Why Your Loved One Might Serve Time at St. Joseph County Jail Instead of Indiana DOC

Anyone arrested by one of St. Joseph County's eleven police departments gets brought to St. Joseph County Jail. For families, this is usually the first place you'll deal with after an arrest - even if the case later moves through the courts or leads to a longer sentence.

After booking, there are two common paths: your loved one may bond out, or they may stay at the jail while the case moves forward. Still in custody doesn't automatically mean sentenced. It can simply mean the case is pending and they're waiting for the next court date.

A few things about how the jail operates during this early stage: Major Andrew Finn is the warden. The facility uses a video arraignment system, so some court appearances happen on-screen rather than through in-person transport. Over 130 monitoring cameras record 24/7 - one reason procedures around movement, waiting, and visits can feel strict.

Even after sentencing, your loved one may stay at the county jail. A judge can order someone to complete their sentence at St. Joseph County Jail instead of transferring them to Indiana DOC.

Whether that happens depends on two factors: the judge's discretion and bed availability at the jail. This isn't a one-size-fits-all decision - it varies based on what the judge orders and what space is open locally.

Family Questions Prepare

• ✓ Call St. Joseph County Jail at 574-245-6500 and ask what your loved one’s current status is (awaiting court, sentenced, or serving time locally).
• ✓ Ask whether the judge ordered the sentence to be served at the county jail rather than Indiana DOC.
• ✓ Ask what the expected length of stay at the jail is, based on what they can share.
• ✓ Confirm current visitation rules and any scheduling requirements.
• ✓ Ask how mail and commissary work for someone serving time at the jail.

1. Call the jail - Contact St. Joseph County Jail at 574-245-6500 to ask about custody status and what to expect next.
2. Confirm what the judge ordered - If you can, check with the court clerk or defense counsel to verify whether the sentence was ordered to be served at the county jail instead of Indiana DOC.
3. Get the current rules in plain language - Ask the jail to walk you through visitation, commissary, and mail procedures so you don’t lose time or have items rejected.
4. Plan around the likely timeline - Once you know whether this is a short stay or a longer county-jail sentence, you can plan visits, money deposits, and mail accordingly.