Oakland County Inmate Search
Oakland County inmate information is deemed a part of Oakland County Public Records and is disseminated to interested inquirers unless otherwise required by judicial order. This information includes details of the inmate's arrest, offense, location, and penalty (where applicable). According to the Michigan Code of Criminal Procedure § 764.15, arrests are necessary when someone is suspected of committing a crime. This can include anything from traffic violations to serious felony offenses. A law enforcement officer can make an arrest with a warrant granted by a judge. An officer can also arrest someone without a warrant if having reasonable cause to believe that the person has committed a crime.
Not all inmates in Oakland County are the same. Inmates can be categorized based on their type of offense, status (pre-trial or sentenced), and sentence length, which can determine where they are held and the conditions of their confinement.
In Oakland County, Michigan, inmates are typically held in one of the county jail facilities, depending on their status and the severity of their offense. However, persons convicted of serious crimes may be transferred to a state prison facility.
The Michigan Department of Corrections oversees the state's prison system, which includes over 30 facilities across the state. The department is responsible for the custody and care of prisoners, including providing rehabilitation and re-entry services to the inmates. Meanwhile, the Oakland County Sheriff's Office supervises inmates in Oakland County's jail. Anyone can execute an Oakland County inmate search or look up an Oakland County inmate through the sheriff's office.
Inmate records are considered public in the United States and therefore are made available by both traditional governmental agencies as well as third-party websites and organizations. Third-party websites may offer an easier means to search, as these services do not face geographical limitations. However, because third-party sites are not government-sponsored, the information obtained through them may vary from official channels. To find inmate records using third-party aggregate sites, requesting parties must provide:
- The location of the sought-after record, including state, county, and city where the inmate resides.
- The name of the person listed in the record, unless it is a juvenile.
Oakland County Crime and Incarceration Statistics
The Sheriff's Office in Oakland, Michigan, publishes yearly incarceration statistics for the County of Oakland. Per the sheriff's 2021 Annual Report, 9,859 and 9,615 inmates were admitted to and released from the county jail facilities, respectively. The top charges that led to arrests included assault, operating under the influence (OWI), civil/friend of court arrest warrant, driving while license suspended/revoked, and probation violation.
According to the Oakland County Sheriff's Office, the Oakland County corrections system can hold about 1,700 inmates annually. By the end of December 2021, the total held in the local jail facilities was 873.
Oakland County Prison System
The Oakland County prison/jail system is operated by the Corrections and Court Services Division of the Oakland County Sheriff's Office. The prison system includes the Oakland County Jail (the main jail), the Main Jail Annex, and the East Annex.
The Oakland County Jail is the primary intake facility for the county, with a design capacity of approximately 440 inmates. It is a maximum security facility with an intake area where new arrestees are processed. The intake center has a capacity of 156 inmates.
The Main Jail Annex, a facility attached to the Main Jail, has a design capacity of 487 inmates.
Finally, the East Annex, a minimum-medium and low-medium security facility, is located behind the Main Jail. The facility holds worker inmates and has a design capacity of 398 inmates.
Inmates in Oakland County are provided access to healthcare, education, job training, counseling, and other programs designed to help them successfully reintegrate into society upon release. The prison system also works closely with community organizations and government agencies to provide resources and support to inmates and their families.
How to Find an Inmate in Oakland County
Members of the public can find an inmate in Oakland County using different means, such as:
- Online Search: The Oakland County Sheriff's Office has an online inmate locator tool. The database is updated every 15 minutes to offer the most accurate information.
- Phone Search: An inquirer can also conduct an Oakland County inmate search by calling the Oakland County Sheriff's Office Inmate Information line at (248) 858-1800. This line is available 24/7. An inquirer will need an inmate's name or booking number to receive information.
- Email Search: One may send an email to prisonerInfo@oakgov.com for inmate information.
- In-Person Search: One can visit the Oakland County Sheriff's Office at 1201 North Telegraph Road, Pontiac, MI 48341, to submit inmate inquiries.
How Does an Oakland County Inmate Search Work?
Under the Michigan Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), inmate records are considered public records and may be disclosed to the public upon request. Inmate information available after an inmate search in Oakland County includes:
- Full name
- Age
- Gender
- Race
- Date of birth
- Booking number
- Photograph
- Booking date
- Release date
- Bond amount
- Charges
- Court dates
- Housing location
Other information like an inmate's criminal history, sentence, and details related to their incarceration may be included in the search results or records released.
Certain inmate information may be restricted or redacted, especially if considered sensitive or confidential. For example, medical and mental health records may not be disclosed without an inmate's consent or a court order. In addition, some records may be withheld under certain circumstances, such as to protect ongoing investigations or prevent harm to individuals involved in the case.
Where to Find an Oakland County Inmate Locator
As mentioned earlier, the Oakland County Sheriff's Office offers an inmate locator tool online. The tool called the CLEMIS Inmate Locator, is accessible through the sheriff's website. To use it, inquirers should select the jail facility (i.e., the "Oakland County Jail"). This action brings up a list of inmates held in the jail facility, indexed by full names, photographs, booking dates, ID numbers, gender, location, and date of birth. One can obtain more information about the inmate by clicking the "+" sign adjacent to an inmate's name.
The Michigan Department of Corrections also has an inmate locator on its website. This tool allows individuals to search for inmates in state prisons and correctional facilities. To view results, inquirers must enter an inmate's last name, first name, or Michigan DOC number into the indicated fields.
One may also use the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) inmate search tool to find individuals incarcerated in federal prisons. The search parameters required include an inmate's first and last name or BOP register number.
Note, however, that only Oakland County inmates transferred to federal or state prisons can be found with the preceding respective web tools. To find an inmate being supervised by the Oakland County Sheriff's Office, one must use the sheriff's locator or contact the office.
Alternatively, several third-party inmate locator services are available to persons who wish to find an Oakland County inmate. Some services require payment to access their inmate information database, while others offer limited information for free. The access fee for these services varies but typically costs a few dollars (around $1 and above) per search.
How to Send Money to an Oakland County Inmate
Anyone can send money to an inmate in Oakland County online, in person, and by mail.
Online: Individuals can deposit money into an inmate's trust account through a third-party vendor approved by the sheriff's office. Deposits are forwarded to the inmate's trust account, which the local correctional institution operates. Once deposited, the money appears in the inmate's account the following day.
To deposit money online, individuals must create an account with the vendor. This involves providing basic contact information, choosing a username and password, and verifying or activating the account by email or text. Once the account is established, one can search for inmates or detainees to connect. Connecting with inmates requires sending a request through the website. After the inmate or detainee approves the request, the individual can make a trust deposit. To make a deposit, one must select "Trust" from the services menu, choose the inmate or detainee whose account they want to fund, enter the amount they wish to deposit (up to $300 per day), and complete the transaction.
In-person: Individuals can visit the Oakland County Jail and use the lobby kiosk to make a payment. The kiosk accepts cash, credit cards, and debit cards. However, individuals need to provide the same information as they would for online deposits.
Mail: Alternatively, individuals can also send a money order through the mail. This mail must be addressed to the inmate and include their name and ID number. The mailing address for the Oakland County Jail is:
Oakland County Jail
Inmate Name – Inmate Number
P.O. Box 436017
Pontiac, MI 48343
Remember that fees may be applied to each transaction, and a limit may be placed on the maximum amount a person can send to an inmate.
How to Visit an Oakland County Inmate
In Oakland County, inmate visits are scheduled only by appointment and conducted via video visitation. Currently, all remote or on-site visits are conducted through the jail kiosks instead of the inmate tablets. Visitors can schedule their visit by creating an account through the third-party vendor approved by the sheriff's office and selecting the date and time of their visit.
Inmates at the Oakland County jail facilities are allowed one free visit and one paid visit per week, and visits can be scheduled 24 hours in advance or up to two weeks prior. The length of visits can be 15 or 30 minutes.
Visitors to the county jail must have a valid driver's license, state ID, or passport and wear proper attire to enter the jail facility. Only one adult and child visitor is permitted per visit, and the adult who scheduled the visit must be present.
Individuals who opt for on-site visits do not incur a cost during the visitation, but off-site visitors are charged 16 credits per minute. Such persons must ensure their mobile devices have updated operating systems to prevent technical issues during a remote visit.
Professional visits are permitted at the Oakland County jail daily, but social visits are permitted only on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays during specified times. No social visits are allowed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
How to Send Jail Mail in Oakland County
People who want to send jail mail (photos, documents, and correspondence) to inmates in Oakland County have three options: regular US postal mail, electronic mail (email), and legal/business mail.
For regular/standard US postal mail, individuals can send pictures, letters, postcards, and greeting cards through the approved third-party vendor. However, senders must ensure to print the inmate's name and number on the envelope or postcard.
Legal/business mail, such as court documents, attorney correspondence, newspapers, magazines, and bank statements, can be sent to the following address:
Oakland County Jail
Inmate Name – Inmate Number
P.O. Box 436017
Pontiac, MI 48343
Alternatively, one can use electronic mail to send mail to an Oakland County inmate by signing up for an account on the third-party vendor's website and making a minimum deposit of $5 with a one-time $1.50 setup fee. The email method allows individuals to send up to 30,000 characters, equivalent to 6-7 pages, through a computer or smartphone for 50 cents each and $1 per photo. Every Saturday each week, inmates can access two emails for free.
Note: Only photos and plain cards/letters sized 5x7 or smaller are allowed. Glue, tape, ink stamps, glitter, white-out, stains, crayons, markers, stickers, newspaper clippings, blank paper, stamps, envelopes, and instant photos are not permitted. Nude or sexually explicit photographs, drawings, etc., are strictly prohibited. Large or overly heavy books weighing 2 lbs or more are also banned. Any mail found to contain contraband, including the preceding items, will be returned to the sender, confiscated, or may result in legal action.
More information about the Oakland County jail's mailing procedures is available on the sheriff's website.
Oakland County Jails and Prisons
There is only one jail in Oakland County. Its name and contact information are as follows.
Oakland County Jail
1201 North Telegraph Road
Pontiac, MI 48341-1044
Phone: (248) 858-5000
