Houghton County Jail – Houghton, MI

Houghton County Jail is located in Houghton County, MI and is the jail for the area. Do you know someone at Houghton County Jail? This page tells you info about everything one might want to know about Houghton County Jail,like: Learn how to locate an inmate. How to view Houghton County Jail mugshots. The jail’s phone number and address. Bail and bail bondsmen. Booking and intake procedures. Court information and records. And everything else.

The prospect of getting arrested and going to jail is a scary and daunting thought, not only for the person who gets arrested, but also their friends and family. The purpose of this guide is to offer information you need to make getting locked up easier. If you have a question, just ask it, and please leave any comments or tips that would help other people in the same situation will be welcome.

Do you have a family member or friend that is in jail and want to find out where they are?

Has somebody who’s been arrested and you need to find them?

In order to search who is in jail at Houghton County Jail you should navigate to their website and perform an inmate search.

The Houghton County Jail Inmate Lookup is an online list of persons who were arrested and are now in jail, including status, how much their bail is, and times you can visit. Also, you can get information for anybody processed or discharged within the past 24-hour period. Prisoners are shown in alphabetical order by last name. You can find their inmate information faster if you have the arrestee’s name, birth date, or inmate ID.

If the person you’re searching for may be locked up at a different jail you should check our guide to other Michigan jails: Michigan County Jails Listing

A mugshot, or intake photograph, is a photograph that the police take when you get processed at jail intake. A mugshot is actually one and a side-view photo. Your full name and jail booking number will be on the photos, and they’re kept on file at the jail.

Mugshots of Houghton County Jail inmates can be seen online, or you can see them in person at the Houghton County Jail. When you search for mugshots on the website you will need to input the prisoner’s legal name, and the booking date, if you have one.

Trying to figure out how to have your mugshot taken down from the Houghton County Jail website? This will be difficult, since your mugshot is a public record. To get your mugshot taken down you have to file a Petition to Expunge in court. Basically, this means that the record of your arrest will be sealed, and unavailable to the public. It is difficult to do this, and you will most likely need the services of a lawyer.

Read our in-depth tutorial about getting your mugshot taken down, the many different websites with mugshots, and the websites that offer to remove your mugshot for you: How To Remove Your Mugshot from the Internet

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Of course, once you are arrested and put in jail, your primary thought is when and how to get out. After booking, bail will be determined by the magistrate. If no bail is set this might mean that you will either be released, or you must remain in jail until your trial.

If you are released from jail you will have to agree to show up for court, and you must not leave the area.

Usually, a prisoner in the Houghton County Jail will be given early release in exchange for good behavior when they don’t break the rules and conduct themselves properly while incarcerated.

If you prove to be trustworthy, you might be allowed to participate in work release. You will either have to return to the jail every day when you’re finished with work, or you may get to live in a halfway house instead of the jail.

Bail is the amount of money that you are required to pay to get out of jail pending trial. The amount you will have to pay is dictated by how serious your crime is. You or someone you know will have to pay to the courts 10 percent of the total amount that was determined in order for you to bail out of jail. If you don’t go to your court appearance, the person that paid your bail will lose that money.

You will need to call the jail. If you’ve got the person’s info, such as name, address and date of birth, they’ll let you know what their bail is set at. Also, you can find out how much their bail is on the Houghton County Jail website.

Needing to bail someone out of jail is never fun, but fortunately, its really easy. First, find out if they have a “Cash Bond Only” situation. If so, you can’t get a bail bondsman. Bail can only be paid by cash – the jail can’t accept a check. As soon as you’ve paid the bail bond, the prisoner will be discharged. If the conditions of bail are not violated, you will get this money back.

If their bail has been set too high, or you can’t afford it yourself, you might need to use a bail bondsman. Bondsmen generally charge you a fee of 10-15% of the total amount of bail set, and sometimes have a minimum charge of $100. The money you pay to the bail bondsman is non-refundable and the bondsman only accepts cash. If bail is very large, the bail bondsman might use your assets, such as home, property or cars, as collateral.

If you need a bail bondsman click here: Bail bondsman

Have you ever hired a bondsman either for yourself, a family member or friend? If you have, please leave a comment below and tell about your experience and let us know how it worked out for you.

Click here to tell your story

• Time Off For Good Behavior
• Work Release Programs
• Get Out For Time Served
• Pre-Trial Release Programs
• Released On House Arrest
• Be Released on Your Own Recognizance

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The intake process is made up of the following steps:

• They’ll put you in a holding cell. If there are a lot of arrests, you will have to wait, sometimes for many hours, before you get processed.
• Firstly, you have to answer a bunch of questions, such as your legal name, address, date of birth and a contact person.
• They’ll also ask you about your medical and mental history.
• You’ll be given an inmate ID.
• Your fingerprints will be taken.
• They will take your mugshot.
• Any property you have will be taken away from you and stored until you get released from jail.
• They will let you make a phone call to talk to a member of your family, friend, or bondsman to arrange bail.
• If they expect that you will make bail and be released quickly, you might be able to keep wearing your own clothes, but if you are not expected to make bail quickly you will be given a jail jumpsuit.

Have you ever been arrested and gone through the jail intake procedure? If you have, you should tell our readers about your experience. How long did you have to wait in the holding cell? What was your treatment like? Do you have any secrets that might help other people that get arrested make it through jail intake?

Speak Your Mind

When you pay your bail, you will be allowed to go home after you get discharged. Getting discharged from jail will take anywhere between 15 minutes to quite a few hours. So, the faster you can pay your bail, the quicker you will get out of jail. How quickly you get discharged depends on whether you’ve got a bond amount or if a magistrate must determine how much to set your bail at. For a minor charge, you will be booked and get released without having to post bail. When you get to the end of your sentence and have a release date, you should expect to get released that morning.

out against you, or if you have to start a jail sentence, it is highly recommended that you do the right thing and turn yourself in. If it is for a warrant, go to the jail, and tell them that believe that there could be an outstanding arrest warrant out for you. They will do a record check, and if they verify that there is a warrant for your arrest, they will take you into custody. If it is for a jail sentence, report on the date and time that the sentence order or court paperwork states. Ensure that you get don’t get there late, or they may decide to arrest you. Be sure to only bring things that are allowed with you, for example a driver’s license or your ID, any prescription medication you might take, along with your doctor’s prescription, and the copy of the sentencing order.

To have visitors, you have to provide the name and date of birth of each visitor to the jail in advance of any visit. Your visitor’s names will go in the log for the inmate that requested the visitor. Each and every visitor must provide acceptable photo identification when visiting an inmate. Any visitors arriving late or without a visiting order will be turned away.
Visitation procedures at Houghton County Jail change often, so make sure that you check the official Houghton County Jail jail site before you try to visit an inmate.

Phone calls that inmates are allowed to make from jail are collect calls or through a pre-paid phone account. Calls made in jail are much pricier than regular phone calls. Phone calls are restricted on when and how often you can use the phone, but you should keep in mind that a long line can form at the phones, because everyone wants to use the phone, too. If you break the jail rules, your ability to use the phone might get cut back or forbidden.

Phone Number: 906-482-0055

Any mail that you send to an inmate must be sent using the actual US Postal Service. You must not use any other form of delivery. You have to write or type the prisoner’s name, prisoner number, and jail address on the letter that you send. Don’t send a package, padded envelope, bag, or an envelope containing metal parts. Any mail gets opened and examined and read by the officers at the jail, and will get sent back if they decide it is inappropriate.

The address that you should use if you are sending a letter to an inmate at Houghton County Jail is:

Houghton County Jail
403 E .Houghton Avenue
Houghton, MI 49931

Here is how you should address the letter:

[INMATE’S FULL NAME]
[INMATE ID]
Houghton County Jail
403 E .Houghton Avenue
Houghton, MI 49931

The inmate mail policy at Houghton County Jail changes, so you should visit the official Houghton County Jail site before you send a letter to an inmate.

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If you get arrested, you have particular rights, one of these is your right to request an attorney. You won’t get many phone calls in jail, so it is important to get a friend or family member to locate a lawyer for you. You might be thinking ‘but do I really need an attorney’ While you are not required to have one, an attorney will advise you about your rights, help protect your best interests and guide you through the complicated legal system in Houghton County. The quicker you get an attorney working on your charges, the better your chances.

For more information about the benefits of hiring a lawyer, go to: How to Find a Lawyer in Houghton County

If you can’t afford a lawyer, you will get a public defender. In addition, the Public Defender’s Office is staffed by investigators, crime scene and forensics experts as well as social case workers. All Public Defenders are licensed lawyers that are admitted to the Michigan State Bar Association and are licensed to practice law.

Have you or someone you know used a Public Defender? Do you think that they did a good job of defending you?

All court records are public and available to anyone who requests them. Court records contain a court case file containing a docket sheet and every documents and motions filed during your court case. You are able to access the records and documents in your court case with the Houghton County website, or by going to the Clerk of Court’s office.

The Clerk of Court is a member of the court that maintains court records and controls access to them. They also administer the oath during court cases and read the court verdict when the jury has finished deliberations. All records, documents, and evidence associated with your case are maintained at the office of the Clerk of Court.

Court costs and court fees are all costs associated with your court case, such as filing fees, motion and claim fees, and court charges. If you cannot afford these fees and have a court appointed attorney, you may not have to pay them.

A Magistrate is the judge that presides over your case in court. Magistrate judges do different functions, which include deciding a bail amount, issuing warrants for arrest, and acting as the presiding judge over preliminary and procedural court proceedings and detention hearings.

A defendant’s pre-sentencing report is put together to include the defendant’s background information and as much detail about the arrestee’s life history, which the magistrate judge will review when determining a sentence. Information will be gathered from the person on trial, the defendant’s family, and in some circumstances the victim. Keep in mind you are able to ask to have a copy of your pre-sentencing report prior to sentencing, so you have the opportunity to correct any inaccurate information.

After being convicted of a crime, you will be given a sentence for your crime. There are a number of different options, ranging from community service to probation, to prison or jail time. Depending on the severity of the crime, you could be immediately taken into custody, or you could receive a date that you are supposed to go to jail to serve your jail time according to your sentence.

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Do you need to find out if somebody you know is in jail, or has been an inmate in the past?

This is pretty easy to do, simply just visit the jail’s website, and do a search using:

• Their name.
• Date of birth.
• Their booking date.
• and their jail inmate ID.

If you think that they are currently in jail, you should call the jail find out if they’ve been arrested.

If you have a warrant out for your arrest, you can access arrest warrants on the Houghton County court website or call the jail. You have to have the person’s first and last name. Or, you can just go down to the jail and ask the officer in charge. Bear in mind that there is an outstanding warrant for your arrest, they will take you into custody immediately.

If you know the person’s name, and possibly an arrest date, contact the jail, either by phone, in person, or look online. Records of arrests are a matter of public record and this is available to anyone.

Civil processes are when you get served with legal papers, which can be court orders. You can find these by going to the Houghton County Sheriff’s office, by phone or online.

All people registered as sex offenders are registered on either a national or state sex offender database. Those listed on these databases have been convicted in a court of law of a sex crime. You are able to see these listings on the internet, but bear in mind that you can’t see the street address, just the neighborhood block they live on.

Court Records are public records and available to anyone. Court Records include a court case file that contains a court docket and all of the documents filed in the court case. You are able to access the court records via the internet, or at Clerk of Court office in the county where the case was filed.

Each and every state maintains a record of a person’s criminal history. These state databases are linked together so you can track criminal backgrounds from any other state. You can go to the courthouse and check in person or you can check the website. It is helpful to know the county, and if it was in a different state, you may have to pay for a more intensive search.

When you look up a person’s criminal records you will find out if a person has ever been arrested, charged or convicted for any crimes they may have committed, which could include:

• Driving Under the Influence (DUI).
• Drug offenses such as possession or trafficking.
• Kidnapping.
• Sexual offenses including rape, assault.
• Violent crimes.
• Breaking and entering, theft, larceny.

During a criminal records search, usually won’t discover if someone has had any moving violations, like:

• Speeding or reckless driving.
• Drivers license suspended or revoked.
• Accidents.
• Moving violations.
• Parking Tickets.

To get driving records, you have to do a search for their driving record.

Have you ever had to look for criminal records online? Was it easy? Did you do your search online or did you have to make a phone call to the Houghton County courthouse? Was the information you received correct? There are lots of reasons that folks search for criminal records, and your feedback might help other people.

Click here to share your story

Most Wanted

The FBI has their list of the Ten Most Wanted Fugitives. In Houghton County, the Houghton County Sheriff’s Department has their own list of the most wanted criminals, that you can access online.

FBI Top Ten Most Wanted List: Link


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Life In Jail / What Its Like

Daily Life

Everyone knows that spending time in the Houghton County jail is no fun, you will soon become accustomed to the daily routine there. All inmates get a wake-up alarm every morning at 6:00 AM, and next they’ll do roll call. Then you will have breakfast. Following breakfast you will work in the program that has been assigned to you. This could be working in the kitchen, laundry, or some sort of manufacturing job. While this may seem tedious, it may help you when you leave jail, as you are gaining experience in a certain field of work. Other inmates go to school, while some take part in mandated treatment programs. After lunch, there will be another roll call, then back to work. Your evening will be spent either in your cell or a common room. During this time dinner is served and you will be expected to take a shower. After another roll call, it’s lights out. Even though you will be confined to your cell, there may be enough light to read or write letters. Then again, most inmates welcome lights out, and try to get as much sleep as they can.

Most people are frightened at the idea of jail because they don’t know what to expect. If you have spent any time in Houghton County Jail, your experiences would be welcomed, if it can help another person to deal with it.

Dress Code

When incarcerated, all inmates are expected to wear the Houghton County Jail uniform. This is normally a jumpsuit or scrubs. Of note to anyone visiting an inmate – you must be properly dressed. Any clothing considered inappropriate will not be permitted.

How To Send Money to an Inmate

You will have your own ‘bank account’ while in jail. This money is used to purchase items from the Commissary. Family and friends can deposit money into this account for you, and any money you earn while in prison will also be deposited into your account. Outside money can be paid in to your account via a money order, cash or check. If someone sends a check or money order, make sure that they write your inmate ID on it. The maximum amount you are allowed in your account is $290 per month.

The process for sending funds to Houghton County Jail inmates changes, so it would be best to review the official Houghton County Jail site when you send funds to an inmate.


Commissary

The commissary is the jail store. You can purchase a number of things here, such as toiletries, snacks and writing supplies. Bear in mind that you will probably want to use the commissary daily, and any infractions will get that privilege taken away from you.

Inmate Medications

If you are on any type of prescription medication, you will be allowed to continue taking it while in jail. When you are first processed, you will be asked what medication you take. You will then be referred to the jail nurse or doctor who will be in charge of monitoring your health and prescribing your medication.

Meals

You will get three meals a day: breakfast, lunch and dinner. As expected, they are very basic, but healthy. A typical breakfast might be cereal, toast, coffee and fruit. Lunch might be spaghetti, salad, bread and milk. Dinner could be chicken casserole, rice, vegetables, dessert and milk. Contrary to popular belief, prison food has greatly improved over the years, and you might find that it’s not much different from what you would eat at home.

Pods / The Yard

The jail is designed in a ‘pod’ layout, with self-contained housing arranged around an outdoor yard. Each pod has a central control station and a common room, and the inmates take turns in using the yard. The jail is designed this way to keep certain inmates together, and others away from the general population.

Gangs

As with life in general, gangs are a part of prison life. Obviously it is best to avoid becoming a part of this environment as it will only lead to trouble. When you first enter prison, you might find yourself being ‘primed’ to join a gang, or worse, you might get their attention in a negative way. The best thing to do is keep your head down and don’t get involved.


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News and Media

News

Photos / Pictures

Videos


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Jobs

Types of Jobs at Houghton County Jail

The Deputy Sheriff is the second in command at the Houghton County Jail, overseeing the day to day operations and administration of the jail. An inmate is unlikely to have much interaction with the Deputy Sheriff, unless they have committed an infraction. Detention Officers are responsible for the custody and care of the inmates. They maintain order in the jail, and handle security. A Detention Officer is assigned to a certain pod, and therefore is responsible for the same inmates each day. They get to know the inmates on a certain level and are well equipped to handle any problems that may occur.

Apply for a Job at Houghton County Jail

Requirements:

• You must be over the age of 21.
• You must possess a High School Diploma or GED
• You must be a US Citizen.
• You must pass a Criminal, Credit and Driving History background check.
• You must pass a drug test.
• You must have a good level of fitness.
• You must be in good health.
• You must have a valid Driver’s License
• An applicant for Deputy Sheriff must possess a Law Enforcement Certification.


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Family Resources

There are resources for families of both the perpetrator of the crime and the victim. The social and emotional impact of crime is far reaching, affecting many. Families can receive professional counseling, court related assistance, social services assistance and help in navigating the criminal justice system.

If you are a family member, which resources did you find to be particularly helpful? Please let us know, as this will be helpful to other families in the same situation.

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Victim Resources

Important Note: If you, or someone you know, are in immediate danger, call 911.

Victim’s Rights

The Victim Rights Act grants victims the following rights:

• You have the right to protection from the accused.
• You have the right to notification.
• You have the right to attend proceedings.
• You have the right to speak at criminal justice proceedings.
• You have the right to consult with the prosecuting attorney.
• You have the right to restitution.
• You have the right to a speedy trial.
• You have the right to be treated with fairness, dignity and respect.

The definition of victim includes:

• Spouses and children of all victims.
• Parents and guardians of minor victims.
• Parents, guardians and siblings of mentally or physically incapacitated victims or victims of homicide.
• Foster parents or other caregivers, under certain circumstances.

There are a number of services and programs designed to help victims and their families. You can find out about these services by contacting the courthouse, or local law enforcement agency.

Victim Notification

The Department of Justice Victim Notification System (VNS) is a system that provides victims with information pertaining to their case and/or any defendants in the case. You will receive a Victim Identification Number (VIN) and a Personal Identification Number (PIN) that will allow you to access VNS via the internet or by phone. Here, you will find information about future court hearings, historical court events, and detailed information about the defendant. This will include criminal charges filed, the outcome of charges, sentence imposed, custody location, projected release date and any other release information. The VNS website is updated daily. You will also receive any ongoing information by mail or email.

Have you, a family member or friend ever used the Victim Notification System? If so, was it effective? Did you get the information in a timely manner? Was the system difficult to use? We would like to hear from you, so please post any comments here.

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Sex Offender Information and Search

All people registered as sex offenders are registered on either a national or state sex offender database. The people on these databases have been convicted of a sex or kidnapping crime. You can access this information online, but bear in mind that you will not get the exact address, rather the block that they live on.

Domestic Violence

If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, there are services to help you. Your county will have a Domestic Violence Services office. They provide free and confidential services, such as emergency shelter information, legal advocacy, support groups and domestic violence education. They will work to help you create a safe and violence-free life, and heal from the trauma of abuse.

Important Note: If you, or someone you know, are in immediate danger, call 911.


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Reviews

Reviews of this Jail

Have you ever spent any time in this jail? Do you have a friend or family member that spent time there? Have you ever been to visit a prisoner in this jail?

If you have, then please leave a comment below about it. Write down your jail experience because other people can learn what to expect.

Things you might want to write in your review:

• Conditions at the jail.
• Jail, yard and pod facility and layout
• Guards and staff
• Jail food and commissary
• Visitors
• The other inmates.
• Safety
• Jail gangs
• Programs and activities


Click here to write your review of Houghton County Jail

Tell Your Story

Anyone who’s ever been arrested and sent to jail has some stories about their time ‘inside’. Why’d you end up in jail? Were you fairly treated? How was life in jail? What were the other inmates like? How did going to jail affect your life?

Click here to tell about all about it

Send a Message to Your Cell Mate

Did you make friends in jail? Want to talk to a person you met in jail? Leave a message for them here.

Send a message to people incarcerated at Houghton County Jail


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