Schoolcraft Criminal Defense Attorney
Schoolcraft is a village in southern Kalamazoo County where US-131 runs straight through town as Grand Street — the main highway between Kalamazoo and Three Rivers. I am Shawn Haff, and I defend people charged with crimes throughout Schoolcraft and Kalamazoo 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 Schoolcraft Case Will Be Heard
Every Kalamazoo County criminal case — misdemeanor or felony — is now heard in one building: the Judge Charles A. Pratt Justice Center at 330 Eleanor St in Kalamazoo, home to both the 8th District Court and the criminal division of the 9th Circuit Court. The county closed its Crosstown and Michigan Avenue courthouses when the Justice Center opened in December 2023, so older paperwork, old online listings and a friend's advice from a few years ago may all send you to the wrong address.
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 8th District Court page for how these cases run.
The Charges I See Most in Schoolcraft
The Schoolcraft Police Department, on North Grand Street, patrols a village whose main street is a US highway. That is the defining fact of the caseload. Through traffic on US-131 means speed enforcement, OWI stops and the vehicle searches that follow them, and a stop inside the village is as likely to involve someone driving through from St. Joseph County or Indiana as a local resident.
- OWI and drunk driving on US-131 through the village
- Driving while license suspended and other license offenses
- Drug possession from traffic stops
- Reckless driving
- Domestic violence and assault
- Minor in possession and charges involving high-school students
What Is Actually at Stake
A first OWI conviction in Michigan carries up to 93 days in jail, fines and costs, six points, and a license suspension followed by a restricted period — and a second within seven years brings revocation. For anyone who commutes up and down US-131 to work, the license is what is really at stake, and the strongest defenses are usually technical: the basis for the stop, the administration of the field sobriety tests, and the handling of the breath or blood sample.
What to Do Next
Keep every piece of paper you were given — the citation, the temporary license, any test result slip — and note the time you were stopped and the time you were tested. The gap between those two times matters more than most people realize.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where will a Schoolcraft case be heard?
At the Judge Charles A. Pratt Justice Center, 330 Eleanor St, Kalamazoo — home to the 8th District Court and the criminal division of the 9th Circuit Court. Schoolcraft has no local court.
I live out of state and was stopped on US-131 in Schoolcraft. Do I have to come back for court?
Usually for some hearings, but not all. I can appear on your behalf at many routine proceedings and will tell you which dates require you in person. Do not ignore the case: an unanswered Michigan charge can become a warrant and can also follow you to your home state's licensing agency.
Is the village police department the same as the county sheriff?
No. Schoolcraft has its own police department. Kalamazoo County sheriff's deputies and Michigan State Police troopers also patrol the area, and the agency that made the arrest holds the reports and video we will need.
Talk to a Schoolcraft 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.