Reviewed and updated October 9, 2026 by the SearchSystems.net editorial team. The arrest counts are the ones each agency reported to the FBI, as the FBI held them on October 8, 2026. Every office link was opened and checked against the office's own site between September 23, 2026 and September 30, 2026.
Berrien County, Michigan, has about 153,000 residents (2024 Census Bureau estimate). Its court cases are filed in the Berrien County Circuit Court and the District Court, and the file of each case, kept by the County Clerk, is the public record of it. This guide says which court hears what, where to look a case up and who keeps the files.
This guide covers the courts, the records page, criminal cases, kinds of files, directory links, cities and common questions.
Related guides: Berrien County public records, Berrien County arrest records, Berrien County warrants, Berrien County inmate search, Berrien County criminal records, Michigan arrest records and Michigan inmate search.
The Courts That Hear Cases from Berrien County
In Berrien County, the Berrien County Circuit Court hears felonies, civil cases over $25,000, divorces and family matters.
Below it, the District Court takes misdemeanors, traffic cases, small claims and civil cases up to $25,000.
Divorces go to the Circuit Court's family division, and the file stays with the County Clerk.
The County Clerk keeps the files, and a copy of anything in a file comes from that office, under the court's own rules rather than the Michigan Freedom of Information Act.
Looking Up a Case from Berrien County
The court records page SearchSystems verified for the county is at courts.michigan.gov/search/?searchQuery=criminal+berrien+county, which answered when SearchSystems opened it on September 23, 2026.
Statewide, MiCOURT Case Search is the Michigan courts' statewide case search; not every court has joined.
The Michigan court page SearchSystems verified is at micourt.courts.michigan.gov/case-search.
What Reaches the Court from Berrien County
Together, the 18 agencies in Berrien County with all twelve months of 2025 on file reported 3,464 arrests to the FBI that year; the Prosecuting Attorney decides which of those arrests become cases in the Berrien County Circuit Court or the District Court.
The Prosecuting Attorney's page SearchSystems verified is at berriencountymi.gov/m/directory/department?did=19 (page title: Staff Directory, Prosecuting Attorney), phone 269-983-7111, 811 Port Street 2nd Floor St. Joseph, MI 49085, Monday - Friday 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m., which answered when SearchSystems opened it on September 30, 2026.
The Kinds of Court Files
Criminal cases, divorces, traffic tickets and evictions all end up as files of these courts, and the file is what the public sees of each.
The other Berrien County guides take the kinds of file one at a time: Berrien County criminal records, Berrien County divorce records, Berrien County traffic tickets, Berrien County DUI and Berrien County property records.
More Official Court Pages for Berrien County
The SearchSystems directory, online since 1997, lists the official pages for Berrien County and Michigan. These court pages from its Berrien County listing were opened again on October 2, 2026 and each one still answers:
- Michigan, Pay a Ticket Online (e.courts.michigan.gov)
- Missing/Cold Cases (berriencounty.org)
Cities in Berrien County
Wherever in the county a case arises, it is filed in the Berrien County Circuit Court or the District Court.
The cities and towns in the county are Niles, Benton Harbor, St. Joseph, Buchanan, Bridgman, Berrien Springs, Watervliet, New Buffalo, Coloma, Three Oaks, Stevensville, Baroda, Shoreham, Eau Claire, Galien, Grand Beach and Michiana.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I look up a court case in Berrien County?
The court records page SearchSystems verified for the county is at courts.michigan.gov. Statewide, MiCOURT Case Search is the Michigan courts' statewide case search; not every court has joined.
Which court hears felonies in Berrien County?
The Berrien County Circuit Court, which hears felonies, civil cases over $25,000, divorces and family matters. The District Court takes misdemeanors, traffic cases, small claims and civil cases up to $25,000.
Who keeps the court records in Berrien County?
The County Clerk. Copies come from that office under the court's own rules.
Is there a statewide court case search in Michigan?
Yes: MiCOURT Case Search, the Michigan courts' statewide case search; not every court has joined.
Is this the official Berrien County website?
No. SearchSystems.net is an independent public records guide, online since 1997. It links to the official county, court and state offices described above and does not hold records, charge for them or take requests.