St. Joseph County Arrest Records

Whenever police officers in St. Joseph County take people into custody, they create records to document their arrests. These records contain each suspect's name, the reason for the arrest, the date and time of the incident, and other information. If an arrest warrant triggered the arrest, such details will be included in the suspect's arrest records.

St. Joseph County court records, which are considered public records, also contain arrest information, as people apprehended by law enforcement are usually brought before a court for bail hearings and other criminal proceedings.

Individuals interested in finding arrest information in St. Joseph can generally contact arresting agencies, courts, and holding facilities.

Are Arrest Records Public in St. Joseph County?

Yes. Public offices, like Sheriff's offices and police departments in St. Joseph County, are instructed by the Michigan Freedom of Information Act to release their official records to members of the public, except people serving jail sentences. However, certain information and documents are exempted from public access:

• Most juvenile arrest records
• Materials and information created or collected during active police investigations
• Sensitive personal records like medical and financial information
• Names and other data that may unduly expose protected witnesses, confidential informants, and victims of specific crimes
• Records that have been automatically set aside under the Michigan Clean Slate Act or sealed after the approval of expungement applications

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Michigan law permits the public disclosure of the following arrest data:

• Personal information: An arrestee's name, address, age, and physical attributes (skin color, markings, height, weight, etc.).
• Arrest details: Date, time, and location of arrest.
• Offense: Charges and date of offense
• Release conditions: Bond amount and type
• Booking information: Booking date, time, number, and location
• Court details: Court case number, prosecuting attorney, and subsequent court appearance

Joseph County Arrest Statistics

According to annual reports released by the Michigan State Police (MSP), 897 arrests were made by law enforcement authorities in St. Joseph County in 2022. Of these arrests, 821 were categorized as non-index crimes, while 76 were index crimes. The county recorded 33 arrests related to aggravated/felonious assault and 8 apprehensions for burglary-forced entry.

Find St. Joseph County Arrest Records

Knowing the record custodian to contact is the first step in finding arrest records in St. Joseph County. Law enforcement agencies like the Sheriff's Office and local police departments primarily maintain initial arrest records like booking details, alleged offenses, bail information, and arrestee release details.

The Sheriff's Office is the county jail administrator and maintains details of people remanded in the facility. Anyone can contact the office's corrections division to find details about inmates currently in custody or recently released on bond. Members of the public can also fill out and submit the Sheriff's Freedom of Information form to P.O. Box 339, Centreville, MI, to request specific documents.

If the alleged offender was arrested in Three Rivers, one can contact the Three Rivers Police Department or use its Freedom of Information form to request the details they seek.

The Michigan Department of Corrections also holds offender records, but only for incarcerated individuals serving their sentences in state prison. The department may also have information about certain released individuals and former inmates on parole or probation. Interested parties can send inquiries through the department's general information page or use its FOIA request process to obtain detailed records of inmates.

Searching criminal case records is another way to obtain arrest information in St. Joseph County. The county's circuit court handles felony and misdemeanor cases punishable by more than a year in prison. The district court adjudicates other criminal matters. One can approach the Clerk of the Circuit Court using the following information to request district court case files:

County Clerk's Office - 45th Circuit Court Division
Historic Courthouse - Second Floor
125 West Main Street
Centreville MI, 49032
Phone: (269) 467-5531

On the other hand, individuals seeking records for cases handled by the district court can visit the court's criminal and traffic divisions, depending on the case, to view or order court documents.

Moreover, people seeking records for arrests made by federal agencies may need to approach the involved agency. Local law enforcement authorities do not maintain federal arrest records. For example, one can contact the U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) if the arrest is related to an immigration or customs offense. Individuals can also use resources provided by the U.S. Bureau of Prisons to determine whether an arrestee is in the Bureau's custody.

Free Arrest Record Search in St. Joseph County

Criminal justice agencies offer free methods for obtaining St. Joseph arrest records. Court records, which often contain arrest data, can be viewed for free using the Circuit Court's online case lookup tool or the District Court's web search database. Viewing court records at courthouses without ordering copies is also free.

The Michigan DOC's Offender Tracking Information System (OTIS) is another free online utility that members of the public can use to check information on people in the department's custody, typically those already sentenced to prison or serving a probationary or parole term. The database also holds details of recently discharged inmates (up to 3 years) and absconders. Interested parties can search by name and MDOC number to view inmate biodata, offense, location, and sentence.

Federal agencies like the BOP and ICE also provide free utilities for finding federal arrestees and prisoners. ICE's Online Detainee Locator System allows the public to find people detained on immigration charges. At the same time, the BOP's Federal Inmate Search site can help individuals locate persons held in federal prisons.

Further, third-party resources can be used to view arrest records at no cost. These resources are provided by private businesses that are not affiliated with public agencies. However, they allow people to search for arrest information collated from multiple agencies within St. Joseph County.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

It varies. Arrest records, including biometric data, are destroyed if prosecutors decline to file charges or an individual's charges are dismissed before trial. However, while the Michigan State Police automatically seals certain convictions and non-conviction records, some entities retain access. These include law enforcement agencies, the Michigan Department of Corrections, the governor, prosecutor's offices, courts, and the attorney general. These entities also have access to records that are made nonpublic after subjects successfully apply for expungement.

The arrest records of people whose convictions are not eligible for expungement or have not yet passed the waiting period required for sealing remain public information.

Expunge St. Joseph County Arrest Records

The Michigan Clean Slate Act instructs the MSP to expunge the following conviction records automatically:

• Misdemeanors punishable by 92 days or less imprisonment have a 7-year waiting period and no expungement limits.
• Misdemeanors punishable by more than 92 days imprisonment also have a 7-year waiting period but have a limit of 4 expungements.
• Felonies generally have a 10-year waiting period and an expungement limit of 2.

However, the following cases do not qualify for automatic expungement:

• Serious misdemeanors, which can be punished by more than one year in prison
• Crimes of dishonesty and assault
• Offenses punishable by at least 10 years imprisonment
• Violation of MCL 777.1 to 777.69, 1927 PA 175, and chapter XVII of the Michigan Code of Criminal Procedure that led to death, serious injury, or affected a minor or vulnerable adult.
• Traffic offenses that cause death or injury
• Intoxication while operating a vehicle
• Traffic violations that occur while operating a commercial vehicle with a chauffeur's or operator's license

Records not qualifying for automatic expungement can be set aside by application. However, each type of conviction has different conditions. For example, high or "serious" misdemeanors may require legal advice. Individuals cannot set aside more than two convictions for assaultive crimes.

The manual expungement process involves submitting the appropriate form, such as the Application to Set Aside Conviction form, to the court that convicted the applicant. The form can be downloaded from the Michigan Judiciary's website. After submitting the form, the applicant is required to send the following to the Michigan State Police:

• The applicant's fingerprint, which can be obtained through the St. Joseph County Sheriff's Office or other local law enforcement agencies
• A copy of the expungement form submitted to the court
• A copy of the conviction record the individual seeks to expunge
• A $50 check or money order (addressed to the State of Michigan)

The applicant is also required to send copies of the expungement (set aside) form and conviction record (certified) to the Michigan Attorney General and St. Joseph Prosecuting Attorney's Office. If the applicant intends to add letters of support to their application, they are instructed to also serve such letters to the offices of the prosecuting attorney and attorney general.

The court's clerk will set a hearing date, and other parties will be notified. The prosecuting attorney's office may or may not decide to object to the application, depending on the case.

One may also have to manually remove their records even if their case qualifies for automatic expungement. People are generally advised to check ICHAT to confirm that the MSP has made their records nonpublic. If they see such records, they can contact the arresting agency to request a "release no prosecution" paperwork or similar document and fax it to the MSP at (517) 241-0866.

St. Joseph County Arrest Warrants

A warrant of arrest is a written order released by judges and district court magistrates instructing police officers to capture an individual and present them before a judge. The order is usually approved after law enforcement submits complaints to argue that a person should be arrested based on reasonable grounds that a law has been violated. However, judges and magistrates can also issue arrest warrants, called bench warrants, when individuals violate direct court orders, such as summonses, payment of fines, or community service.

An arrest warrant will contain the suspect's name, alleged offense, and a command for a police officer to make the arrest.

Members of the public can contact the St. Joseph Sheriff's Department to inquire about active arrest warrants. One may also approach the District Court or Clerk of Circuit Court to determine if an arrest warrant has been issued for a case.

Do St. Joseph County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No. St. Joseph County arrest warrants remain valid until the alleged offenders are captured by law enforcement officers or turn themselves in. Judges can also recall an arrest warrant when new evidence exonerates the accused person.