portal on the city's website. You can find it at flint.gov/how-do-i/request-public-records. Requests can be submitted online, by mail, or in person. The city has 5 business days to respond. They can grant access, deny access, or notify you that more time is needed. If they deny your request, they must tell you which FOIA exemption applies.

The Flint Police Department can be reached at 810-237-6800 for questions about records or the FOIA process. You can also visit their page at flint.gov/departments/police-department for more information on available services. For records held by the Genesee County Sheriff, contact the county directly or submit a written request to the Sheriff's Office.

FOIA requests do not require a specific reason. You do not need to explain why you want the record. You just need to describe what you are looking for clearly enough that the agency can find it. Name, date of arrest, and case number all help narrow the search.

OTIS and Michigan State Records

The Michigan Department of Corrections runs the Offender Tracking Information System, known as OTIS. This is the state's main database for people in MDOC custody. You can search it at mdocweb.state.mi.us/OTIS2/otis2.aspx. It covers those currently in state prison, on parole, or on probation under MDOC supervision. It also includes people who left MDOC custody within the past three years.

OTIS does not cover county jail inmates. If someone is held at the Genesee County Jail following a Flint arrest, they will not show up in OTIS. That system is separate from local booking records. OTIS is most useful when someone has been convicted of a state crime and sentenced to prison. For arrests that are still in the pretrial stage, or for people serving short local sentences, the county jail system is the right place to look.

VINELink Victim Notification

VINELink is a free, nationwide service that lets people track inmate custody status. Victims, attorneys, and others can register to get alerts when an inmate is released, transferred, or has a status change. Most Michigan county jails participate in the system, including facilities in Genesee County. You can search and register at vinelink.com.

VINELink covers Flint booking releases indirectly. If a person was arrested in Flint and is held at the Genesee County Jail, you can search for them by name or ID number. You can also sign up for notifications so you know when their status changes. The service is available around the clock and works by phone, email, or text message. It supports both English and Spanish.

Additional Booking Release Resources

Several resources are available beyond the jail roster and FOIA process. The Genesee County Sheriff's Office is your main point of contact for jail booking records. The Flint Police Department handles records for police reports and incident-level documentation.

• Genesee County Jail - Inmate lookup and booking information
• Flint Police Department - Local arrests and police records
• Flint Public Records Portal - Submit FOIA requests to the city
• MDOC OTIS - State prisoner and parolee search
• VINELink - Custody status and victim notification

Note: Booking records are subject to FOIA exemptions in some cases. Records involving ongoing investigations or juvenile matters may not be fully available to the public.

Nearby Cities

These Michigan cities also have booking release pages. Each city has its own police department, but arrests may be processed through different county jails depending on location.