Cass County 72 Hour Booking Records

Cass County 72 hour booking records come from the sheriff's office on M-62 in Cassopolis, located in the southwest corner of Michigan near the Indiana border. The sheriff handles all jail intakes for the county and keeps records of every person booked. You can search for recent Cass County bookings using limited online tools or by calling the sheriff at 269-445-8644. This page explains how to find these records, how to request copies through FOIA, and what information the records contain.

Cass County Sheriff and Booking Info

The Cass County Sheriff's Office is at 321 M-62 in Cassopolis, MI 49031. The jail is at the same location. Every arrest in Cass County gets processed at this facility. During intake, the jail records the person's name, date of birth, physical details, charges, bond amount, and the time they were booked in. This is the 72 hour booking record.

Cass County has limited online access to inmate information. The sheriff's office may share some data through its website or third-party services, but it is not a full jail roster like what larger counties offer. The most direct way to check on a recent booking is to call 269-445-8644. The jail staff can tell you if someone is in custody and what their charges and bond look like. If you need written documentation of the booking, a FOIA request gets you the official record.

Cass County sits right on the Indiana border. If someone is arrested near the state line, make sure you know which state handled the arrest. An arrest by Michigan law enforcement goes to the Cass County Jail. An arrest on the Indiana side would go to a different facility entirely.

Get Cass County 72 Hour Booking Records

Michigan's FOIA law at MCL § 15.231 covers Cass County booking records. They are public. Write a request to the FOIA coordinator at the sheriff's office. Say what records you want and include the person's name. A date of birth or booking date makes the search easier for the staff.

No reason is needed for the request. MCL § 15.233 is clear on this. The sheriff has five business days to respond under MCL § 15.235. Complex requests may get a ten-day extension. Copy fees under MCL § 15.234 are $0.10 to $0.25 per page plus labor at the lowest clerk rate. Indigent people can get the first $20 waived twice a year. For fees over $50, the office may require a deposit before processing.

Search Cass County Booking Online

VineLink is a free statewide tool you can try for Cass County inmate searches. Select Michigan and type in a name. If the person is in custody, VineLink shows their status. You can also sign up for alerts if the person gets released or moved. The system runs around the clock.

Below is the Express Account bond posting system used by some Michigan jails. Check with the Cass County Jail to see if online bond payments are an option.

The Express Account system handles online bond payments for participating Michigan jails.

The Michigan Courts Case Search tracks court cases from Cass County arrests. After a 72 hour booking leads to charges, the case appears in this database with hearing dates and outcomes. For full criminal history, the ICHAT system costs $10 and pulls fingerprint-based records from across Michigan.

Cass County Booking Record Contents

A standard 72 hour booking record from the Cass County Jail contains the person's full legal name and any known aliases. Physical details like height, weight, and date of birth are listed. The record shows all charges at the time of booking, the bond amount, and the arresting agency. The booking date and time are always included.

Mugshots from the booking process are public records. Michigan courts have ruled on this in cases like Patterson v. Allegheny Cty. Sheriff and Detroit Free Press v. Oakland Cty. Sheriff. Under MCL § 750.491, these records are the property of the people of Michigan. Keeping them from the public without a valid legal reason is a misdemeanor under MCL § 750.492, with fines that can reach $500. If you want the mugshot, say so in your FOIA request.

Cass County Jail vs State Prison Records

A 72 hour booking at the Cass County Jail is a county-level record. The sheriff owns it. If the person later goes to state prison, MDOC takes over and OTIS tracks them. OTIS does not cover county jail inmates. For the original booking, you go to Cass County. For prison records after sentencing, you go to the state.

The distinction is important. Someone sitting in the Cass County Jail waiting for trial is not in the state system yet. Their record is only at the county level. Once they are convicted and sentenced to state time, MDOC takes custody and OTIS starts tracking them. The booking record from Cassopolis stays on file with the sheriff even after the person leaves. You can request old booking records through FOIA just like you would request new ones. The same fees and timelines apply. The Swickard v. Wayne County Medical Examiner case from 1991 says Michigan FOIA is meant to be a pro-disclosure law, so exemptions are read narrowly.

Bond posting at the Cass County Jail depends on the charges. Call 269-445-8644 to ask about bond amounts and accepted payment methods after a booking. For minor charges, you may be able to post cash bond right at the jail. Felony cases often need a judge to set the bond amount at arraignment. The jail staff in Cassopolis can tell you where things stand for any particular booking.

Nearby Counties

Counties around Cass County in southwest Michigan each run their own jail and 72 hour booking process.