Farmington Hills Booking Reports
Farmington Hills booking reports are public records held by the Oakland County Sheriff's Office. The Farmington Hills Police Department makes arrests in the city, but all people who are booked go to the Oakland County Jail in Pontiac. The 47th District Court covers Farmington and Farmington Hills for local criminal cases. You can search for booking reports by calling the Oakland County Sheriff at (248) 858-5000 or by using state databases like OTIS and ICHAT. This page explains how to find and request booking records tied to Farmington Hills arrests.
Farmington Hills Quick Facts
Farmington Hills Police Arrest Records
The Farmington Hills Police Department patrols the city and handles criminal investigations. When officers arrest someone, the person goes to the Oakland County Jail at 1201 N Telegraph Road in Pontiac MI 48341. Jail staff create the booking report during intake. The report captures the person's name, date of birth, charges, arrest date, booking number, and physical description. Bond amounts and court dates get added as the case progresses through the system.
To find a current Farmington Hills booking report, contact the Oakland County Sheriff's Office at (248) 858-5000. Ask for the jail records division. You will need the person's full name and approximate date of arrest. For people currently in custody, staff can usually give you basic booking info over the phone. For detailed records or copies, you may need to file a formal request.
Farmington Hills PD keeps incident reports separate from booking reports. An incident report covers what the officer saw and did at the scene. The booking report covers what happens at the jail during intake. Both are public records you can request.
FOIA Requests for Farmington Hills Records
The Michigan Freedom of Information Act at MCL 15.231 through 15.246 gives anyone the right to request booking reports. You do not need to say why you want them. Write a clear request that includes the person's full name, date of birth if you have it, and approximate arrest date. Send it to the Oakland County Sheriff's Office. They have five business days to respond once they get your letter. Fees for search time and copies may apply, but the first $20 gets waived for qualifying individuals on public assistance. That waiver applies to up to two requests per year.
Booking photographs from Farmington Hills arrests are public records under Michigan law. The 1987 Detroit Free Press v. Oakland County Sheriff ruling made this clear. MCL 750.491 states that all official records created by state agencies are public property. If a public body willfully violates FOIA, courts can impose civil fines between $2,500 and $7,500 for each occurrence. These protections exist to make sure you can get the booking records you need without being blocked by the agency holding them.
Note: Always include as much identifying information as possible in your FOIA request, such as full legal name, date of birth, and arrest date, to help the records office locate the right booking report quickly.
Courts Serving Farmington Hills
The 47th District Court handles misdemeanors, civil infractions, and preliminary felony hearings for Farmington Hills and Farmington. Felony cases get bound over to Oakland County Circuit Court in the 6th Judicial Circuit. A booking report shows the arrest and jail intake. Court records show what happened from arraignment through final sentencing. For the full picture of any Farmington Hills case, you need both sets of records.
The Michigan Courts website has contact info for Oakland County courts. The circuit court clerk keeps case files, docket entries, and disposition records. You can request court records separately from booking reports. They come from different offices but both are public records under Michigan law. The clerk's office can tell you about any fees for copies of court documents.
The 47th District Court also handles civil cases and traffic violations for the Farmington and Farmington Hills area. If you need records beyond the criminal booking report, the court clerk's office can point you to the right files. Parking and traffic matters are handled separately from criminal bookings, but all records are maintained at the same court.
State Search Tools for Farmington Hills
OTIS is the free state database for Michigan prison inmates. It tracks offenders, parolees, and people on probation. Search by name or MDOC number to see offense details, sentence length, and facility. OTIS holds records for three years past the end of supervision. But it only covers the state system. It will not show anyone held at the Oakland County Jail after a Farmington Hills arrest. For county jail inmates, you need to go through the sheriff's office.
ICHAT costs $10 per search. It pulls criminal history data tied to a name and date of birth. Felonies and serious misdemeanors show up in the results. ICHAT does not cover pending cases, juvenile records, or traffic offenses. The fee is not refundable. MI-VINE is free and sends custody status alerts by phone, email, or text. Over 81 sheriff offices participate. Register online or call 800-770-7657.
The Sex Offender Registry covers registrants under MCL 28.721 across all of Michigan. The Clean Slate program can lead to expunged records, which may explain gaps in search results. Check the Michigan Legislature website for full statute language on public records access.
Note: MI-VINE sends real-time custody alerts for Farmington Hills cases processed through Oakland County, so you can track status changes without calling the jail repeatedly.
Nearby Cities
Farmington Hills borders several cities in Oakland County. Arrests near city lines can sometimes get processed by a neighboring department. Check these areas if you cannot find the booking report in Farmington Hills records.