Buchanan Criminal Defense Attorney
Buchanan is a small city in southern Berrien County, west of Niles and near US-12 and US-31, a few miles north of the Indiana line. I am Shawn Haff, and I defend people charged with crimes throughout Buchanan and Berrien County. If you have been arrested, or you know you are under investigation, talk to a defense lawyer before you talk to anyone else. The call is free and I am available 24/7 at 616-438-6719.
Where Your Buchanan Case Will Be Heard
Berrien County runs its courts as a single Berrien County Trial Court — the 2nd Circuit and 5th District Courts under one administration — with two courthouses: St. Joseph, at 811 Port St, and Niles, at 1205 N Front St. Which one hears a criminal case is set by the court's own administrative order and turns on where the offense is charged as having happened, not where you live. Buchanan is one of the cities the order assigns to the Niles Courthouse, 1205 N Front St — not St. Joseph. People who look up "Berrien County court" and drive to Port Street end up at the wrong building.
Knowing the building is the easy part. What matters is knowing how that particular bench handles a first offense, which prosecutor has room to negotiate, and what the local diversion options actually are — see my 5th District Court page for how these cases run.
The Charges I See Most in Buchanan
The Buchanan Police Department on East Front Street provides round-the-clock coverage for a city of a few thousand people. The caseload is small-town and local — domestic calls, bar and neighbor disputes, school-age charges — along with the OWI and license cases that come off US-12 and the county roads toward Niles and the state line.
- Domestic violence and PPO violations
- OWI and drunk driving on US-12 and the county roads
- Assault and battery
- Minor in possession and other charges involving young clients
- Driving on a suspended license
- Drug possession
What Is Actually at Stake
In a small city, a charge is local news before it is a court date. That makes the choice of outcome matter more than the sentence itself: a dismissal, a deferral that ends without a conviction, or a reduction to a non-assaultive or non-drug offense can protect a job, a lease and a family's standing in a way that a lighter sentence on the same charge cannot.
What to Do Next
Check the courthouse on your paperwork before the first date: Buchanan cases go to Niles, not St. Joseph. Then call me — early involvement is when deferral and diversion arguments are strongest.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is a Buchanan case heard?
At the Niles Courthouse, 1205 N Front St, Niles. The Berrien County Trial Court's administrative order assigns criminal cases from the City of Buchanan to the Niles courthouse.
Can a first domestic violence charge be dismissed?
Sometimes. Michigan allows a first-offense domestic violence charge to be deferred under MCL 769.4a and dismissed after probation, without a public conviction. It requires the prosecutor's consent, given after consulting the complaining witness, and it is a one-time opportunity, so it has to be weighed carefully against fighting the charge outright.
Does Buchanan have its own police?
Yes. The Buchanan Police Department provides 24-hour service in the city. The Berrien County Sheriff and the Michigan State Police Niles Post also patrol the surrounding area.
Talk to a Buchanan Defense Lawyer Today
A criminal charge moves fast, and the first days matter most. Call me directly at 616-438-6719 for a free, confidential consultation — 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.