Find Flint Jail Roster Records

Flint jail roster records come from two sources. Unlike most Michigan cities, Flint operates its own lockup facility in addition to the Genesee County Jail. The Flint City Lockup reopened in 2021 and can hold up to 110 inmates on a short-term basis. The Genesee County Jail at 1002 South Saginaw Street is the main facility with a capacity of 580 inmates. Sheriff Christopher R. Swanson runs the county jail, while Chief Terence Green heads the Flint Police Department. To search the Flint jail roster, you can call the Genesee County Sheriff or use VINELink to check custody status. About 80,000 people live in Flint, the largest city in Genesee County.

Flint City Lockup and Genesee County Jail

Flint is unusual in Michigan because it has a city lockup. The Flint City Lockup is at 210 West Fifth Street, the same building as the police department. It has room for 110 inmates and uses linear supervision. The lockup has been closed and reopened multiple times over the years. It came back into service in 2021, partly to help with crowding at the Genesee County Jail.

The Genesee County Jail at 1002 South Saginaw Street, Flint, MI 48502, is the main detention facility for the county. It holds up to 580 inmates. Sheriff Christopher R. Swanson runs the I.G.N.I.T.E. program at the jail, which focuses on inmate reentry and reducing repeat offenses. Under MCL 800.7, the sheriff has charge of the county jail. MCL 800.13 requires records for every person booked in. Both facilities hold Flint arrestees, so you may need to check both when looking for someone.

For full details on the county jail system, visit the Genesee County jail roster page.

Flint Police Department

Chief Terence Green runs the Flint Police Department. The station is at 210 West Fifth Street, Flint, MI 48502. Call 810-237-6800 for non-emergency questions about arrests or reports. The department handles all law enforcement within city limits.

When Flint police make an arrest, the person may go to the city lockup or the county jail. It depends on space, charges, and other factors. If the city lockup is full, the person goes straight to the Genesee County Jail. Either way, the arrest creates records that are accessible to the public under Michigan law.

How to Search Flint Jail Records

Searching the Flint jail roster takes a couple of steps since inmates can be in two places. Start by calling the Genesee County Sheriff at 810-257-3406. The inmate information line is 810-257-3426. Staff can tell you if someone is at the county jail and what they are charged with. For the city lockup, call the Flint Police Department at 810-237-6800.

VINELink covers Genesee County and lets you check custody status online. Pick Genesee County, enter the person's name, and see if they show up. You can sign up for free alerts by phone, email, or text. VINELink runs around the clock. It is set up for crime victims but anyone can use it.

The screenshot below shows the VINELink Michigan search page used for checking jail roster status.

VINELink covers most Michigan counties including Genesee County, where Flint inmates are held.

For state-level records, OTIS from the Michigan Department of Corrections tracks people in state prison, on parole, or on probation. It does not show county jail inmates. OTIS keeps records for three years after someone is discharged from state supervision.

Flint Jail Roster Public Records

Under MCL 15.231, government records in Michigan are open to the public. You can request Flint jail records through a FOIA request. For police records, write to the Flint Police Department. For county jail records, contact the Genesee County Sheriff. MCL 15.233 says you must describe the records with enough detail for staff to find them.

MCL 15.234 limits fees. Copy costs and labor are allowed, but the first $20 of search time is free. Booking photos are public records per the Patterson v. Allegan County Sheriff decision. The agency has five business days to respond to your request. If the request is complex, they can take up to ten more days. Records related to active investigations may be partly exempt under MCL 15.243, but basic booking data like names and charges is generally available.

Flint Court and Criminal History

Criminal cases from Flint go to the 67th District Court and then to the Genesee County Circuit Court for felonies. You can look up court records through MiCOURT. It shows case status, hearing dates, charges, and dispositions for Flint cases. The ICHAT system from Michigan State Police gives criminal history for $10 per search. The Michigan Sex Offender Registry lets you search for registered offenders in the Flint area for free.

Note: The Flint City Lockup does not have its own online search tool, so phone calls are the best way to check that facility.

Cities Near Flint

Flint is the main city in Genesee County. These nearby cities with pages can help if you are not sure where someone was booked.