Find Berrien County Criminal History

Berrien County criminal history records are held by the 2nd Circuit Court and the county clerk's office in St. Joseph. The county has its own records request process with set fees for name searches and certified copies. You can also search criminal cases through the statewide MiCOURT portal at no charge. This guide walks through how to pull criminal records in Berrien County, whether you need a quick case lookup or a certified copy for legal use.

Berrien County Criminal Records at the Clerk's Office

Stacy Loar-Porter is the Berrien County Clerk. The office is at 811 Port Street in St. Joseph, MI 49085. Call 269-983-7111 extension 8233 for record requests. The clerk manages all court records for the 2nd Circuit Court, which handles felony cases in the county.

A name-based record search costs $10 per individual at the Berrien County clerk's office. This is a staff-conducted search where the clerk looks up the name in the court system and provides you with the results. Certified copies cost $11 plus $1 per page after the first. That means a two-page certified document runs about $12. Standard uncertified copies cost less but do not carry the court seal.

You can submit a Berrien County court records request through the county website. The online form walks you through what information to include and how to pay. You can also visit in person or mail your request to the clerk's office.

The Berrien County records request form is available on the county website and covers both criminal and civil court filings from the 2nd Circuit Court.

Walk-in requests at the clerk's office are handled during business hours. Bring a case number or the defendant's full name. If you only have a name, the $10 search fee applies. The clerk can usually pull up records quickly for recent cases. Older cases may take more time to retrieve from archives.

Berrien County Trial Court and Criminal Cases

The Berrien County Trial Court handles both circuit and district court matters. The 2nd Circuit Court is the felony court. All felony charges in Berrien County pass through this court, from arraignment to sentencing. The court sits in St. Joseph.

The Berrien County Trial Court page provides information about court services, schedules, and how to access criminal case records.

District courts in Berrien County handle misdemeanor cases. Misdemeanor records include charges like retail fraud, simple assault, disorderly conduct, and drunk driving. These records are available on MiCOURT or by contacting the district court clerk. Many criminal history searches miss district court records because people only look at the circuit court level.

Berrien County is in the southwest corner of Michigan, bordering Indiana. Criminal cases from the county are local matters, but the proximity to the state line means some people have records in both states. Michigan tools only show Michigan records. For Indiana records, you would need to check Indiana's court system separately.

Search Berrien County Criminal History Online

MiCOURT covers the 2nd Circuit Court in Berrien County. You can search by name or case number at no cost. No account is required. Results show charges, case status, hearing dates, and dispositions. MiCOURT is the easiest free tool for a quick Berrien County criminal history search.

ICHAT from the Michigan State Police costs $10 per name. It covers all 83 counties. ICHAT shows felony convictions and serious misdemeanor convictions statewide. For Berrien County cases, ICHAT may catch records that MiCOURT has not yet updated, or it may miss cases that are only on the county system. Using both gives you a better picture.

OTIS tracks Berrien County offenders in state prison or on parole. It is free. The Michigan Sex Offender Registry covers registered offenders living in the county. Both are run by state agencies and can supplement what you find through the court records.

Berrien County Criminal Records and Michigan Law

Michigan's Clean Slate law under MCL § 780.621 applies to Berrien County criminal records. Qualifying misdemeanors are automatically cleared after seven years. Certain felonies clear after ten years. Expunged records are removed from ICHAT and MiCOURT. To petition for expungement outside the automatic process, file with the 2nd Circuit Court.

Police records in Berrien County are available through FOIA under MCL § 15.231. Court records are not subject to FOIA. They are handled by the clerk or through court-specific tools. Fingerprint-based checks under MCL § 28.241a cost $30 by mail or $50 to $70 for LiveScan.

Juvenile records in Berrien County are sealed under MCL § 712A.28. They are not available through any public search tool. Only the court and authorized parties can view juvenile case files.

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