Find Recent Arrests in St. Joseph County
St. Joseph County recent arrests are managed by the county sheriff and processed through local courts in Centreville, Michigan. The sheriff's office books people into the county jail and keeps a record of each arrest with the name, charges, and bond info. You can search for recent arrests through statewide tools like ICHAT, OTIS, and MiCOURT. The 45th Circuit Court and 60th District Court handle criminal cases arising from St. Joseph County arrests. This page explains where to search, how to file requests, and what you can expect to find.
St. Joseph County Quick Facts
St. Joseph County Sheriff Arrest Records
The St. Joseph County Sheriff's Office is the primary law enforcement agency for the county. Deputies handle patrols, warrants, and jail operations. Every arrest results in a booking record that includes the person's name, charges, date of arrest, and bond amount. These records are public.
The sheriff's office is at 650 E. Main St in Centreville, MI 49032. You can call (269) 467-4335 for general questions. Walk-in records requests are accepted during normal business hours. If you want a formal copy of an arrest record, file a FOIA request in writing. Include the person's full name and date of birth. Under MCL § 15.231, the sheriff has five business days to respond. Larger requests may take longer, but the office must give you a timeline. Copy fees are typically $0.10 per page.
St. Joseph County is a smaller county, so the sheriff's office handles a large share of all local arrests. Municipal police departments in Sturgis and Three Rivers also make arrests that get processed through the county jail. No matter which agency makes the arrest, the booking record goes through the sheriff's office. That makes it the best single point of contact for recent arrest info in St. Joseph County.
| Agency | St. Joseph County Sheriff's Office |
|---|---|
| Address | 650 E. Main St, Centreville, MI 49032 |
| Phone | (269) 467-4335 |
| Records | Arrest logs, booking records, incident reports |
Note: Under MCL § 28.242, all St. Joseph County law enforcement agencies must report arrests to the state criminal database within 72 hours.
St. Joseph County Court Records
Criminal cases from St. Joseph County arrests move through the 45th Circuit Court and the 60th District Court. Both are located at 105 W. Main St in Centreville. The circuit court handles felonies. The district court takes misdemeanors and conducts preliminary hearings on felony charges. Each court keeps case records with charges, hearing dates, plea details, and sentencing outcomes.
You can search these court records online using the MiCOURT case search tool. It is free. Enter a name or case number to pull up results. The portal covers circuit and district courts across Michigan, including St. Joseph County. For actual copies of court documents, you may need to contact the clerk at (269) 467-5502 or visit in person.
Under MCL § 600.1420, most criminal court records are open to the public. That includes case files from St. Joseph County recent arrests. Sealed records and juvenile cases are restricted. But adult criminal case records are available to anyone who asks or searches online.
Look Up St. Joseph County Recent Arrests
Michigan offers statewide databases for searching arrest records. ICHAT is the top choice. Run by the Michigan State Police, ICHAT covers all 83 counties. It costs $10 per search. You need a full legal name and date of birth. Results show felony and serious misdemeanor convictions. Pending charges and dismissed arrests are not included.
The screenshot below shows the MiCOURT case search tool used to find court records tied to St. Joseph County arrests at micourt.courts.michigan.gov.
MiCOURT lets you search court records from all Michigan courts including St. Joseph County for free.
The OTIS system is free and tracks offenders in state custody or on parole. If someone from St. Joseph County was sentenced to prison, OTIS shows their info. The Michigan Department of Corrections runs this system. You can search by name or MDOC number.
VINELink gives real-time custody alerts. Sign up to track someone booked into the St. Joseph County jail. You get notified when they are released or moved. It is free for anyone to use.
Note: MCL § 28.243 requires accurate maintenance of criminal history records, and arrests without convictions may be removed from state databases over time.
Clearing Records in St. Joseph County
Michigan's Clean Slate law under MCL § 780.621 allows people to clear qualifying arrest records. Automatic expungement covers up to two felonies after 10 years and up to four misdemeanors after seven years if there are no new offenses. You can also petition the 45th Circuit Court in Centreville. The fee is $50. Use Form MC 227 from the Michigan Courts site.
Serious violent crimes and sex offenses do not qualify. But the law is wide in scope. Michigan Legal Help offers free tools to check if your St. Joseph County record can be expunged. Once cleared, the record is removed from ICHAT and public databases. Under MCL § 445.1883, websites also cannot charge to remove mugshot images. That applies to St. Joseph County booking photos and all other Michigan arrest images.
Requesting St. Joseph County Arrest Records
Anyone can file a FOIA request for St. Joseph County arrest records. Send the request to the sheriff's office or the court clerk. Include the full name and date of birth. Copies are about $0.10 per page. Certified copies cost more. If you receive public assistance, the first $20 in fees may be waived.
The Michigan Sex Offender Registry is a free search tool maintained by the Michigan State Police. You can look up registered offenders in St. Joseph County by name, zip code, or street address. The registry shows photos, addresses, and conviction details.
Counties Near St. Joseph County
These counties border St. Joseph County. Check them for arrest records in nearby areas.