Complete a Free Oakland County Warrant Search (Resource)

Run a free Oakland County warrant search using the convenient lookup tools and public record custodians linked throughout this resource.

This article concisely explains how to determine if someone has an active warrant in Oakland County, Michigan, regardless of the offense or the jurisdiction where it was issued within the county. It includes specific guidance that will help you quickly find anyone wanted.

How To Perform an Oakland County Warrant Search (a Synopsis)

In Oakland County, a warrant is an instrument that empowers the county sheriff or the local police to take a specified law enforcement action (e.g., arrest someone, seize their property, search a building). So, having a warrant makes anyone subject to arrest, search and prosecution at any time.

Individuals may wish to check if there are any outstanding warrants against them or someone else for various reasons:

• To clear their warrants (if they have any) and take care of their pending obligations in a timely manner.
• For personal reasons such as looking up an online dating match prior to meeting up.

Under Michigan’s Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), citizens are entitled to most public records in the state.¹ This means anyone can access certain crime records including arrest information in the state. Public record searches through a government agency can be free or fee-based.

For example, file photographs of crime suspects, taken by law enforcement agencies, are generally considered to be public records (unless in certain cases, it is deemed to be an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy) as per OAG, No. 5593, p 468.²

In some instances, a law enforcement agency may not disclose the name of an individual who has been arrested but has not been charged with a crime yet (Open Meetings Act & Freedom of Information Act). Not all warrants are viewable to the public. For example, active warrant information that could interfere with an ongoing investigation is exempt from disclosure.

Furthermore, even if someone was arrested and convicted in the past, an expungement may remove those records completely from the person’s criminal history record.

There are several types of warrants, each having their own legal implications, however, most of them can be found through the same county or state agencies. The process of checking for outstanding warrants may vary according to the jurisdiction and the nature and stage of the case concerned.

Several county agencies maintain information on local warrants, including the clerk of the court’s office, the sheriff’s department and city police departments. Some Oakland County warrants are available for free online while others may not be available until they are executed.

The defendant (or anyone wishing to find warrant information) must be able to provide at least the full name of the individual being searched. Additionally, to have more specific and accurate results, knowing other details might be helpful, e.g., the city or town where the individual named on the warrant resides and where the offense has allegedly been committed.

How To Verify if You or Someone Else Has an Active Warrant in Oakland County Michigan

To search if you have a warrant in Oakland County, Michigan, a convenient option is to get started with the resources made available by the local court. The Legal Records Division of the County Clerk’s Office keeps records of civil and criminal cases for the Oakland County Circuit Court and the 14 district courts in the county.³

The office permits the public to access most Oakland County court records (details and documents) online through the Court Explorer Portal.⁴ Users can search by name or case number to look up court cases including the register of actions (docket entries), names of the parties and attorneys involved in a case etc.

However, the Court Explorer database does not contain active warrants. The tool can be used to find cases where warrants have already been served (e.g., an arrest has been made and the arrestee has been charged with a crime). Moreover, none of the 14 district court websites provide an online warrant search tool to look up a person by name.

Hence, if there are reasons to believe that you may have an active Oakland County warrant (e.g., missed your court date for a civil infraction traffic ticket hearing), you may submit an inquiry by reaching out to the court clerk’s office at the following address:⁵

Oakland Clerk’s Office Legal Division
1200 N. Telegraph Road, Dept. 413
Pontiac, Michigan 48341

Email: [email protected]
Phone: 248-858-0582

The clerk’s office can assist searchers with information on pending cases and upcoming court schedules.

Once a warrant is issued, the responsibility to execute it typically lies with local law enforcement authorities. So, another approach to search for Oakland County warrants is to contact local police departments and the county sheriff’s office.

Oakland County Sheriff’s Office (OSCO) maintains a list of the most wanted fugitives wanted by the agency.

The list displays mugshots as well as basic physical descriptions about each offender e.g., height, weight, hair, eye, and date of birth. It also discloses the type of warrant issued against them. For example, whether it’s for a civil child neglect/child support case or an outstanding felony warrant for a serious crime.

For general information, the sheriff’s department may be contacted by calling 248-858-5000 or by sending an email to [email protected]. Those preferring to make an immediate and detailed inquiry in person, may visit the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office at this location:

Oakland County Sheriff’s Office
1201 N. Telegraph Road,
Pontiac, MI 48341

For public warrant information specific to a city or town, contact the local law enforcement agency in the jurisdiction the offense is believed to have occurred.

For example, if a criminal misdemeanor offense occurred in Troy, Michigan, a warrant of arrest might be issued by the 52nd District Court against the suspect. The Troy City Police Department may be authorized to serve it.

Police Department – Troy, Michigan
500 West Big Beaver Rd.
City of Troy, 48084

Phone: 248-524-3477

Here is the directory for all local Police Departments in Oakland County. The warrant information is typically held by the agencies that have authority in the jurisdiction where the crime took place.

Note that even if a police agency is handling the case, it may not disclose whether a warrant is open due to the concern that the defendant could flee. On the other hand, when running a warrant check on your name by appearing in person, there is a risk of being arrested in the lobby of a police department or court.

So, a convenient way to perform an Oakland warrant search online is to use third-party search sites. Third-party platforms provide broader results by going beyond government agencies, i.e., collecting public record data from social media and other information sources.

Note that the public records available online are meant for informational use only. For example, running a quick background check on yourself to ensure your records are clean.

On the other hand, a professional criminal record history search can be done to obtain copies of the official records which are on file with a government agency (police department or court), which requires the applicant to complete and sign a consent form.⁷

How To Find Statewide Warrant Details in Michigan

The Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) maintains lists of Most Wanted Escapees and Most Wanted Absconders.⁸

The state agency routinely shares photos and basic details about individuals who have fled their jurisdiction to avoid prosecution, absconded on bond, failed to appear in court and numerous other reasons. The lists are available online to be viewed by the public for free.

A statewide name-based public criminal history record search can be conducted through the Internet Criminal History Access Tool (ICHAT) provided by the Michigan State Police. It costs $10.00 to run a search on someone’s name on ICHAT.

ICHAT reports will display Michigan state offenses with records of arrests, convictions and charges. However, they do not include outstanding warrants.

The State Judiciary’s MiCourt Case Search Tool, which allows the public to search and view court case records for free. Cases can be searched by party name or case docket number. Individuals wishing to run a case search on someone’s name may go to the portal, click the “Select Another Court” button to find a court. Then, in the search box, type at least the last name of the person being searched.

Case results will show a database with relevant details of each case including the case ID, name of the party, title, status of the case, filing date, next hearing, court information etc.

It may help users find whether a case involved previous warrants or arrest records. However, the database may not include information related to an ongoing law enforcement operation for example, an active arrest warrant.

For active warrant information, searchers may reach out to the court that issued the warrant. Contact information, offices and locations for all Michigan courts can be found on the same database (using the “Select Another Court” button).

Different Kinds of Warrants & What Each Signifies

In the County of Oakland, Michigan, warrants can be issued for a variety of reasons. Here are the common types of warrants and their possible underlying offenses.

Arrest Warrants: A judge or court magistrate may issue an arrest warrant to apprehend a person charged with a felony (i.e., a serious crime), misdemeanor (e.g., shoplifting or petty theft), or ordinance violation (a municipal civil infraction).

To check some of the common offenses usually handled by a local court, check the 52-4 District Court Criminal Division FAQ.

In order to be valid, an Oakland County warrant must include some very specific details. For example, an arrest warrant includes:

• The name of the accused and if known, an additional description to identify the person.
• Description of the offense charged against the accused in the complaint or the supporting affidavit filed with the complaint.
• Instructions for the designated officer to take the accused into custody and bring them before a judge (typically in the judicial district where the offense occurred).
• The warrant must be signed by the court.

A police officer may arrest a person without a warrant in certain circumstances, for example, when there is a “reasonable cause” to suspect that the target of the warrant has committed a crime or is a fugitive/wanted criminal.¹⁰

Warrantless arrests can also be made to detain offenders who might have violated a condition of parole or probation order imposed by any court in the state. Moreover, any resident can arrest an offender and deliver them to a peace officer.

Search Warrants: The local police/sheriff may be authorized to search a property or object that is unlawfully possessed or being used in illegal acts.

A Michigan search warrant may direct the designated officer to search and apprehend a person wanted on an arrest warrant or a bench warrant (for a criminal case).¹¹

Bench Warrants: Unlike arrest warrants, bench warrants are issued for less serious offenses in general. Nonetheless, both of these types of warrants give law enforcement the authorization to arrest the subject.

For example, a civil Infraction such as receiving a traffic ticket is not considered a crime and the respondent is unlikely to be arrested for it. However, if they fail to respond to the citation/summons, or pay fines as directed, a bench warrant may be issued for their arrest.¹²

Furthermore, if a defendant fails to appear on their scheduled date in court, it may be considered a criminal offense. They may face a bench warrant leading to additional charges and penalties.

In Michigan, bench warrants can be issued in child support cases. For example, a parent can be placed under arrest for non-payment of court-ordered support.

Bench and arrest warrants do not expire in the state so they will remain active/outstanding until their execution has taken place.

How To Resolve a Warrant in Oakland County Michigan

If someone you know appears on an outstanding warrant list, you may inform them directly so that they may secure legal assistance as soon as they can. A person on a wanted list may as well be violent and dangerous. Instead of attempting to approach or apprehend them, it is advisable to contact the agency that has shared the information.

The concerned citizen may contact the Michigan State Police to anonymously submit a crime tip at 1-855-MICH-TIP or report any of Michigan’s most wanted criminals by calling +1-877-445-8477.

Persons who have discovered they have an outstanding arrest warrant may inform a friend or relative about the situation. To resolve the legal matter in a safe and dignified way, the best course of action would be to surrender voluntarily by going to their nearest police station.

Low-income residents of the state may refer to the Michigan Courts’ Legal Aid Guidelines and seek low-cost legal services by using the Lawyer Referral Service.^{13, 14} The best way to resolve a traffic ticket or a misdemeanor ticket is to appear in court on the date and time specified on the ticket.

In case someone is on a misdemeanor or felony charge and fails to appear in court on the appropriate date, they may have an active bench warrant issued against them. So, they must appear in court as soon as possible to set up an arraignment date.

If the failure-to-appear occurred in a Civil Infraction matter (e.g., traffic infraction), a default judgment will be followed. For more information, please refer to the Defaulted Tickets webpage provided by Oakland 48th District Court Traffic Division.

In some cases, a warrant may be recalled and removed from public records, if the case is resolved by an agreement between the court and the defendant. The defendant may be released by posting a bond in the amount ordered by the court and then be prepared to appear for the next hearing date.¹⁵

Anyone can perform an Oakland County warrant search, and this resource will guide readers in determining which agency to contact; by being always aware and informed, citizens can contribute positively to community safety and crime prevention.