ST. JOSEPH — Berrien County felonies went up 64 through August compared to a year prior.

Prosecutor Art Cotter said Thursday that 2,463 felonies through the first eight months of 2012 compares to 2,399 during the same period last year.

The 2,463 felonies include 2,165 handled by his St. Joseph office (88 percent) and 298 (12 percent) at the South County Building in Niles.

For 2011, the 3,514 felonies similarly included 3,044 (87 percent) in St. Joseph and 470 (13 percent) for Niles.

Niles processes a higher percentage of misdemeanors, or less serious, crimes.

Misdemeanors show an August-to-August increase of 51 — 4,312 in 2011 to 4,363 in 2012.

The 4,363 includes 3,333 in St. Joseph (76 percent) and 1,030 (24 percent) in Niles.

Last year’s 6,254 consisted of 4,748 (76 percent) in St. Joseph and 1,506 (24 percent) in Niles.