Berrien County Police Records
Berrien County police records are maintained by the Berrien County Sheriff's Office Records Division at 919 Port Street in St. Joseph, Michigan. These records include incident reports, arrest records, accident reports, inmate information, and warrant data for southwest Michigan's largest county. The Records Division is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, and accepts requests by phone, email, fax, and in person.
Berrien County Police Records at a Glance
Berrien County Police Records Available
Berrien County is Michigan's southwestern-most county, bordering Indiana and Lake Michigan. It is one of the more populated counties in the region, and its sheriff's office runs a dedicated Records Division to handle the volume of records requests it receives. The division maintains incident reports for all deputy responses in unincorporated parts of the county, along with arrest records, accident reports, inmate records, and warrant information.
Incident reports document the details of each law enforcement call: the date, location, names of parties involved, charges filed, and the deputy's account of the incident. Once a case closes or charges are on file, these reports are available to the public. Active investigation records are protected under MCL § 15.243. The Records Division phone is (269) 983-7141, extension 7220. The email is sdrecords@berriencounty.org. Records fax is (269) 982-8650.
The Berrien County Sheriff's Office offers an online inmate search portal. This lets you check who is currently held in the county jail by searching by name or booking number. Accident reports are available through the sheriff as well as through third-party services. For crash reports handled by the Michigan State Police, use the Michigan Traffic Crash Purchasing System. Court records are separate and are handled through the circuit court clerk.
Berrien County's fee structure is slightly different from most Michigan counties. Copies cost $0.25 per page, which is above the standard $0.10 allowed under state law but may reflect the county's own fee schedule for certain record types. Records checks per individual cost $10. Certified court documents from the court clerk are $11 plus $1 per page.
Berrien County Sheriff's Office and Records Division
Sheriff Charles E. Heit leads the Berrien County Sheriff's Office. Undersheriff Greg Sanders and Chief Deputy Sean Soulard support operations. The office is at 919 Port Street, St. Joseph, MI 49085.
The Berrien County Sheriff's Office website at bcsheriff.org provides information on the Records Division, FOIA process, inmate search, and law enforcement services across the county. Use it to find current forms and contact details.
Main contact numbers: main office (269) 983-7111, fax (269) 983-9956, Records Division (269) 983-7141 ext. 7220, Records fax (269) 982-8650. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. For records requests by email, use sdrecords@berriencounty.org.
The Berrien County public records page at berriencounty.org/483/Records provides access to the FOIA request form, inmate search, and other record resources for the county. The FOIA form is downloadable from the site.
The county also has a public records page at berriencounty.org/1019/Public-Records. The FOIA Request Form PDF is available at berriencounty.org through the Document Center. Submit completed forms in person, by mail, by fax to (269) 982-8650, or by email to sdrecords@berriencounty.org.
Note: Active warrants in Berrien County are generally not released to the public while a case is under investigation, per standard Michigan FOIA exemptions.
FOIA Request Process for Berrien County
Michigan FOIA under MCL § 15.231 et seq. and Public Act 442 of 1976 gives any person the right to request public records. MCL § 15.233 says no reason is required. No residency requirement applies. These rules govern all Berrien County agencies including the sheriff's office and court clerk.
Use the Berrien County Sheriff FOIA Request Form from berriencounty.org. Complete all required fields: your name, address, phone, email, and a specific description of the records you want. Include the incident date, location, the names of parties involved, and a case number if you have one. Submit the form in person at the Records Division, by mail to 919 Port Street, St. Joseph, MI 49085, by fax to (269) 982-8650, or by email to sdrecords@berriencounty.org.
The office must respond within 5 business days under MCL § 15.235. A 10-day extension is allowed with written notice. Denied requests must specify the exemption used. You have 180 days to appeal in writing to the head of the agency. A circuit court action is available after a failed appeal.
Berrien County Records Fees
Berrien County charges $0.25 per page for standard copies, which is higher than the $0.10 minimum set by MCL § 15.234. This is the county's standard rate for its records. Individual records checks cost $10. Certified court documents from the court clerk cost $11 plus $1 per page. Labor and fringe benefits follow state FOIA rules: lowest-paid capable employee rate, up to 50% fringe, 15-minute increments.
A 50% deposit is required if the estimated total exceeds $50. Low-income requesters can claim a $20 fee waiver by submitting an affidavit of public assistance or indigency, available twice per calendar year.
Nearby Counties
Berrien County is in the southwest corner of Michigan. Records from neighboring areas can be found through these links.