Gogebic County Sex Offenders

Gogebic County sex offender records are part of Michigan's statewide Public Sex Offender Registry, a free database managed by the Michigan State Police. You can search by name, address, or zip code at mspsor.com to find registered sex offenders in Gogebic County, including those in Bessemer, Ironwood, and rural areas of the western Upper Peninsula. Local registration is handled by the Gogebic County Sheriff's Office at 100 W. Iron Street in Bessemer. This page explains how to use the registry, what the registration law requires, and where to direct questions or reports about local registrants.

Search Gogebic County Sex Offenders

The Michigan Public Sex Offender Registry search portal is the primary resource for finding registered sex offenders in Gogebic County. The database is free to use and is maintained by the Michigan State Police. You can search by name, by a local address or zip code, or by selecting Gogebic County from the county filter. Results are updated continuously as registrants report changes, so the information reflects current status. Gogebic County has a small population of roughly 14,000, which means the number of active registrants is limited compared to more populous Michigan counties, but all are captured in the statewide registry.

Each listing in the PSOR shows the person's full name, a photo, their registered address and any secondary addresses, vehicle information, tier classification, and the offense type that led to registration. The county covers a broad geographic area in Michigan's western Upper Peninsula, from Bessemer to Ironwood and into the rural townships along the Wisconsin border. Searching by zip code is often the most practical way to focus results on a specific community within the county.

The Michigan State Police OTIS system at mdocweb.state.mi.us provides information on offenders currently under MDOC supervision, which can complement the PSOR for research on individuals recently released from state custody.

The OTIS system lists individuals under Michigan Department of Corrections supervision, including those on parole or probation in Gogebic County.

Gogebic County Sheriff Registration Office

All sex offender registration in Gogebic County is handled by the Gogebic County Sheriff's Office at 100 W. Iron Street, Bessemer, MI 49911. The main phone is 906-667-0203 and the fax is 906-667-0206. Sheriff Jorge Cruz leads the department. Every registrant in Gogebic County must appear in person at the Iron Street office for their initial registration and for all required verification check-ins and updates. Registration cannot be completed by phone, mail, or online.

When you come in to register, bring a valid government-issued photo ID, proof of your current address, and documentation about any vehicles you own or regularly use. You must also disclose any internet identifiers you use, including email addresses and social media accounts. Changes to any registered information, including a new address, a new vehicle, or a change in school enrollment, must be reported in person within three business days of the change. There is no grace period beyond three days under MCL 28.725.

Initial registration carries a $50 fee. Annual renewal fees are $50 each year. There is a $550 lifetime cap. Once a registrant has paid the cap amount, they no longer owe annual fees but must still report for their verification appointments. Tier I registrants verify annually, Tier II every six months, and Tier III every 90 days. In a small county like Gogebic, registrants who miss a check-in are generally noticed quickly.

Note: Registrants who share time between Gogebic County and a neighboring county or state must register each address and report all locations at each check-in.

Michigan Registration Law in Gogebic County

Michigan's Sex Offenders Registration Act, beginning at MCL 28.721, covers every county in the state, including Gogebic. Under MCL 28.723, any person convicted of a qualifying sex offense must register with local law enforcement before or upon release from custody, or within three business days of moving into Michigan or changing their address. For those moving into Gogebic County from Wisconsin or from elsewhere in Michigan, the three-day window applies from the date they establish a new address in the county.

Under MCL 28.725, registrants must report changes to their home address, secondary addresses, vehicle information, employer location, school enrollment, and internet identifiers within three business days, all in person. This is not flexible. The law requires in-person reporting for every change without exception. MCL 28.728c governs how the Michigan State Police maintains and updates the central registry, including the process by which local law enforcement submits updated information to the state system after each registration or update at the county level.

Penalties for failing to register or update are set at MCL 28.729. A first violation is a felony with a maximum of four years in prison and a $5,000 fine. A second violation raises the ceiling to seven years and $10,000. Third and later violations bring up to ten years and $10,000. Given Gogebic County's small population, compliance matters tend to come to the attention of local law enforcement relatively quickly.

Tier Classification in Gogebic County

Under MCL 28.725a, Michigan places every registered sex offender into one of three tiers based on the nature of their conviction. Tier I applies to lower-level offenses, including fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct under MCL 750.520e. Tier I registrants verify once a year and stay on the public list for 15 years. Tier II covers offenses of intermediate severity such as second-degree criminal sexual conduct under MCL 750.520c. These registrants verify every six months and remain listed for 25 years.

Tier III is for the most serious crimes. First-degree criminal sexual conduct under MCL 750.520b, which typically involves penetration along with aggravating factors like a victim under 13 or use of force, places a person in Tier III. Tier III registrants verify every 90 days and are on the public registry for life. There is no process to remove a Tier III registrant from the list. All tier assignments are made by the Michigan State Police based on the offense of conviction. The Gogebic County Sheriff's Office cannot modify a tier level.

Note: Tier I and Tier II offenders may petition for removal from the registry after their required registration period ends, but Tier III offenders have no such option.

Additional Resources for Gogebic County

Beyond the PSOR, a few tools are worth knowing about if you are researching criminal history or offender status in Gogebic County. The Michigan State Police runs ICHAT, the Internet Criminal History Access Tool. A $10 search returns a full Michigan conviction record covering all felony and misdemeanor offenses, not just sex crimes. This is useful if you want a broader picture of someone's criminal history in the state.

Court records for Gogebic County cases can be found through the statewide MiCOURT Case Search portal. For cases at the federal level, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan would have jurisdiction over federal charges originating in Gogebic County. The National Sex Offender Public Website is a free federal tool that searches all fifty state registries at once. Since Gogebic County borders Wisconsin, NSOPW can be especially useful for checking whether someone with a Wisconsin record has registered in Michigan after moving across the state line.

Reporting Concerns in Gogebic County

If you have concerns about a registered sex offender in Gogebic County who may not be complying with registration requirements, call the Gogebic County Sheriff's Office at 906-667-0203. For emergencies, call 911. Non-compliance reports are taken seriously and can be investigated by local law enforcement for possible felony charges.

The Michigan State Police SOR Unit handles registry-level matters. Contact them at (517) 241-1806 or psors@michigan.gov. The PSOR contact page at mspsor.com/Home/Contact is available for reporting suspected violations or asking about registry accuracy. FOIA requests for local law enforcement records related to sex offenses in Gogebic County should be submitted in writing to the Gogebic County Sheriff's Office at 100 W. Iron Street, Bessemer, MI 49911.

Cities in Gogebic County

Gogebic County does not have any cities that meet the population threshold for dedicated city pages on this site. To search for registered sex offenders in specific communities within Gogebic County, including Ironwood, Bessemer, Wakefield, or Watersmeet, use the Michigan Public Sex Offender Registry at mspsor.com. Searching by city name or zip code will narrow results to any part of the county.

Nearby Counties

Gogebic County is at the western tip of Michigan's Upper Peninsula, near Wisconsin. View sex offender registry information for neighboring counties below.