Search Michigan Sex Offenders
Michigan sex offenders are tracked through the Michigan Public Sex Offender Registry, known as PSOR, which is run by the Michigan State Police. The registry is free to search and covers all 83 counties in the state. You can look up registered sex offenders by name, address, zip code, or radius around any location. This guide explains how to use the registry, what each registration tier means, what public information is available, and where to go when you need more help finding sex offender records in Michigan.
Michigan Sex Offender Registry Overview
Michigan Public Sex Offender Registry
The Michigan Public Sex Offender Registry, or PSOR, is the official state database for public access to sex offender information. The Michigan State Police maintains it under the Sex Offenders Registration Act, known as SORA, which is codified beginning at MCL 28.721. The site at mspsor.com is free to use at any time. No account is needed. You can search from any device.
Michigan has roughly 45,000 registered sex offenders. That ranks it 4th among all state registries in the country. The database includes offenders who live, work, or go to school in Michigan. Incarcerated offenders in state facilities are also listed. From the main search page, you can pull up a full list of all published offenders, a list of all currently incarcerated offenders, or a list of all non-compliant offenders. The registry does not allow bulk downloads. Individual records can be viewed and printed.
Michigan law does not permit the release of victim information through the registry. If information on a listed offender looks wrong, contact the local law enforcement agency in the area where that person lives, or reach the nearest Michigan State Police post. The MSP Sex Offender Registry Unit handles statewide corrections and can be reached at (517) 241-1806.
Note: Not every conviction results in a registry listing. Offenders convicted before October 1, 1995, those adjudicated as juveniles in some cases, and those who received court-ordered removal may not appear on the PSOR.
How to Search Michigan Sex Offenders Online
The PSOR search page at mspsor.com/Home/Search gives you several ways to find offenders. Name searches are the most direct. Enter a first and last name. Partial names work. You can also search by registration number or MDOC number. Address searches require a city, county, or zip code along with the street. The radius search lets you set a distance from 0.25 miles up to 5 miles from any address. That is useful when checking a specific block, neighborhood, or area near a school.
Each offender record in the PSOR shows a significant amount of detail. Under MCL 28.728, the state must publish a defined set of information on every listed offender. Public records include the full name and date of birth, registration number, current photograph, tier level, physical description including height, weight, eye and hair color, known aliases, scars and tattoos, offense details, current home address, vehicle information including make, model, color, and license plate, and any school or campus enrollment information.
Three special lists are also searchable from the main PSOR page. The published offenders list shows everyone currently on active status. The incarcerated list includes those housed in a Michigan correctional facility. The non-compliant list shows offenders who have failed to meet their reporting requirements. Checking non-compliance is useful when you have reason to believe a known offender may not be keeping up with their legal obligations.
Michigan Sex Offender Email Alert System
The PSOR offers a free email notification service. Sign up at mspsor.com using the Email Alerts option. You can register multiple home or other addresses under a single email account. The radius options are 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, or 5 miles from each address you add. Alert emails come from notifications@icrimewatch.net, so add that address to your contacts to keep alerts from going to your spam folder.
You get notified when a new sex offender moves into your selected radius, when a listed offender in your area enrolls in a school or educational program, or when an offender's employment information changes. The service is free with no fees attached. Parents, school staff, and others with safety concerns about a specific location use this tool to stay informed without having to check the registry manually.
Michigan Sex Offender Registration Tiers
Michigan classifies every registered sex offender into one of three tiers. The tier controls how long the person must remain on the registry and how often they must appear in person to verify their information. The tier system is governed by MCL 28.725a.
Tier I covers lower-level offenses, typically involving adult victims. Examples include Criminal Sexual Conduct 4th Degree under MCL 750.520e, possession of child sexually abusive material under MCL 750.145c(4), and aggravated indecent exposure when the victim is under 18 under MCL 750.335a(2)(b). Tier I offenders must register for 15 years. They verify their information once per year during their birth month.
Tier II covers mid-level offenses. These include Criminal Sexual Conduct 2nd Degree under MCL 750.520c, distributing or promoting child sexually abusive material under MCL 750.145c(3), accosting or enticing a child for immoral purposes under MCL 750.145a and 750.145b, and use of the internet for prohibited communication under MCL 750.145d. Tier II requires 25 years of registration and verification every 6 months, once in the birth month and once 6 months later.
Tier III applies to the most serious offenses. Criminal Sexual Conduct 1st Degree under MCL 750.520b, CSC 3rd Degree under MCL 750.520d, assault with intent to commit CSC involving penetration under MCL 750.520g(1), and kidnapping of a minor with a sexual component under MCL 750.349 all fall here. Tier III means lifetime registration and quarterly in-person verification every 3 months. In October 2024, a federal court ruling found portions of SORA unconstitutional. Roughly 17,000 people may move from lifetime to 25-year registration as a result, and about 3,000 with out-of-state convictions are entitled to individual court hearings.
Michigan Sex Offender Registration Requirements
Under MCL 28.723, registration must begin after conviction and before sentencing for any listed offense. Offenders register in person at a local law enforcement agency, their county sheriff's office, or the nearest Michigan State Police post. Required documents include a Michigan driver's license or state ID, proof of residency such as a utility bill or lease, fingerprints and palm prints if not already on file, a current photograph, and vehicle details including make, model, color, and license plate number. Offenders must also report email addresses, internet identifiers, telephone numbers, professional licenses, and any passport or immigration documents they hold.
Changes to a home address, place of school enrollment, or legal name must be reported in person within 3 business days. Some changes can be sent by mail or dropped off, including temporary lodging when staying somewhere for 7 or more consecutive days, vehicle updates, new phone numbers, and email changes. Anyone who plans to move to another state must report this at least 3 business days before leaving. Moving out of the country requires 21 days advance notice. These requirements are set out in MCL 28.725. Failure to comply triggers criminal penalties under MCL 28.729.
The initial registration fee is $50. The annual renewal fee is also $50. A lifetime cap of $550 applies, so no one pays more than that total across all years of registration. Of each payment, $30 goes to a state fund and $20 goes to the registering agency. A 90-day fee waiver is available for people who cannot afford to pay.
Michigan Sex Offender Registry Resources
Several state tools work alongside the PSOR. The Internet Criminal History Access Tool, called ICHAT, lets you search a person's name-based criminal history for $10 per search. You need the individual's name and date of birth. Convictions that were sealed, expunged, or that occurred in another state won't show in ICHAT. Call 517-322-5546 to set up an account for repeat use.
The Offender Tracking Information System, or OTIS, is run by the Michigan Department of Corrections. It covers people currently housed in a Michigan prison and those recently discharged. Search by last name, first name, or MDOC number. Records remain in OTIS for up to 3 years after the discharge date. This is useful when trying to confirm whether someone has been released from state custody and whether they are now subject to SORA registration requirements in the community.
The MiCOURT Case Search at courts.michigan.gov/case-search provides access to court case records statewide, including warrant status and case history for criminal matters. The national Dru Sjodin National Sex Offender Public Website at nsopw.gov searches participating state registries all at once. Michigan is a participating state in that national system.
For direct questions about the Michigan State Police Sex Offender Registry, contact the MSP SOR Unit at mspsor.com/Home/Contact, by phone at (517) 241-1806, by fax at 517-241-1868, or by email at psors@michigan.gov. The mailing address is P.O. Box 30634, Lansing, MI 48909-0634. Office hours are 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM EST, Monday through Friday.
Penalties for Sex Offender Registry Violations
MCL 28.729 sets out the penalties for SORA violations. A first offense for failing to register or verify carries up to 4 years in prison, a fine up to $5,000, or both. A second violation can mean up to 7 years and a $10,000 fine. A third or later violation brings up to 10 years and the same $10,000 maximum fine. Failure to complete a scheduled verification is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 93 days in jail and a fine of up to $1,000.
The PSOR tracks several types of violations including address violations, campus violations, employment violations, failure to register, failure to verify, false information, fee violations, form violations, ID violations, phone violations, and vehicle violations. The non-compliant offender list is publicly viewable on the registry. If you know an offender who is not complying with SORA, you can contact local law enforcement or the MSP SOR Unit at (517) 241-1806.
Removing a Name from the Michigan Sex Offender Registry
Some offenders can ask a court to remove them from the registry before their full registration period ends. The petition process is set out in MCL 28.728c. Tier I offenders may file after 10 years if they have completed all sentence terms, have no subsequent felony or listed offense convictions, and have finished any supervision period. Tier II offenders may petition after 25 years under the same conditions. Tier III offenders are generally subject to lifetime registration with no removal option outside of limited exceptions.
Exceptions for Tier III include certain juvenile adjudications and situations where the offense involved a consensual act between two people with an age difference of no more than 4 years. This is sometimes called the Romeo and Juliet provision. To file a removal petition, the offender submits it to the circuit court where the original conviction occurred. A copy must be served on the prosecuting attorney at least 30 days before the hearing. The court reviews a report from the Michigan State Police, holds a hearing, and issues a ruling. If the court approves, the MSP removes the person from the registry.
Michigan Court Records Related to Sex Offenses
Court case records tied to sex offense convictions can be searched through the MiCOURT Case Search tool. It covers courts across Michigan and shows warrant status, case history, and current case status for criminal matters. Basic case information is accessible at no charge. Not every document is viewable online, but you can get enough to confirm conviction dates, charge types, and case numbers before requesting full records from the court clerk.
Full MSP sex offender information, including questions about specific offenders or general registry inquiries, can be directed to the MSP SOR Unit at mspsor.com/Home/Contact or by calling (517) 241-1806. Additional state-level information is available through the Michigan State Police sex offender registry page at michigan.gov/msp/services/sex-offender-reg.
Browse Michigan Sex Offenders by County
Each county in Michigan has its own law enforcement agency that handles local sex offender registration. Pick a county to find the sheriff's office contact details, registration procedures, and local resources.
Michigan Sex Offenders by City
Cities in Michigan handle sex offender registration through local police departments or the county sheriff. Offenders who live or work in a city register with the local agency or the nearest Michigan State Police post.