St. Joseph County Released Inmates
St. Joseph County released inmates records are managed by the sheriff office in Centreville. This southwestern Michigan county has a population of about 60,000 and operates a jail with roughly 100 beds. If you are trying to find out if someone has been released from the St. Joseph County Jail, you can contact the sheriff office by phone or submit a FOIA request. The state OTIS database also covers anyone who passed through Michigan's prison system. Whether the person was held locally or served state time, there are search options available to help you find their records. This guide covers each one so you know where to start.
St. Joseph County Overview
St. Joseph County Sheriff's Office
The St. Joseph County Sheriff's Office handles all jail operations in Centreville. The jail has about 100 beds and serves the whole county. Arrests from local police departments in Three Rivers, Sturgis, and other towns come through this facility. If someone was booked in St. Joseph County, the sheriff office has the record of it.
Getting released inmates information from the sheriff office typically means calling them during business hours. Staff can confirm whether a person is currently in custody or has been released. They can also provide a release date over the phone in most cases. For official copies of booking records, arrest reports, or jail logs, you will need to file a written request under Michigan's Freedom of Information Act. The process is straightforward but does take a few days.
St. Joseph County does not appear to maintain a public online inmate roster. This means you cannot look up who is in the jail from your computer. Some neighboring counties do have online tools, but St. Joseph County relies on phone inquiries and written requests for this type of information. If you need to find released inmates records from St. Joseph County, calling is the fastest way to get a quick answer.
| Office | St. Joseph County Sheriff's Office |
|---|---|
| Address | 650 E. Main St., Centreville, MI 49032 |
| Phone | (269) 467-9045 |
| County Seat | Centreville |
How to Find St. Joseph County Released Inmates
Looking up released inmates in St. Joseph County takes a few different paths depending on what you need. For quick checks on someone's jail status, call the sheriff office. Give them a name and they can tell you if the person is in custody or has been let go. This works well for recent bookings and releases.
For state prison records, the OTIS database from the Michigan Department of Corrections is free to use. It covers current inmates, parolees, probationers, and anyone discharged in the last three years. Search by name or MDOC number. OTIS is the best tool if the person served time in a state facility rather than the county jail.
You can also check VINELink for custody status. VINE covers most Michigan jails and lets you set up release alerts. If you want to know when a person gets out of the St. Joseph County Jail, register for a notification through VINE. You will get a phone call, email, or text when the status changes. It is free to use and works around the clock.
VINELink lets you search for inmates across Michigan facilities and sign up for custody change alerts, including releases from St. Joseph County.
Note: St. Joseph County does not publish an online inmate roster, so phone and FOIA requests are the primary options for county jail information.
St. Joseph County FOIA Records Request
Under MCL 15.231, you have the right to request public records from the St. Joseph County Sheriff's Office. This includes booking records, release logs, and arrest reports. Put your request in writing and include the full name of the person, dates you are interested in, and what records you want. Be as specific as you can.
The office has five business days to give you a response. They can ask for a ten-day extension if the request is large or complex. Copy fees are around $0.10 per page. Labor charges apply if the search takes time, and those costs are based on the hourly rate of the lowest-paid employee who can handle the request. You can send your request by mail to 650 E. Main St., Centreville, MI 49032. Some records may be exempt under MCL 791.230a if they involve medical information or other protected details.
Most basic released inmates records from St. Joseph County are available through FOIA. The offense, booking date, charges, and release date are all generally public information.
Statewide Resources for St. Joseph County
Beyond the local sheriff office, several state tools help with released inmates searches. The Michigan Department of Corrections maintains OTIS for state prison records. The ICHAT system from the Michigan State Police costs $10 per search and provides criminal history records covering arrests and convictions statewide. ICHAT goes deeper than OTIS and covers both county and state-level records.
The MiCOURT case search covers court records from participating courts. You can search by party name or case number to find outcomes tied to an arrest in St. Joseph County. For historical records going back to the 1800s, the Michigan State Archives holds prison records from 1839 to 1987. Contact them at (517) 373-1408 for help with older records.
The Michigan Sex Offender Registry lets you search for registered sex offenders in St. Joseph County by name, zip code, or county under MCL 28.721.
Nearby Counties
St. Joseph County borders these Michigan counties. An arrest near county lines could end up in any of these jurisdictions.