Chippewa County Inmate Population
The Chippewa County inmate population is held at the county jail in Sault Ste. Marie, operated by the Chippewa County Sheriff's Office. Chippewa County is located in Michigan's Upper Peninsula on the border with Canada, making it one of the state's more remote jurisdictions. You can find people in local custody by calling the jail or using VINELink. For state prison inmates, OTIS is the best tool. This page covers all the main public record resources tied to the Chippewa County inmate population.
Chippewa County Overview
Chippewa County Jail and Sheriff's Office
The Chippewa County Jail is the only local detention facility in the county. It sits at 325 Court St., Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783. The Sheriff's Office runs the jail and processes all arrests made in Chippewa County. Sault Ste. Marie is the county seat and the largest city in the area. Its location on the Canadian border means the county sometimes handles federal holds as well as state charges.
To reach the Sheriff's Office, call (906) 632-5733. The fax is (906) 632-5734. Staff can confirm whether a person is in custody, give you booking status, and explain how to schedule a visit. The jail holds both pretrial detainees and people serving short sentences. Under MCL 801.1, the Chippewa County Sheriff has full authority over jail operations, including housing, intake, and inmate movement.
The remoteness of the Upper Peninsula means that inmates from Chippewa County who receive state sentences may be placed in facilities far from home. OTIS can tell you exactly where a state prisoner is housed. For county jail inmates, always call the Sheriff's Office directly.
| Facility | Chippewa County Jail |
|---|---|
| Address | 325 Court St., Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783 |
| Phone | (906) 632-5733 |
| Fax | (906) 632-5734 |
| Operator | Chippewa County Sheriff's Office |
OTIS Inmate Information for Chippewa County
The screenshot below shows the OTIS offender information page, which gives details about inmates under Michigan Department of Corrections supervision. This includes people who were sentenced out of Chippewa County courts and transferred to state facilities.
Visit michigan.gov/corrections/otis to learn more about OTIS, or go directly to the OTIS search portal to look up a person by name or MDOC number.
OTIS results include the current facility, the offense conviction, sentence dates, and projected release or parole status for Chippewa County cases handled by MDOC.
VINELink for Chippewa County Custody Tracking
VINELink is free and works statewide. You can use it to track any person held in the Chippewa County Jail or in a Michigan state prison. Register at VINELink.com or call 1-800-770-7657. The system alerts you when a custody status changes. You pick how to receive alerts: phone call, email, or text message.
This is especially useful for people in Chippewa County who want to know if someone has been released or transferred without having to call the jail repeatedly. Given the remote location of Sault Ste. Marie, VINELink provides a convenient alternative to in-person checks. The service covers both local jail inmates and state prisoners from Chippewa County.
Note: VINELink notifications may have a brief delay. For time-sensitive matters, call (906) 632-5733 to confirm directly with the jail.
Chippewa County Court Records
The 50th Circuit Court handles felony criminal cases in Chippewa County. District courts cover misdemeanors and lower-level civil matters. Each criminal case that results in custody creates a public court record. These records include the charges, plea, and sentencing order. They help explain why a person is part of the Chippewa County inmate population.
Search court records online at MiCOURT. Enter the person's name or case number to pull up case history. MiCOURT is free and covers courts across Michigan. If you need physical copies of court documents, visit the Chippewa County Circuit Court Clerk in Sault Ste. Marie. Under MCL 15.231, court and jail records are generally available under Michigan FOIA rules, with some exceptions.
Conviction Records in Chippewa County
ICHAT, Michigan's internet criminal history access tool, gives you access to public conviction records from courts statewide. This includes convictions from Chippewa County. The Michigan State Police runs ICHAT, and results show felony and misdemeanor convictions. Arrests that did not result in conviction are not included.
Search ICHAT at michigan.gov/msp/services/ichat. There is a small fee per search. ICHAT does not tell you whether a person is currently in custody. For current custody information on Chippewa County inmates, call the jail or check VINELink. ICHAT is best used to understand someone's conviction history rather than their current status.
Public Records from Chippewa County Jail
You have the right to request jail records from the Chippewa County Sheriff's Office under Michigan FOIA law. Under MCL 15.231, the office must respond within five business days. They may take up to ten additional days if the request is large or complex. They can charge a reasonable fee for copying and staff labor.
Write a clear request that identifies the specific records you want. Include the name of the inmate, the date range, and the type of document. Send it to the Chippewa County Sheriff's Office at 325 Court St., Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783. Records tied to active investigations or involving minors may be partially or fully exempt.
State Supervision and MDOC in Chippewa County
The Michigan Department of Corrections handles all state prisoners sentenced in Chippewa County. Once a person leaves the local jail for state prison, MDOC manages their placement, programs, and release planning. MDOC also handles parole supervision after release. Under MCL 800.31, MDOC must meet state standards for inmate care and facility operations.
Because Chippewa County is in the Upper Peninsula, state prisoners from this area may be housed at distant facilities. OTIS will tell you exactly where. The MDOC website at michigan.gov/corrections has facility contact information and general policy details for anyone navigating the state prison system from Chippewa County.
Cities in Chippewa County
Chippewa County includes Sault Ste. Marie and several smaller communities in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. No cities in Chippewa County meet the population threshold for a dedicated page on this site. Visit our cities directory to see all qualifying Michigan cities.
Nearby Counties
These Upper Peninsula counties border Chippewa County. Inmates may be held in or transferred among these facilities depending on space and jurisdiction.