Berrien County, Michigan Inmate Search
Inmate searches are public tools that provide basic information about individuals in custody and the nature of their stay. It usually contains details such as the inmate’s name, their booking date, charges filed against them, custody status, and court dates. In Berrien County, the county jail, online roster, and inmate searches are managed by the Berrien County Sheriff’s Office.
Despite being the largest cities in the county, the Benton Harbor Police Department and St. Joseph’s Police Department do not maintain separate rosters. However, they handle local arrests within their respective cities before turning convicted individuals over to the county jail to serve their time. For individuals convicted to state prisons, searches can be done through the Michigan Department of Corrections Online Platform.
How to Find an Inmate in Berrien County Jail
The online inmate roster, managed by the Sheriff’s Office, is the best way to find inmates presently in custody at the Berrien County jail. To use the online inmate search tool,
- Visit the Berrien County official website and locate the inmate search tool.
- Enter the inmate’s full name or booking number into the search bar and hit the search button.
- The search should return a list of names that can be filtered by booking date.
If an inmate’s name does not appear on the roster, it may indicate they have been released or transferred from the county jail. On a few occasions, it may also indicate that the arrest was very recent and has not yet been reflected on the roster. However, it usually takes about 24hours for the online roster to be updated with recent arrests.
Aside from the online roster, inmates at the county jail can also visit the Sheriff’s Office or call the office at 269-983-7141. The Berrien County Jail and Sheriff’s Office are located in the same building at:
Berrien County Sheriff’s Office
919 Port Street,
St. Joseph, MI 49085
Phone: 269-983-7141
How to Use the Berrien County Jail Roster
The county jail roster can be used for several purposes. These include:
- Determining who is in custody.
- Providing information for family members and legal representatives.
- Determine the exact location of an inmate in custody.
To obtain access to the inmate roster:
- Visit the official website of the Berrien County Sheriff’s Office.
- Locate the Inmate Search page from the menu.
- On the page, input the inmate’s first name, last name, and booking number
- Click on the inmate to reveal further details.
- If the inmate’s name is unknown, the online roster can also be searched by inmate ID alone.
In the instance that no information appears about an inmate under search, contact the Sheriff’s office at 269-983-7141. However, it is important to note that inmate details may not appear on the website if an inmate was arrested within the past 24 hours, as the roster updates every 24 hours. Additionally, an inmate may not appear on the online roster if they have been released.
What Information is Included in the Berrien County Inmate Roster
Under Michigan’s Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), public records should be made readily available to the general public. In Berrien County, inmate search results and online rosters are public records and must be made available on demand.
However, the state still respects inmates’ privacy rights, as sensitive information such as health-related details, mental health evaluations, and juvenile records is exempt from public view.
The following details are often found in online rosters:
- Full name: This section contains the inmate’s names in order of appearance on their vital records like birth certificate.
- Booking number: This is the code assigned to an inmate upon being booked into the county jail. It is extremely useful in identifying individuals in official records.
- Arrest date: The arrest date section states the date and time the offender was taken into custody and processed at the jail.
- Charge description: This describes the nature of the crime the individual committed. It is usually a few lines and does not include detailed information about the crime committed.
- Housing location: This specifies an individual’s specific whereabouts within the county jail facility.
- Custody status: This section details whether an inmate is in custody or has been released. It also states if an inmate has been transferred to another facility.
- Court date: Sometimes, the legal proceedings in an individual’s case may not have been completed when the individual is in custody. Hence, pending court dates/appearances could also appear in an online roster search.
Contact Details for Berrien County Jail or Sheriff’s Office
For individuals requiring further information about the Berrien County Jail or Sheriff’s Office, speak directly with jail staff and individuals at the county sheriff’s office.
Additionally, the county sheriff’s office can handle inquiries about visitation schedules, posting bail, or other related matters.
Facility | Address | Phone | Website/Directory Info | Fax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Berrien County Sheriff’s Office | 919 Port Street, St. Joseph, MI 49085 | |||
Berrien County Jail | 919 Port Street, St. Joseph, MI 49085 |
Jail Facility Overview in Berrien County
In Berrien County, the county jail is the only adult detention facility. With a holding capacity of 341 inmates, the jail holds both male and female inmates in separate areas. The facility houses mostly short-term, medium-security inmates.
Generally, the facility houses inmates serving short sentences, awaiting trial, or those convicted of parole violations.
The county also operates a juvenile detention center for youth under 18 years of age. The Berrien County Juvenile Center is separate from the county jail. It operates a separate roster available only to guardians and legal representatives. The juvenile facility is located at 6414 Deans Hill Rd, Berrien Center.
Name | Address | Office Hours | Phone | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Berrien County Jail | 919 Port Street, St Joseph, MI 49085 | N/A | ||
Berrien County Juvenile Court | 6414 Deans Hill Rd, Berrien Center, MI 49102 | N/A |
How to Send Money to an Inmate in Berrien County Jail?
Inmates in Berrien County can have money deposited into their commissary accounts in several ways. These include:
1. Online deposits
Jail-approved third-party providers like JailATM or TouchPay. To deposit money using JailATM for the first time, visit their official website and select the "Send Money Now" option.
Next, create an account and log in to the portal. After this, enter the jail facility where the inmate is being held, along with their full name and booking number.
Then, input how much to deposit into the account. Online deposits can be made with debit or credit cards, and usually reflex in a few hours.
2. Lobby Kiosks
Alternatively, friends, family, or loved ones can also deposit money through the self-service kiosks in the county jail. The kiosks accept cash, as well as debit and credit cards. Usually, using the lobby kiosks to deposit money is the fastest way to send money, as inmates can receive it almost immediately.
Note that there may be some processing fees applied.
3. Phone
If neither online deposits nor the self-service kiosks are available, commissary money can also be deposited into an inmate’s account by calling the jail at 877-650-4249 or 880-988-4768 to make a debit or credit card deposit.
4. Money Orders
The county jail also accepts money orders for sending commissary funds. When sending money orders, they must be directed to the Sheriff’s Office and marked for the bookkeeper. The money order should include the inmate’s full name and booking number, and must be made payable to the inmate.
It is, however, important to note that money orders typically have a processing delay before funds are made available.
Inmate Search by Jail Facility
Inmates in Berrien County can be found through the Sheriff’s office online roster. This online roster contains information about adult inmates in the Berrien County jail and the annex. It lists the detainee’s names, booking number, arrest date, charge description, and court dates (if applicable).
To conduct searches about an inmate in the juvenile program, a separate inquiry must be made to the Berrien County Trial Court Juvenile Division.
Additionally, inmates in alternative custody programs, such as work release programs, will typically not appear in online roster searches. The only way to identify inmates in these programs is to contact the administrative department at the Berrien County Sheriff’s Office.
Facility | Separate Search Option? | Where to Access Information |
|---|---|---|
Berrien County Jail | Yes - main online roster | |
Berrien County Juvenile Center | No | Call Sheriff’s Office Records Division at 269-429-2351 |
Work Release Programs | No | Call Sheriff’s Office Records Division at 269-983-7141 |
Berrien County Visitation Rules and Schedules
Berrien County Jail allows inmates to receive visitors during their stay at the facility. For these visits to take place, individuals intending to visit must schedule them at least 24 hours in advance.
Inmates are allowed up to 10 online video visits per week, with a maximum of 2 per day. During video calls, no more than 3 people may be on the call at a time. Users less than 18 years of age are not eligible to schedule a visit, and an adult must be present if a minor is on the video call.
The county jail also reserves the right to terminate the call if inappropriate behaviour is detected or if any other visitation rules are violated.
Each online visit lasts about 20 minutes and costs $10. The call fees are charged to the visitor. Inmates can use the facility’s internet for visits during the following hours:
- Weekdays: Monday - Friday 1:00 pm - 5:30 pm.
- Weekends: 9:00 am - 10:30 am, 4:00 pm - 8:30 pm.
Online visits should not be conducted in a moving motor vehicle, as this may result in the visitor being suspended from video visits.
Mailing and Commissary Information
In addition to video visits, inmates can also receive mail from family, friends, or other individuals. These nails are encouraged as they help the inmate keep in touch with society and possibly foster rehabilitation.
However, certain rules must be followed when sending mail to an individual in the Berrien County Jail. Additionally, all mails sent are inspected to ensure that no forbidden items are sneaked into the facility through this channel. The county prohibits oversized envelopes or padded mail. Stamps, checks, and cash are typically not allowed to be sent by mail.
To avoid mixups, all mail sent to the jail should be sent in this format:
Inmate Name, Booking Number
Berrien County Jail,
919 Port Street,
St Joseph, MI 49085
Commissary funds can be sent through online deposits, lobby kiosks, money orders, or phone deposits. Note that commissary funds cannot be used for bail, and commissary accounts can only accept a maximum of $200 - $500.