Crawford County Police Records

Crawford County police records are kept by the Crawford County Sheriff's Department in English, Indiana. The department maintains incident reports, arrest logs, inmate booking data, and related law enforcement records for this small southern Indiana county. You can contact the office by phone or visit in person to request records. Indiana's Access to Public Records Act, under IC 5-14-3, gives any person the right to ask for public law enforcement records.

Crawford County Sheriff's Department

The Crawford County Sheriff's Department is led by Sheriff Jeff Howell. The main office is at 715 Judicial Plaza Drive, English, IN 47118. The main phone number is 812-338-2802. For dispatch, call 812-338-3616. The fax line is 812-338-3500. English is the county seat, and the department covers all law enforcement outside of incorporated town limits in Crawford County. It is one of Indiana's smaller, more rural counties, and the sheriff's department handles all county-level records.

The Crawford County Sheriff's Department website covers department news, contact information, and links to the inmate search and tip submission tools.

From the main site, you can check current inmate bookings and submit tips about criminal activity in the county without needing to call or visit.

Crawford County also has an alternate web presence. The Crawford County Sheriff alternate site provides additional department information and may carry updated contact details.

If the main site is unavailable or you need a different contact number, the alternate site is a good backup to check before calling dispatch.

How to Request Police Records in Crawford County

To request records from the Crawford County Sheriff's Department, call 812-338-2802 or visit in person at 715 Judicial Plaza Drive, English. There is no dedicated online portal for records requests, so phone and in-person contact are the standard starting points. When you reach staff, be ready to describe the type of record, the date of the incident, the names of anyone involved, and any report or case number you have.

Under IC 5-14-3, the Access to Public Records Act, the department must respond to written records requests within 7 days. Oral requests are addressed as quickly as possible, often the same day for simple matters. If a request is denied, the denial must be in writing and must name the specific exemption under state law that applies. You can challenge a denial through the Indiana Public Access Counselor or through the courts.

Fees for copying and searches apply and are paid before records are released. The department will quote you a total before you commit. For simple report copies, costs are generally modest. Requests that require significant staff time may carry higher fees. Confirm the total and accepted payment methods before you visit or send payment by mail.

Juvenile records are restricted under state law regardless of who is asking. Portions of records that contain protected personal data will be redacted before release. These practices apply statewide and are not specific to Crawford County. If your request results in partial production, the department must note what was withheld and which exemption covers it.

Inmate Search and Tip Submission

The Crawford County Sheriff's website provides an online inmate search tool for checking current jail bookings. You can confirm whether someone is in custody at the Crawford County Jail without calling the department directly. The data is updated as bookings are processed, though there may be a short lag for very recent arrivals.

The department accepts anonymous tips online through the sheriff's website. If you have information about criminal activity in Crawford County but do not want to give your name, the online tip form is the right channel. Tips that lead to official law enforcement action generate reports, which can later become part of the public record through an APRA request once the case is resolved.

For non-emergency matters that require a live response, dispatch is reachable at 812-338-3616. If you are trying to find out who responded to a past incident or need to confirm a case number, dispatch can often route you to the right records staff member or take a message on your behalf.

State Resources for Crawford County Records

For a full Indiana criminal history check beyond Crawford County, use the ISP Limited Criminal History portal. The fee is $15.70 by credit card or $7 by mail. The search draws from the repository established under IC 10-13-2, which requires all Indiana agencies to report arrest and disposition data to the state. A Crawford County arrest that was properly reported will appear in a statewide LCH search.

For records generated by the Indiana State Police specifically, use the ISP APRA portal. This is separate from the county process. If the record came from an ISP trooper, submit to the state portal. If it came from a Crawford County deputy, go to the county office. Know which agency created the record first.

Court records for Crawford County are searchable through MyCase Indiana. This free tool covers all Indiana courts and shows case filings, charges, hearing dates, and outcomes. The Indiana Sex Offender Registry includes registrants in Crawford County and is searchable by name, county, or zip code at no cost. Protection orders can be found through the Indiana Protection Order Registry, also free. Crash reports from Crawford County accidents are available through BuyCrash.com using the report number, parties involved, or the crash date.

Body Camera Requests and APRA Appeals

Body camera footage from Crawford County Sheriff's deputies is a law enforcement record under APRA. To request footage, submit a written request to the sheriff's office describing the incident, date, location, and the deputy involved if known. The department has 7 days to respond. Footage tied to an open investigation may be withheld. Any denial must be in writing and must cite the specific IC 5-14-3 exemption. Partial redactions are sometimes made when only certain portions contain protected content, with the rest released.

If your APRA request is denied and you believe the denial was improper, the Indiana Public Access Counselor can issue a free advisory opinion. The opinion is not binding but is often enough to prompt the agency to reconsider. If that does not resolve the issue, a court action can compel disclosure. Crawford County, like all Indiana agencies, is subject to the same public records law regardless of its size.

Nearby Counties

Crawford County is in southern Indiana and shares borders with five other counties. Each has its own sheriff's office and records process.