Access St. Joseph County 24 Hour Booking

St. Joseph County 24 hour booking records are held by the sheriff's office at 650 S Bailey Avenue in Centreville, Michigan. The jail processes arrests from across the county around the clock. Online inmate search options are limited, so calling the sheriff's office is the most direct way to check on a booking. VineLink also tracks inmates held at the St. Joseph County Jail. This page explains the ways to find 24 hour booking records in St. Joseph County, what they contain, and how to request copies through Michigan's FOIA process.

St. Joseph County Sheriff 24 Hour Booking

The St. Joseph County Sheriff's Office manages the jail at 650 S Bailey Avenue in Centreville. This facility handles all 24 hour booking activity in the county. When someone gets arrested, jail staff processes them through intake. They record the person's name, date of birth, charges, and bond amount. A booking photo gets taken at that time.

Centreville is the county seat and sits in southwest Michigan near the Indiana border. The sheriff's office serves as the primary law enforcement for the rural parts of the county. City police departments in the area also bring arrests to the county jail for booking. You can reach the office at (269) 467-9045 any time of day. Staff can check if someone is in custody and share booking details over the phone.

Under Michigan law at MCL 15.233, booking records are public. Anyone can ask for them without giving a reason. The sheriff's office must respond to FOIA requests within five business days.

What St. Joseph County Booking Records Show

A 24 hour booking record from St. Joseph County has the inmate's full name and date of birth. Physical traits are logged, including height, weight, hair color, and eye color. The record shows all charges filed, the bond amount, and the booking date and time. Court dates appear once they get set.

Mugshots are taken during the booking process but are not posted online for St. Joseph County. If you need a booking photo, file a FOIA request with the sheriff's office. The copy fee under MCL 15.234 is about $0.10 per page for paper records. The office may charge more for digital copies depending on the format and amount of work involved. Each booking also gets a unique number that tracks the case through the court system.

Statewide Search Tools for St. Joseph County

Several state-level tools help when you need more than what St. Joseph County offers directly. VineLink is free and tracks inmates across Michigan. You search by name and can sign up for alerts when custody status changes. VineLink sends updates by phone, text, or email around the clock.

The ICHAT system from the Michigan State Police costs $10 per search. You need the person's full name and date of birth. ICHAT pulls criminal history statewide, showing felony convictions, misdemeanors over 93 days under MCL 28.241, and pending charges. It does not show current jail bookings but tells you if someone has a criminal record in Michigan.

Below is a screenshot of the Michigan Legislature website where you can look up all MCL statutes that govern 24 hour booking records and jail operations.

The Michigan Legislature site has MCL 801.1 through 801.81 covering county jail standards, plus the FOIA law at MCL 15.231 and related sections.

For court records, the MiCOURT Case Search is free. St. Joseph County falls under the 45th Circuit Court. You can look up case status, hearing dates, and outcomes. The OTIS system tracks people in state prison or on parole if someone from St. Joseph County receives a state sentence.

St. Joseph County 24 Hour Booking FOIA

File a FOIA request with the St. Joseph County Sheriff's Office to get copies of 24 hour booking records. Send your written request to 650 S Bailey Avenue, Centreville, MI 49032. Include the person's full name, date range, and what specific records you need. Be as detailed as you can so the office can find the right files.

Under MCL 15.235, the county has five business days to respond. They can take up to 10 extra days for complex requests. Fees are about $0.10 per page. Low-income applicants can get the first $20 waived, up to two times a year. MCL 15.243 lists exemptions. Active investigation records, juvenile files, and records that could endanger someone are off limits. Standard adult booking records are public in most cases.

How St. Joseph County Jail Handles Bookings

The St. Joseph County Jail follows Michigan jail standards under MCL 801.1 through MCL 801.81. Every person brought in goes through the same intake steps. Staff records their name, date of birth, and address. A mugshot is taken. Charges are entered into the system. The person gets a booking number that follows their case through the 45th Circuit Court.

Bond amounts depend on the charge. Minor offenses often have a preset schedule. Felonies go before a judge for a bond hearing at the courthouse in Centreville. St. Joseph County is a rural area, and the jail handles a moderate volume of bookings. Arrests come in from the sheriff's office and from local police in towns like Three Rivers and Sturgis. All of them go through the county jail for 24 hour booking processing. For quick answers about a recent arrest, call (269) 467-9045 at any time.

Nearby County Booking Records

St. Joseph County is in southwest Michigan near the Indiana border. These nearby counties also keep 24 hour booking records.