Search Grand Rapids Jail Roster
The Grand Rapids jail roster tracks bookings from Michigan's second largest city. With roughly 200,000 residents, Grand Rapids has a large police force that makes arrests across the city daily. People arrested by the Grand Rapids Police Department go to the Kent County Correctional Facility for detention. The jail roster for Grand Rapids inmates is maintained by the Kent County Sheriff, and you can search it online through the county's inmate lookup tool. This page covers how to find inmates, who to contact, and what records are available after a Grand Rapids arrest.
Grand Rapids Overview
Kent County Jail Holds Grand Rapids Inmates
Grand Rapids does not operate its own jail. The city police department has a temporary holding area, but it is not a full detention center. After processing, arrestees get transferred to the Kent County Correctional Facility at 703 Ball Avenue in Grand Rapids. The Kent County Sheriff runs this jail and keeps the official jail roster for all inmates held there.
The Kent County Correctional Facility houses inmates from Grand Rapids and every other city and township in Kent County. Under MCL 800.7, the county sheriff has charge and custody of the jail. That means all booking records, inmate logs, and release dates fall under the sheriff's office. MCL 800.13 requires the sheriff to keep a record of each person committed to the jail, including their name, date of commitment, and the authority that ordered it. For more details on the county system, see the Kent County jail roster page.
Grand Rapids Police Department
The Grand Rapids Police Department handles all law enforcement within city limits. Chief Eric Winstrom leads the department from headquarters at 1 Monroe Center St NW. GRPD makes the initial arrest and holds the person briefly before the transfer to Kent County's jail. If you need to reach the police about a recent arrest in Grand Rapids, call the non-emergency line.
| Agency | Grand Rapids Police Department |
|---|---|
| Address | 1 Monroe Center St NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 |
| Phone | (616) 456-3400 |
| Chief | Eric Winstrom |
| Website | grandrapidsmi.gov |
The screenshot below shows the Grand Rapids Police Department website where you can find contact info, precinct details, and other resources.
GRPD also provides online tools for ticket searches and accident reports on their website.
How to Search Grand Rapids Jail Roster
The fastest way to find someone arrested in Grand Rapids is through the Kent County inmate lookup. Go to the Kent County Inmate Lookup page and enter the person's name. The system shows all current inmates at the Kent County Correctional Facility. Each result lists the inmate's name, charges, booking date, and bond amount. Mugshots may also be available in the search results.
If you can't find someone online, call the Kent County Correctional Facility at 616-632-6300 and choose option 1 for inmate information. Staff can tell you if a person is in custody. For recently arrested people who might still be at Grand Rapids police headquarters, call GRPD at (616) 456-3400.
Other tools that help with Grand Rapids jail roster searches include VINELink for custody status updates and release alerts. VINELink is free and covers Kent County. The state's OTIS database tracks offenders in state prison, parole, or probation. OTIS does not cover county jail inmates, but it helps if someone has moved from the county jail to the state system. You can also run a statewide criminal history check through Michigan ICHAT for $10.
Note: Grand Rapids arrests usually show up in the Kent County system within a few hours of booking at the correctional facility.
Public Records and FOIA in Grand Rapids
Jail roster records in Grand Rapids are public under Michigan's Freedom of Information Act. MCL 15.231 states that all persons (except incarcerated individuals) have the right to full information about government operations. This includes booking logs, arrest reports, and other jail records.
You can submit a FOIA request to either the Grand Rapids Police Department or the Kent County Sheriff's Office. Under MCL 15.233, your request must be in writing and describe the records you want clearly enough for staff to find them. The agency has five business days to respond. Fees are capped at actual costs for copying and mailing per MCL 15.234. Booking photos count as public records in Michigan based on the Patterson v. Allegan County Sheriff ruling, so you can request mugshots through FOIA.
Grand Rapids District Court
The 61st District Court handles arraignments and misdemeanor cases from Grand Rapids. It is at 180 Ottawa Avenue NW. The phone number is (616) 632-5700. After someone is arrested in Grand Rapids, they appear before this court for arraignment. The judge reviews the charges, sets bond, and schedules the next hearing.
You can search court records through MiCourt, the state's online court records system. MiCourt covers the 61st District Court and lets you look up case numbers, hearing dates, and case outcomes. Felony cases may be bound over to Kent County Circuit Court. Court records are separate from jail roster records but often overlap since both involve the same arrest.
Nearby Cities with Jail Roster Pages
Other cities in the area have their own jail roster pages with local police contacts and search instructions. Click any city below to see how their jail roster works.