St. Joseph County Jail Roster

The St. Joseph County jail roster lists all inmates held at the county jail in Centreville. The St. Joseph County Sheriff keeps the roster current with new bookings and releases. You can search for inmates by calling the sheriff's office or checking VINELink online. The roster tracks names, charges, booking dates, and bond amounts for people in custody. St. Joseph County sits in southwestern Michigan near the Indiana border. The jail handles arrests from Centreville, Three Rivers, Sturgis, and other communities in the area.

St. Joseph County Sheriff Jail Operations

The St. Joseph County Sheriff's Office operates the county jail in Centreville. Under MCL 800.7, the sheriff has full charge and custody of the county jail. That gives the sheriff control over all bookings, housing, and record keeping at the St. Joseph County jail. The facility holds pretrial detainees and those serving sentences under one year. Most felony and misdemeanor arrests in the county end up here.

MCL 800.13 says the sheriff must keep a record of every person committed to the jail. The log includes the inmate's name, the date they came in, why they are held, who sent them, and when they get out. These records are public under Michigan law. The St. Joseph County jail processes bookings from local police, Michigan State Police, and the sheriff's patrol units across the county.

St. Joseph County is a smaller county in southwest Michigan. The jail in Centreville is the only holding facility for the county. All arrests from towns like Three Rivers and Sturgis come through this one jail. The sheriff's office is the first place to call if you need inmate information.

Search St. Joseph County Inmates

The best way to find someone in the St. Joseph County jail is to call the sheriff's office directly. Staff can check if a person is in custody, what charges they face, and what their bond is set at. You can also use VINELink to search for inmates and get custody status updates for free. VINELink sends alerts by phone, text, or email when an inmate's status changes. This is useful for families and crime victims who need ongoing updates.

For people who went to state prison after time in the St. Joseph County jail, check OTIS from the Michigan Department of Corrections. OTIS tracks state prisoners, parolees, and people on probation statewide. It does not include county jail inmates. The system keeps records for three years after discharge from state supervision.

The ICHAT system from Michigan State Police provides statewide criminal history records for $10 per search. It shows arrests and convictions from all Michigan counties, including past St. Joseph County cases. You can also search court cases through MiCOURT, which shows hearing dates, charges, and outcomes for circuit and district courts.

Note: VINELink coverage varies by county, so if you can't find someone there, call the sheriff's office at the number listed below.

St. Joseph County Booking Records

When someone gets arrested in St. Joseph County, they go through intake at the jail in Centreville. Staff record the person's name, date of birth, and physical details. A booking photo is taken. Charges are logged with the arresting agency. Bond gets set by the court. All of this goes into the jail roster.

Under Michigan's FOIA law at MCL 15.233, anyone can request copies of public records by sending a written request to the FOIA coordinator. The St. Joseph County Sheriff's office has five business days to respond. MCL 15.234 limits fees to actual costs for copies and labor after the first $20 of search time. Booking photos are public records in Michigan per the Patterson v. Allegan County Sheriff ruling. The ACLU v. Calhoun County decision in 2022 further strengthened public access to jail records by ruling that federal regulations cannot override Michigan's FOIA law.

St. Joseph County Jail Visiting Rules

The St. Joseph County jail has visiting hours and rules. Call the sheriff's office in Centreville for the current schedule and visitor list requirements. You need a valid government-issued photo ID. Minors must be with a parent or guardian. The jail enforces a dress code and screens all visitors before entry. You cannot bring phones, bags, or food into the facility. Anyone under the influence or with an active warrant will be denied and possibly arrested.

Inmates receive mail at the jail. Use the inmate's full name on the envelope and send it to the jail address. Money orders are the normal way to put funds on an inmate's account. Do not send cash or personal checks. The sheriff's office can explain phone access and commissary options for people in the St. Joseph County jail.

St. Joseph County Sex Offender Search

The Michigan Sex Offender Registry lets you look up registered offenders in St. Joseph County. Search by name or by address. The registry is run by Michigan State Police under MCL 28.721 through 28.736. It shows photos, addresses, conviction details, and registration tier for each offender. You can see all offenders in the county or search near a specific address in Centreville, Three Rivers, or Sturgis.

The registry is updated on a regular basis but information can change quickly. Some details come from the offenders themselves and may not always be perfectly accurate. Use the registry as one tool among several when researching someone's criminal background in St. Joseph County.

St. Joseph County Jail Contact

The St. Joseph County Sheriff handles all jail operations including visits, mail, and phone calls for inmates. Contact the office for current visiting hours and jail rules. The jail is in Centreville, the county seat, which sits in the southern part of the county.

Michigan's OTIS system shows detailed profiles for state prisoners, including those who passed through the St. Joseph County jail on their way to the state corrections system.

Nearby Counties

These counties border St. Joseph County. Check their jail rosters if you are not sure where someone was booked.