Houghton County Bench Warrants

Houghton County bench warrants are issued by the 12th Circuit Court and the 97th District Court in Houghton, located in Michigan's Upper Peninsula Copper Country. The county has about 36,000 residents and is home to Michigan Technological University. The 12th Circuit is shared with Keweenaw County, and the 97th District Court serves three counties: Baraga, Houghton, and Keweenaw. When someone misses court or breaks an order, a bench warrant can be issued. You can search case records through MiCOURT or contact the courts and sheriff directly. This page covers all the resources for finding and dealing with bench warrants in Houghton County.

12th Circuit Court Warrants in Houghton

The 12th Circuit Court covers Houghton and Keweenaw counties. The Houghton County Courthouse at 401 E. Houghton Ave. is the main location. The court handles felony criminal cases, civil suits over $25,000, and family court matters from both counties. Bench warrants from Circuit Court come from felony failures to appear, probation violations, and contempt orders.

Because the circuit is shared with Keweenaw County, bench warrant records may involve cases from either location. The Houghton courthouse is the primary location for the 12th Circuit. When a bench warrant is issued, it enters LEIN and is visible to every law enforcement officer in Michigan. The warrant does not expire.

97th District Court Bench Warrants

The 97th District Court in Houghton County is on the 3rd floor at 401 E. Houghton Ave., Houghton, MI 49931. Phone is (906) 482-4980 and fax is (906) 482-5270. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. The magistrate is at (906) 482-1285 and probation at (906) 482-0066.

The 97th District Court is one of the most unique in Michigan. It serves three counties: Baraga, Houghton, and Keweenaw. The Houghton location handles cases from the county, while separate locations serve L'Anse (Baraga County) and Eagle River (Keweenaw County).

The screenshot below shows the 97th District Court page with details about services and court operations in Houghton County.

Services at the court include arraignments, small claims up to $7,000, pre-trials, preliminary exams, civil cases up to $25,000, traffic citation processing, probation supervision, and treatment court. Most bench warrants come from missed hearings and unpaid fines.

Houghton County Sheriff and Warrants

The Houghton County Sheriff's Office is at 403 E. Houghton Ave, Houghton, MI 49931. Phone is (906) 482-0055 and fax is (906) 483-0328. The corrections and jail line is (906) 482-1742. Fingerprinting is available without an appointment. Call about an hour before coming in.

The sheriff's office FAQ page provides helpful information about common questions, including warrant procedures. See the screenshot below.

To check for a bench warrant, call (906) 482-0055 and provide a full name and date of birth. The sheriff can confirm if a warrant is active. FOIA request forms are available on the sheriff's website for formal records requests.

Searching Houghton County Bench Warrants

The MiCOURT Case Search covers Houghton County courts. Select the 12th Circuit Court or 97th District Court and search by name or case number. The results show case status, hearing dates, and docket entries. Look for bench warrant entries in the register of actions.

For live warrant checks, call the sheriff at (906) 482-0055 or the court at (906) 482-4980. Online tools show case history but not real-time warrant status. Several local police departments also operate in the county, including Houghton Police at (906) 482-2121, Hancock Police at (906) 482-3102, Calumet Police at (906) 337-2345, Laurium Police at (906) 337-4000, and Lake Linden Police at (906) 296-9911. Michigan State Police Calumet Post is at (906) 337-2211.

Resolving Houghton County Bench Warrants

Call the court that issued your warrant. District Court is at (906) 482-4980. Ask about the bond amount and how to turn yourself in. Voluntary surrender is better than an arrest. A lawyer can file a motion to quash the warrant and get a new hearing date set.

Michigan bench warrants have no expiration. Under MCL 764.15, any peace officer can execute the warrant anywhere in the state. Michigan Tech University police also have jurisdiction on campus and coordinate with the county sheriff for off-campus matters. Handle the warrant before it catches up to you.

Nearby Counties

Houghton County shares courts with several nearby counties. Check these if you need to search a wider area:

• Keweenaw County (shares 12th Circuit and 97th District)
• Baraga County (shares 97th District Court)
• Ontonagon County
• Gogebic County
• Iron County