Washtenaw County Inmate Population

Washtenaw County, Michigan maintains its inmate population at the county jail in Ann Arbor, operated by the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office. The jail serves the county's dense and diverse population, processing arrests from multiple law enforcement agencies including the Ann Arbor Police Department and University of Michigan Department of Public Safety. This page covers how to find current custody status, use Michigan's statewide inmate search tools, and access records for anyone held in Washtenaw County.

Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office

The Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office is located at 2201 Hogback Rd., Ann Arbor, MI 48105. The main phone number is (734) 973-4611. You can find more information on their services at https://www.washtenaw.org/1067/Sheriffs-Office. The sheriff's office handles all aspects of the county jail, including intake, classification, housing, and release.

Booking records created at intake are governed by Michigan's Freedom of Information Act under MCL 15.231. Most booking data is public. Basic custody status is available by phone. More detailed records require a formal written FOIA request, to which the office must respond within five business days.

Washtenaw County is one of Michigan's more populous counties, serving a mix of urban and suburban communities. The jail handles a wide range of charges, from misdemeanors adjudicated in district court to serious felonies pending action in the 22nd Circuit. Volume is higher than most Michigan counties, and the population changes continuously throughout the week.

OTIS Michigan State Inmate Search

OTIS, the Michigan Department of Corrections' Offender Tracking Information System, covers people in state prison. Anyone sentenced to more than a year in Washtenaw County will be placed in an MDOC facility and searchable in OTIS. Use the free search at https://mdocweb.state.mi.us/OTIS2/otis2.aspx.

Enter a name or MDOC number to get current facility, expected release date, and status. OTIS does not cover county jail inmates. For anyone currently held at the Washtenaw County Jail, call (734) 973-4611. State inmates sentenced from the 22nd Circuit will appear in OTIS once MDOC intake and classification are complete, which typically takes a day or two after transfer.

VINELink Custody Notification

VINELink is a free service that automatically notifies registered users when an inmate's custody status changes. You can sign up to get alerts about releases, transfers, and escapes for both county and state facilities in Michigan. Register at https://www.vinelink.com/ or call 1-800-770-7657.

You'll need the person's name or inmate ID to set up an alert. Notifications go out by phone, email, or text depending on your preference. The system runs continuously and pulls from real-time custody data, making it more reliable than manual checks. For Washtenaw County cases that involve multiple court dates and possible transfers, VINELink is a practical way to stay informed without repeatedly contacting the jail.

Michigan FOIA and Washtenaw County Jail Records

Under MCL 15.231, most government records, including jail booking data and rosters, are available to the public in Michigan. The Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office must respond to written FOIA requests within five business days.

Send a written request to 2201 Hogback Rd., Ann Arbor, MI 48105, or deliver it in person. Describe the specific records you need. Fees may apply for copying. Basic booking information is often provided at low or no cost. If any part of the request is denied, the office must provide a written reason citing the applicable exemption.

Common exemptions include records tied to active investigations, juvenile proceedings, and certain health data. You can appeal a denial within the agency or through circuit court. Given Washtenaw County's higher case volume, some requests may take the full five business days to process. Note: if you're looking for records from Ann Arbor Police specifically, you may need to submit a separate request to that agency rather than to the sheriff's office.

Court Records for Washtenaw County

The 22nd Judicial Circuit Court handles felony proceedings in Washtenaw County. District courts cover misdemeanors and traffic matters. Case records are searchable through the Michigan One Court of Justice portal at https://courts.michigan.gov/case-search/.

MiCOURT lets you search by name or case number to find filings, charges, hearing dates, and outcomes. If someone is in the county jail awaiting trial, their case should appear here. Court records and jail records are separate databases, so always check both. Someone may be in custody on a hold from another jurisdiction that won't appear as an active local case.

Michigan Sex Offender Registry

The Michigan State Police maintains the public Sex Offender Registry, searchable at https://www.michigan.gov/msp/services/sex-offender-registry. You can search by name, address, or zip code. The registry shows registered offenders' current addresses, offense history, and compliance status.

The registry does not show whether someone is currently in jail. For custody status, use OTIS or call the Washtenaw County Jail. Registered sex offenders in Washtenaw County must follow state reporting requirements. Suspected violations should be reported to the sheriff's office or local police.

ICHAT Background Check

ICHAT, the Internet Criminal History Access Tool run by the Michigan State Police, provides public access to statewide criminal conviction records. Search at https://www.michigan.gov/msp/services/ichat. A fee applies per search.

ICHAT returns felony and misdemeanor convictions across Michigan. It does not show pending charges, arrests, or current custody status. Use it to check a person's conviction history, not to find out if they are currently in jail. For current custody in Washtenaw County, contact the sheriff's office directly or use OTIS for state-sentenced individuals. Note: ICHAT data depends on timely reporting from courts and may lag for very recent convictions.

Michigan Department of Corrections

People sentenced to more than a year from Washtenaw County's 22nd Circuit are sent to Michigan Department of Corrections facilities. The MDOC runs all state prisons and supervises parolees statewide. Information is available at https://www.michigan.gov/corrections, and a full list of prisons is at https://www.michigan.gov/corrections/Prisons.

After sentencing, a person is transported to an MDOC receiving facility for intake and classification. Permanent facility assignment follows. Each prison has its own policies for visitation, approved visitors, mail, and phone. Check the MDOC website for the specific facility before trying to visit or communicate with a state inmate.

The Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office website at washtenaw.org provides information on jail services, booking, and inmate programs available to people in county custody.

The Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office manages one of southeast Michigan's largest county jails, serving Ann Arbor and surrounding communities. The website provides direct access to jail information, inmate services, and contact details for the county's corrections staff.

Cities in Washtenaw County

Ann Arbor is the largest city in Washtenaw County and has its own dedicated inmate population page with details specific to that community. All inmates arrested in Ann Arbor are held at the Washtenaw County Jail unless transported to another facility.

Nearby Counties

Washtenaw County borders several southeast Michigan counties. Each has its own jail, court system, and inmate population records.