Nov 5, 2026
On October 22, 2026, Michigan retired MiCOURT, the public case search that background screening providers relied on for county criminal records in 58 counties. Its replacement, the Michigan Online Court Case Search (MOCCS), shows less information than MiCOURT did.
The change came from the state, and it affects every screening provider that uses Michigan court records. Here’s what changed, why it matters for the accuracy of your results, and what we’re doing about it.
How the transition unfolded
The state gave providers two days’ notice and no advanced access to test the new system.
| Date | What happened |
| Oct 20 | The state announced MiCOURT would be replaced by MOCCS. 58 counties affected. |
| Oct 22 | MiCOURT retired around 9 a.m. ET and MOCCS went live. |
| Oct 23 | Testing confirmed dismissed cases were missing. We paused searches in affected counties. |
| Oct 28 | Statewide testing found courts listed in MOCCS that don’t return complete records. |
| Oct 30 | The first 10 counties passed testing, and orders on hold began completing. |
| Nov 4 | 19 more counties passed, bringing the total back in production to 29. |
What the new state system no longer shows
According to the state’s own MOCCS Terms of Service, several kinds of information are not displayed:
- Non-conviction outcomes. Criminal cases that were dismissed, withdrawn, found not guilty, bound over to a higher court, or remanded are not shown.
- Older history in some courts. Because of data-conversion limits, some courts show only recent records, about seven years in certain courts.
- Near matches. MOCCS returns exact matches only, so spelling, name format and identifiers determine what comes back.
- Court-level detail. Records are presented by jurisdiction, and the state no longer lists which individual courts are included.
The state also notes that MOCCS doesn’t replace the official record, and that users should verify information with the court of record.
Why this matters for accuracy
A court that appears in the MOCCS search isn’t proof its records are there. Kent County Circuit Court, which wasn’t available on MiCOURT, now shows up as searchable. In testing, only a limited number of its cases were populated, and some came back with no case information at all.
That creates real risks for employers:
- A “clear” could be a false clear. If a court isn’t fully populated, or a name is entered slightly differently, a real record can be missed.
- Charge levels can display incorrectly. The state notes a temporary error: attempted felonies show as FELONY even when Michigan law (MCL 750.92) makes the attempt a misdemeanor.
That’s why we verify a county’s results before we report from it.
How we’re protecting your results
When the state changed what it publishes, we chose accuracy over speed:
- Hold. We paused searches in affected counties so nothing incomplete went out. Orders stayed open in queue.
- Test. We ran test orders across the state, comparing MOCCS results against records already found through in-court research.
- Verify. We talked with court clerks. Their internal access to records hasn’t changed, so in-person research remains a reliable backstop.
- Release. Counties that pass testing go back into production, with dedicated researchers completing each search.
The State Court Administrative Office (SCAO) has confirmed that limits on public information are set at the state level. We’re continuing to work with SCAO on court coverage, record availability and public access.
Where things stand
As of November 4, 2026, 29 of the 58 affected counties are back in production. Michigan statewide searches were never affected.
| Status | Counties | Count |
| Back in production | Alpena, Antrim, Baraga, Bay, Calhoun, Clare, Clinton, Crawford, Eaton, Emmet, Genesee, Gladwin, Grand Traverse, Gratiot, Hillsdale, Houghton, Ionia, Jackson, Leelanau, Livingston, Macomb, Marquette, Menominee, Midland, Oakland, Sanilac, Shiawassee, St. Clair, Washtenaw | 29 |
| Still in testing (orders on hold) | Alger, Allegan, Barry, Benzie, Cass, Gogebic, Ingham, Iosco, Iron, Isabella, Kalkaska, Lapeer, Lenawee, Luce, Mackinac, Manistee, Mason, Missaukee, Monroe, Montcalm, Montmorency, Muskegon, Oceana, Oscoda, Ottawa, Schoolcraft, Tuscola, Van Buren, Wexford | 29 |
| Not affected | Alcona, Arenac, Berrien, Branch, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Chippewa, Delta, Dickinson, Huron, Kalamazoo, Kent, Keweenaw, Lake, Mecosta, Newaygo, Ogemaw, Ontonagon, Osceola, Otsego, Presque Isle, Roscommon, Saginaw, St. Joseph, Wayne | 25 |
Counties still in testing are released automatically as they pass, so this list will keep changing.
Search Scope limited to 7-Years for Criminal records / 10 years for Civil records
Most jurisdictions on the new MOCCS site limit their data to 7 years for criminal records. Any request beyond 7 years will have to be ordered through the court and will have longer turn-around times. Civil records data is limited to 10 years.
What employers should expect and do now
Because researchers are completing affected searches by hand, turnaround is longer than usual. Expect about 24–48 hours for clear results and 48–72 hours when there’s a record to review. High-volume counties may take longer.
- No action is needed on orders on hold. They complete automatically as each county passes testing.
- Expect fewer non-conviction outcomes. The state no longer publishes dismissals and similar outcomes online.
- Send complete identifiers. Full legal name, middle name, other names used and date of birth matter more than ever with exact-match searching.
- Consider a statewide search for urgent hires. The Michigan statewide search comes from the Michigan State Police repository, not court records. It doesn’t consistently include non-conviction or pending cases, and it carries a state access fee. Use it to supplement a county search, not replace it.
- Keep your adjudication process consistent. Double-check the charge level on any attempted-felony record.
Our commitment
Michigan’s change affected every screening provider, and we decided not to report results we couldn’t stand behind. We’ll keep sharing updates as more counties pass testing.
Questions about a specific order or current county status? Contact compliance@referenceservices.com
Sources
- Michigan Online Court Case Search (MOCCS) Terms of Service
- Michigan Courts: Statewide Case Management System
Disclaimer: The information provided is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Consult your legal counsel for specific compliance questions.