Calhoun County Jail Roster

The Calhoun County jail roster lists all inmates held at the county correctional facility in Battle Creek. The Calhoun County Sheriff keeps this roster current with new bookings and releases each day. You can search the jail roster through the sheriff's online system or call the jail for inmate status. Calhoun County is one of the more well-known jail systems in Michigan due to a landmark court case on public records access. The roster shows names, charges, booking dates, and bond amounts for those in custody at the Calhoun County jail.

Calhoun County Sheriff Jail Roster

The Calhoun County Sheriff runs the jail and keeps the inmate roster. The correctional facility sits in Battle Creek, the largest city in the county. It opened in 1994 and serves as the main holding site for all arrests in Calhoun County. The sheriff's office posts current inmate data through their Police-to-Citizen system. You can find it on the Calhoun County Sheriff's website. This tool lets you look up who is in the jail right now.

Under MCL 800.7, the sheriff has full charge and custody of the county jail. That means the Calhoun County Sheriff is the one who keeps all booking records and jail logs. MCL 800.13 says the sheriff must keep a record of each person put in the jail. This includes the inmate's name, the date they came in, why they were held, and who sent them there. These records are part of the public file.

Call the Calhoun County Sheriff at 269-969-6450 to ask about a specific inmate. Staff can tell you if someone is in custody, what charges they face, and what their bond is set at. The jail phone line is open during business hours.

The OTIS search page below shows where you can search for offenders who have moved from county jails to state prison or supervision.

OTIS only covers state-level offenders. For current Calhoun County jail inmates, use the sheriff's P2C system or VINELink instead.

Search the Calhoun County Inmate List

There are a few ways to search for inmates in Calhoun County. The fastest is the online roster on the sheriff's site. Go to the jail page and use the search tool. Type in a last name or first name. The system pulls up matching results from the current jail population. Each result shows the person's name, booking date, charges, and bond. You can also check VINELink for custody status updates. VINELink is a free service that tells you if someone is still in jail or has been let go. It also sends alerts if an inmate's status changes.

For people who ended up in state prison after their time in the Calhoun County jail, use OTIS from the Michigan Department of Corrections. OTIS tracks state prisoners, parolees, and those on probation. It does not show county jail inmates. So if you are looking for someone held locally on a misdemeanor or waiting for trial, the county roster or VINELink is what you need.

The ICHAT system from Michigan State Police gives criminal history records for a $10 fee. This covers arrests and convictions from across the state. It can help you see past Calhoun County cases even after someone leaves the jail.

ACLU v. Calhoun County Case

Calhoun County made state legal history in 2022. The Michigan Supreme Court ruled in ACLU v. Calhoun County that federal rules cannot block public records requests under Michigan's Freedom of Information Act. The case started when the ACLU asked for records about an ICE detainee held in the Calhoun County jail. The sheriff said no, pointing to a federal regulation. The court said only state statutes can create exemptions under MCL 15.243. Federal rules do not count.

This case matters for anyone who wants jail records in Calhoun County or anywhere in Michigan. It made clear that booking photos, intake records, and other jail documents are public records. The ruling follows Patterson v. Allegan County Sheriff, which said mugshots cannot be kept from the public under the privacy exemption. Together, these cases set strong rules for open access to jail roster data across the state.

Calhoun County Jail Booking Records

Each booking at the Calhoun County jail creates a set of records. The intake process logs the person's name, date of birth, and physical details. Staff take a booking photo. They record the charges and the arresting agency. Bond amounts get set based on the charge and the court's schedule. All of this goes into the jail roster.

Michigan's FOIA law under MCL 15.233 says you have the right to ask for copies of public records. You send a written request to the FOIA coordinator at the Calhoun County Sheriff's office. The office has five business days to respond. They can take up to ten more days if they need extra time. Under MCL 15.234, fees are limited to actual costs for copies and labor after the first $20 of search time. Most basic jail roster lookups can be done online at no cost.

Note: Booking records for active investigations may have some details held back under MCL 15.243.

Court Records in Calhoun County

After someone is booked into the Calhoun County jail, their case moves to the courts. You can track cases through MiCOURT, the state's online court case search. This shows hearing dates, charges, plea entries, and case outcomes. It covers circuit court and district court cases in Calhoun County.

The Michigan Sex Offender Registry is another public tool. It shows registered sex offenders by name or location. You can search for offenders in Calhoun County or near a specific address. The registry is run by Michigan State Police and updated on a regular basis. Offenders must register under MCL 28.721 through 28.736.

Calhoun County Jail Contact Info

The Calhoun County Sheriff handles all jail operations. Visits, mail, and phone calls for inmates go through the jail. Check the sheriff's site for visiting hours and rules. The jail is in Battle Creek, not in the county seat of Marshall. This is different from most Michigan counties where the jail is at the county seat.

Nearby Counties

These counties sit next to Calhoun County. If you are not sure where someone was booked, check the neighboring jails too. Each county runs its own jail roster.