Indiana Police Records
Indiana police records are public documents maintained by the Indiana State Police, all 92 county sheriffs, and city police departments throughout the state. These records cover incident reports, arrest logs, criminal history data, crash reports, sex offender registrations, and daily law enforcement activity logs. Under Indiana's Access to Public Records Act, most police records are open to anyone who asks. You do not need a reason to request them. This guide covers how to search Indiana police records online, what databases exist, what fees apply, and how to reach any county or city office in Indiana.
Indiana Police Records Quick Facts
Indiana Police Records and the Public Access Law
The Access to Public Records Act (APRA), found at Indiana Code 5-14-3, is the state's main public records law. It covers all government agencies, including law enforcement offices at every level. The law's declared philosophy is that "government is the servant of the people and not their master." Under APRA, any person can inspect and copy public records during normal business hours. You do not have to be an Indiana resident. You do not have to explain why you want the records. Agencies must respond within seven days. If they fail to respond in time, the request is automatically treated as denied.
The Indiana State Police (ISP), established under IC 10-11-2, is the primary statewide law enforcement agency. ISP headquarters is at 100 N. Senate Ave., Indianapolis, IN 46204, and the main line is (317) 232-8248. ISP runs the central repository for all criminal history records in Indiana under IC 10-13-2. The agency also oversees the Limited Criminal History search portal, crash report data, firearms licensing, and a public records request portal for ISP-specific reports.
Not all police records are open to the public. Active criminal investigations can be withheld under IC 5-14-3-4. Juvenile records stay sealed. Confidential informant details and criminal intelligence information are also exempt. But daily logs, arrest records, crash reports, and most incident files are public. Indiana law requires every law enforcement agency to keep a daily incident log listing the date, time, location, and at least one name from each event. That log must be made available within 24 hours of a request.
The Indiana Public Access Counselor, reachable at in.gov/pac, provides free advice and assistance with public records requests. If an agency denies your request and you think the denial was wrong, the Public Access Counselor can issue an advisory opinion. That opinion is not binding, but it carries weight. If you then file a lawsuit and win, the court can award attorney's fees because you first went through the Counselor's process.
How to Find Indiana Police Records Online
Indiana maintains several official portals for searching police records. Each one covers different types of data. Using the right tool saves time and avoids unnecessary fees.
The Limited Criminal History (LCH) search at in.gov/ai/appfiles/isp-lch is the most widely used public tool. It covers felonies and Class A misdemeanor arrests filed in Indiana only. You search by name, date of birth, race, and gender. The system returns one of three results: "ON FILE" (a record was found), "NOT ON FILE (INCONCLUSIVE)" (no match, but a fingerprint check is suggested), or "NO RECORDS FOUND." The fee is $15.70 per search by credit card, $15.00 for ISP account subscribers, or $7.00 by mail with a money order. Mail requests go to: Indiana State Police, Criminal History Limited Check, P.O. Box 6188, Indianapolis, IN 46206-6188. Results only cover Indiana arrests. Records from other states or federal courts do not appear here.
The ISP APRA Records Portal at in.accessgov.com/isp-apra handles public records requests submitted directly to the Indiana State Police. You submit your request online, describe what you need, and track its status until the records are delivered. This portal is the proper channel for ISP incident reports, non-investigatory records, and other state police documents. For county sheriff records, go to that county's own records office or online system.
Indiana's court records are searchable for free through MyCase at mycase.in.gov. This portal covers all 92 Indiana counties and lets you search by name or case number without creating an account. It shows charges, case status, docket entries, and dispositions for criminal, civil, and family court cases.
The Criminal History Services page at in.gov/isp/criminal-history-services explains every method for accessing Indiana police records and criminal history, from the public name search to the full national fingerprint review.
You can also search in person. Most county sheriff offices keep a records room open Monday through Friday during business hours. Bring a valid photo ID. Staff can look up records by name or case number and make copies for a fee. Call ahead to confirm hours and acceptable payment methods before you visit.
Indiana Criminal History Records
Indiana provides three levels of criminal history access for individuals. The public LCH search covers Indiana arrests only. The second option is a full Indiana fingerprint-based review, which individuals request for themselves at a total cost of $21.95 ($10.00 state fee plus $11.95 for IDEMIA fingerprinting). The third is a national fingerprint check covering all states and federal agencies, which costs $38.20 for employees or $36.20 for volunteers. State fees are paid to ISP. Fingerprinting is done through IDEMIA via the INkless electronic network at 1-877-472-6917. You schedule an appointment online, visit a nearby center, pay by credit or debit, and typically get results within hours.
You will need a valid government photo ID for fingerprinting. Acceptable forms include a driver's license, passport, military ID, or government-issued visa. If you find an error in your own Indiana record, you can challenge it through ISP at in.gov/isp/criminal-history-services/challenge-my-record. Send questions to CriminalHistory@isp.IN.gov. For expungements, contact the Expungement Section at Expungement@isp.IN.gov or call 317-234-4427.
The ISP APRA portal at in.accessgov.com/isp-apra lets you submit, track, and receive state police records entirely online, with no need to call or visit in person.
Indiana Sex and Violent Offender Registry
The Indiana Sex and Violent Offender Registry is maintained by the Indiana Department of Correction (IDOC) under Indiana Code 11-8-8, known as Zachary's Law, which took effect January 1, 2003. The registry contains photos, current home and work addresses, physical descriptions, and conviction details for all registered sex and violent offenders who live or work in Indiana. The public search tool is at icrimewatch.net/indiana.php, and the IDOC program page is at in.gov/idoc/divisions/sex-and-violent-offender-registry. Search by name, by county, or by address within a one-mile radius. The registry is free with no login required.
Free email alerts are available so you can receive a notification when a registered offender moves into or out of your area. The IDOC Sex Offender Registry office can be reached at (317) 232-1232. The registry connects to ISP's IDACS system, which means law enforcement agencies across Indiana and the country see the same information as the public.
The IDOC registry page at in.gov/idoc/divisions/sex-and-violent-offender-registry explains registration rules, lists what information is public, and links to the offender search portal for Indiana.
Protection Orders and Court Records in Indiana
The Indiana Protection Order Registry (POR) is maintained by the Indiana Supreme Court and the Office of Judicial Administration. It holds protection orders, no-contact orders, and workplace violence restraining orders filed in all Indiana courts. The registry connects directly to ISP's IDACS system and the FBI's National Crime Information Center (NCIC), so law enforcement can verify any active order in real time. Anyone can search the registry at no cost at public.courts.in.gov/porefsp. Victim contact details are not shown publicly, but the existence of an order is visible. Filing a new protection order through the portal is also free. For technical help, contact Carl Cowan at 317-234-5994 or carl.cowan@courts.in.gov.
The Protection Order Registry at public.courts.in.gov/porefsp covers all 92 Indiana counties and is updated in real time as courts enter new orders into the system.
For criminal case records linked to police incidents, MyCase at mycase.in.gov is the right tool. It covers charges, case status, hearing dates, and docket entries across all Indiana counties. The system is free, runs 24 hours a day, and requires no account to search.
Crash Reports and Body Camera Footage
All vehicle accident reports from Indiana are stored centrally by the Indiana State Police. The public access point for these reports is BuyCrash.com. This covers crashes investigated by ISP troopers, county sheriff deputies, and city police officers. To search, you need the crash date, approximate location, and at least one name from the incident. Fees vary by order type but are generally nominal. County sheriff offices in rural areas and townships may also have their own copies of crash reports they investigated, but the ISP record is the official state copy.
Body camera and dashboard camera recordings from Indiana law enforcement are governed by IC 5-14-3-5.1 and IC 5-14-3-5.2, passed under House Enrolled Act 1019 in 2016. Agencies must keep recordings for at least 190 days. When releasing footage, an agency can charge up to $150 for the cost of redacting the video. Required redactions include the faces of confidential informants, undercover officers, juveniles, and anyone whose personal medical information appears on screen. To request a recording, include the date, approximate time, location, and name of at least one non-officer involved in the incident. Agencies can deny the request if releasing the footage would interfere with an active investigation, harm a fair trial, or put someone at serious risk. If your request is denied, contact the Indiana Public Access Counselor at in.gov/pac for guidance on whether the denial was appropriate.
Note: The Public Access Counselor issues advisory opinions but cannot compel agencies to release records. A lawsuit in state district court is the next step if a denial stands after an opinion is issued.
Indiana Police Records Fees
Fees for Indiana police records vary by record type, agency, and method of request. State-level fees are set by ISP and Indiana law. County and city fees are set locally and differ by office. Many offices charge nothing for records sent by email. Others charge per printed page. Cash-only policies are common for in-person requests at smaller offices.
Common state-level fees you should know before you start:
- Limited Criminal History (credit card): $15.70 per search
- Limited Criminal History (ISP subscriber): $15.00 per search
- Limited Criminal History (mail, money order): $7.00
- Indiana-only fingerprint review (self-request): $21.95 total
- National fingerprint check (employee): $38.20 total
- National fingerprint check (volunteer): $36.20 total
- IDEMIA fingerprinting fee alone: $11.95
County fees for incident reports range from free to $8.50 per copy. Accident reports at county offices run from $4 to $20 depending on the county. Some sheriffs offer background checks at no charge while others charge $5 to $30. Always call the county office to verify current fees before mailing a check or making the trip. Fee schedules can change, and many offices do not post them online. The ISP contact line at (317) 232-8248 can help direct you if you are unsure which agency holds the record you need in Indiana.
Browse Indiana Police Records by County
Each of Indiana's 92 county sheriffs maintains police records for that county. Select a county below to find the sheriff's contact information, local records procedures, and county-specific resources.
Police Records in Major Indiana Cities
City police departments in Indiana keep their own records, separate from the county sheriff. Select a city below to find contact information and records access resources for that police department.