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  1. St. Joseph County Court
  2. St. Joseph County Arrest Records

St. Joseph County, Indiana Arrest Records

St. Joseph County arrest records refer to official documents from the county’s justice agencies, such as the court and law enforcement agencies. Arrest records are government documents containing details that help identify and track detainees throughout their time in law enforcement custody. These records do not contain any trial or conviction details, which means they are insufficient as proof of guilt. St. Joseph County arrest records are considered publicly accessible information according to the Access to Public Records Act. This law applies to arrest records because they are created and maintained by the St. Joseph County Police Department. This office is the primary agency responsible for arrests and law enforcement in the county. 

St. Joseph County also features highly populated cities such as South Bend and Mishawaka. These cities have their respective police departments, the South Bend Police Department and the Mishawaka Police Department, which execute arrests and maintain their arrest records. However, the detainees at the local police departments are transferred to the county police department, where the county’s consolidated arrest records can be accessed. St. Joseph County is subject to the Indiana Code § 10-13-3, which regulates access to criminal history records. These are records that contain an individual’s history of crimes, arrests, and convictions. They are maintained by the Indiana State Police with restricted access to the public.

Are Arrest Records Public Information in St. Joseph, Indiana?

Yes, arrest records in St. Joseph County are publicly accessible records according to the Indiana Access to Public Records Act. The public can request arrest records through the county police department or the court. There is no requirement for a photo ID or proof of citizenship or residency to access arrest records in the county. Anyone can make their request in person, by mail, or over the phone. According to the Public Records Act, the records custodian must respond to requests within 7 days from the date they are received. If this seven-day period passes without a response, it is considered a denial, and the requester may appeal. While arrest records searches or viewing are usually free, requesters will be required to pay for any copies made. 

What Do Public County Arrest Records Contain?

St. Joseph County arrest records are publicly accessible and contain basic booking information. These are publicly accessible details obtained through the booking process. They contain information about the arrest and detainee that does not violate any data privacy or personal safety regulations. There are also restricted details according to the Public Records Act. 

These restrictions are in place to protect victim safety, date integrity, and enforce court orders of expungement or sealing. Some of the restricted records in St. Joseph County include juvenile records, mental health details, law enforcement recordings, sealed or expunged records, and details from ongoing investigations. There are also restrictions on confidential and intelligence information, which includes identities of informants and criminal intelligence data, according to the Indiana Code § 5-14-3-4. Here are the usual details you will find in a St. Joseph County arrest record:

  • Date of birth
  • Age and physical description
  • Full legal name and any known aliases
  • Court assignment
  • Case disposition
  • Booking information, such as fingerprints and mugshots
  • Specific charges filed against the detainee
  • Name of the arresting officer and agency

St. Joseph County,  Indiana Arrest Search

St. Joseph County arrest details can be searched in person, over the phone, or using the available online tools. These records can be found through agencies like the Indiana State Police, Department of Correction, and the Court system. The Indiana State Police maintains a Limited Criminal History Search website, which provides statewide access to arrest and criminal information. The state’s Department of Corrections also maintains an Incarcerated Database Search website, which allows inmate searches using their first and last name as well as the DOC Number. Arrest records that are contained in court case documents can be accessed through the court’s Case Search website. 

St. Joseph County Inmate Locator

St. Joseph County inmates can be found through the police department or the county jail. The sheriff’s office is open to the public for updated access to the jail roster. Interested individuals can call the police department at 574-245-6500 or the county jail at 574-245-6501 to provide information for locating an inmate. This can also be done in person at the police department’s records division office. This agency also maintains an up-to-date Inmate Roster, which can be accessed through the St. Joseph County Jail website.

Active Warrant Search in St. Joseph County

St. Joseph County arrest warrants are legal documents from the St. Joseph County Superior Court or Circuit Court that direct law enforcement officers to apprehend and detain a named suspect. This document is issued by a judge or magistrate after a prosecutor or peace officer provides enough evidence to prove there is probable cause. Arrest warrants generally contain details of the suspect, such as the name and description, the issuing judge’s signature and name, the charges, as well as the arresting agency’s name. These documents will remain active indefinitely after they are issued until they are executed or recalled by the court. They can be searched through the St. Joseph County Police Department’s Warrant Division. 

How to Find Arrest Records for Free in St. Joseph County

Access to arrest records in St. Joseph County is generally free, except when the requester is making copies of documents. The public can call or visit the County Police Department or the County Clerk’s Office to request arrest records for free. These offices will not charge any fee for simple searches. The county’s Inmate Search website provides free access to a searchable portal for arrest records. This also applies to the county’s Daily Log website, which is an up-to-date dashboard of daily incidents recorded by the police department. There are also state-provided tools, such as the Indiana Department of Correction Offender Search website, which provides statewide arrest information for free. Requesters are not required to provide an ID to access these portals for free. However, the general public will not have access to older arrest records and sealed or expunged records.

St. Joseph County Arrest Report

St Joseph County arrest records refer to a database entry of details about an arrest and the arrested individual. They are compiled when the suspect is arrested and booked into the county jail. Arrest records contain details that are limited to booking information and the detainee’s photograph. This is different from arrest reports, which are documents providing a full narrative of how the arrest was executed. An arrest report is written by the arresting officer as soon as the detainee is booked. 

Arrest reports are more detailed than arrest records because the narration may cover some restricted details or private information about the detainee. They usually contain details like the chain of events leading up to the arrest, the circumstances that created probable cause, any statements made by witnesses or the suspect, and a description of the evidence gathered at the scene of the arrest. These documents are managed and accessible through different channels. 

Arrest records are publicly available through the law enforcement agencies and the county clerk’s office, unlike arrest reports, which become public records after the investigation becomes inactive.

How to Get an Arrest Record Expunged in St. Joseph County

Arrest records in St. Joseph County can be cleared according to the Second Chance Law (Indiana Code § 35-38-9). This Law allows qualified individuals to expunge arrests from public records, but this can be done only once in a lifetime. The requirements to qualify for expungement in St. Joseph County include:

  • The arrest must not lead to a conviction
  • If there was a misdemeanor conviction, as well as a Level 6 or Class D felony, which were formally reduced to misdemeanor status by the court, you will be eligible after 5 years from the conviction date. 
  • For Class D or Level 6 felony convictions, you must wait for 8 years from the conviction date to file a petition.
  • For felonies higher than Class D, you will be eligible after 8 years from the conviction date or three years after completing the sentence.
  • For serious felonies that involve official misconduct or injury, you will be eligible after 10 years from the conviction date or 4 years after completing the sentence.

The Indiana Code § 35-38-9 provides for offenses that are permanently ineligible for expungement in St. Joseph County. They include murder and voluntary/involuntary manslaughter, human trafficking offenses, sex crimes that require registration as a sex offender, offenses that involve the use of a deadly weapon and cause serious bodily harm, as well as certain crimes committed by elected officials while in office. After confirming that you're qualified, file the petition with the St. Joseph County Superior Court or Circuit Court. 

How Do You Remove St. Joseph County Arrest Records From the Internet?

St. Joseph County arrest records can be removed from the internet after an expungement order has been granted. The first step is to obtain a certified copy of the expugement order. They are usually sent automatically to the relevant agencies to remove the records from their servers. If you notice there is a delay in effecting the expungement on a government website, you can send your certified copy of the court order to the government agency.