The Berrien County Jail is a 352 bed jail in the city of St. Joseph, Berrien County, Michigan.
This page provides information on how to search for an inmate in the official jail roster, or by calling the facility at 269-983-7141, directions to the facility, and inmate services such as the visitation schedule and policies, funding an inmate's account, mailing them a letter, receiving phone calls from an inmate, voicemail, emailing and texting, tablet rentals, bail bond instructions, and commissary purchases.
Phone: 269-983-7141
Physical Address:
919 Port Street
St. Joseph, MI 49085
Mailing Address (personal mail):
Inmate's Full Name (Plain, white, pre-stamped postcards only! No envelopes)
Berrien County Jail
919 Port Street
St. Joseph, MI 49085
Mailing Address (legal mail or subscriptions):
Inmate's Full Name
Berrien County Jail
919 Port Street
St. Joseph, MI 49085
(No publications allowed. Legal Mail OK)
Other Jails and Prisons
To search for an inmate in the Berrien County Jail, review their criminal charges, the amount of their bond, when they can get visits, or even view their mugshot, go to the Official Jail Inmate Roster, or call the jail at 269-983-7141 for the information you are looking for. You can also look up an offender's Criminal Court Case online for Berrien County or any county in Michigan.
Berrien County Jail Inmate Search
The Berrien County Jail maintains an average of 352 offenders in custody on any given day. The Berrien County Jail has a monthly turnover of 40% of their inmate population, another 30% turnover every 90 days, another 20% every six months, and approximately 10% stay incarcerated between six and twelve months. Every year Berrien County law enforcement agencies arrest and detain approximately 7,880 offenders.
The following charts of Berrien County inmate population demographics are updated daily. The information shown is for today. For research purposes we have broken down the inmates by sex, age, ethnicity, and criminal charges.
The information is compiled from the Berrien County Corrections Department, the state of Michigan Department of Corrections, as well as the United States Department of Justice and Census Bureau records. It represents every person in custody in Berrien County.
For complete information on how to get directions, bond, visit, mail, send and receive email and texts, receive phone calls, and send money or commissary to an inmate, find arrest information for Berrien County and other counties surrounding this one, scroll down this page. We have a section for each.
We also provide photos of the jail that we have collected over the years.
⇓ Learn more ⇓ Show less
The Berrien County Jail in Michigan has a rated capacity of 352 beds. For a county of 157,000 people this is considered inadequate, but sufficient. It provides the county with approximately 2 beds per 1,000 population, which is about average for the state. The jail is located at 919 Port Street in St. Joseph, MI 49085 and can be reached 24 hours a day by calling 269-983-7141.
HISTORY
Berrien County has had several jails through the years, and unlike most counties, with the exception of one, they are still standing today.
The first jail built in 1834, was a building with six in thick wooden walls and 24' x 32' area in size. It was two stories; the jailer's living quartwers and two cells on the lower floor and 4 cells on the upper floor. Each inmate had a bed, a blanket, a tin washbin and a tin bucket to go to the bathroom. There is no photo of this, but below was the jail that was built in its place several years later.
The second jail in Berrien County, known as the Berrien Springs Jail, located at the corner of Ferry and Main Streets in St. Joseph, was in commission from 1896 to 1958.
The current jail has been in commission since it was first built in 1958 and has had several expansions and renovations since then. The most recent renovations that were completed in 2018, added many security upgrades, a new sally port, booking area with room for 51 men and 24 women, padded cells, a medical exam room, a screening and a triage area. the current numberof beds is now 352.
For over 20 years, there has been discussion with Berrien County officials to build a new jail and courthouse, but that time may have passed, as construction costs have more than tripled in the past few years, and the countyy budget has become tighter and taxes have reached their breaking point for residents. For the time being they will have to do with what they have.
If you need information about an inmate being held in the Berrien County Jail, you can call the jail 24 hours a day at 269-983-7141. You also have the option of looking them up online using the Berrien County Inmate Search. You can look them up by name or booking date. There are no mugshots available to the public, but it does list the offender's name, date of arrest, date of birth and their criminal charges.
Mail can be received every day and is processed and passed to the inmates quickly. The original letter will be scanned and then destroyed. Friends and family of inmates in the Berrien County Jail can arrange to visit inmates by video, both at the jail and remotely from home. Friends and family can also send them money and set up a phone account that allows the inmates to call them during the day and evening seven days a week.
All the information on these inmate services can be found in the sections below. If you still have questions, you can phone the jail 24 hours a day by calling 269-983-7141.
To find out if someone you know has been recently arrested and booked into the Berrien County Jail, call the jail’s booking line at 269-983-7141.
There may be an automated method of looking them up by their name over the phone, or you may be directed to speak to someone at the jail. Sometimes the jail staff may ask you the offender’s date of birth to ensure privacy of the offender’s status.
Keep in mind that after an arrest, the information on an offender may not be publicly available for several hours.
If you don’t want to check up on an offender by calling the jail, you can also try looking up people recently booked online.
Berrien County Jail Booking Roster
After being arrested and taken into custody, and after being read their Miranda Rights, an offender will next be transported to the local police or department or the Sheriff’s Department in Berrien County for booking.
Booking is very involved and requires multiple steps in the process, however, keep in mind that most attorneys will advise that an offender remain silent and not offer any additional information about the crime they have been arrested for because anything they do say may be recorded and may very well be used against them in court.
Booking includes having their photo (mugshot) and fingerprints taken, as well as being asked a lot of questions about their personal history and state of mind. If it’s a serious felony, their DNA may also be taken. They will also be checked for warrants in Berrien County and other Michigan and USA jurisdictions.
If the offender was arrested for a DUI offense, and has refused a breathalyzer test, they may also be forced to have blood drawn by a doctor or nurse.
It is also very likely that the offender will undergo a humiliating full body search while in the nude. This includes bending over, spreading their cheeks in the direction of an officer, and coughing. They will also be walked through a metal detector or x-ray machine, like those used at an airport.
The arresting jurisdiction will ask about gang affiliations, tattoos, medical conditions, prescribed medication they are taking, recreational drugs they are on or addicted to, allergies, if they are suicidal, and other relevant information that will help with determining their cell assignment and special needs.
During the arrest and booking process an offender will also have all their personal property confiscated and held for either their release from jail, or with the offender’s approval, released to a friend or family member.
Personal property includes the clothing they are wearing, money, wallets, purses, cell phones, jewelry, body rings, earrings, watches, and even glasses if they are deemed a security risk. If they are allowed to keep their shoes or sneakers, the laces are removed.
At this point the offender will be allowed to make a free phone call to a person of their choice to notify them of their arrest, and/or arrange a bond or bail for their release.
If the offender is being detained and housed while awaiting arraignment, the Berrien County Jail will provide a jail garment and slip-on shoes, a blanket, sheets, soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, and a towel.
Often, before they are dressed in the jail outfit and brought to their housing location, they will be forced to take a shower and undergo a disinfectant treatment for body and hair lice, scabies or other pests that may be residing on their person.
Booking can take anywhere from an hour to 24 hours or more. It all depends on the number of people that are awaiting processing, the number of staff on duty at the time, and the behavior of the offender.
If the offender is heavily intoxicated and/or violent, the Booking Officer may decide to stick the offender in a holding cell for several hours until they become more manageable.
Call 269-983-7141 to find out the exact bond (plus other fees) amount, or look it up online by looking up the information on the Berrien County inmate locator.
Because Berrien County and Michigan can change their bail bond procedures, it is always best to call either the Berrien County Jail at 269-983-7141, or the court in the jurisdiction (i.e. Municipal Court, District Court, etc.) where the offender was charged, and do this right after an arrestee has been booked.
Ask the staff at the Berrien County Jail or the Berrien County Court Clerk these specific questions:
If you feel the bail is too high and you wish to get it reduced, contact a lawyer or the defendant's public defender and get them to look into what they can do to get a bail reduction. The sooner you get working on this the quicker you will get your loved one released.
This entire process will go smoother and faster with a criminal attorney or bail agent handling it for you.
Learn even more ⇓ Learn more ⇓ Show less
How Do You Visit an Inmate in the Berrien County Jail? What is the Schedule?
919 Port Street
St. Joseph, MI 49085
269-983-7141
Schedule Video Visits online with GTL / Viapath
ON SITE VISITATION SCHEDULE
| DAY | TIME |
| SUNDAY | 9:00 AM - 10:30AM 4:00PM - 8:30PM |
| MONDAY | 1:00PM - 5:30PM |
| TUESDAY | 1:00PM - 5:30PM |
| WEDNESDAY | 1:00PM - 5:30PM |
| THURSDAY | 1:00PM - 5:30PM |
| FRIDAY | 1:00PM - 5:30PM |
| SATURDAY | 9:00 AM - 10:30AM 4:00PM - 8:30PM |
REMOTE VIDEO VISITATION SCHEDULE
| DAY | TIME |
| SUNDAY | 9:00 AM - 10:30AM 4:00PM - 8:30PM |
| MONDAY | 1:00PM - 5:30PM |
| TUESDAY | 1:00PM - 5:30PM |
| WEDNESDAY | 1:00PM - 5:30PM |
| THURSDAY | 1:00PM - 5:30PM |
| FRIDAY | 1:00PM - 5:30PM |
| SATURDAY | 9:00 AM - 10:30AM 4:00PM - 8:30PM |
Next Steps:
For at-home video visits: Sign in to the visitation scheduling site 15 minutes prior to your scheduled visit. Test your connection, and follow the steps to start your visit.
For on-site video visits: Arrive at the facility at least 15 minutes prior to check-in. A valid photo ID is required.
All your questions can be answered after you register, at the Frequently Asked Questions page, or call 855-208-7349 during the following hours:
6AM – 4PM MST Monday – Friday, or
7AM – 4PM MST Saturday – Sunday
Costs for Visits are subject to change but generally run less than $10.00 for a 30 minute visit.
Payment can be made with Visa, Mastercard debit, credit or gift cards.
Follow these instructions to schedule and then visit an inmate using GTL.
For all the information you need to know regarding scheduling, cost, rules, tips and guidelines of inmate visits at the Berrien County Jail, check out our Visit Inmate Page.
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Berrien County Jail’s Inmate Visitation Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 269-983-7141 for further assistance.
Learn even more ⇓ Learn more ⇓ Show less
Can I Use My Computer or Phone to Have a Remote Video Visit with an Inmate in the Berrien County Jail?
919 Port Street
St. Joseph, MI 49085
269-983-7141
Schedule Video Visits online with GTL / Viapath
ON SITE VISITATION SCHEDULE
| DAY | TIME |
| SUNDAY | 9:00 AM - 10:30AM 4:00PM - 8:30PM |
| MONDAY | 1:00PM - 5:30PM |
| TUESDAY | 1:00PM - 5:30PM |
| WEDNESDAY | 1:00PM - 5:30PM |
| THURSDAY | 1:00PM - 5:30PM |
| FRIDAY | 1:00PM - 5:30PM |
| SATURDAY | 9:00 AM - 10:30AM 4:00PM - 8:30PM |
REMOTE VIDEO VISITATION SCHEDULE
| DAY | TIME |
| SUNDAY | 9:00 AM - 10:30AM 4:00PM - 8:30PM |
| MONDAY | 1:00PM - 5:30PM |
| TUESDAY | 1:00PM - 5:30PM |
| WEDNESDAY | 1:00PM - 5:30PM |
| THURSDAY | 1:00PM - 5:30PM |
| FRIDAY | 1:00PM - 5:30PM |
| SATURDAY | 9:00 AM - 10:30AM 4:00PM - 8:30PM |
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Berrien County Jail’s Video Remote Visitation Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 269-983-7141 for further assistance.
Learn even more ⇓ Learn more ⇓ Show less
How Do You Deposit Money for an Inmate in the Berrien County Jail?
1. Commissary money in the form of a money order may be mailed to:
AdvancePay Service Department
P.O. Box 911722
Denver, CO 80291-1722
2. You may use cash or credit/debit cards at any time by using the kiosk located in the front lobby. The fee for the use of the ATM is generally $1.50 per transaction for cash and 10% fee for credit/debit cards.
3. Commissary money can also be added to an inmates account at any time using any of these methods online.
4. Cash deposits to ConnectNetwork are now available at 26,000 retail locations nationwide including Walmart, ACE, Kmart, Kroger, and more. You’ll start the payment process online in your ConnectNetwork account, then complete your transaction with cash at a participating local retail store. Plus, many of these stores are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Find a retail store near you.
5. You can call customer service 24/7 at 877-650-4249 and get instructions for depositing money over the phone using a debit or credit card.
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Berrien County Jail’s Inmate Money and Trust Fund Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 269-983-7141 for further assistance.
Learn even more ⇓ Learn more ⇓ Show less
How Do I Receive Phone Calls from an Inmate in the Berrien County Jail?
Follow these instructions on how to open an account with GTL Connect Network (aka Viapath Technologies)
For full instructions on the Berrien County Jail Inmate Phone System, what the costs are, how it works, and tips and guidelines on rules, regulations and saving money on calls, check out our Inmate Phones Page.
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Berrien County Jail’s Inmate Phone Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 269-983-7141 for further assistance.
Learn even more ⇓ Learn more ⇓ Show less
How do I Mail an Inmate in the Berrien County Jail, and what can I send them?
Postcards
The Berrien County Jail ONLY allows inmates to receive white pre-metered postcards (Max: 6” X 4 ¼”; Min 5” X 3 ½”). like the type purchased from the post office. It is best to only use blue or black ink. Always include your name and return address.
Envelopes
Envelopes with personal letters are NOT allowed.
With permission, and after the inmate has been incarcerated for 30 days, the jail may allow an inmate to receive up to three photos. That is the maximum they may have in their cell at any given time.
Postcards (and photos when allowed) MUST be mailed to the following address:
Inmate's Full Name (Plain, white, pre-stamped postcards only! No envelopes)
Berrien County Jail
919 Port Street
St. Joseph, MI 49085
Legal Mail
Envelopes from an attorney or professionals related to an inmates case ARE allowed.
Send all Legal Mail to this Address:
Inmate's Full Name
Berrien County Jail
919 Port Street
St. Joseph, MI 49085
(No publications allowed. Legal Mail OK)
Newspapers
Not allowed.
Magazines
Not allowed.
Books
Not allowed.
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Berrien County Jail’s Inmate Mail Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 269-983-7141 for further assistance.
Learn even more ⇓ Learn more ⇓ Show less
Can I purchase Commissary Online for an Inmate in the Berrien County Jail, and what can I purchase?
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Berrien County Jail’s Commissary Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 269-983-7141 for further assistance.
Learn even more ⇓ Learn more ⇓ Show less
How Can I Communicate with an Inmate in the Berrien County Jail using an Online Messaging Service?
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Berrien County Jail’s Text and Email Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 269-983-7141 for further assistance.
Learn even more ⇓ Learn more ⇓ Show less
Do Inmates in the Berrien County Jail have Access to Tablets or Computers?
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Berrien County Jail’s Tablet Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 269-983-7141 for further assistance.
Learn even more ⇓ Learn more ⇓ Show less
What are the other City and County Jails in Berrien County?
What are the other Jails in the Neighboring Counties surrounding Berrien County?
This facility, known as "Berrien County Jail" is also known as Berrien County Jail , Berrien County Jail , Michigan, Berrien.
