Leelanau County Recent Bookings

Leelanau County recent bookings are processed at the jail in Suttons Bay, located at the Government Center. This small northwest Michigan county has about 23,000 residents and is known more for its wineries than its jail, but arrests do happen here. The sheriff's office does not have an online inmate lookup, so finding recent booking information means contacting the jail directly. This page explains how to check on bookings, what records are public, and where else to search if you need more than what Leelanau County can provide.

Leelanau County Sheriff's Office

The Leelanau County Sheriff's Office operates out of the Government Center at 8525 E. Government Center Drive in Suttons Bay. Sheriff Michael Borkovich runs the department. Undersheriff James Kiessel assists. The corrections division has 12 certified corrections officers and 4 sergeants. Corrections Lieutenant Todd Roush oversees jail operations.

Leelanau County charges housing fees for inmates. The first day costs $40. Each day after that is $15. If you are on work release, the rate is $20 per day. Inmates with worker status are exempt from these fees. These charges are billed to the inmate and can affect their finances after release. The housing fee structure is set by the county and is not unusual in Michigan, though amounts vary from county to county.

Find Leelanau County Booking Records

Call the jail control room at (231) 256-8661. This is the fastest way to check on recent bookings in Leelanau County. Give them a name and ask if the person is in custody. They can share basic booking details over the phone. The jail operates around the clock, so you can call at any time.

For written records, submit a FOIA request. Send it to the sheriff's office at 8525 E. Government Center Drive, Suttons Bay, MI 49682. Under MCL 15.231, booking records are public. The county charges 10 cents per page for photocopies. Response time is 5 to 10 business days. You do not need a reason to ask for these records. Anyone can file a FOIA request in Michigan.

State tools can help with broader searches. The Michigan ICHAT system costs $10 and shows conviction records from all counties. The MDOC OTIS search covers state prison inmates. And VINELink provides free custody status alerts for inmates held anywhere in Michigan.

Note: FOIA responses from Leelanau County typically take 5 to 10 business days.

Leelanau County Booking Record Content

A booking record from Leelanau County shows the standard info. Name, charges, date of arrest, and bond amount. The arresting agency is listed too. Most arrests in the county come from the sheriff's department or Michigan State Police. Warrant information is noted when relevant.

Not all records are public. Medical and mental health files are exempt under MCL 15.243. Juvenile records are sealed in all cases. Active investigations may also be shielded from disclosure. Mugshots are public records in Michigan based on the Patterson v. Allegan County Sheriff ruling. Leelanau County does not post mugshots online, but you can request them through the FOIA process. The county may also share booking photos directly if you call and ask.

Michigan's Clean Slate legislation, which took effect in April 2023, allows for automatic expungement of certain older convictions. Misdemeanors may be cleared after seven years, and some felonies after ten. This means that a booking search might not turn up older records that have been expunged. For recent bookings, though, this law has no effect. Current arrests and active cases are still fully available through the normal channels described on this page.

Leelanau County Jail Operations

The Leelanau County jail is a small facility that handles a modest number of bookings each year. The corrections staff includes 12 certified officers and 4 sergeants. For a county of 23,000 people, this is a reasonable team. The housing fee structure helps offset the costs of running the jail. Inmates who work as trustees are exempt from those fees, which gives some people an incentive to participate in work programs.

The jail sits within the Government Center complex in Suttons Bay. It serves the entire county, including the Leelanau Peninsula and Sleeping Bear Dunes area. During peak tourist season, the county sees a modest increase in arrests related to traffic stops and alcohol offenses. Most bookings involve standard charges like operating while intoxicated, drug possession, or warrants from other jurisdictions. The booking process at this small jail is straightforward. Staff take a photo, log personal details, record the charges, and set the person up in the system. Bond is determined based on the charges and any prior record.

Legal Help in Leelanau County

People arrested in Leelanau County who cannot afford a lawyer can get a public defender assigned at arraignment. Legal Aid of Western Michigan serves this area and may help with certain cases. The Michigan Statewide Records Management System connects local law enforcement with agencies statewide, making it easier for Leelanau County data to flow to other departments when needed.

The Michigan Sex Offender Registry is a free tool that lets you search for registered offenders by name, city, county, or zip code. It covers all of Michigan, including Leelanau County. Crime victims can also use VINELink for custody notifications at no cost.

Nearby Counties

Leelanau County is on the Leelanau Peninsula in northwest Michigan. If you cannot find someone in this county's records, try these bordering counties.