Request Records and Reports

Cass County adopts the public policy set forth in the Michigan Freedom of Information Act, 1976 PA 442, that all persons, except those persons incarcerated in state, county, or federal correctional facilities, are entitled to full and complete information regarding the affairs of government and the official acts of those who represent them as public officials and public employees, consistent with the FOIA.  Access to information is important so that people may fully participate in the democratic process. Cass County's FOIA procedures and guidelines are enacted in compliance with the requirements set forth in Section 4(4) of the FOIA.

Submitting a Request

FOIA requests for the Cass County Sheriff's Office are handled separately from other records requests. Requests may be submitted any of the following ways:

Required Information

Sufficient Description: Requests in writing must identify the public record sufficiently to allow the County to find the requested record.  If not, the request may be denied on that basis.

Requestor Contact Information: A request from a person must include the following (unless the request is from an individual who qualifies as indigent under Section 4(2)(a) of the FOIA):

1. the requesting person’s complete name, address, and contact information, and
2. if the request is made by a person other than an individual, the complete name, address, and contact information of the person’s agent who is an individual.

Addresses must be written in compliance with United States Postal Service addressing standards.  Contact information must include a valid telephone number or electronic mail address.

Exempt Agencies

In accordance with MCL 15.232(d)(v), the Judiciary is exempt from FOIA:

(d) "Public body" means any of the following: (v) The judiciary, including the office of the county clerk and employees thereof when acting in the capacity of clerk to the circuit court, is not included in the definition of public body.