This is a private reference site, not a Bay County office. We cannot confirm whether someone is jailed, obtain a booking record, release a person, post bond, or change an official file. Contact the government office that holds the record or controls custody.
Official Bay County Contacts
For present jail status, begin with VINELink or the Bay County Sheriff’s Office. Use the Records Division for police reports and records questions. A written Bay County FOIA request is the formal route when an existing booking card or booking photograph is needed.
Bay County Sheriff’s Office
Bay County Law Enforcement Center
503 Third Street
Bay City, MI 48708
Main line: 989-895-4050
Weekday business hours: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Jail and Booking Lines
Bay County Jail Division: 989-895-4066
Intake / Booking: 989-895-4067
Records Division: 989-895-4050
Records hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The Sheriff’s jail page directs current-custody checks to VINELink or the main line. It does not publish a public roster or photo gallery. Phone staff may clarify current custody or the likely record holder, but a call does not replace a written FOIA request for a reproducible record.
The fastest route depends on the record stage and the agency that created it.
- For a Bay County booking card or photo, follow the county FOIA steps summarized on the Bay County booking records page.
- For current custody or a release notification, use VINELink or call the Sheriff’s main line.
- For an Essexville or Bay City police incident report, contact that city’s public-safety records route. Auburn receives police services from the Sheriff under contract.
- For warrant status, use the official court search and then verify with the issuing court or Sheriff.
- For the result after booking, check the 74th District Court or 18th Circuit Court record as the case requires.
- For a sentenced state prisoner or qualifying MDOC supervision record, use Michigan Department of Corrections OTIS.
- For federal or immigration custody, use the separate BOP or ICE locator. County staff do not control those systems.
Be precise when requesting a record. Give the full name, narrow date range, arresting agency, and incident or booking number when known. Michigan FOIA requires a request to describe an existing public record. It does not require an office to answer a general question or create a new file.
Bay County’s public FOIA portal accepts new written requests. Name the Bay County Sheriff’s Office or Bay County Jail as the likely holder when seeking a jail intake record. Ask for the booking number, arresting agency, charges as entered at booking, bond or hold details, release information if public, and the booking photograph if maintained and releasable.
The county generally must respond within five business days and may take one ten-business-day extension. Fees can include lawful search, review, separation, copying, and mailing costs. The Records Division lists a $22 charge for a closed incident report, but that is not a stated booking-photo fee. Ask for an estimate and available delivery methods. A response may grant the request, release part with redactions, deny it with a legal basis, or state that no responsive record was found.