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NILES — In an attempt to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the Berrien County Sheriff’s Office records lobby in both St. Joseph and Niles will be closed to the public as of 5 p.m. today.

At this time, it will remain closed to the public until the close of business on April 6. Sheriff Paul Bailey will continue to reassess the risk as more information is released by federal, state and local health officials, and the date may be adjusted accordingly.

During this shutdown, records department employees will continue working at the sheriff’s office and will be available by telephone, email and fax.

Obtaining a pistol purchase permit, sex offender registrant updates and fingerprinting are all postponed until the records lobby re-opens to the public.

The Sheriff’s Office Records Department is offering the following alternatives to in-person filing of forms during this shutdown:

• Pistol sales records and licenses to purchase can be mailed when they are completed and the gun has been purchased. Mailings should be addressed to: Berrien County Sheriff’s Office, Attn: Records Department, 919 Port St., St. Joseph MI  49085.
• Freedom of Information Act requests, along with most requests for information, can be handled by mail at the above address, by fax to (269) 982-8650, or by e-mail: sdrecords@berriencounty.org. Responses to these requests can be returned to the requester in the same manner as it was received.
• General questions may be directed to Records Department employees from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday by telephone at (269) 983-7141 ext. 7211.