Indiana gives the public two practical tools that together cover most arrest record needs: the ISP Limited Criminal History system for statewide felony and Class A misdemeanor arrest records, and MyCase, the free statewide court records portal that covers virtually every trial court in the state. Used together, they provide a reasonably complete picture of someone's Indiana criminal history. The state's Second Chance Law also gives eligible individuals a meaningful path to sealing records -- and filing the petition costs nothing. This guide explains how the system works and where to search.
What Makes Indiana Arrest Records Public
Indiana's Access to Public Records Act, codified in Indiana Code 5-14-3, establishes the public's right to access government records. Criminal history records fall within that framework, and Indiana law enforcement agencies are generally required to provide access to arrest records that are public under state law.
The Indiana State Police Criminal Justice Information Services Section maintains the central repository for criminal history record information under IC 10-13-2. Every law enforcement agency in Indiana reports arrest and disposition data to this repository. The ISP provides public access through the Limited Criminal History search system.
One important scope limitation: the standard ISP LCH system covers felonies and Class A misdemeanor arrests filed in Indiana only. Lesser misdemeanor arrests, out-of-state records, and federal charges are not included. This means the LCH is not a complete picture of someone's arrest history -- it is a filtered one.
Exemptions from public access include juvenile records, sealed or expunged records, active investigation records, and confidential informant information. Indiana law requires every law enforcement agency to maintain a daily incident log listing the date, time, location, and identifying information for each event -- those logs are generally public under APRA even when the underlying case file may be exempt.
What an Indiana Arrest Record Contains
An arrest record is a booking document. It reflects the facts of an arrest at the time of booking and carries no presumption of guilt.
An Indiana arrest record in the ISP system includes the person's name, date of birth, sex, race, and physical description. It lists the arresting agency, the date and location of the arrest, and the charges filed at booking. Fingerprints and booking photographs are part of the booking record maintained by local agencies. Disposition data -- how the case resolved in court -- is submitted by courts to the ISP repository and appears in the record when reported.
The ISP LCH returns one of three results on a name-based search: "ON FILE" (a record matching the search criteria was found), "NOT ON FILE (INCONCLUSIVE)" (no match found, but a fingerprint check is suggested for confirmation), or "NO RECORDS FOUND." A result is a PDF that expires 14 days after the search date -- it must be saved or printed immediately.
How to Search Indiana Arrest Records
The ISP Limited Criminal History online portal is the primary public tool. It is accessible at the ISP website at in.gov/isp and covers felonies and Class A misdemeanor arrests statewide. The cost is $15.70 per search with a credit card, or $15.00 for ISP account subscribers. A mail-based search using the ISP Limited Criminal History form with a money order costs $7. The ISP office is located at Indiana Government Center North, 100 N. Senate Avenue, Suite N340, Indianapolis, IN 46204. Phone: 317-232-8262 or 317-232-8248. Email: CriminalHistory@isp.IN.gov. Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 4 PM Eastern.
For a full fingerprint-based criminal history -- which provides a more definitive match and includes a broader record set -- go through IdentoGO, the ISP's authorized vendor. The fee is $21.95, which covers both the fingerprinting and the criminal history record. Results are mailed in approximately 15 days. Call IdentoGO at 877-472-6917 or schedule online.
MyCase is the free public court records portal at mycase.in.gov. It covers Circuit, Superior, City, and Town courts across Indiana that use the Odyssey case management system, which includes the vast majority of Indiana's courts. You can search by name and find criminal case filings, charges, hearing dates, and dispositions at no cost. MyCase is particularly useful for checking case outcomes -- which may not appear in the ISP LCH if courts did not submit the disposition. Once a record is expunged, it no longer appears in public MyCase searches.
For broader multi-source background searches across Indiana's 92 counties and other jurisdictions, TruthFinder is a practical option.
VINELink at vinelink.com connects to the Indiana DOC system and many county facilities and provides free real-time custody status and notification registration.
County Jail Records in Indiana
Indiana has 92 counties and each county sheriff manages the local jail. County jails hold people recently arrested, those awaiting trial, and individuals serving short sentences. For a recent arrest, the county sheriff website is the right starting point.
Most Indiana county sheriff offices publish online inmate rosters or booking logs. The Marion County Sheriff (Indianapolis area), Lake County, Allen County, and St. Joseph County are among the larger systems with robust online booking access.
When someone is convicted and sentenced to state prison, they enter the Indiana Department of Correction system. The IDOC has a free online offender search at in.gov/idoc, searchable by name or IDOC number. Results show the person's current facility, offenses, and sentence information. For phone inquiries, call the IDOC at 317-232-5711.
Federal Arrests in Indiana
Federal arrests in Indiana are made by agencies including the FBI, the DEA, U.S. Marshals, the ATF, and Homeland Security Investigations. After federal sentencing, individuals enter the Bureau of Prisons rather than the Indiana DOC.
The BOP Inmate Locator at bop.gov/inmateloc is the official free tool for locating anyone serving a federal sentence. Search by name or BOP register number. Federal court records are available through the PACER system at pacer.gov.
Federal arrests and convictions are not part of the ISP criminal history database. A LCH search will not surface federal charges. Indiana's Second Chance Law under IC 35-38-9 does not apply to federal records -- only Indiana state court records are covered.
Arrest Records Versus Conviction Records
An arrest record documents that law enforcement took someone into custody. A conviction record documents a court's finding of guilt. Indiana treats them separately, and the arrest entry does not automatically update when a case resolves.
Charges can be dropped, cases dismissed, and juries acquit. In all of those situations the arrest entry remains in ISP records and may appear in MyCase searches unless the person pursues expungement. The record will also surface on third-party background check sites unless removed through legal action.
Indiana's Second Chance Law -- IC 35-38-9
Indiana's expungement statute, commonly called the Second Chance Law, is codified in Indiana Code Chapter 35-38-9. It is important to understand what Indiana expungement actually does: records are not erased or destroyed. They are sealed -- restricted from public access, removed from MyCase and ISP public records, and inaccessible to most employers and landlords. Law enforcement agencies and certain government entities retain access. The term "expungement" in Indiana means sealing.
There is no fee to file an expungement petition in Indiana -- the court may not charge a filing fee. The petition is filed in the court where the case was heard.
Eligibility under IC 35-38-9 covers a tiered range:
For arrests that did not result in conviction -- acquittals, dismissals, no charges filed -- expungement is generally available. The wait period is one year from the date of arrest in most cases. The prosecuting attorney can agree in writing to waive the waiting period.
For misdemeanor convictions, expungement requires completion of the sentence and a waiting period of five years from the date of conviction. The prosecuting attorney can agree to a shorter period.
For Class D and Level 6 felony convictions (the least serious felonies), expungement requires eight years from conviction and completion of sentence. The court has discretion to grant or deny.
For higher-level felonies, longer waiting periods apply and court discretion governs, with certain serious violent felonies and sex offenses excluded from eligibility entirely.
Once expungement is granted, all relevant Indiana criminal justice agencies must restrict access to the records within 60 days of receiving the order.
InmateAid's guides on expungement cover Indiana's framework in more detail. Mugshot removal from third-party sites after expungement is a separate process addressed in InmateAid's resources on that topic -- county sheriff booking photos published before the expungement may remain on aggregator sites unless separately removed.
Frequently asked questions
Are Indiana arrest records public?
Yes, under Indiana's Access to Public Records Act at Indiana Code 5-14-3. Arrest records are generally public. The ISP Limited Criminal History system provides public name-based searches covering felonies and Class A misdemeanor arrests. Juvenile records, sealed or expunged records, and active investigation records are exempt.
How do I search Indiana arrest records?
The ISP Limited Criminal History portal at in.gov/isp is the main public tool -- $15.70 online, $7 by mail, covers felonies and Class A misdemeanors only. MyCase at mycase.in.gov is the free statewide court records search covering most Indiana trial courts. For a full fingerprint-based history, use IdentoGO at $21.95. For multi-source results, TruthFinder aggregates public record data. For real-time custody status, VINELink at vinelink.com provides free notifications. For IDOC state prison inmates, search at in.gov/idoc.
What does an Indiana arrest record contain?
An Indiana arrest record includes the person's name, date of birth, sex, race, physical description, the arresting agency, the date and location of the arrest, and charges filed at booking. The ISP LCH report shows the record as ON FILE, NOT ON FILE (INCONCLUSIVE), or NO RECORDS FOUND. The report PDF expires 14 days from the search date and must be saved immediately.
Is an arrest the same as a conviction in Indiana?
No. An arrest documents that someone was taken into custody. A conviction reflects a court's finding of guilt. You can have an Indiana arrest record with no conviction if charges were dropped, the case was dismissed, or you were acquitted. The arrest entry remains in ISP records and MyCase unless expunged under IC 35-38-9.
How do I find someone in an Indiana county jail?
Check the sheriff's office website for the county where the arrest occurred. Most Indiana county sheriffs publish online inmate rosters. VINELink at vinelink.com also connects to many county facilities statewide. For someone sentenced to state prison, use the IDOC offender search at in.gov/idoc or call 317-232-5711.
Can I search federal arrest records in Indiana?
Federal court records are available through PACER at pacer.gov. For someone serving a federal sentence, the BOP Inmate Locator at bop.gov/inmateloc is the free official tool. Federal arrests are not part of the ISP criminal history database, and Indiana's Second Chance Law under IC 35-38-9 does not apply to federal records.
How long does an arrest stay on record in Indiana?
Indiana arrest records remain in ISP records and MyCase indefinitely unless expunged under IC 35-38-9. For non-conviction arrests, expungement is generally available after one year. For misdemeanor convictions, five years after conviction. For Class D and Level 6 felony convictions, eight years. Some serious felonies have longer waiting periods or are not eligible at all.
What is Indiana's Second Chance Law?
Indiana Code 35-38-9, known as the Second Chance Law, allows eligible individuals to petition courts to seal criminal records. In Indiana, this is called expungement, but records are not erased -- they are sealed from public access, removed from MyCase and ISP public records, and restricted from most employers and landlords. Law enforcement retains access. Filing the petition costs nothing. The law covers non-conviction arrests, misdemeanors, and many felonies, with varying waiting periods depending on the offense level.
Who qualifies for expungement in Indiana?
Under IC 35-38-9, non-conviction arrests (acquittals, dismissals, charges not filed) qualify after one year. Misdemeanor convictions qualify five years after conviction. Class D and Level 6 felony convictions qualify after eight years. Higher felonies have longer waiting periods. Serious violent felonies, sex offenses, and certain other offenses are excluded entirely. Prosecuting attorneys can agree to shorter waiting periods. The petition is filed for free in the court where the case was heard.
Why does my record show an arrest but no conviction?
An arrest entry is created at booking and remains in ISP records and MyCase regardless of how the case resolved. If charges were dropped, the case dismissed, or you were acquitted, the arrest entry persists until expunged under IC 35-38-9. It will appear on the ISP LCH report and in MyCase searches and may appear on third-party background check sites. Expungement removes it from public access after the applicable waiting period. ---
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