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Indiana Public Records

Indiana has a mix of public records laws that make it easy and challenging to access records.

All agencies are subject to Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, and there aren’t many exemptions.

Indiana Public records are maintained across several departments and they include:

Table of Contents

What does the Indiana public records law say?

The Indiana Public Records Act states that all government branches are held accountable to respond to FOIA requests.

The Indiana law says that a requester can live anywhere as no state citizenship requirement is listed. You can submit a FOIA request in person, by email, mail, and phone.

Government agencies are given seven business days to respond to requests, and there is no stated administrative appeal process.

You can appeal through the Public Access Counselor, but the counselor can only offer an opinion and does not have the power to override an agency’s decision.

You will need to file a lawsuit in court to issue a formal appeal.

How can a person access public records in Indiana?

To access public records in Indiana, a person must submit a public records request. The request is sent via mail, email, or phone to the record-holding department.

Every department is different, so expect a different process if attempting to access several governmental departments’ records.

In general, a public records request should include:

  • Your name and contact information, including an email, phone number, and mailing address
  • The name of the document
  • The details of the document in as much detail as possible
  • A specific time frame that you’d like to receive the materials
  • Document delivery method, email or mail

Indiana criminal records

Criminal records, or criminal history, are used for a couple of specific purposes. Generally, they are used by potential employers and temporary employment agencies as part of the hiring process.

Criminal histories can also be used by business partnerships or as part of a prenuptial agreement or other legal proceedings.

Attorneys also use criminal records for crime victims in civil suits or as part of an ongoing criminal case.

What’s on a criminal record?

A criminal record is a complete record of a person’s interactions with law enforcement agencies.

A criminal history doesn’t have traffic infractions or traffic tickets and sometimes won’t include misdemeanors.

  • Date of arrest
  • Charge
  • Prosecution date
  • Guilty Pleas
  • Convictions
  • Felony or misdemeanor charge

Where can I find Indiana criminal records?

The Indiana State Police maintains public criminal records.

The Indiana State Police, ISP, allows you to access criminal records using the Criminal History Search Services website.

You have access to search the name-based criminal record search or fingerprint criminal record search.

The cost to access an Indiana Criminal Record is $15.

While it does have documents related to court cases, it may not contain the most recent cases. You will need to access the county courthouse records online or call the court clerk in the county where the incident occurred. The digital archives don’t have criminal records.

Indiana State Police
100 North Senate Avenue
Indianapolis, IN 46204-2259

Phone number: (317) 232-8250

Indiana inmate records

According to the last public statistics published, the Indiana prison system has an estimated 25,546 prisoners in 19 prisons.

The state of Indiana has a convenient online system to find records on any inmate within its system. People may want to search for inmate records to find out more about a particular case or see when they might get out of prison.

Crime victims may want to know if a parole hearing is coming up or when the offender may finish their sentence.

What’s on an inmate record?

While there are some differences in how states list items on an inmate record, Indiana is standard with other states in the information it provides.

It will have some information about the person’s incarceration and some limited personal details. When someone accesses an inmate record, the record will show:

  • The inmate’s name
  • Gender
  • Birth Date
  • The housing location of the inmate
  • Mug shot
  • Inmate’s registration number
  • Housing transfer information
  • Custody status

Where can I find Indiana inmate records?

The Indiana State Department of Corrections maintains public inmate records.

You will use the Indiana Department of Corrections Inmate Search to locate an inmate record.

You can contact the Inmate Records Division at 317-232-5765.

Indiana Department of Corrections
302 W. Washington Street
Room E-334, Indianapolis, Indiana 46204

Phone number: (317) 232-5711

Indiana court records

The information on a court record varies depending on the jurisdiction of the Indiana judicial branch.

Indiana court records include case information that can include hundreds of pages.

What’s on a court record?

Case records are typically incredibly large files with a variety of documents that have valuable information about all the cases involving the person searched. Some of the court documents include.

  • Case files
  • Dockets
  • Court Minutes
  • Court orders
  • Judgments
  • Witness documentation
  • Jury records
  • Verdicts
  • Child support payments
  • Protective orders
  • Small claims

Where can I find Indiana court records?

Indiana has a couple of options to search court records, and where you go largely depends on the age of the case.

You can do a case search Indiana Archives and Records Administration database.

However, most court records can be obtained by requesting the clerk of court’s office in the county where the case was tried.

Transcripts for a specific chance heard by the Indiana Supreme Court, Appellate Court, Superior Court, county court, or a trial court can be obtained by contacting the court clerk.

Indiana vital records

The Indiana Department of Health Division of Vital Records maintains vital records.

Indiana Vital Records includes:

  • Birth Certificates
  • Marriage Licenses
  • Divorce Decrees
  • Death Records

Public vital records requests will be different depending on the document you are requesting.

What information do I need to request an Indiana birth certificate?

The Application for Search and Certified Copy of Birth Record requires specific information to obtain the document.

  • Full birth name on the birth record
  • City of birth
  • County of birth
  • Hospital of birth
  • Date of birth
  • Purpose of the requested birth certificate
  • The relationship of the person making the request
  • Both parent’s full name

Where can I find an Indiana birth certificate?

You can request an Indiana birth certificate using Vital Records Online, or by completing Form 49607 and submitting it in person or by mail.

If you submit the request in person, you will need to do so at the local health department closest to you.

You cannot submit an Application for Search and Certified Copy of Birth Record in person at the state office of the Indiana Department of Health Division of Vital Records.

The price is $10 per certified copy of an Indiana birth record.

What information do I need for a death certificate in Indiana?

The Application for Search of Certified or Non-Certified Copy of Death Record requires certain information to obtain a death certificate.

  • The full legal name of the deceased
  • The date of death
  • The deceased date of birth
  • City of death
  • County of death
  • Relationship to the deceased

Where can I find an Indiana death record?

You can request an Indiana death certificate using Vital Records Online, or by completing and submitting it in person or by mail.

If you submit the request in person, you will need to do so at the local health department closest to you.

You cannot submit the Application for Search of Certified or Non-Certified Copy of Death Record in person at the state office of the Indiana Department of Health Division of Vital Records.

The price is $10 per certified copy of an Indiana death record.

What information do I need to request a marriage certificate in Indiana?

The Application for Search for Certified Record of Marriage includes specific information.

  • Applicant(s) full name
  • Date marriage took place
  • City
  • County

Where can I find an existing Indiana marriage record?

You will need to contact the Indiana Clerk of Court in the county where the marriage took place. You will complete and submit the State Form 54764 form to your local circuit court.

You can use Indiana Courts’ Marriage License Public Lookup if you are unsure of where the marriage license was issued. Or, you can contact your county clerk to locate the marriage license.

What information do I need to request a divorce certificate in Indiana?

The Application for Search for Certified Record of Divorce is issued by your local Clerk of Court and includes specific information.

  • Applicant(s) full name
  • Date divorce took place
  • City
  • County

Where can I find an Indiana divorce record?

You will need to contact the Indiana Clerk of Court in the county where the marriage took place. You will complete and submit the appropriate forms to your local circuit court clerk’s office.

You can use Indiana Courts’ Marriage License Public Lookup if you are unsure of where the divorce decree was issued.

Indiana Property Records

Your local County Recorder’s Office maintains property records in your county.

You will need to contact your County Recorder’s Office to inquire about the process and cost of requesting Indiana property records.

What information do I need to request property records in Indiana?

Indiana public property request forms and processes are different between jurisdictions.

Example – Marion County
Marion County Recorder’s Office

Where can I find an Indiana property record?

You will submit your public property record request to the County Recorder’s office in the jurisdiction where the property records exist.

You will need to contact your County Recorder to inquire about the process and cost of requesting Indiana property records.

Example – Marion County
Marion County Recorder’s Office

FAQs

Can a request be submitted by non-residents of Indiana?

The Indiana Public Records act says anyone can access public information and records, regardless of where they live.

Is there a records custodian in Indiana?

The state created the office of the Public Access Counselor in 1999. It is a four-year term, and the governor appoints the Public Access Counselor.

The Counselor gives advisory opinions that could be used in court if a requester files suit but doesn’t give appeal decisions and can’t override an agency’s decision regarding requests.

What exemptions exist for public records requests in Indiana?

The list of exemptions under Indiana law is limited to specific documents. No agency, office, or government branch is exempted. Requesters need to look at the law to determine if their request falls into an exempted category.

Specific exemptions are relatively standard. Records that have personal information or contain information about public safety, for example, are exempt.

How long does Indiana have to respond to a public records request?

The office or agency has seven days to respond. Failure to respond to the requester is considered a denial. There can also be an immediate denial of requests made by phone.

Are Indiana property records considered public records?

Property records and property taxes are considered public records available through the State Land Office.

Is there an appeals process in Indiana for denied public records requests?

You can submit a complaint to the Public Access Counselor, and the Counselor can offer an advisory opinion.

However, the Counselor can’t force the agency to release records. The requestor would need to file a lawsuit in the appropriate court to further an appeal.

What fees are associated with requesting public records in Indiana?

Indiana charges only a “reasonable” fee for labor in looking up the record electronically. The price can’t exceed the actual cost of providing the record electronically. The government websites do not list specific fees, and fees vary depending on the requested documents.

For any public records questions, the Indiana.gov website is available.

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