What OTIS Can — and Can't — Tell You About Someone at Egeler
Trying to find out if someone is—or was—at Charles Egeler Reception/Guidance? Michigan's OTIS system is a good starting point, but it has real limits. Here's what it actually shows, and why someone might not appear.
OTIS is Michigan's public offender database. It covers people currently - or previously - under Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) jurisdiction or supervision. That includes anyone at Egeler while in MDOC custody, plus those on parole or probation. It's not limited to felonies either: both felons and misdemeanants appear, as long as MDOC supervised them.
The biggest catch is the three-year rule. OTIS only shows people who've been under MDOC jurisdiction or supervision within the past three years. Once someone has been discharged for more than three years, their record disappears from the system - even if they were definitely in MDOC custody before. There's another reason someone might not show up: expungement. MDOC removes records from OTIS when a conviction is set aside or expunged (including automatic expungements under Michigan law). So a blank search result doesn't mean the person was never in custody. It could mean the record was legally removed.
Note: A “no results” search can be a lawful removal - either because more than three years have passed since discharge, or because a conviction was set aside or expunged.
OTIS is a public lookup tool tied to MDOC - not a complete criminal-history database. For broader records, OTIS itself recommends the Michigan State Police's Internet Criminal History Access Tool (ICHAT). You can also verify information through MDOC directly, Michigan courts, or other law enforcement agencies. If you're making a time-sensitive decision - like confirming someone's status - use OTIS as your starting point. Then verify through the appropriate official source.
Tip: If you need a more complete Michigan criminal-history check than OTIS provides, use the Michigan State Police ICHAT system.
When you’re reading an OTIS result, you may see Michigan Compiled Law (MCL) numbers listed for convictions. OTIS lets you click the MCL number to jump to the Michigan Legislature website, where you can read the text of the statute.
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