St. Joseph County Criminal Court Records
St. Joseph County criminal court records are kept at the County Clerk's office in the Historic Courthouse in Centreville. The 45th Circuit Court handles felony criminal cases for the county, and some criminal records from 2017 to present are available through an online viewing tool. You can also request records in person or by mail at the Centreville office.
St. Joseph County Overview
St. Joseph County Clerk Office
The County Clerk's office is on the second floor of the Historic Courthouse at 125 W. Main St. in Centreville. This is a small county seat in southwestern Michigan, so the courthouse is compact and the staff is generally accessible. The clerk handles criminal court filings, maintains case files for the 45th Circuit Court, and processes record requests from the public. Call (269) 467-5603 before visiting to confirm what is needed for your specific request.
For mail requests, use PO Box 189, Centreville, MI 49032. Written requests should include the name of the person involved in the case, the approximate year it was filed, the type of record you need, and your return address and phone number. The clerk will contact you with the cost before processing. St. Joseph County is in the far southwest of Michigan near the Indiana border, and the courthouse is a well-known landmark in Centreville.
| Office | St. Joseph County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 125 W. Main St., Second Floor, Centreville, MI 49032 |
| Mailing Address | PO Box 189, Centreville, MI 49032 |
| Phone | (269) 467-5603 |
| Website | stjosephcountymi.gov |
45th Circuit Court Records
The 45th Circuit Court is the main trial court for felony criminal matters in St. Joseph County. A full circuit court case file contains the original charging document, any preliminary examination records, motions from the prosecution and defense, plea agreements or trial transcripts, the judgment of sentence, and probation conditions if applicable. These records are maintained by the clerk's office and are generally public under Michigan Court Rules, specifically MCR 8.119.
One notable feature for St. Joseph County is that circuit court criminal cases from 2017 through the present are available through an online viewing tool on the county's website at stjosephcountymi.gov. This is more limited than what you would get with a full in-person inspection, but it lets you check case status and basic docket entries without a trip to Centreville. For older cases or full document copies, an in-person or mail request is required.
Court records in Michigan are not subject to FOIA. Under MCR 8.119, access to case files goes through the clerk's office. Filing a FOIA request with St. Joseph County for a criminal court case will result in a denial and a referral to the clerk. Contact the clerk directly and describe the case you are looking for. This is the correct and faster path.
Searching Criminal Records in St. Joseph County
The county's circuit court online viewer covers cases from 2017 to the present. For a quick check on recent cases, that tool is a solid starting point. For broader searches or older records, use MiCOURT, Michigan's free statewide case search. You can look up cases by name, case number, or attorney, and the system returns case status, docket entries, and scheduled hearings.
If online tools do not return the records you need, call the clerk's office at (269) 467-5603. Give them the name and a rough timeframe, and they can search the court's index. Staff can confirm whether the case exists, which documents are part of the file, and what it will cost to get copies. This is the most reliable method for locating older or complex cases that may not appear in online systems.
The Michigan Courts website provides general information about how courts handle record access. The Michigan Courts homepage is a good reference for understanding what types of records are held at each court level before you make a request.
The Michigan Courts website explains the court structure and how to access criminal court records at the circuit court level across Michigan, including in St. Joseph County.
Fees and Copy Procedures
St. Joseph County follows Michigan's standard court copy fee schedule. Plain copies cost $1.00 per page. Certified copies run $10.00 per document plus the per-page fee. For large case files, ask for an estimate before committing to a full copy request. The clerk can tell you how many pages are in a file and give you a total cost. Search fees may apply when staff must spend time locating records without a case number, billed at the rate of the lowest-paid capable employee under MCL 15.234.
Indigent requesters may qualify to have the first $20.00 in fees waived. Ask the clerk's office about this option. For mail requests, include a check or money order made out to the Clerk of Court. Call ahead to confirm the fee amount before mailing payment to PO Box 189, Centreville, MI 49032.
Online Tools for St. Joseph County Cases
St. Joseph County's circuit court viewer covers the 45th Circuit Court for cases from 2017 forward. For comprehensive searches across Michigan courts, use MiCOURT. The state's e-filing system, MiFILE, may have documents for courts that participate. Check the MiFILE available courts list to see if St. Joseph County is enrolled.
The Michigan State Police ICHAT tool at michigan.gov/ichat lets you run a name-based criminal history search for $10.00. This is different from looking up a specific court case. ICHAT shows a summary of statewide arrest and conviction data from participating agencies and is useful for employment checks or when you want a broad overview of someone's criminal history under MCL 28.241a.
The MiFILE courts list shows which Michigan courts participate in the state's electronic filing system, which may affect how you access recent St. Joseph County case documents online.
FOIA vs. Court Records in St. Joseph County
Two separate systems govern access to records in St. Joseph County. Michigan's FOIA under MCL 15.231 covers administrative records held by government agencies. Court case files are governed by MCR 8.119 and must be requested through the clerk's office. Sending a FOIA request for a criminal court case to St. Joseph County will not get you the records. You must contact the clerk directly.
For police and sheriff records not tied to a court case, FOIA is the right process. Submit written requests to the St. Joseph County Sheriff or the relevant law enforcement agency. Active investigation records are generally exempt from disclosure. Closed case reports may be available once an investigation ends. For Michigan State Police records, use the portal at michigan.gov/msp/services/foia.
Legal Resources for St. Joseph County
Michigan Legal Help covers all Michigan counties including St. Joseph and provides free guides on court record access, criminal case procedures, and how to navigate the legal system without a lawyer. The site has forms, step-by-step instructions, and general guidance on what to expect when dealing with courts in southwestern Michigan.
For help with state-level criminal history records, contact the Michigan State Police Records Resource Section at (517) 241-1934. The MSP handles ICHAT searches and FOIA requests for state police records. For court-related legal assistance in St. Joseph County, look into legal aid organizations that serve the southwest Michigan region. The Michigan Courts website also lists self-help resources and forms for common court situations.
Cities in St. Joseph County
St. Joseph County is in the southwestern corner of Michigan, bordering Indiana. The county seat is Centreville, where the Historic Courthouse and clerk's office are located. No cities in St. Joseph County meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site. All criminal cases in the county go through the 45th Circuit Court in Centreville.
Nearby Counties
These counties border St. Joseph County. If you need records from a neighboring area or want to confirm which county handled a case, check where the charges were filed.