Washtenaw County Sex Offenders

Washtenaw County sex offender records are maintained through the Michigan Public Sex Offender Registry, a statewide database run by the Michigan State Police. The county seat is Ann Arbor, home to the University of Michigan and one of the most active registration jurisdictions in the state. With a population around 367,000, Washtenaw County covers a wide range of communities from Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti to Saline, Chelsea, and Milan. Registration is handled by the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office for most residents, while Ann Arbor city residents can also register directly with the Ann Arbor Police Department. The PSOR search is free and available to anyone.

Search Washtenaw County Sex Offender Records

The Michigan Public Sex Offender Registry search portal is the primary tool for looking up registered sex offenders in Washtenaw County. The search is free. You can filter by county, city, zip code, or street address. Name searches are also available. Each offender profile shows the current address, photograph, vehicle information, and the offense that triggered the registration requirement. The registry covers all cities and townships in Washtenaw County.

Washtenaw County also maintains its own public access trial court search tool. The Washtenaw County Trial Court public search lets you pull case records from the county's courts. This can be useful when you want to cross-reference what the PSOR shows with actual case filings and dispositions. The two systems are separate, but using both gives a fuller picture.

The image below links to the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office website, which is the designated registration authority for most of the county.

The Sheriff's Office at 2201 Hogback Rd. in Ann Arbor handles in-person registrations for Washtenaw County. You can reach them at (734) 971-8400.

For a national search, the National Sex Offender Public Website (NSOPW) pulls from all 50 state registries. If someone moved to Washtenaw County from another state, NSOPW is the easiest cross-reference tool available.

Washtenaw County Sheriff Registration Details

The Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office is located at 2201 Hogback Rd., Ann Arbor, MI 48105. The main phone number is (734) 971-8400. The fax number is 734-973-4624. You can also email the office at sheriffinfo@washtenaw.org. For inmate information, there is an automated line at 734-585-7247. Visitation inquiries can be directed to 734-973-4487.

All sex offenders required to register under Michigan law must appear in person. Registration cannot be done online or by mail. You will need valid photo ID, proof of your current address, and vehicle information. Initial registration must occur within three business days of moving into Washtenaw County or establishing a presence here through work or school. That three-day window is required by MCL 28.723. The same requirement applies whenever you change addresses, get a new vehicle, or update any other required information under MCL 28.725.

Note: If you are a Washtenaw Community College student living or studying in the county, you must register with either local police, the Michigan State Police, or the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Department per state law.

Ann Arbor Police and City Registration

Ann Arbor is the county seat and home to a large university population. The Ann Arbor Police Department handles sex offender registration for city residents separately from the Sheriff's Office. City residents can register at the Justice Center at 301 East Huron, Second Floor, Ann Arbor. The Records Section SOR phone number is 734-794-6954. You can also reach them by email at a2policerecords@a2gov.org.

If you live in Ann Arbor, you register with the Ann Arbor Police, not the Sheriff's Office. If you live outside Ann Arbor city limits but within Washtenaw County, you register with the Sheriff. If you are a student at the University of Michigan who lives in Ann Arbor, you register with the Ann Arbor Police. If you live outside the city but attend class in Ann Arbor, you may also need to register for your school location with the appropriate agency.

The 14A District Court for the county is located at the corner of Hogback and Washtenaw. The 22nd Circuit Court, which handles felony-level matters for the county, is at 122 S. Main St. in Chelsea. Court records for both courts are searchable through the Washtenaw County Trial Court portal and MiCOURT Case Search.

Registration Tiers in Washtenaw County

Michigan's Sex Offenders Registration Act uses a three-tier classification system under MCL 28.725a. The tier is set by the conviction offense and cannot be changed by local officials. Washtenaw County Sheriff staff and Ann Arbor Police apply the same state classification to every registrant they process.

Tier I covers lower-level offenses, such as fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct under MCL 750.520e. Tier I registrants must verify once per year and remain on the registry for 15 years. Tier II addresses mid-level offenses, including second-degree criminal sexual conduct under MCL 750.520c. These individuals verify every six months for 25 years. Tier III is the most serious and includes first-degree criminal sexual conduct under MCL 750.520b. Tier III registrants verify quarterly and stay on the public registry for life.

Registration fees are $50 at initial registration and $50 per year for annual renewals, with a lifetime cap of $550. These fees apply uniformly across Michigan, including in Washtenaw County.

Michigan Law and Washtenaw County Penalties

Michigan's Sex Offenders Registration Act is codified at MCL 28.721 through MCL 28.730. It sets uniform rules that apply in every Michigan county, including Washtenaw. Local offices must follow state law and have no authority to set different requirements.

Under MCL 28.729, failing to register or update required information is a felony. A first offense can bring up to four years in prison and a $5,000 fine. A second offense carries up to seven years and $10,000. A third or subsequent violation can result in ten years in prison and a $10,000 fine. Washtenaw County prosecutors treat these charges seriously, and enforcement is active throughout the county.

Registrants who leave Washtenaw County and move to another county must report to that county's sheriff within three business days. Those who move out of Michigan entirely must notify the Washtenaw County Sheriff before leaving and update their registration in their new state. MCL 28.728 sets out exactly what information must be recorded and kept current in the registry. Residency restrictions for certain registrants are addressed under MCL 28.728c.

Other Offender Record Resources for Washtenaw County

Beyond the PSOR, several other state tools can supplement your search. The Michigan Offender Tracking Information System (OTIS), operated by the Michigan Department of Corrections, shows whether someone is currently on parole or probation in Michigan. This is useful if you know a person recently left state prison and may now be living in Washtenaw County.

The Michigan ICHAT tool, run by the Michigan State Police, costs $10 per search and returns felony and misdemeanor conviction records from across the state. It is not limited to sex offenses. When the PSOR shows no results but you still have concerns, ICHAT can fill in gaps that the sex offender registry does not cover.

For questions about the PSOR or to report a concern about a registrant, you can contact the Michigan State Police SOR Unit at (517) 241-1806 or by email at psors@michigan.gov. The PSOR also has a dedicated contact page for registry-related questions and reports.

Cities in Washtenaw County

Washtenaw County includes one city with a dedicated page on this site. Ann Arbor is the county seat and the largest city in the county, with a population around 120,000. It is home to the University of Michigan and has its own police department that handles sex offender registration for city residents separately from the county Sheriff. For other communities in Washtenaw County such as Ypsilanti, Saline, Chelsea, and Milan, use the Michigan PSOR to search by city name or zip code.

Nearby Counties

Washtenaw County borders several Southeast Michigan counties. Sex offender registry records for neighboring counties can be found through the links below.