Search St. Joseph County Criminal History

St. Joseph County criminal history records are held by the county clerk and the 45th Circuit Court in Centreville. Located in southwest Michigan along the Indiana border, this county processes criminal cases through a single courthouse on West Main Street. You can look up St. Joseph County criminal records through MiCOURT online, run a statewide check with ICHAT, or contact the clerk for copies. The county's position near the state line means some criminal matters involve cross-border activity, making statewide and federal tools useful for a full picture.

St. Joseph County Clerk Records

County Clerk Gina Everson manages criminal history records for St. Joseph County. The clerk's office is at 125 W Main St, Centreville, MI 49032. Call 269-467-5603 for help with record requests. The office holds files from the 45th Circuit Court, which processes all felony cases in the county. Walk-in requests are welcome during regular business hours.

Copy fees are $1 per page for standard copies. Certified copies cost $10 for the first page and $1 for each additional page. Mail requests should include the person's full name, any case numbers, and a check or money order made to the St. Joseph County Clerk. Under MCL 28.241a, criminal history records include arrest data, conviction information, and case disposition details kept by courts and law enforcement agencies across Michigan. The St. Joseph County clerk's files cover many years of circuit court records. Some older cases may be in archive storage, but staff can still retrieve them with advance notice.

Centreville is a small town. The clerk's office knows the local filing system well and can usually help with requests the same day for recent cases. Older or more complex searches might take longer.

45th Circuit Court Criminal Cases

The 45th Circuit Court handles all felony criminal cases in St. Joseph County. This court covers only St. Joseph County. Felony charges start at the district court with arraignment and preliminary exam, then transfer to the 45th Circuit for trial and sentencing. The court sits in Centreville.

You can search 45th Circuit Court records through MiCOURT, the free online tool from the Michigan courts. Look up St. Joseph County criminal cases by name or case number. The system shows charges, hearing dates, and current case status. Full court documents are not available online. For those, contact the clerk. The 3B District Court also serves St. Joseph County and handles misdemeanors, traffic cases, and felony preliminary exams. Those records are also in MiCOURT.

Michigan Court Rule 8.119 governs public access. Most criminal records are open. Juvenile cases and records expunged under MCL 780.621 are exceptions. Since St. Joseph County borders Indiana, some criminal matters may have related cases in Indiana courts. ICHAT and MiCOURT only cover Michigan records.

Online Criminal History Search for St. Joseph County

The ICHAT system from the Michigan State Police is the statewide criminal history search. It costs $10 per name. ICHAT covers felony convictions and serious misdemeanors from all 83 Michigan counties, St. Joseph included. You need a name and date of birth. Results are usually fast. ICHAT does not include minor traffic cases, juvenile records, or expunged records.

The Criminal History Records page from the MSP has details on the different types of background checks. ICHAT is best for quick name-based checks. Fingerprint-based searches are more comprehensive and used for licensing. For St. Joseph County, ICHAT is a practical option since Centreville is not near a major highway and many people prefer to search from home.

The ICHAT portal covers statewide criminal history searches including St. Joseph County records.

The OTIS system from the Michigan Department of Corrections is free and tracks people in state prison or on parole. Search by name to find sentence length, offense details, and release dates. If someone from St. Joseph County was sentenced to state prison through the 45th Circuit, OTIS shows where they are and their current status.

FOIA Requests for St. Joseph County

Some St. Joseph County criminal history records can be obtained through FOIA. This covers police reports, arrest logs, and incident records from local law enforcement including the St. Joseph County Sheriff's Office, Sturgis Police Department, and Three Rivers Police Department. FOIA does not apply to court records. Those go through the clerk under Court Rule 8.119.

Under MCL 15.231, any person has the right to request public records from a Michigan government agency. Submit your request in writing with your name, address, and a clear description of the records you need. Agencies have five business days to respond, with a ten-day extension if needed. Copy costs are about $0.10 per page. MCL 15.234 allows the first $20 in fees to be waived for indigent requesters. The MSP FOIA portal handles requests to the Michigan State Police for state-level records involving St. Joseph County investigations.

Expungement in St. Joseph County

Michigan's Clean Slate law impacts criminal history in St. Joseph County. Under MCL 780.621, certain misdemeanors are automatically set aside after seven years. Some felonies clear after ten years. The Michigan State Police manage the automatic process. Assaultive crimes, sex offenses, and crimes with ten-year-plus sentences are excluded.

The Clean Slate information page from the Michigan State Police has the details. Once a record is expunged, it will not appear in ICHAT, MiCOURT, or the St. Joseph County clerk's files. People who want to petition for expungement before the automatic timeline can file with the 45th Circuit Court in Centreville. The petition goes to the court that handled the original case.

Sex Offender Registry for St. Joseph County

The Michigan Public Sex Offender Registry lists all registered offenders in St. Joseph County. Search by name, zip code, or address. Each listing shows a photo, home address, offense details, and tier level. It is free and open to anyone. The Michigan State Police keep the data updated based on registration reports from local law enforcement in the county.

St. Joseph County includes several small cities and rural areas. The registry covers offenders in all of them. Tier three offenders face lifetime registration. The data stays current so you can check who lives near you at any time.

Nearby Counties

Counties near St. Joseph County that may have related criminal history records.