Police Records in Elkhart County

Elkhart County police records are managed by the Elkhart County Sheriff's Office, located on County Road 26 outside of Goshen, Indiana. The sheriff's office accepts records requests by email, by mail, and through a fillable PDF form available on their site. Elkhart County is one of Indiana's larger counties, so both the sheriff's office and multiple city police departments generate records across the area.

Elkhart County Sheriff's Office

The Elkhart County Sheriff's Office is the primary law enforcement agency for the county and the main source of county-level police records. The office is located at 26861 County Road 26, Elkhart, IN 46517. The main phone number for the sheriff's office and jail is (574) 891-2100. For non-emergency calls, use (574) 533-4151. For records questions, you can email the records division directly at Records@ElkhartCountySheriff.com. For emergencies, call 911.

Elkhart County is one of Indiana's more populous counties, with over 207,000 residents. The sheriff's office covers county-wide patrol activity and manages the county jail. Multiple municipalities within the county also have their own police departments, including Goshen, Elkhart city, Mishawaka-area agencies, and others. Each agency holds its own records. The sheriff's office handles requests for records from county-level law enforcement activity.

The office accepts records by mail and email in addition to in-person visits. Having multiple options makes it easier to get what you need without taking time off work. Email is particularly useful for straightforward requests where a PDF is an acceptable delivery format. Include your contact details and a clear description of the record you want when reaching out.

How to Request Elkhart County Police Records

The Elkhart County Sheriff's Office has a fillable Public Records Request form available as a PDF. You can download it, fill it out, and submit it by email or mail. Email your completed form to Records@ElkhartCountySheriff.com. If mailing, send it to Elkhart County Sheriff's Office, 26861 County Road 26, Elkhart, IN 46517. The Public Records Request form can be downloaded directly and includes instructions on what to include.

Indiana Code IC 5-14-3-3 gives any person the right to inspect and copy public records during regular business hours. You don't need to state a reason for your request unless another statute requires it. Under IC 5-14-3, the agency has 7 days to respond. If they need more time and don't notify you within those 7 days, your request is treated as denied. Mail and email requests both trigger the same 7-day clock.

IC 5-14-3-4 lists categories of records that law enforcement agencies may withhold. Active investigation files, criminal intelligence information, and certain personal data about complainants fall under exemptions. Body camera and dash camera footage fall under specific rules in IC 5-14-3-5.1 and 5.2. If a request is denied in whole or in part, the sheriff's office must give you a written reason. You can then contact the Indiana Public Access Counselor at in.gov/pac for guidance.

Note: If you need records from Goshen PD, Elkhart city police, or another local department, you must contact that agency directly. The sheriff's office only holds records from its own patrol activity and the county jail.

Elkhart County Arrest Records and Jail Data

When someone is booked into the Elkhart County Jail, an arrest record is created. Under IC 5-14-3-5, the sheriff's office must maintain a daily log of incidents, accidents, and complaints and make it available for public inspection within 24 hours. This log includes the date, time, location, and at least one non-officer name for each activity. It's the public arrest log that people most often look to for recent booking information.

To check someone's current custody status at the Elkhart County Jail, call the sheriff's office and jail line at (574) 891-2100. Staff can check the roster and tell you what information is publicly available. Elkhart County is also connected to the statewide VINE system. Call 866-959-8463 to check on an offender's custody status or sign up for automatic release alerts. VINE is free and runs 24 hours a day.

Body camera footage requests go through the standard public records process. You'll need to provide the date, approximate time, location, and the name of at least one non-officer involved. Recordings must be kept for at least 190 days under IC 5-14-3-5.1. Redaction fees may apply, and some footage involving juveniles or active investigations may be withheld.

State Police Records Tools for Elkhart County

Indiana's statewide tools extend your reach well beyond what the Elkhart County Sheriff's Office holds. The Limited Criminal History (LCH) portal at in.gov/ai/appfiles/isp-lch is run by the Indiana State Police and covers felony and Class A misdemeanor arrests statewide. The fee is $15.70 by credit card or $7.00 by mail with a money order. Search by name, date of birth, race, and sex. Results indicate whether a record is on file in Indiana's central criminal history repository, maintained under IC 10-13-2.

Court filings for Elkhart County cases are searchable for free through MyCase Indiana. This covers all 92 counties, including criminal, civil, family, and appellate cases. You can look up parties, charges, and dispositions without logging in. The Indiana Protection Order Registry is free and searchable by name for active protection orders. The Indiana Sex Offender Registry lets you search by name, county, or address radius.

Crash reports from Elkhart County roads can be ordered through BuyCrash.com. You'll need the report number, crash date, and names of parties involved. For public records requests directed at the Indiana State Police, use the ISP APRA portal.

Cities in Elkhart County

Elkhart County has two qualifying cities that each maintain their own police departments and records processes.

Nearby Counties

Elkhart County is in northern Indiana and borders several other counties, each with its own sheriff and records process.