810-498-2370
A criminal charge in Lansing can turn your life upside down in a matter of hours. Whether you were arrested in East Lansing, pulled over on I-96, or picked up after an incident downtown, the moment charges are filed, a clock starts ticking. Understanding how the Ingham County court system works — and what happens at each stage — can make a real difference in how you respond.
How Is the Ingham County Court System Structured?
Ingham County handles criminal cases across two court levels: the 54A District Court for misdemeanors and the 30th Circuit Court for felonies.
Most criminal cases in Lansing begin at the 54A District Court, located at 124 West Michigan Avenue in downtown Lansing. This court handles misdemeanor charges, arraignments, and preliminary examinations for felony cases. If your case involving a felony proceeds, it is transferred to the 30th Circuit Court, located at 313 West Kalamazoo Street.
Knowing which courthouse handles your matter is not just a logistical matter. Each court has its own judges, local rules, and courtroom culture. What works in one courtroom may not land the same way in another. Local familiarity matters from day one.
What Happens After a Criminal Arrest in Michigan?
After an arrest in Michigan, you will go through arraignment, a preliminary examination if charged with a felony, pre-trial hearings, and potentially a trial.
Here is a straightforward breakdown of what to expect:
- Arraignment: Your first court appearance. The judge reads the charges, sets bond, and enters your initial plea. Under Michigan Court Rule 6.104, this must happen without unnecessary delay following arrest.
- Preliminary Examination (felonies only): The prosecution must show probable cause that a crime was committed and that you committed it. In adult felony cases, procedure requires a probable cause conference within 7 to 14 days of arraignment, followed by a preliminary examination scheduled 5 to 7 days after that conference per MCL 766.4 and MCR 6.108.
- Pre-Trial Hearings: Motions to suppress evidence, discovery disputes, and plea negotiations happen here. This phase can significantly shape the outcome of your case.
- Trial: If no resolution is reached, your case proceeds to a bench trial or jury trial in Circuit Court.
Michigan law gives defendants the right to a jury trial for most criminal offenses. That right is protected under Article I, Section 20 of the Michigan Constitution.
What Are the Most Common Criminal Charges in Lansing?
Common Lansing-area criminal charges include OWI, drug possession, assault, weapons offenses, and domestic violence, each carrying serious penalties under Michigan law.
The Lansing Police Department and Michigan State Police both operate actively in Ingham County. Common charges we see include:
- Operating While Intoxicated (OWI): Michigan’s drunk driving law, found under MCL 257.625, sets the BAC limit at 0.08 for most drivers. A first-offense OWI is a misdemeanor but can result in up to 93 days in jail, fines, and license suspension.
- Drug offenses: Possession, delivery, and manufacturing charges fall under the Michigan Public Health Code, MCL 333.7401 et seq. Penalties vary widely based on the controlled substance and quantity involved.
- Assault and domestic violence: Simple assault is a 93-day misdemeanor under MCL 750.81. Domestic violence charges carry additional consequences, including firearm restrictions under federal law.
Each of these charges carries real consequences, not just in court, but in your employment, housing, and personal life.
What Are Your Rights During a Criminal Case in Michigan?
Michigan defendants have the right to remain silent, the right to an attorney, the right to a fair trial, and protection against unlawful search and seizure.
You have the right to remain silent. Use it. Anything you say to law enforcement can and will be used against you. You also have the right to an attorney at every critical stage of the process, beginning at arraignment.
If police searched your vehicle, home, or person without a valid warrant or a recognized exception, that evidence may be challenged. The Fourth Amendment and its Michigan counterpart, Article I, Section 11 of the Michigan Constitution, protect you from unreasonable searches. Suppression of unlawfully obtained evidence is one of the most powerful tools in a criminal defense case.
How Does a Criminal Record Affect Your Future in Michigan?
A Michigan criminal conviction can impact your employment, professional licenses, housing applications, and immigration status, sometimes permanently.
Michigan does offer some relief through expungement under MCL 780.621. The Clean Slate Act, signed into law in 2020 and expanded through 2023, broadened eligibility for expungement, including allowing automatic expungement for certain offenses. But expungement is not guaranteed, and not every offense qualifies. The best time to protect your record is before a conviction, not after.
Why Facing Ingham County Charges Alone Is a Risk You Should Not Take
The Ingham County court process moves fast. Without a clear defense strategy in place from the start, you risk missing critical deadlines, waiving rights, or accepting a plea that does not serve your interests.
Every decision you make early in a criminal case, from what you say at arraignment to whether you accept a plea offer, shapes what happens next. Courts do not slow down for unprepared defendants.
At Clint W. Perryman PC., we take a fair, honest, and straightforward approach to criminal defense. We do not sugarcoat the situation, and we do not waste your time. We work hard to understand your case from every angle and give you a realistic picture of where things stand and what options you have. Our goal is to stand beside you as a steady guide through a process that can feel overwhelming.
If you are facing criminal charges in Lansing or anywhere in Ingham County, reach out to Clint W. Perryman PC. today. Call us at 810-498-2370 or contact us to schedule a conversation about your case. You deserve someone in your corner who will tell you the truth and fight for the best possible outcome.
