St. Joseph County Criminal Records

St. Joseph County criminal records are handled by the Sheriff's Department in Centreville and through the 45th Circuit Court and 3B District Court. This southwest Michigan county maintains public court files under Michigan Court Rules and processes law enforcement records requests under the state Freedom of Information Act. This page explains how to search and request St. Joseph County criminal records using local courts, the county's JustFOIA portal, MiCOURT, and statewide Michigan record tools.

Sheriff's Department and Court Contacts

The St. Joseph County Sheriff's Department is located at 650 E. Main St, Centreville, MI 49032, with a mailing address at PO Box 339. You can reach the department at (269) 467-9045. The department runs several specialized divisions including Criminal Investigations, Corrections, Dive Rescue, and Marine Patrol. For records-related inquiries, contact the Sheriff's Department directly. The Sheriff's Department page on the county site has full details.

The County Clerk, Gina Everson, maintains court records for St. Joseph County. Her office is in the Historic Courthouse, 2nd Floor, at 125 W. Main St, Centreville, MI 49032. The mailing address is PO Box 189, Centreville, MI 49032. The main Clerk phone is 269.467.5603. The Circuit Court Division has its own line at 269.467.5549. The 45th Circuit Court handles all felony criminal cases in the county. The 3B District Court covers misdemeanors and preliminary hearings. The County Clerk page has hours and service details.

How to Search St. Joseph County Criminal Records

St. Joseph County uses MiCOURT for online case searches. You can search the 45th Circuit Court and 3B District Court by party name or case number. MiCOURT is free and requires no login. It shows docket history, filing dates, case type, and current status. It is the best first step when checking on a St. Joseph County criminal case remotely.

There is an important limitation to know. Michigan's Clean Slate Legislation, which took effect April 11, 2023, changed what shows online. As a result, online court record viewing in St. Joseph County reflects cases from 2017 to the present only. Records for cases before 2017 must be verified in person at the County Clerk's office. If you need to check a case from before that period, plan on visiting 125 W. Main St in Centreville during business hours. Staff can look up older cases from physical files.

Court files in St. Joseph County are public information. Anyone can request access. No public viewing terminal is available for criminal cases at this time, so you would need to work through the Clerk's office for document review. The 45th Circuit Court page on the county website has information on court procedures and how to access records. For a full statewide criminal history, use ICHAT at apps.michigan.gov/ichat.

FOIA Requests in St. Joseph County

St. Joseph County offers online FOIA submissions through the JustFOIA public portal at stjosephcountymi.justfoia.com. This is one of the more convenient FOIA tools in mid-Michigan because you can submit, track, and receive your records through a single web interface. You can also access the FOIA page directly at stjosephcountymi.gov to learn what records can be requested and how the process works.

For court-related records, the 45th Circuit Court Division at the County Clerk's office handles those requests. Under MCL 15.231, the public has the right to inspect and copy public records held by government agencies. Active investigations are exempt under MCL 15.243. If your FOIA request is denied, the agency must explain why in writing and give you information on how to appeal. Requesters who are incarcerated are not eligible to submit FOIA requests under Michigan law.

For state police records, use the MSP FOIA portal at michigan.gov/msp/services/foia. State police records are separate from county sheriff and court records and require their own request process.

Criminal Record Copy Fees

St. Joseph County follows the standard Michigan fee schedule for record copies. Court certified copies carry standard court fees. Contact the Clerk's office at 269.467.5603 to get specific fee amounts for the type of record you need. Most FOIA requests through the JustFOIA portal will also include a fee estimate before processing begins, so you know the cost upfront.

For state-level records, ICHAT at apps.michigan.gov/ichat charges a small per-search fee. The fingerprint-based CJIC check through MSP costs $30.00 by money order or check. Mail the payment and your fingerprint card to Michigan State Police, CJIC, P.O. Box 30266, Lansing, MI 48909. Processing usually takes 21 to 35 business days.

Statewide Criminal Record Resources

Michigan State Police maintains the statewide criminal history database under MCL 28.241. Convictions from the 45th Circuit Court and 3B District Court in St. Joseph County flow to that database and become searchable through ICHAT. ICHAT is the standard tool for name-based adult conviction checks in Michigan. It does not show juvenile records or cases where no conviction occurred.

The Michigan Department of Corrections OTIS tool at mdocweb.state.mi.us shows anyone currently incarcerated or recently released from a state prison following a St. Joseph County court conviction. The Michigan Sex Offender Registry at michigan.gov/psor is free to use and searchable by name or zip code, covering registered offenders in Centreville, Three Rivers, and other parts of the county.

Michigan's expungement law under MCL 780.621 allows eligible individuals to petition for removal of certain criminal records from public view. If you believe a case in St. Joseph County may qualify for expungement, contact the County Clerk or a local attorney to review your options. The Clean Slate law expanded eligibility for many misdemeanor and some felony convictions.

The screenshot below shows the Michigan eFiling system used by courts statewide, including St. Joseph County, for submitting case documents electronically.

MiFile allows attorneys and some self-represented parties to submit documents to Michigan courts electronically, including the 45th Circuit Court in St. Joseph County.

Communities in St. Joseph County

St. Joseph County is in southwest Michigan near the Indiana border. Centreville is the county seat. Three Rivers is the largest city in the county. Other communities include Sturgis, Constantine, White Pigeon, and Mendon. All criminal court filings for these communities are handled through the courts in Centreville. None of these cities currently meet the population threshold for a dedicated city records page on this site.

Nearby Counties

St. Joseph County sits in the southwest corner of Michigan's Lower Peninsula. If the case you are researching was filed in a neighboring county, use these links to find the right records office.