Leelanau County Sex Offenders

Leelanau County sex offender records are part of the Michigan Public Sex Offender Registry, which the Michigan State Police maintains and updates statewide. With a population of around 22,000 in the tip of Michigan's Lower Peninsula, Leelanau County handles all local sex offender registration through the Sheriff's Office in Suttons Bay. Residents can search for registered sex offenders anywhere in the county using the free Michigan PSOR search tool, which lets you filter by county, zip code, address, or name.

Searching Leelanau County Sex Offenders

The Michigan Public Sex Offender Registry search portal is the best starting point for checking on registered sex offenders in Leelanau County. You can filter by county name or enter a zip code from Suttons Bay, Leland, Northport, Empire, or any other part of the county. Name searches work too. Each result shows the registrant's current address, photo, vehicle details, offense type, and tier classification.

Leelanau County is a small, mostly rural county on a peninsula in northwest Michigan. The registry count is low compared to larger urban counties, but Michigan's registration laws apply the same way here. Every registrant must report address or information changes within three business days under MCL 28.725. The registry reflects those updates quickly, making the PSOR a reliable source of current data.

Court records for Leelanau County can be searched through MiCOURT Case Search. The county falls within the 13th Circuit Court, which it shares with Grand Traverse County.

The Michigan PSOR search interface at mspsor.com/Home/Search allows address and zip code searches that can be used for Leelanau County locations. The image below shows the PSOR search page.

Using the PSOR address filter, you can check for registered sex offenders in specific townships or communities anywhere in Leelanau County.

Leelanau County Sheriff's Office and Registration

Sex offender registration for Leelanau County is processed through the Leelanau County Sheriff's Office at 8525 E Government Center Drive, Suttons Bay, MI 49682. Sheriff Mike Borkovich heads the department. The main phone is 231-256-8800, and you can also reach the office by email at sheriff@co.leelanau.mi.us. The department's website is at leelanau.cc/sheriff.asp.

Sheriff Borkovich brings a background that spans decades of law enforcement and public safety work. He served as a Michigan State Park Officer starting in 1980, then transitioned to become a Michigan Conservation Officer in 1984, a role he held through 2012. He has also worked as an instructor at the Northwestern Michigan College Police Academy since 1988. That background in law enforcement training and field service shapes how the department approaches public safety work, including sex offender compliance monitoring.

All registration and periodic verification must be done in person at the Sheriff's Office. You cannot complete registration by mail or online. Bring a government-issued photo ID, proof of your current address, and vehicle information. Initial registration must happen within three business days of moving to Leelanau County, under MCL 28.723. Updates to address, vehicle, or other required information must also be reported within three business days of the change.

Note: The Sheriff's Office email at sheriff@co.leelanau.mi.us is appropriate for general inquiries, but registration itself must always be completed in person.

Tier Levels for Leelanau County Registrants

Under MCL 28.725a, every sex offender in Michigan is placed in one of three tiers based solely on their offense. Tier I covers lower-level crimes like fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct under MCL 750.520e. Tier I registrants verify once per year and remain on the registry for 15 years. Tier II covers mid-level offenses such as second-degree criminal sexual conduct under MCL 750.520c. These registrants verify every six months and stay listed for 25 years.

Tier III applies to the most serious crimes, including first-degree criminal sexual conduct under MCL 750.520b. Tier III registrants verify quarterly and are on the public registry for life. All verification takes place in person at the Leelanau County Sheriff's Office. There is no online or phone verification option. The tier cannot be changed by the Sheriff's Office. Only a court order modifying or overturning the underlying conviction could alter the tier assignment.

Michigan SORA and Penalties

The Sex Offenders Registration Act at MCL 28.721 is the law behind all registration requirements in Leelanau County. It defines who must register, when, and how. MCL 28.723 sets the three-business-day rule for initial registration. MCL 28.725 requires prompt updates for any change in address, vehicle, or other key details. Under MCL 28.728, the Michigan State Police manages the statewide registry and keeps it current based on reports from local law enforcement.

Failing to comply is a felony. Under MCL 28.729, a first violation can bring up to four years in prison and a $5,000 fine. A second offense raises those limits to seven years and $10,000. A third or later offense carries up to ten years in prison and a $10,000 fine. These penalties apply equally whether someone fails to register for the first time or misses a routine annual verification check.

If you want to report a suspected compliance violation in Leelanau County, call the Sheriff's Office at 231-256-8800 or contact the Michigan State Police SOR Unit at (517) 241-1806. You can also email the MSP SOR team at psors@michigan.gov.

Additional Leelanau County Record Tools

The PSOR is the main tool, but it is not the only one. The Michigan Offender Tracking Information System (OTIS) lets you check whether a specific person is currently under state supervision on parole or probation. It is run by the Michigan Department of Corrections and is free to use. For a broader criminal background check, ICHAT from the Michigan State Police covers all Michigan felony and misdemeanor convictions for a $10 fee. It includes offenses that do not require sex offender registration.

The National Sex Offender Public Website searches all fifty state registries in one query and is free. Use it if you think someone arriving in Leelanau County has a registration obligation from another state. For specific questions about the Michigan registry or a listing you have found, the PSOR contact page is the right channel.

Cities in Leelanau County

Leelanau County does not have any cities that meet the population threshold for dedicated pages on this site. The county seat is Suttons Bay, and other communities include Leland, Northport, and Empire. To look up sex offenders in any part of Leelanau County, use the Michigan Public Sex Offender Registry at mspsor.com and search by county or zip code.

Nearby Counties

Leelanau County sits at the tip of Michigan's Lower Peninsula and borders Grand Traverse County to the south and east. Other nearby counties are listed below.