Marion County Public Records / Marion County Arrest Records

Marion County Arrest Records

Are Arrest Records Public in Marion County

Arrest records in Marion County, Indiana, are generally considered public records under state law. Pursuant to the Indiana Access to Public Records Act (APRA), Ind. Code § 5-14-3, members of the public are entitled to inspect and copy records maintained by public agencies, including law enforcement agencies, unless a specific statutory exemption applies. The Marion County Sheriff's Office and the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) are among the principal custodians of arrest records within the county and are subject to APRA's disclosure requirements.

It is important to distinguish between an arrest record and a conviction record. An arrest record documents the fact that an individual was taken into custody by law enforcement; it does not indicate guilt or a finding of criminal liability. A conviction record, by contrast, reflects a formal judicial determination of guilt following a plea or trial. Under Indiana law, an arrest that did not result in a conviction may be eligible for expungement, which can limit or eliminate public access to that record.

Certain categories of arrest information may be withheld from public disclosure. Under Ind. Code § 5-14-3-4, law enforcement agencies may decline to release records pertaining to ongoing investigations, confidential informants, or juvenile arrestees. All other arrest records that do not fall within a recognized exemption remain accessible to the public upon request.

What's in Marion County Arrest Records

Marion County arrest records contain a standardized set of data fields compiled at the time of booking. The following categories represent the information typically documented in an official arrest record.

Arrestee Identifying Information:

Full legal name, including any known aliases
Date of birth and age at time of arrest
Gender, race, and physical descriptors (height, weight, eye color, hair color)
Residential address at time of arrest
State-issued identification or driver's license number

Arrest Details:

Date, time, and precise location of the arrest
Name and badge number of the arresting officer(s)
Arresting agency (e.g., IMPD, Marion County Sheriff's Office)
Incident or case report number

Charge Information:

Specific criminal charges filed, including Indiana statute references
Classification of each charge (felony, misdemeanor, or infraction)
Charge level (e.g., Level 1 through Level 6 felony under Indiana's sentencing structure)

Warrant Information (if applicable):

Warrant number and issuing court
Date warrant was issued
Type of warrant (arrest warrant, bench warrant)

Booking Information:

Booking number assigned at the Adult Detention Center
Date and time of booking
Fingerprint and photograph (mugshot) notation

Bond/Bail Information:

Bond type (cash, surety, personal recognizance)
Bond amount set by the court
Bond status (posted, pending, denied)

Court Information:

Assigned court and cause number
Scheduled initial hearing or arraignment date
Prosecuting agency

Custody Status:

Current custody status (held, released, transferred)
Release date and release type, if applicable

Additional Information May Include:

Prior arrest history or criminal history summary
Detainer or hold information from other jurisdictions
Notation of any co-defendants

How To Look Up Arrest Records in Marion County in 2026

Members of the public seeking arrest records in Marion County may pursue several official channels. The process is governed by the Indiana Access to Public Records Act, and agencies are generally required to respond to requests within 24 hours for inspection and seven days for copies.

Submit a Public Records Request to the Marion County Sheriff's Office. Requesters may submit a formal public records request through the official public records request portal for the Marion County Sheriff's Office. Requests may be submitted online, by mail, or in person at the Sheriff's Office.

Marion County Sheriff's Office 40 S. Alabama St., Indianapolis, IN 46204 (317) 327-1700 Marion County Sheriff's Office Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

Contact the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD). For arrests made by IMPD officers, records requests should be directed to the IMPD Records Unit.

Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department – Records Unit 50 N. Alabama St., Indianapolis, IN 46204 (317) 327-3282 IMPD Official Website Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

Contact the Marion County Clerk's Office for court-related arrest documentation, including charging informations and cause numbers.

Marion County Clerk's Office 200 E. Washington St., Suite W122, Indianapolis, IN 46204 (317) 327-4740 Marion County Clerk Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

Provide sufficient identifying information in any request, including the subject's full name, date of birth, and approximate date of arrest, to facilitate accurate record retrieval.
Pay applicable fees. Agencies may charge reasonable fees for copies of records pursuant to Ind. Code § 5-14-3-8, which governs the fee structure for public records reproduction.

How To Find Marion County Arrest Records Online

Several official online platforms currently provide access to Marion County arrest and custody information without requiring an in-person visit.

Marion County Inmate Lookup Tool: The City of Indianapolis maintains an inmate lookup tool that allows members of the public to search the Adult Detention Center database by name, booking number, or state or county identification number. This resource reflects current and recent custody information.
Find a Person in Jail: The official find a person in jail portal on Indy.gov enables searches by name, inmate number, or state or county ID for individuals currently held at the Adult Detention Center.
Indiana Courts Case Search (MyCase): The Indiana Judicial Branch operates MyCase, a statewide online case management portal through which members of the public may search for court cases by party name, cause number, or attorney. Case records accessible through MyCase include charging documents and hearing schedules associated with arrests.
Indiana Incarcerated Database Search: For individuals transferred to state custody following conviction, the Indiana Department of Correction maintains the Indiana Incarcerated Database Search, which may be searched by last name or by both first and last names.
Indiana Judicial Branch Public Records Portal: The Indiana Judicial Branch public records page provides guidance on accessing court records statewide, including instructions for contacting the appropriate clerk's office when documents are not available online.

How To Search Marion County Arrest Records for Free?

Multiple no-cost methods are currently available for searching Marion County arrest records through official government sources.

Online Inmate Search: The inmate lookup tool provided by the City of Indianapolis is available at no charge and does not require account registration. Users may search by name or identification number.
MyCase Court Search: The MyCase Indiana Courts Case Search portal is freely accessible to the public and provides case-level information including charges, hearing dates, and dispositions associated with arrests in Marion County.
In-Person Inspection: Under the Indiana Access to Public Records Act, members of the public are entitled to inspect public records at no cost. Fees apply only when copies are requested. Individuals may visit the Marion County Sheriff's Office or the Marion County Clerk's Office during public counter hours to inspect records without charge.
Indiana Incarcerated Database: The Indiana Department of Correction offender locator is a free, publicly accessible tool for locating individuals currently or previously incarcerated in state facilities.
IMPD Daily Arrest Log: IMPD periodically publishes arrest log information through official city channels, which may be accessed at no cost through the Indy.gov platform.

How To Delete Arrest Records in Marion County

Indiana law provides two primary legal mechanisms for limiting public access to arrest records: expungement (legal erasure) and sealing (restricting public access). These are distinct remedies. Expungement results in the physical destruction or obliteration of the record, while sealing restricts access to the record without destroying it. Under Indiana's expungement statute, Ind. Code § 35-38-9, eligible individuals may petition the court to expunge arrest records, conviction records, or both, depending on the circumstances.

Circumstances Under Which Arrest Records May Be Expunged:

The arrest did not result in a conviction, and the charges were dismissed or the individual was acquitted.
The arrest resulted in a conviction for a misdemeanor or certain Class D or Level 6 felonies, and the required waiting period has elapsed.
No charges were ever filed following the arrest.
The individual successfully completed a diversion program.

Steps to Pursue Expungement in Marion County:

Determine eligibility by reviewing the criteria set forth in Ind. Code § 35-38-9. Waiting periods vary based on the nature of the arrest and any resulting conviction.
Obtain certified copies of all relevant court and arrest records from the Marion County Clerk's Office and the arresting agency.
Prepare and file a Petition for Expungement in the Marion County Superior Court or Circuit Court in which the case was adjudicated. The petition must identify each arrest or conviction sought to be expunged.
Serve the petition on the prosecuting attorney's office, which has the opportunity to object.
Attend the expungement hearing, if scheduled by the court.
Upon court order, the expungement is transmitted to all relevant agencies, including the Indiana State Police, which maintains the central criminal history repository.

Individuals with multiple arrests or convictions should be aware that Indiana law generally requires a single, consolidated petition covering all eligible records. Legal assistance is advisable given the procedural complexity of expungement proceedings.

What Happens After Arrest in Marion County?

The criminal justice process in Marion County follows a defined sequence from the point of arrest through final case disposition.

Arrest and Transport: Following an arrest, the individual is transported to the Marion County Adult Detention Center for booking. The Marion County Sheriff's Office is responsible for managing the Adult Detention Center and its population.
Booking: During booking, the arrestee is photographed, fingerprinted, and assigned a booking number. Personal property is inventoried and stored. A criminal history check is conducted.
Initial Hearing (Initial Appearance): Indiana law requires that an arrested individual be brought before a judicial officer without unnecessary delay, generally within 48 hours of arrest. At the initial hearing, the court advises the defendant of the charges, addresses bond, and schedules further proceedings.
Bond Determination: The court sets bond based on factors including the nature of the charges, the defendant's criminal history, and flight risk. The defendant may be released on personal recognizance, cash bond, or surety bond, or may be held without bond in certain serious cases.
Charging Decision: The Marion County Prosecutor's Office reviews the arrest and determines whether to file formal charges, decline prosecution, or refer the matter to a grand jury.
Arraignment: If charges are filed, the defendant is arraigned and enters a plea of guilty, not guilty, or not guilty by reason of insanity.
Pre-Trial Proceedings: The case proceeds through discovery, pre-trial motions, and, if applicable, plea negotiations.
Trial or Plea: The case is resolved either through a negotiated plea agreement or a bench or jury trial.
Sentencing: Upon conviction, the court imposes a sentence in accordance with Indiana's sentencing guidelines.

How Long Are Arrest Records Kept in Marion County?

Arrest records in Marion County are subject to retention schedules established under Indiana law and administrative policy. The Indiana State Library and the Indiana Archives and Records Administration (IARA) govern records retention for public agencies statewide.

Under Indiana's general records retention framework, law enforcement agencies are required to retain arrest records for defined minimum periods that vary based on the nature of the offense and the outcome of the case:

Felony arrest records are generally retained for a minimum of 10 years following case closure, and in many instances are maintained permanently.
Misdemeanor arrest records are typically retained for a minimum of five to seven years following case closure.
Arrests not resulting in charges or resulting in acquittal may be retained for shorter periods, though they remain subject to expungement petitions under Ind. Code § 35-38-9.
Juvenile arrest records are subject to separate, more restrictive retention and access rules under Indiana's juvenile code.

Different agencies within Marion County maintain independent retention schedules. The Sheriff's Office, IMPD, the Marion County Clerk's Office, and the Indiana State Police each retain records according to their respective agency schedules and applicable state mandates. Records retention serves the dual purpose of preserving evidence for potential future proceedings and maintaining accountability within the criminal justice system. The Indiana Judicial Branch provides additional guidance on court record retention through its public records portal.

How to Find Mugshots in Marion County

What Mugshots Are A mugshot is a standardized photographic image taken by law enforcement at the time of booking. Mugshots are part of the official arrest record and serve as a visual identification tool for law enforcement and the courts.

Where Mugshots Are Maintained In Marion County, mugshots are maintained primarily by the Marion County Sheriff's Office, which operates the Adult Detention Center, and by IMPD for arrests processed through that agency. The Indiana State Police also retains booking photographs as part of the statewide criminal history repository.

Finding Mugshots Members of the public may locate mugshots through the following official channels:

The inmate lookup tool on Indy.gov may display booking photographs for individuals currently or recently held at the Adult Detention Center.
The find a person in jail portal may include photographic information for current detainees.
Formal public records requests submitted to the Marion County Sheriff's Office or IMPD may yield booking photographs as part of a complete arrest record response.

Can They Be Found Online Booking photographs for current detainees are at present accessible through the official inmate search tools maintained by the City of Indianapolis. Historical mugshots may require a formal records request.

Obtaining Mugshots Officially To obtain a mugshot officially, members of the public should submit a public records request to the Marion County Sheriff's Office, specifying the subject's name, date of birth, and approximate date of arrest.

Restrictions on Mugshot Access Mugshots of juvenile arrestees are not subject to public disclosure under Indiana law. Additionally, if an arrest record has been expunged pursuant to Ind. Code § 35-38-9, the associated booking photograph is likewise subject to the expungement order and may no longer be disclosed by the custodial agency.