Find Livingston County Bookings

Livingston County recent bookings are processed at the jail on Highlander Way in Howell. This growing county between Detroit and Lansing has about 195,000 residents. The jail holds up to 411 inmates and processes around 5,000 bookings per year. There is no online inmate search available for Livingston County, so you will need to contact the jail by phone to check on recent arrests. This page explains how to find booking information, request records through FOIA, and use statewide search tools to look up people who may have been arrested in Livingston County.

Livingston County Sheriff's Office

The Livingston County Sheriff's Office is led by Sheriff Michael J. Murphy, with Undersheriff Jason Pless as second in command. The jail facility sits at 150 S Highlander Way in Howell. Lieutenant Tarneseia Pringle serves as the jail administrator. The jail started with just 62 beds but has expanded through multiple renovations to its current 411-bed capacity.

Livingston County processes about 5,000 inmates per year. The average stay is around two weeks, though that varies greatly by case. The facility runs a 24/7 medical office. There are chaplain services, an education teacher, and substance use programs. This is a well-staffed operation for a county of this size. The jail handles arrests from the sheriff's department, Howell city police, Brighton police, and Michigan State Police.

You can contact the sheriff's office at (517) 546-2440. The jail services line is (517) 546-2445. These numbers are the best way to check on recent Livingston County bookings since there is no online search tool.

Search Livingston County Recent Bookings

Call the jail at (517) 546-2445. Staff can check if someone is in custody. Give them a name and a rough date. They will look it up in the system. This is the fastest way to get current booking info from Livingston County.

For written records, submit a FOIA request to 150 S Highlander Way, Howell, MI 48843. Under MCL 15.231, booking records are public in Michigan. Traffic crash reports cost $10. Criminal reports go through the FOIA process. Expect a response time of 7 to 10 days from Livingston County. The county can charge for copies and labor time. If you qualify as indigent, you can get the first $20 in fees waived by filing an Affidavit of Indigency.

State tools offer additional search options. The Michigan ICHAT costs $10 and shows conviction records statewide. The MDOC OTIS system tracks state prison inmates. The VINELink system lets you track any Michigan inmate for free. The CLEMIS Inmate Locator covers Oakland County and some surrounding areas. Since Livingston County borders Oakland County, some cross-jurisdictional arrests might appear in the CLEMIS system.

Livingston County Jail Policies

Livingston County has specific rules about inmate mail. Only standard postcards are accepted, 5x7 or smaller. The jail does not allow stamps, sealed envelopes, Amazon book deliveries, glitter, stickers, or perfume on any mail. These restrictions help the jail control contraband. Legal mail from attorneys is handled differently and goes through a separate process.

Booking records from the facility include the inmate's name, date of birth, charges, booking date, and bond amount. The arresting agency is part of the record. Livingston County booking data is public under Michigan's FOIA law. Medical records and mental health files are protected under MCL 15.243. Juvenile records are sealed. Mugshots are considered public records in Michigan per the Patterson v. Allegan County Sheriff court ruling.

The 2022 Michigan Supreme Court ruling in the Calhoun County case confirmed that jail records held for federal immigration agencies are still subject to FOIA. This means even if Livingston County holds someone on behalf of federal authorities, the booking record is public. Federal regulations do not override state open records law. The ruling was unanimous and applies to all 83 Michigan counties.

Note: Livingston County FOIA responses typically take 7 to 10 days.

Livingston County Jail Programs

The jail offers several programs for inmates. A full-time chaplain provides religious services. An education teacher helps with coursework and GED preparation. Substance use programs are available for people dealing with addiction. The 24/7 medical office ensures that health issues are addressed around the clock. These services make Livingston County's jail one of the better-equipped facilities in mid-Michigan.

The Michigan Statewide Records Management System connects Livingston County to other law enforcement agencies across the state. This means arrest data flows between departments. If someone has cases in multiple counties, the information is shared. For crime victims, the VINELink notification system is free and sends alerts when an offender's custody status changes anywhere in Michigan.

Legal Help in Livingston County

Public defenders are assigned at arraignment for people who qualify. The circuit court handles this. Legal aid services in the Howell area can help with some cases. The Michigan Sex Offender Registry is a free tool for checking registered offenders statewide. It covers Livingston County and all other Michigan counties.

Livingston County is one of the faster-growing counties in Michigan. The population has climbed steadily as people move from metro Detroit to the suburbs. This growth means more traffic, more interactions with law enforcement, and a higher volume of bookings than you might expect for a county outside the major cities. The jail's expansion from 62 beds to 411 reflects this trend. If you are looking up someone who was recently booked, the large facility and high annual volume of about 5,000 processed inmates means records are generated quickly and managed efficiently.

Nearby Counties

Livingston County is between Detroit and Lansing. If the person you are looking for is not in the Livingston County jail, check these neighboring counties.