Benzie County Inmate Population
Benzie County inmate population records are kept by the Benzie County Sheriff's Office in Beulah. Anyone looking to find a person currently held at the Benzie County Jail should contact the sheriff's office directly by phone. This page explains how to search for county jail inmates, how to use OTIS for state prison lookups, how VINELink works for custody alerts, and how to request inmate records through Michigan's public records process.
Benzie County Overview
Benzie County Jail and Custody Records
The Benzie County Jail is in Beulah, the county seat of this small northwestern Michigan county. The Benzie County Sheriff's Office runs the facility and handles all inmate intake, records, and custody management. Benzie County is a rural county along Lake Michigan with a relatively small permanent population. Jail population levels reflect this, with fewer inmates than in larger urban counties.
The sheriff's office at 505 S. Michigan Ave. in Beulah is the right contact for all inmate population inquiries. There is no public online jail roster for Benzie County, so calling the office is necessary for current custody checks. The phone number is (231) 882-4484. Have the person's full name and, if possible, their date of birth when you call.
Arrests in Benzie County come from sheriff's deputies, state troopers, and sometimes tribal law enforcement in adjacent areas. All of these agencies book arrestees into the county system at the Benzie County Jail. The sheriff's office manages all of these records and can answer questions about who is currently in custody.
VINELink Custody Notifications for Benzie County
Free custody notification alerts for Benzie County inmates are available through VINELink at vinelink.com.
VINELink covers the Benzie County Jail and all Michigan state prisons, sending automatic alerts by phone, text, or email whenever a registered inmate's custody status changes.
Finding Benzie County Jail Inmates
Call the Benzie County Sheriff's Office at (231) 882-4484 to check on someone's custody status. This is the most direct approach for county jail inmates. Staff can confirm whether a person is in custody and share publicly available booking information. Calling during business hours gives you the best chance of reaching someone who can help quickly.
For people who were convicted of a felony and sent to state prison, use OTIS. The OTIS database is a free Michigan Department of Corrections tool. It covers all active state inmates and recently released individuals. Search by name to find facility, release date, and a photo if available. OTIS does not include county jail inmates.
VINELink at vinelink.com offers free ongoing custody alerts. Register with a name and choose your notification method: phone, text, or email. The 24-hour notification line is 1-800-770-7657. VINELink covers both county and state facilities, so one registration covers either scenario.
Note: In Benzie County, the inmate population is small enough that staff can often answer questions about current custody quickly and without needing to file a formal records request.
Benzie County Sheriff's Office Contact
The Benzie County Sheriff's Office in Beulah handles all jail matters, including inmate inquiries, visitation coordination, and public records requests. This is the right office to call when you need Benzie County inmate population information.
| Office | Benzie County Sheriff's Office |
|---|---|
| Address | 505 S. Michigan Ave., Beulah, MI 49617 |
| Phone | (231) 882-4484 |
| Fax | (231) 882-4485 |
Benzie County Inmate Records Requests
Michigan's Freedom of Information Act gives you the right to request inmate records from the Benzie County Sheriff's Office. MCL 15.231 is the law that establishes this right. Under MCL 15.231, the sheriff's office must respond to a written FOIA request within five business days. An extension of up to ten more days is permitted with written notice.
Write your request to include the person's name, the time period in question, and the type of records you are seeking. Submit your written request by mail or in person to the Benzie County Sheriff's Office at 505 S. Michigan Ave., Beulah, MI 49617. There may be a fee for copying and preparing records. The office must give you a cost estimate before proceeding.
Some records are protected under FOIA exemptions. Active investigations, personal data that could endanger someone, and certain sensitive details may not be released. Any denial must include the applicable exemption. You can appeal a denial through the county's formal appeal process.
Michigan OTIS: State Prison Inmate Search
OTIS is Michigan's free online tool for finding state prison inmates. When someone from Benzie County is convicted of a felony and sentenced to more than a year, they are transferred from the county jail to an MDOC facility. Their record moves to the state system. OTIS is where you search for them after that transfer.
Visit mdocweb.state.mi.us to search by name or MDOC number. Results include facility name, release date projection, and photo. OTIS also covers people on parole who are supervised in the community after release from state prison. The MDOC main website at michigan.gov/corrections has additional information about state prison operations.
Remember: OTIS only covers state inmates. People in the Benzie County Jail are not in this system. Check the county jail first, then OTIS, to cover both scenarios.
Benzie County Court Records
Criminal cases in Benzie County go through the 19th Circuit Court and local district courts. Court records are public and give context for why someone is in custody. They include charges, bond conditions, hearing dates, and case status. These records are separate from jail records but closely connected to the reason someone is held at the county jail.
Use the MiCOURT case search portal to look up cases for free. Search by name or case number. The Benzie County Clerk's office maintains official records and can assist with older or closed cases that may not appear in the online system.
County Jail vs. State Prison in Michigan
Michigan runs two separate systems for holding people in custody. The Benzie County Jail is a local facility run by the sheriff under MCL 801.1. It holds people in pretrial detention and those serving sentences under one year. Michigan state prisons, run by MDOC, handle felony sentences longer than one year.
Once someone is transferred from the Benzie County Jail to state prison, county records no longer apply. MCL 800.31 sets the operational standards for county jails in Michigan, including Benzie County. These rules cover facility conditions, inmate treatment, and administrative procedures. State prisons operate under separate MDOC regulations.
If you are searching for someone and cannot find them at the county level, check OTIS next. If they are not in either system, they may have been released, moved to another county, or may not be in Michigan custody at all.
Michigan State Police Resources
The Michigan State Police operates in Benzie County and makes arrests that result in county jail bookings. ICHAT is the State Police tool for searching Michigan criminal conviction records by name. It requires a fee per search and covers all Michigan counties including Benzie. ICHAT shows conviction history but not current jail or prison status.
The free Michigan Sex Offender Registry is searchable by name or location. It shows registered offenders currently living in Benzie County. The registry reflects registration status, not current custody. Both tools are managed by the Michigan State Police and are available online.
Visiting Inmates at Benzie County Jail
Visitation at the Benzie County Jail is managed by the sheriff's office. Contact the office at (231) 882-4484 to get current visitation hours and policies. Rules can change, so calling ahead before a visit is a good idea. You will need to know who you want to visit and be prepared to show valid photo identification.
Mail sent to inmates at the Benzie County Jail should be addressed to the inmate's full name at 505 S. Michigan Ave., Beulah, MI 49617. All mail may be inspected. Do not include cash. Ask the sheriff's office about the approved method for adding money to an inmate's account. Each facility handles this differently, and using the wrong method can cause the funds to be returned.
Cities in Benzie County
Benzie County includes Beulah, Frankfort, Honor, and several townships. None of these communities currently meet the population threshold for a dedicated city inmate population page. See the cities directory for Michigan cities that have dedicated inmate population pages.
Nearby Counties
These counties border or sit near Benzie County in northwestern Michigan. Each has its own sheriff's office and jail. If you are unsure which county has a person in custody, start with the county where the arrest occurred.