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 October 9, 2026.
St. Joseph County, Michigan, has about 61,000 residents (2024 Census Bureau estimate). Its court cases are filed in the St. Joseph 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, cities and common questions.
Related guides: St. Joseph County public records, St. Joseph County arrest records, St. Joseph County warrants, St. Joseph County inmate search, St. Joseph County criminal records, Michigan arrest records and Michigan inmate search.
The Courts That Hear Cases from St. Joseph County
Court cases from St. Joseph County are filed in the St. Joseph 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.
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 St. Joseph County
The court records page SearchSystems verified for the county is at courts.michigan.gov/search/?searchQuery=st.joseph, 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 St. Joseph County
Together, the six agencies in St. Joseph County with all twelve months of 2025 on file reported 921 arrests to the FBI that year; the Prosecuting Attorney decides which of those arrests become cases in the St. Joseph County Circuit Court or the District Court.
The Prosecuting Attorney's page SearchSystems verified is at stjosephcountymi.gov/government/courts-law-enforcement/prosecuting-... (page title: Prosecuting Attorney's Office | St. Joseph County), which answered when SearchSystems opened it on September 23, 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 St. Joseph County guides take the kinds of file one at a time: St. Joseph County criminal records, St. Joseph County divorce records, St. Joseph County traffic tickets, St. Joseph County DUI and St. Joseph County property records.
Cities in St. Joseph County
Wherever in the county a case arises, it is filed in the St. Joseph County Circuit Court or the District Court.
The cities and towns in the county are Sturgis, Three Rivers, Constantine, White Pigeon, Centreville, Colon, Mendon and Burr Oak.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I look up a court case in St. Joseph 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 St. Joseph County?
The St. Joseph 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 St. Joseph 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 St. Joseph 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.