Indiana Arrest Records Search | Criminal Records 2026

by
Indiana statewide guide · Jail bookings, ISP histories, court cases and state prisoners

Use the Right Indiana Record System Before Trusting an Arrest Result

Indiana does not combine every county booking, police report, criminal court case, warrant and state-prison record into one public search.

This guide explains where each record is kept, how to verify identity, what MyCase and the Indiana State Police search can and cannot show, how to find a state prisoner and how to correct or expunge eligible records.

Choose the correct record Search Indiana court cases Fix a missing result
An arrest is not a conviction. A jail booking or mugshot documents a custody event. Charges may be amended, dismissed or never formally filed, and the defendant may be acquitted. Verify the court disposition before describing a person as convicted.
Recent arrest

Search the sheriff or jail in the county of booking.

State history

Use the fee-based ISP Limited Criminal History service.

Court outcome

Use MyCase and the local county clerk.

State prisoner

Use the IDOC offender locator.

Official review

State sources checked July 14, 2026.

Four-system router

Choose the Indiana database that answers your question

COUNTY SHERIFF OR JAIL Was the person booked recently?

Search the sheriff, jail or corrections department in the county where the arrest was processed.

Best for: current custody, booking number, jail charges, bond, release and local mugshots.
INDIANA STATE POLICE Do you need an Indiana criminal history?

Use the fee-based Limited Criminal History service or the separate national-history process when legally required.

Best for: Indiana repository information—not live jail custody or a court-document packet.
MYCASE AND COUNTY CLERK What happened after the arrest?

Search the criminal case for filed charges, warrants, hearings, orders, judgment and disposition.

Best for: prosecution status, dismissal, plea, conviction, sentence and certified court copies.
INDIANA DOC Was the person sent to state prison?

Use the offender locator for an IDOC facility assignment and Department of Correction number.

Best for: Indiana state-prison location, DOC identity and state-custody information.
Most complete workflow: Find the county booking, save every identifier, search the MyCase criminal docket, request the police report only when needed, and use ISP or IDOC only for the specific statewide function those systems provide.

Choose the problem you need to solve

The practical rules are explained inside the page; links are kept mainly for final searches, forms and submissions.

County booking workflow

How to find someone arrested recently in Indiana

Identify the arrest or booking county Search the county where the incident occurred or where the person was taken—not automatically the county where the person lives.
Identify the arresting agency Determine whether the arrest involved a county sheriff, city police department, Indiana State Police, campus police or another agency.
Open the county sheriff or jail site Look for an inmate roster, jail tracker, current inmates, recent arrests, booking search or offender lookup.
Start with the surname Leave the first name, birth date and other fields blank initially to avoid excluding a valid result.
Add one identifier at a time Add the legal first name, birth date, age, booking number or date only when the broad search produces too many matches.
Check current and released records Some Indiana counties separate people currently held from recent releases or past bookings.
Save every number Record the booking number, jail ID, agency report number, court cause number and DOC number when applicable.
Search the criminal court case Use MyCase to see whether charges were formally filed and what happened after the booking.
Recent intake delay: Fingerprinting, photographs, medical screening, property inventory and data entry can delay the public appearance of a new booking.
Jurisdiction finder

Which Indiana county and agency should you search?

Choose the record holder from the event—not the person’s address
Situation Start with Why Next record
County sheriff arrest That county sheriff or jail The sheriff normally maintains the booking and local custody record. MyCase and the county clerk.
City police arrest County jail serving the city The city may hold the incident report while the county holds the booking. City records unit and MyCase.
Indiana State Police arrest County jail where the person was booked ISP may maintain the investigative report while the county maintains custody. ISP report request and county court case.
Campus police arrest County jail and campus police Campus police may create the report while the county books the person. MyCase in the filing county.
State-prison sentence Indiana Department of Correction The person may no longer be in county custody. Original county criminal case.
Federal arrest Federal agency or U.S. Marshals Federal detainees may not appear in Indiana county or IDOC systems. Federal court and Bureau of Prisons.
Unknown county ISP history and MyCase name search Those searches may identify a county, cause number or arresting agency. Go to the source county for full records.
Find courts and clerks by county
Booking decoder

What common Indiana jail fields mean

Booking fields, limitations and next actions
Field What it identifies What it does not prove Best next step
Booking number A specific admission to the county jail. It is not necessarily the criminal court cause number. Use it for jail calls, visits, mail and deposits.
Jail or inmate ID The person’s identifier in that local facility. It is not the same as an IDOC DOC number. Use the identifier required by the county service.
Arrest date The date connected with the arrest event. It may differ from the booking or filing date. Use it to separate multiple events.
Booking date When the person entered jail intake. It is not necessarily the date of the alleged offense. Compare it with the incident timeline.
Arresting agency The agency responsible for the arrest. That agency may not control the jail or court file. Request its police report separately.
Charge description The allegation entered during arrest or booking. It does not prove guilt and may later change. Compare it with the filed court charge.
Bond or bail A release condition currently associated with a charge. Payment on one charge may not clear another hold. Check every case, warrant and detainer.
Hold or detainer Another court, county, state or federal agency may have an interest in custody. The short label may not explain the full reason. Ask which agency issued the hold.
Release date The listed county custody episode ended. Release is not dismissal or acquittal. Search MyCase for the court outcome.
Mugshot A photograph associated with booking. It does not establish guilt or identity by itself. Verify birth date and official numbers.
Same-name safeguard

Verify the person before relying on an Indiana result

Full legal name matches
Middle name, suffix or alias is consistent
Date of birth or age is consistent
Arrest and booking dates match
Arresting agency matches the location
Booking, report or cause number matches another source
Use at least two independent identifiers. A name or mugshot alone is not enough for an employment, housing, safety, financial or publication decision.
Same name, different birth date Treat the records as belonging to different people unless the agency confirms an error.
Same date of birth, different middle name Check aliases, booking numbers and the MyCase cause number.
Photo appears similar Visual resemblance is weaker than official identity fields.
Several county cases appear Review each event separately rather than combining the records.
Troubleshooting

No Indiana arrest record found? Follow this order

The arrest is too recent Booking and identification may still be underway.
The person has been released Search past bookings or recent releases instead of current inmates only.
The name is entered differently Search the surname alone and try aliases, maiden names, suffixes and alternate spellings.
The wrong county was searched Use the location of the arrest or booking rather than the home address.
The person was transferred Search IDOC, another county, a neighboring state or a federal system as appropriate.
The court case exists without jail custody Search MyCase even when the person does not appear in a current jail roster.
The case predates online conversion MyCase history depth varies by court and by when the court began using Odyssey.
The record is restricted Confidential, juvenile, restricted and expunged records may not appear publicly.
Missing-booking call script “I am trying to confirm whether [full legal name], date of birth [date], was booked after an arrest on or about [date] by [agency]. I have [report, booking or cause number]. Can you confirm whether the person is currently held, released, transferred or listed under another identifier?”
Indiana court records

What MyCase includes—and what it does not

Basic case information

MyCase includes basic civil and criminal case information from Indiana courts using the Odyssey case-management system.

Local court updates

Each local court is responsible for updating Odyssey. Once updated, the information becomes available on MyCase.

Record depth varies

How far back cases go depends on the county, court, Odyssey conversion date and whether older cases were added.

Dismissed cases

Dismissed cases can remain visible unless confidential, restricted or expunged.

Confidential information

Information protected by Indiana court-access rules is not available publicly.

Not a jail roster

MyCase is not designed to confirm real-time county jail custody or release.

How to search an Indiana criminal case

Use the cause number first A cause number is more precise than a name and lowers the risk of a same-name error.
Otherwise search by party name Enter the legal surname and first name, then narrow the results.
Check the filing county Confirm that the court location matches the arrest or alleged offense.
Confirm the criminal case type Indiana cause numbers and case descriptions distinguish felony, misdemeanor and other proceedings.
Read the chronological case summary Review filings, hearings, warrants, bond activity, pleas, orders and disposition entries.
Open available documents carefully Not every document is publicly viewable, and a docket label may not explain the entire legal effect.
Contact the clerk when information is missing The county clerk can explain access procedures and whether older paper records must be requested.
Search Indiana MyCase Find the local clerk
Court-case decoder

How to understand the result after an Indiana arrest

Common criminal-case terms and practical meaning
Term Plain-language meaning What to verify
Pending The case has not reached a final disposition. Latest event and next hearing.
Initial hearing An early hearing addressing the charge, rights, counsel, bond or scheduling. The filed charge and bond order.
Information filed The prosecutor formally filed criminal charges. The exact counts and later amendments.
Amended information The prosecution changed or replaced formal charge allegations. Which prior counts remain active.
Dismissed A charge or case was dismissed. Whether every count was dismissed and whether dismissal was with or without prejudice.
Plea agreement The defendant and prosecutor submitted negotiated terms. Which charges and sentence terms were accepted by the court.
Judgment of conviction The court entered a conviction. The offense level, count and sentence.
Not guilty The defendant was acquitted of the resolved charge. Whether other counts remained.
Closed The case is not shown as an active pending matter. Closed alone does not explain the outcome.
Expunged or restricted Public access has been limited under a court order or access rule. Contact the clerk if you are an authorized party.
Do not use the first charge as the final result. The initial booking allegation may be amended, reduced, dismissed or replaced before judgment.
Warrant safety

Indiana does not offer one public statewide warrant search

The Indiana Judicial Branch states that MyCase can display a non-confidential warrant in the summary of the related criminal case. MyCase does not provide a warrant-only search, and there is no public website that searches every Indiana arrest warrant.

Search the known criminal case Use the cause number or defendant’s name on MyCase.
Review the case summary Look for warrant issued, recalled, served or other warrant-related activity.
Identify the issuing court Record the county, court and cause number.
Confirm with the responsible agency Contact the court clerk, sheriff or law-enforcement agency using independently verified contact information.
Do not confront anyone A public result may be incomplete, confidential, recalled or associated with a similar name.
Safety rule: Never attempt to arrest, detain or confront a person based on an online court entry. Give the information to law enforcement.
Warrant-verification script “I found a warrant-related entry in Indiana MyCase for [name], cause number [number], in [county and court]. I am not attempting to take action. Can the issuing court or responsible agency confirm the current status?”
Indiana State Police

Limited Criminal History, national checks and record challenges

Indiana State Police separates several different criminal-history services. Selecting the wrong service can produce an incomplete result or a record that is unsuitable for the intended purpose.

Indiana State Police criminal-history services compared
Service Best use What it is not Final action
Limited Criminal History A fee-based search of qualifying Indiana criminal-history information made available through ISP. Not a live county-jail roster, police narrative or complete national fingerprint check. Run the online ISP search with accurate identity details.
National Criminal History Fingerprint-based or authorized national screening when an agency, employer or law requires it. Not interchangeable with an informal name search. Follow the requesting organization’s instructions.
Challenge My Record Disputing inaccurate or incomplete information in the state criminal-history repository. Not the way to change a county court judgment or police narrative directly. Prepare fingerprints and certified source documents when requested.
Expunge Criminal History Processing a court-ordered Indiana expungement within the state repository. Not a substitute for filing the petition in the proper county court. Obtain the court order through the Indiana expungement process.

Before paying for a Limited Criminal History search

Confirm the subject’s legal name
Use the correct date of birth
Include known former names or aliases when permitted
Understand that a name search can produce a mistaken match
Know whether certification is required
Confirm whether a national fingerprint check is required instead
Review the current fee before submitting
Save the receipt and search confirmation
Fee and result warning: Review the current price, terms and result limitations shown in the live ISP portal before payment. A search charge may apply even when the result is not the record you expected.
Run the ISP Limited Criminal History search Start a record challenge
State-prison records

When to use the Indiana Department of Correction offender locator

IDOC’s locator is designed to find an incarcerated individual’s current Indiana state facility assignment and Department of Correction number.

Use IDOC when

The person received an Indiana state-prison sentence, entered an IDOC facility or has a known DOC number.

Use a county jail when

The person was recently arrested, is awaiting trial or is serving local county custody.

Use MyCase when

You need the conviction, sentence order, modification, appeal-related entry or originating county case.

What to record from an IDOC result

Committed name
DOC number
Current facility assignment
Status shown by IDOC
County and cause number when available elsewhere
Parole or release-related details when displayed
County-jail limitation: A person held in a county jail may not appear in the IDOC offender locator. Search the county of arrest first.
Search the IDOC offender locator Request IDOC offender records
Victim notification

Use Indiana SAVIN for custody-status alerts

Indiana SAVIN is a free statewide victim-information and notification service. It can provide alerts about qualifying offender-status changes and helps users avoid repeatedly checking separate custody pages.

Who may use it?

Victims, family members and members of the public who want eligible custody-status notifications.

What can change?

Custody, transfer, release and other qualifying offender-status information.

What should still be checked?

The jail, IDOC, court docket and official notices when a decision is time-sensitive.

Notification is a backup, not legal notice. Keep contact information current and independently confirm urgent custody or court information.
Register for Indiana SAVIN
Different public registry

Sex and Violent Offender Registry is not an arrest search

Registry purpose

Provides public information about people subject to Indiana registration requirements.

What absence means

A person’s absence from the registry does not mean they have no arrests or convictions.

What presence means

Read the registry entry and statutory information rather than assuming the current custody status.

Search the Indiana registry
Police and jail reports

Which Indiana agency holds the detailed arrest record?

Record type and likely custodian
Record Likely custodian Useful identifiers Possible limitation
Incident or offense report Arresting or investigating agency Date, location, name and report number Active-investigation or protected information may be withheld.
Arrest or probable-cause report Arresting agency and sometimes the criminal court file Arrest number, booking number and cause number Victim, witness and investigative details may be redacted.
Jail booking record County sheriff or jail Booking number and jail ID Medical and classification records are restricted.
Body-camera footage Agency that created the recording Date, officer, location and report number Review, redaction, exemptions and production charges.
Dispatch or 911 information Dispatch center or responsible agency Call time, address and incident number Medical, victim and caller information may be restricted.
Court disposition County clerk Cause number and document title Confidential, restricted or expunged information.
State-prison file Indiana Department of Correction DOC number and committed name Security, medical and confidential material.

Information that speeds up a records request

Full legal name
Date of birth when known
Incident or arrest date
Narrow date and time range
Incident location
Arresting agency
Report or booking number
Court cause number
Exact document types
Preferred electronic format
Copy-ready Indiana records request
Under the Indiana Access to Public Records Act, I request an electronic copy of the releasable incident report, arrest report, probable-cause affidavit and releasable supplemental reports concerning [full legal name], date of birth [date if known], for the incident or arrest occurring on or about [date and time] at [location]. Known identifiers are report number [number], booking number [number] and court cause number [number]. Please provide a written estimate before processing if the cost will exceed $[amount].

Why material may be withheld or redacted

Active investigation

Investigative information may be withheld while a case remains active.

Protected identities

Victim, witness, juvenile or confidential-source details may be removed.

Medical and personal data

Health records, Social Security numbers and protected identifiers are not ordinary public content.

Audio and video review

Recordings can require extensive review and redaction.

Wrong record holder

The city police, sheriff, jail, clerk, ISP and IDOC maintain different records.

Expunged or restricted case

The agency may be prohibited from releasing the requested record.

Background-check decision

County check, ISP history, MyCase or national fingerprint check?

Select the search from the purpose
Need Use Main limitation
Current county custody County sheriff or jail Does not provide a complete statewide history.
Indiana criminal-history name search ISP Limited Criminal History Not a national fingerprint check or live jail roster.
Formal Indiana case outcome MyCase and county clerk Court history depth and document access vary.
State-prison status IDOC offender locator Does not cover every county jail detainee.
Employment or licensing screening The exact authorized process required by the employer or licensing body An informal web search may not satisfy the law or agency rules.
Your own complete record for expungement preparation A combination of MyCase, ISP, local courts and driving history when relevant Indiana Legal Help states that no single tool is guaranteed to show the complete record.
Expungement preparation requires multiple sources. Indiana Legal Help advises that Indiana does not have one tool guaranteed to show every part of a person’s criminal history.
Record correction

Correct an Indiana error at the office that created it

Correction path by disputed information
Incorrect information Contact Evidence to prepare
Wrong jail identity or booking status County sheriff or jail records unit Government ID, birth date and booking number.
Incorrect police narrative Arresting or investigating agency Report number and documents showing the disputed fact.
Wrong MyCase event or disposition County clerk and court Cause number and filed order showing the correct information.
Incorrect ISP criminal history Indiana State Police Challenge My Record Fingerprints and certified court or agency records when requested.
Wrong IDOC facility or offender data IDOC offender-records or classification staff DOC number, cause number and sentencing documents.
Private mugshot or people-search page Private publisher after the official source is corrected Correction letter, certified disposition or expungement order.
Save the incorrect result Record the URL, date, agency, booking number, cause number and disputed field.
Identify the original creator Do not ask ISP to rewrite a county court judgment or ask the clerk to change a police narrative.
Collect certified proof Use identification, fingerprints, certified court orders or official agency correspondence.
Describe the exact correction State what is wrong, what it should say and which document proves the change.
Keep the response A written correction may be needed for an employer, landlord or private database.
Indiana Second Chance process

Indiana criminal-record expungement: what it changes and how to prepare

Indiana Legal Help describes expungement as sealing public records. The effect depends on whether the record is a non-conviction, misdemeanor, Level 6 felony or a more serious felony.

Misdemeanors and most D/Level 6 felonies

Indiana Legal Help states that these are generally removed from ordinary public view after successful expungement.

A, B and C felonies and some D felonies

These may remain visible in public records but are marked expunged, with legal protections and rights-restoration effects that depend on the case.

What counts as a non-conviction?

Dismissal
Not-guilty verdict
Successful pretrial diversion followed by dismissal
Charges not filed when a court case number was created

Records Indiana Legal Help says cannot be handled through this process

Federal court cases
Cases outside Indiana
Unfiled matters with no court case number
Infractions and ordinance violations
A record assigned to the wrong person because of identity error
Statutorily excluded convictions

Serious categories that may be ineligible

Loss of life

Felony convictions involving the loss of human life can be excluded.

Sex offenses

Sex-related convictions and registry-related cases commonly face statutory exclusion.

Perjury

Perjury-related felony convictions are among the listed exclusions.

Human trafficking

Human-trafficking convictions are identified as ineligible.

Official misconduct

Official-misconduct felony convictions are listed among exclusions.

Repeated deadly-weapon offenses

Two or more qualifying deadly-weapon offenses can prevent expungement eligibility.

Eligibility is legal and case-specific. The offense, conviction level, bodily injury, waiting period, pending cases, sentence completion, prosecutor consent and complete record can affect the result.

One-time and multi-county filing rules

Critical Indiana filing rules
Rule What it means What to do
Non-conviction petitions Eligible non-convictions may be expunged as often as necessary. File in the county connected with each eligible case.
Conviction expungement Conviction expungement is allowed only once in a lifetime. Gather the entire statewide conviction record before filing.
Every county A petition is needed in each county where a conviction appears. Prepare separate county filings with complete information.
One-year filing window All conviction-expungement county petitions must be filed within one year after the first petition. Do not file the first county until the statewide record is assembled.
All convictions included Each petition must account for all felonies and misdemeanors, including qualifying traffic-related misdemeanors. Compare MyCase, ISP, BMV and local court information.
Early filing A person who does not meet the ordinary timeline may be able to file early with prosecutor agreement. Seek legal advice and obtain any required prosecutor consent.
Non-conviction fee Indiana Legal Help states there is no filing fee for a non-conviction expungement. Confirm local filing procedures and any unrelated copy or service costs.

Expungement preparation workflow

Gather the full record Search MyCase, ISP, local courts and driving records when relevant. Indiana Legal Help warns that no single tool is guaranteed to show everything.
List every county Identify every Indiana county containing a conviction or eligible non-conviction.
Classify every case Separate non-convictions, misdemeanors, Level 6 or former Class D felonies and more serious felonies.
Confirm eligibility and timing Check waiting requirements, pending charges, sentence completion, exclusions and prosecutor-consent issues.
Prepare every county petition Include all required case information and ensure the statewide filing plan fits the one-year window.
File and serve the required parties Follow the court forms, local rules, filing method and service instructions.
Respond to court instructions Correct rejected filings, attend a hearing when ordered and provide additional documentation.
Keep the signed orders Save certified copies and confirm that the clerk, law-enforcement agencies and ISP process the orders.

What expungement does not do

It does not guarantee physical destruction of every record
It does not erase news articles or every private website
It does not automatically remove federal or out-of-state records
It does not automatically correct a record belonging to another person
It does not always eliminate access by courts or law enforcement
It may not restore every firearm right in every circumstance
It does not remove a child-neglect substantiated-index entry solely because a conviction was expunged
It cannot be assumed to resolve immigration consequences
Talk to an attorney before the first conviction petition. Filing too early or omitting another county can affect the person’s only lifetime opportunity to expunge convictions.
Use Indiana expungement forms Review current eligibility guidance
Next-action guide

What should you do with the record you found?

1
Confirm county custody

Use the sheriff or jail record, save the booking number and confirm status before traveling or sending money.

2
Understand the allegation

Request the incident or arrest report from the agency that made the arrest.

3
Find the court outcome

Search MyCase and locate the final judgment, dismissal or other disposition.

4
Locate a state prisoner

Use the IDOC offender locator and record the DOC number and facility.

5
Correct a mistake

Contact the record creator and provide certified proof through the correct challenge process.

6
Plan expungement

Gather the full statewide record before filing the first conviction petition.

Frequently asked questions

Indiana arrest and criminal-record questions answered

Is there one Indiana arrest database?

No. County jails, ISP, MyCase and IDOC serve different purposes.

Where do I search a recent Indiana arrest?

Search the sheriff or jail in the county where the person was booked.

Can MyCase confirm current jail custody?

No. MyCase is a court-case system. Use the county jail for current custody.

Does MyCase include dismissed cases?

Yes, dismissed cases can remain visible unless confidential, restricted or expunged.

Why are older cases missing from MyCase?

Record depth varies by court, its Odyssey conversion date and whether older cases were added online.

Is MyCase updated immediately?

When a local court updates its Odyssey case, the updated information becomes available on MyCase.

Can I search every Indiana warrant online?

No. A warrant may appear in a known MyCase criminal case, but Indiana does not provide one public statewide warrant search.

What is the ISP Limited Criminal History search?

It is a fee-based Indiana criminal-history service. It is not a live county booking search or complete national fingerprint check.

How do I find a state-prison inmate?

Use the IDOC offender locator to find the person’s DOC number and current Indiana facility assignment.

Why is a county inmate not in the IDOC search?

The person may still be held locally and may not have entered Indiana Department of Correction custody.

What is Indiana SAVIN?

It is a free statewide offender-status notification service for victims and other registered users.

How do I get the arrest narrative?

Request the incident, arrest or probable-cause report from the arresting law-enforcement agency.

How do I find the final outcome?

Search MyCase and obtain the final disposition from the county clerk when formal proof is required.

Can I correct a wrong ISP history?

Use the ISP Challenge My Record process and provide the fingerprints or certified source documents requested.

Can dismissed Indiana records be expunged?

Eligible non-convictions, including dismissals and not-guilty outcomes, can qualify when the statutory conditions are satisfied.

How many conviction expungements can I request?

Indiana Legal Help states that convictions may be expunged only once in a lifetime.

Can I file conviction-expungement petitions in several counties?

Yes, but every required county petition must be filed within one year after the first conviction petition.

Is there a fee for non-conviction expungement?

Indiana Legal Help states that no filing fee applies to an eligible non-conviction expungement request.

Does expungement remove online news?

No. A court order does not automatically remove news reports or every privately collected copy.

Does a mugshot prove guilt?

No. It documents a booking event and is not proof of conviction.

Accuracy, identity and legal-use notice

County Arrest Records is an independent informational guide. It is not the Indiana State Police, Indiana Judicial Branch, Indiana Department of Correction, a county sheriff, a court clerk, a prosecutor or a law firm.

Booking, custody, warrant and court information can change after publication. Confirm identity with multiple identifiers and obtain the current official record before making legal, employment, housing, financial, safety or publication decisions.

Every arrested person is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court. Expungement and criminal-history questions are case-specific; this article provides general procedural information and is not legal advice.

Last official-source review: July 14, 2026.

Leave a Comment