Dearborn County Criminal Records
What Is Dearborn County Criminal Records
Criminal records in Dearborn County, Indiana, are official government documents that chronicle an individual's interactions with the criminal justice system, from initial law enforcement contact through final court disposition. These records are maintained by multiple agencies and encompass a broad range of documentation types that serve distinct legal and administrative purposes.
Arrest records document the act of being taken into custody by law enforcement and do not, by themselves, indicate guilt or conviction. Conviction records, by contrast, reflect a formal finding of guilt entered by a court following a plea, bench trial, or jury verdict. Under Indiana law, felonies are the most serious category of criminal offense, classified as Level 1 through Level 6, while misdemeanors are divided into Classes A, B, and C. Juvenile records are generally sealed pursuant to Indiana Code § 31-39-1-2 and are not accessible to the general public in the same manner as adult records. Active warrants represent current judicial orders for an individual's arrest, whereas historical records reflect resolved matters.
The principal agencies responsible for maintaining Dearborn County criminal records include:
- Dearborn County Sheriff's Office — maintains arrest records, booking information, and jail rosters
- Dearborn Circuit Court and Dearborn Superior Courts — maintain case filings, arraignment records, pleas, trial transcripts, sentencing orders, and probation/parole documentation
- Indiana State Police — maintains statewide criminal history data
- Local municipal police departments — maintain incident and arrest reports within their respective jurisdictions
Records maintained across these agencies collectively document charges filed, arraignment proceedings, entered pleas, trial outcomes, sentencing details, and any subsequent probation or parole conditions. Members of the public seeking court-level records may reference the Dearborn County Indiana Judicial Branch directory for local court contact information.
Dearborn County Sheriff's Office 301 W. High St., Lawrenceburg, IN 47025 (812) 537-8800 Dearborn County Sheriff's Office
Dearborn Circuit Court Clerk 215 W. High St., Lawrenceburg, IN 47025 (812) 537-8867 Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. Dearborn County Clerk
Are Criminal Records Public In Dearborn County
Adult criminal records in Dearborn County are presumptively open to the public under Indiana's Access to Public Records Act (APRA), codified at Indiana Code § 5-14-3, which establishes that any person may inspect and copy the public records of any public agency. Under current law, the following categories of criminal records are generally accessible to members of the public:
- Adult conviction records and court case dispositions
- Arrest logs and booking records maintained by the Sheriff's Office
- Court proceedings, docket entries, and filed pleadings in adult criminal cases
- Sentencing orders and probation terms entered into the public record
Certain categories of records are restricted from public disclosure under applicable state and federal law:
- Juvenile records, which are sealed by operation of Indiana Code § 31-39-1-2 and accessible only to authorized parties
- Expunged records, which are restricted following a successful petition under Indiana's expungement statute
- Ongoing criminal investigations, the disclosure of which could compromise law enforcement operations
- Confidential informant identities and certain victim information protected by statute
Members of the public are entitled to inspect public criminal records during regular business hours without being required to state a reason for the request, consistent with the provisions of APRA.
How To Look Up Criminal Records In Dearborn County in 2026
Members of the public may obtain Dearborn County criminal records through several official channels. The following steps outline the standard process for accessing these records:
- Identify the appropriate agency. Determine whether the records sought are arrest records (Sheriff's Office or local police), court case records (Circuit or Superior Court Clerk), or statewide criminal history data (Indiana State Police).
- Submit a written public records request. Requests directed to the Dearborn County Clerk or Sheriff's Office should be submitted in writing, identifying the subject by full legal name and date of birth. Agencies are required under APRA to respond within a reasonable time.
- Provide required identification. In-person requestors at the Clerk's office are typically asked to present a valid government-issued photo ID.
- Pay applicable fees. Agencies may charge reasonable fees for copies of records. Inspection of records in person is generally available at no charge.
- Request statewide criminal history. For a comprehensive background check, members of the public may submit a request through the Indiana State Police Limited Criminal History portal, which covers felony and Class A misdemeanor arrests statewide.
- Access court records online. Court case information may be searched through the Indiana Courts' official case management system without an in-person visit.
Indiana State Police — Criminal History Division Indiana Government Center North, 100 N. Senate Ave., Indianapolis, IN 46204 (317) 232-8266 Indiana State Police
How To Find Criminal Records in Dearborn County Online?
Several official online portals currently provide access to Dearborn County criminal records and related justice system information. Each platform serves a distinct function and contains different categories of data.
- MyCase — Indiana Courts Case Search: The Indiana Courts case search portal provides public access to court case records statewide, including Dearborn County Circuit and Superior Court filings. Users may search by party name, case number, or attorney. The portal contains docket entries, hearing dates, charges, and dispositions. No registration is required for basic public searches.
- Indiana State Police Limited Criminal History: The Indiana State Police Limited Criminal History search allows members of the public to search for felony and Class A misdemeanor arrest records statewide. A fee applies for third-party searches; individuals searching their own records may qualify for a reduced fee.
- Indiana Incarcerated Database Search: The Indiana Department of Correction's incarcerated person search tool allows searches by last name or full name to locate individuals currently or previously incarcerated in state facilities.
- Indiana State Archives: Historical court and criminal records, including older case files and military records, are accessible through the Indiana State Archives, which maintains over two hundred years of Indiana government records.
- Dearborn County Sheriff's Jail Roster: The Sheriff's Office maintains a current jail roster accessible through the county's official website, reflecting individuals currently held in the Dearborn County Law Enforcement Center.
Certain records — including sealed juvenile files, expunged records, and confidential investigative materials — are not available through any online portal and require a formal legal process for access.
Can You Search Dearborn County Criminal Records for Free?
Indiana law does not impose a fee for the inspection of public records in person. Under Indiana Code § 5-14-3-8, public agencies may charge only for the actual cost of copying records; inspection itself must be provided at no charge during regular business hours. The following resources are currently available at no cost:
- In-person inspection at the Dearborn County Clerk's office during public counter hours (Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.)
- MyCase online portal — free public access to court case dockets and dispositions statewide
- Dearborn County Sheriff's jail roster — free online access to current inmate information
- Indiana Incarcerated Database Search — free name-based search of state correctional facility records
Fees are assessed for printed or certified copies of records, for statewide criminal history background checks conducted through the Indiana State Police, and for certain court-certified documents. The Indiana State Police Limited Criminal History search currently charges a nominal fee for third-party background check requests.
What's Included in a Dearborn County Criminal Record?
A complete Dearborn County criminal record may contain information drawn from multiple agencies and compiled across the full lifecycle of a criminal case. The standard components are organized as follows:
Identifying Information
- Full legal name and known aliases
- Date of birth and physical description (height, weight, eye and hair color)
- Mugshot photograph taken at booking
- Last known address
- State Identification (SID) number and FBI number, where assigned
Arrest Information
- Date, time, and location of arrest
- Arresting agency and officer
- Booking number and facility (Dearborn County Law Enforcement Center)
- Charges filed at arrest, bail or bond amount set, and detention status
Court Case Information
- Case number and assigned court (Circuit or Superior Court)
- Filing date and jurisdiction
- Charges as filed, including applicable Indiana Code statutes and offense classification (felony level or misdemeanor class)
- Entered plea and attorney of record
Disposition Information
- Verdict (guilty, not guilty, dismissed, nolle prosequi)
- Conviction date and sentencing details (incarceration length, fines, restitution, community service, probation conditions)
- Appeals filed and outcomes
- Probation or parole supervision terms
Additional Record Elements
- Active or recalled warrants
- Protective or no-contact orders
- Sex offender registration status
- DUI/OWI adjudications and traffic-related criminal offenses
- Pending charges not yet adjudicated
How Long Does Dearborn County Keep Criminal Records?
Dearborn County agencies retain criminal records in accordance with schedules established under Indiana administrative rules and state statute. The Indiana Archives and Records Administration (IARA) sets mandatory retention periods for county-level government records.
- Felony conviction records: Retained permanently by the court clerk
- Misdemeanor conviction records: Retained for a minimum of 10 years following case closure
- Arrest records without conviction: Retained for a minimum of 5 years, subject to expungement eligibility
- Juvenile records: Retained until the subject reaches age 23, after which destruction may be authorized under applicable statute
- Probation records: Retained for a minimum of 5 years following discharge from supervision
- Court case files (general): Retention periods vary by case type; felony case files are generally retained permanently
The Indiana State Archives maintains historical records beyond standard agency retention periods. Older criminal and court records from Dearborn County may be accessed through the Indiana State Archives holdings. Agencies are required to follow IARA-approved retention schedules, and unauthorized destruction of public records is prohibited under Indiana law.
Indiana Archives and Records Administration 402 W. Washington St., Room W472, Indianapolis, IN 46204 (317) 232-3380 Indiana Archives and Records Administration