Clare County Recent Bookings Search
Clare County recent bookings are processed at the county jail in Harrison. Sheriff John S. Wilson runs the department that manages all arrest records and jail intake data for this central Michigan county. About 31,000 people live in Clare County. The jail does not have an online search portal, but you can call for booking info or file a FOIA request for documents. Video visits, commissary services, and fingerprinting are also available through the facility. Here is everything you need to know about finding recent bookings in Clare County.
Clare County Overview
Clare County Sheriff's Office and Jail
The Clare County jail sits at 255 West Main Street in Harrison. Sheriff John S. Wilson leads the department. Lt. Bryan Dunn serves as jail administrator and can be reached at dunnb@clareco.net or by calling 989-539-7166 ext. 4249. The jail control room extension is 4238.
When someone is arrested in Clare County, they get booked into this facility. The booking record includes the person's name, date of birth, charges, bond, and arresting agency. These records are stored by the sheriff's office. Under MCL 15.231, they are public records that anyone can request. Clare County does not post an inmate roster online, so you have to call or write for the information.
The facility offers several services beyond basic custody. Live Scan fingerprinting is available for those who need it. Inmates can use the commissary through www.expressaccount.com or by calling 1-866-422-6833. Video visits are handled through www.homewav.com. These services help families stay connected while someone is in custody at the Clare County jail.
| Address | 255 West Main Street, Harrison, MI 48625 |
|---|---|
| Phone | 989-539-7166 |
| Jail Admin | Lt. Bryan Dunn (dunnb@clareco.net, ext. 4249) |
| Control Room | Ext. 4238 |
| Video Visits | www.homewav.com |
How to Find Clare County Booking Records
Call 989-539-7166 to ask about a recent booking. Have the person's name and date of birth ready. Jail staff can tell you if someone is in custody, what the charges are, and the bond amount. This is quick and costs nothing.
State databases can fill in gaps. The ICHAT system from Michigan State Police shows conviction records statewide for $10. It covers felonies and serious misdemeanors but does not show pending cases or current jail bookings. The MDOC OTIS search is free and tracks state prison inmates, parolees, and probationers. If someone was sentenced in Clare County and sent to state prison, they will show up in OTIS.
VINELink is a free notification system. You register with a person's name and pick the county. When their custody status changes in Clare County, you get an alert. This works by phone, text, or email. It runs 24 hours a day and covers all participating Michigan jails.
Clare County Records and FOIA Process
Under Michigan's FOIA law (MCL 15.231), you can request copies of Clare County booking records. Send your request by email to vanwagnerl@clareco.net or by mail to 255 W. Main Street, Box 407, Harrison, MI 48625-0407. Put your name, address, and a clear description of what you need in the request.
The county must respond within five business days. Complex requests can take up to ten extra days. Copy fees in Michigan range from $0.07 to $0.25 per page. Labor is billed by the quarter hour. If you qualify as indigent, the first $20 in fees can be waived with a sworn affidavit. Some records are off limits. MCL 15.243 exempts medical info, security data, and active investigation files from public access.
Booking records contain standard data points: name, date of birth, charges, bond, arrest date, and arresting agency. Mugshots are public records under Michigan case law. The 2022 Michigan Supreme Court ruling involving Calhoun County further confirmed that jail detainee records, even those held on behalf of federal agencies, are subject to FOIA.
Michigan Resources for Clare County Searches
The Michigan State Police maintain several tools useful for Clare County record searches. The Criminal Justice Information Center in Lansing collects data from all 83 counties under MCL 28.241. This data feeds into ICHAT and other law enforcement systems.
The MDOC OTIS system, shown above, is free and covers state prison inmates statewide. The Michigan Sex Offender Registry lets you search by name or location for free. The Statewide Records Management System connects law enforcement agencies across Michigan. MCL 600.880 governs court records access separately from jail booking records. MCL 750.491 covers public records retention, which affects how long Clare County must keep booking data on file.
Many Michigan jails now use video visitation and digital mail systems. Clare County uses Homewav for video visits. This trend helps reduce contraband and speeds up communication. The Michigan Sheriff's Association reports nearly 20,000 jail beds statewide across about 80 active county jails. Some smaller Upper Peninsula counties share jail space, but Clare County runs its own facility. The jail in Harrison handles all local bookings without sharing space with other counties. If you are searching for someone who may have been moved to a state facility after sentencing, check OTIS. County jail records stay with the Clare County Sheriff's Office even after an inmate transfers out.
Cities in Clare County
Clare County includes the city of Harrison and the city of Clare (which straddles the Clare-Isabella county line). All arrests in this area go through the county jail on West Main Street. No cities in Clare County have their own pages on this site.
Nearby Counties
Clare County is surrounded by several mid-Michigan counties. If you are not sure where someone was booked, try these neighboring jurisdictions.