This private reference service is not a government office. It cannot verify a person’s custody, release anyone, post bond, or retrieve an official booking file. For those actions, contact the public office that maintains the record.
County Custody and Records
Use the contact that matches the question. The main Sheriff number is the non-emergency route, the jail line is for person-specific status or bonding information, and the Records Bureau receives record and FOIA questions.
Written FOIA requests can be sent to scsrecords@sanilaccounty.net with “FOIA” or “FOIA Request” in the subject line, faxed to the Records Bureau, or mailed or delivered to ATTN FOIA Coordinator at the Sheriff address above.
Match the Source to the Need
These routes keep current status, historical documents, and later court procedure separate. They are not interchangeable.
- For present local custody or release notification, use the jail information line, Michigan VINE, or the Sheriff app’s advertised Inmate Search.
- For an arrest report, booking record, or booking photograph, use the Records Bureau and the county’s FOIA page.
- For a city police incident, start with the city’s police or clerk route, then use the county channel only if county custody or a jail record is involved.
- For a case proceeding or disposition, begin with MiCOURT and the 73A District Court or 24th Circuit Court as appropriate.
- For a state prisoner, parolee, or probationer, use MDOC OTIS, not the county-jail route.
- For federal or immigration custody, use the relevant BOP or ICE locator rather than requesting a Sanilac booking photo.
- For a possible warrant, contact the Sheriff non-emergency line, Records Bureau, or appropriate court clerk. Do not use 911 for a routine check.
For an emergency or immediate threat, call 911. A regular records or custody question should not be routed to emergency dispatch.