Montcalm County DUI Records

Montcalm County DUI records are held by the 8th Circuit Court and 64B District Court, both located in Stanton. OWI case information is available at no cost through the MiCOURT public search system, and full criminal history reports can be requested through the state's ICHAT database for a $10 fee. This page explains how to find OWI records in Montcalm County, which courts handle which charges, and what other sources contain arrest and driving history data.

Montcalm County Court System for OWI Cases

Two courts in Stanton handle OWI charges in Montcalm County. The 64B District Court takes first and second offense cases, which are misdemeanors under Michigan law. The 8th Circuit Court handles felony OWI charges, including third-offense cases and any OWI involving death or serious injury to another person. Both courts are located at separate addresses in Stanton.

The 8th Circuit Court sits at 211 W. Main Street in Stanton and can be reached at (989) 831-7337. The 64B District Court is nearby at 619 N. State Street, phone (989) 831-7392. Circuit Court files include felony case documents, sentencing records, and probation orders. District Court files cover misdemeanor OWI charges, plea agreements, and fines. If you need copies of case documents, contact the clerk at each court directly. Fees for copies vary.

Michigan's OWI law is set out in MCL 257.625. That statute sets the BAC thresholds, defines the different charge levels, and governs what penalties apply. Every OWI case in Montcalm County is filed under that law.

How to Search Montcalm County DUI Records

The best free option is MiCOURT, Michigan's public court case search tool. You can look up OWI cases from both the 8th Circuit and 64B District Court using a name or case number. MiCOURT shows case codes such as OD (OWI), SD (Super Drunk), and FD (felony drunk driving). It does not show every detail, but it does show charges filed, court dates, and dispositions.

For a more complete background check, ICHAT gives you a full Michigan criminal history report. The fee is $10 per search. ICHAT pulls from Michigan State Police records and will show OWI convictions statewide, not just in Montcalm County. This is useful when you need to confirm whether someone has prior OWI convictions across the state. Note that OWI stays on a person's record permanently in Michigan. There is no automatic expungement for OWI offenses.

The Montcalm County Sheriff's Records Division handles public records requests for arrest reports and incident reports. The office is at 659 N. State Street, Stanton, with a direct records line at (989) 831-7598. Their records page is at montcalm.us. FOIA requests go to the Records Division at the same address, or to the FOIA Coordinator at (989) 831-7300.

Driving records are separate from court records. The Michigan Secretary of State maintains driving history through its driving records service. A driving record will show license suspensions, revocations, and points tied to OWI convictions. That information may differ from what appears in court records.

OWI Charge Levels in Montcalm County

Michigan uses OWI as the legal term for what most people call DUI. The charge level depends on prior offenses and the circumstances of the arrest. First offense OWI is a misdemeanor. So is a second offense. A third offense is a felony, and those cases move to the 8th Circuit Court.

The standard OWI threshold is a blood alcohol level of 0.08 percent or above. Michigan also has a "Super Drunk" charge for BAC at or above 0.17 percent, which carries stricter penalties even on a first offense. Drivers under 21 face a zero-tolerance rule at 0.02 percent, and commercial vehicle drivers are held to a 0.04 percent limit. OWVI, or operating while visibly impaired, is a separate charge that applies when a driver appears impaired even without a specific BAC reading. OWPD covers cases where drug presence is detected rather than alcohol.

A conviction in Montcalm County, whether in District or Circuit Court, stays on the person's Michigan record permanently. The Michigan State Police impaired driving page has a breakdown of charge types and penalties across the state.

Montcalm County Sheriff and Arrest Records

The Montcalm County Sheriff's Office makes most OWI arrests in unincorporated parts of the county. The main office is at 659 N. State Street, Stanton, MI 48888, phone (989) 831-7590. Arrest records and incident reports from the Sheriff's Office are public records subject to Michigan's Freedom of Information Act, MCL 15.231.

The Records Division handles these requests. You can reach them directly at (989) 831-7598. Written FOIA requests should go to the Records Division at the same address. Michigan law gives agencies five business days to respond to a FOIA request. The agency may extend that by an additional ten days if needed. Most sheriff arrest records show the charge, date of arrest, and arresting officer. They do not always show the court outcome. For the court outcome, use MiCOURT or contact the clerk's office.

The Montcalm County Sheriff's Records page at montcalm.us has more information on how to submit a records request. Some requests can be handled by mail; others may require an in-person visit.

The Montcalm County Sheriff's Office maintains a resource page with local records access information. You can see an overview at the county's official records portal below.

The Montcalm County Sheriff's Office records overview is available through the county government site at montcalm.us.

The above image shows the Montcalm County Sheriff's records resource page, which lists contact information and request procedures for obtaining OWI arrest and incident reports.

Sobriety Court Program

Montcalm County participates in the 65B District Court Sobriety Court, a multi-county program that also serves Gratiot and Clinton counties. Sobriety Court is a treatment-based alternative for eligible OWI offenders. Participants who complete the program may receive reduced sentences or other benefits.

Not every OWI defendant qualifies. The court reviews prior record, charge level, and individual circumstances. If you are looking for records on a person who went through Sobriety Court, note that participation and program records may be held separately from the standard court case file. Contact the 64B District Court at (989) 831-7392 for information about how Sobriety Court records are handled in Montcalm County.

Treatment court programs are designed to address underlying substance use issues rather than just punish the offense. Michigan has a network of these courts across the state, and Montcalm County's participation through the 65B program reflects that broader effort.

Other Sources for DUI-Related Records

Several state-level sources hold records related to OWI cases in Montcalm County. The Michigan Department of Corrections maintains an offender search tool called OTIS that shows current and past state prison records. If an OWI conviction resulted in a prison sentence, the person will appear in OTIS. Most misdemeanor OWI sentences do not result in state prison time, but felony third-offense cases sometimes do.

The Michigan State Police handles criminal history records through the Criminal History Records unit. Law enforcement agencies and courts submit conviction data to MSP, which then maintains the centralized record. ICHAT pulls from that same database.

If you need to check whether a license was suspended or revoked after an OWI conviction, the Secretary of State's driving records service is the right place. Driver responsibility fees of up to $2,000 total have historically been tied to OWI convictions, though the fee structure has changed over the years. The SOS also runs Road to Restoration clinics for people working to reinstate a revoked license after OWI.

The MSP FOIA page handles requests for state police records, including those from any MSP post that may have made OWI arrests in Montcalm County.

The image above shows the Montcalm County government site, which is the central hub for county records, department contacts, and FOIA request procedures.

Nearby Counties

Montcalm County borders several counties in central Michigan. Each maintains its own court records and sheriff arrest files.