Marion County Public Records /Marion County Criminal Records

Marion County Criminal Records

What Is Marion County Criminal Records

Criminal records in Marion County, Indiana, are official government documents that chronicle an individual's interactions with the criminal justice system, from initial law enforcement contact through final court disposition. These records are generated and maintained by multiple agencies operating within the county's consolidated city-county government structure.

Key distinctions among record types include:

Arrest records vs. conviction records: An arrest record documents that law enforcement took an individual into custody; it does not indicate guilt. A conviction record reflects a formal finding of guilt entered by a court of competent jurisdiction.
Felony vs. misdemeanor: Under Indiana law, felonies are classified as Level 1 through Level 6 and carry potential sentences exceeding one year. Misdemeanors are classified as Class A, B, or C and carry sentences of up to one year in a county jail.
Adult vs. juvenile records: Adult criminal records are generally accessible to the public. Juvenile adjudication records are confidential by statute and are routinely sealed upon the subject reaching adulthood, pursuant to Indiana Code § 31-39-1-2.
Active warrants vs. historical records: Active warrants reflect outstanding judicial orders for arrest currently in force. Historical records document past arrests, charges, and dispositions that have been resolved.

The principal agencies maintaining Marion County criminal records are the Marion County Sheriff's Office (arrests, bookings, and jail records), the Marion County Circuit and Superior Courts (case filings, pleas, trial proceedings, and sentencing), the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (incident and arrest reports), and the Indiana State Police, which administers the statewide criminal history repository. Records encompass charges filed, arraignments, pleas entered, trial outcomes, sentencing orders, and probation or parole conditions.

Marion County Sheriff's Office 40 S. Alabama St., Indianapolis, IN 46204 (317) 327-1700 Marion County Sheriff's Office

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

Are Criminal Records Public In Marion County

Adult criminal records in Marion County are presumptively open to the public under Indiana's Access to Public Records Act (APRA), codified at Indiana Code § 5-14-3. This statute establishes that any person may inspect and copy the public records of any public agency, and it places the burden of demonstrating an exemption on the agency withholding the record.

Records that are currently open to public inspection include:

Adult conviction records and court dispositions
Booking and arrest logs maintained by the Sheriff's Office
Court case filings, docket entries, and hearing transcripts
Sentencing orders and probation conditions entered in open court

Records that are restricted or exempt from public disclosure include:

Juvenile adjudication records, which are sealed pursuant to Indiana Code § 31-39-1-2
Records pertaining to ongoing criminal investigations, where disclosure would endanger a person or compromise the investigation
Expunged records, which are treated as if they never existed following a court order granted under Indiana Code § 35-38-9
Confidential informant identities and certain intelligence data

Members of the public seeking to understand which court records are accessible statewide may consult the Indiana Judicial Branch public records resource, which outlines access policies applicable across all Indiana counties.

How To Look Up Criminal Records In Marion County in 2026

Members of the public may obtain Marion County criminal records through several official channels, depending on the type of record sought and the level of detail required.

Step 1 – Identify the record type and custodial agency. Arrest and booking records are held by the Marion County Sheriff's Office. Court case records, including charges, pleas, and dispositions, are maintained by the Marion County Clerk's Office. State-level criminal history reports are administered by the Indiana State Police.

Step 2 – Search available online portals. Members of the public may conduct a preliminary search at no cost using the MyCase Indiana Courts Case Search portal, which provides access to publicly available court case information statewide. For jail and booking records, the Sheriff's Office Inmate Lookup Tool allows searches by booking number, permanent number, State ID, County ID, FBI number, or ICE number.

Step 3 – Submit a formal public records request if needed. Individuals requiring certified copies or records not available online may submit a written request to the Marion County Sheriff's Office. Requests may be submitted in person, by fax, or by mail during public counter hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. The official request information from the Marion County Sheriff's Office page provides current submission instructions.

Step 4 – Request court record copies from the Clerk's Office. Certified copies of court documents may be obtained by visiting the Clerk's Office in person or by submitting a written request. The request copies of court records page on Indy.gov details applicable fees and procedures.

Step 5 – Obtain a statewide criminal history report. A comprehensive Indiana criminal history report, which aggregates records from all counties, may be requested through the Indiana State Police Limited Criminal History portal. Fees and identification requirements apply.

How To Find Criminal Records in Marion County Online?

Several official online portals currently provide public access to Marion County criminal records without requiring an in-person visit.

MyCase – Indiana Courts Case Search The MyCase Indiana Courts Case Search portal, maintained by the Indiana Supreme Court, allows members of the public to search court case records by party name, case number, or attorney. The portal contains civil, criminal, and traffic case information. No registration is required for basic public searches. Users should note that official certified copies of court records may only be obtained directly from the court clerk.

Marion County Sheriff's Office Inmate Lookup The Inmate Lookup Tool provides current and historical booking information for individuals held at the Marion County Adult Detention Center. Searches may be conducted using a booking number, permanent number, State ID, County ID, FBI number, or ICE number. The tool includes an option to display released inmates. Members of the public may also use the find a person in jail feature on Indy.gov to search by name or identification number.

Indiana Department of Correction – Incarcerated Individual Locator The Indiana Incarcerated Database Search maintained by the Indiana Department of Correction (IDOC) allows searches for individuals currently or previously incarcerated in a state correctional facility. Searches are most effective when conducted using both first and last names or a DOC number.

Indiana SAVIN – Statewide Automated Victim Information and Notification The Indiana SAVIN offender search portal allows members of the public and registered victims to search for offender custody status and receive automated notifications of custody changes.

Marion County Courts – Indiana Judicial Branch General information about Marion County Courts through the Indiana Judicial Branch website provides contact information for individual courts and guidance on obtaining case-specific documents.

Records pertaining to sealed, expunged, or juvenile matters are not accessible through any of the above online portals.

Can You Search Marion County Criminal Records for Free?

Indiana law currently mandates that members of the public have the right to inspect public records at no charge. Under Indiana Code § 5-14-3-8, agencies may charge fees only for the actual cost of copying records; inspection itself must be provided without cost.

Free online resources currently available include:

MyCase portal – Free public access to court case dockets, hearing dates, and case dispositions at MyCase Indiana Courts Case Search
Inmate Lookup Tool – Free booking and custody searches via the Marion County Sheriff's Office inmate search
IDOC Incarcerated Locator – Free searches of state correctional facility assignments through the IDOC incarcerated locator
Indiana SAVIN – Free offender custody status searches at the Indiana SAVIN offender search portal

What is free vs. what carries a fee: Public inspection and online searches are free of charge. Certified copies of court documents, official criminal history reports from the Indiana State Police, and records requiring staff research time are subject to applicable fees established by the custodial agency. In-person inspection of records at the Marion County Clerk's Office or Sheriff's Office during public counter hours does not require payment.

What's Included in a Marion County Criminal Record?

A Marion County criminal record may contain several categories of information depending on the type of record and the agency maintaining it.

Identifying Information

Full legal name and known aliases
Date of birth and physical description (height, weight, eye and hair color)
Photograph (mugshot) taken at booking
Last known address
State Identification (SID) number and FBI number, where assigned

Arrest and Booking Information

Date, time, and location of arrest
Arresting agency and officer identification
Booking number and facility (Marion County Adult Detention Center)
Charges filed at the time of arrest
Bail or bond amount set and conditions

Court Case Information

Case number and court of jurisdiction (Circuit or Superior Court division)
Filing date and assigned judge
Charges as filed, including applicable Indiana Code statutes and felony level or misdemeanor class
Plea entered (guilty, not guilty, no contest)
Attorney of record and prosecuting agency

Disposition Information

Verdict (guilty, not guilty, dismissed, nolle prosequi)
Conviction date and sentencing order
Sentence type and length (incarceration, suspended sentence, probation, community service)
Fines, court costs, and restitution ordered
Appellate proceedings and outcomes
Probation or parole conditions and supervising agency

Additional Record Elements

Active or recalled arrest warrants
Protective or no-contact orders
Sex offender registration status
DUI or DWI adjudications
Traffic violations adjudicated in criminal court
Pending charges not yet resolved

How Long Does Marion County Keep Criminal Records?

Marion County agencies retain criminal records in accordance with schedules established under Indiana law and administrative rule. The Indiana Commission on Public Records sets minimum retention periods applicable to all county agencies.

Current retention periods for principal record types include:

Arrest and booking records: Retained permanently by the Marion County Sheriff's Office for individuals who were convicted; records for individuals not charged or acquitted are subject to expungement eligibility timelines under Indiana Code § 35-38-9.
Court case files (felony convictions): Retained permanently by the Marion County Clerk's Office as part of the official court record.
Court case files (misdemeanor convictions): Retained for a minimum of ten years following final disposition, subject to applicable retention schedules.
Dismissed or acquitted case files: Retained for a minimum of five years following dismissal, unless expunged by court order.
Juvenile records: Retained until the subject reaches age 23 or for five years following the final order, whichever is later, after which destruction may be authorized pursuant to Indiana Code § 31-39-9.
Probation records: Retained for a minimum of five years following discharge from supervision.
Sex offender registration records: Retained for the duration of the registration obligation, which may be ten years, twenty years, or lifetime depending on the offense classification.

Individuals who believe their records qualify for expungement under Indiana's Second Chance Law may petition the court of conviction. Upon the granting of an expungement order, the custodial agency is required to treat the record as if it does not exist for most public disclosure purposes.