Indiana Criminal Records

Indiana is an open-records state, so most arrest records, court cases, jail booking information, and mugshots are available to the public. This guide explains where to find Indiana mugshots and records for free using official sources, how to look them up county by county (including Indianapolis/Marion County), how to find an inmate, and how to get a record removed or expunged. It was last reviewed in June 2026.

Are mugshots public record in Indiana?

Yes, in most cases. Indiana's Access to Public Records Act (APRA) treats photographs, including booking photos (mugshots), as public records, and the Indiana Public Access Counselor has advised that an agency generally cannot refuse to release a mugshot unless it can point to a specific legal exemption. Jail booking information such as a person's name, age, the charges, and the arrest are also public. One important caveat: a mugshot or arrest record only shows that someone was arrested and booked. It is not proof of a conviction or of guilt. Everyone is presumed innocent unless and until they are convicted in court.

Where can I find Indiana mugshots for free?

The free, official place to find recent Indiana mugshots is the county sheriff's jail roster (sometimes called an "inmate inquiry" or "who's in jail" search). Two free starting points:

• INjail statewide portal (built by the Indiana Supreme Court and the Indiana Sheriffs' Association): search participating county jails by name at public.indianajail.gov.
• Your county sheriff's website (see the county list below) for that jail's current roster and booking photos.

You do not need to pay a "mugshot" website. Commercial sites such as mugshots.com or similar aggregators repost booking photos and often charge fees; the same information is usually free from the sheriff or the INjail portal.

How do I look up mugshots by county in Indiana?

Each county sheriff keeps its own jail roster. Here are the official pages for several of Indiana's largest counties:

• Marion County (Indianapolis): indy.gov find a person in jail
• Lake County (Crown Point, Gary): lakecountysheriff.com
• Allen County (Fort Wayne): allencountysheriff.org
• St. Joseph County (South Bend): sjcpd.org inmate search
• Hamilton County (Noblesville): hamiltoncounty.in.gov
• Vigo County (Terre Haute): vigosheriff.in.gov
• Madison County (Anderson): madisoncounty.in.gov
• LaPorte County: laportecountysheriff.com

For any county not listed, search the county sheriff's name plus "jail roster," or use the statewide INjail portal above. Some sheriffs run their roster through an outside software vendor; that is normal and still official as long as you reach it from the sheriff's or county's own website.

How do I find an inmate in Indiana?

It depends on where the person is held. For someone in a county jail (a recent arrest or someone awaiting trial), use the county sheriff's roster or the INjail portal above. For someone serving time in state prison, use the Indiana Department of Correction (IDOC) Offender Locator, which lets you search by name or offender number at in.gov/idoc offender locator. The IDOC tool covers state prisons only, not county jails.

How do I get a mugshot or record removed in Indiana?

Indiana does not have a specific law forcing commercial mugshot websites to take a photo down for free, the way a few other states do. Your two strongest options are:

• Expungement under Indiana's Second Chance Law: if your record is expunged, the courts and state police seal the underlying records, and Indiana law (the Criminal History Providers Act, IC 24-4-18) then bars background-check companies from reporting an expunged record. See the expungement section below.
• Contact the website directly: many sites will remove a booking photo on request, especially after a case is dismissed or expunged. Be cautious of services that charge large fees.

Indiana law already prohibits commercial criminal-history providers from reporting arrests that did not lead to a conviction, expunged records, or information they know is inaccurate.

How do I find my own criminal record in Indiana?

The Indiana State Police offer a name and date-of-birth search called a Limited Criminal History, which covers felony charges and misdemeanor arrests within Indiana. You can request it online or by mail; the online fee is around $16 (confirm the current amount before paying) at in.gov/isp criminal history. For a full, fingerprint-based national record you would use the State Police fingerprint service.

How do I look up court cases in Indiana?

Indiana's official court case search, mycase.in.gov, lets you search criminal and civil cases statewide by name or case number for free at mycase.in.gov. It shows charges, parties, hearing dates, and the case history, but it does not include booking photos; for those, use a sheriff's jail roster.

How do I expunge a criminal record in Indiana?

Indiana's Second Chance Law lets eligible people seal or expunge records after a waiting period. In general: arrests with no conviction can be petitioned after about 1 year; most misdemeanors after 5 years; minor (Level 6) felonies after 8 years; other less serious felonies after the later of 8 years from conviction or 3 years from finishing the sentence; and serious felonies after the later of 10 years from conviction or 5 years from finishing the sentence, with the prosecutor's written consent. Expungement is generally a one-time-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so most people hire an attorney to file it correctly. Indiana also makes it unlawful to discriminate against someone in hiring or licensing based on a properly expunged record.

How do I find sex offenders in Indiana?

Indiana maintains a public Sex and Violent Offender Registry, searchable by name or address at icrimewatch.net/indiana. Each listing typically includes a photo, the person's address area, registration period, and offenses. This registry exists under Indiana's version of Megan's Law to inform the public and may not be used to harass or threaten anyone listed.

What are the felony levels in Indiana?

Since a 2014 reform, Indiana classifies felonies as Level 1 (most serious) through Level 6 (least serious), plus Murder as a separate category. General sentencing ranges are:

• Murder: 45 to 65 years
• Level 1: 20 to 40 years
• Level 2: 10 to 30 years
• Level 3: 3 to 16 years
• Level 4: 2 to 12 years
• Level 5: 1 to 6 years
• Level 6: 6 months to 2.5 years

These are general ranges; actual sentences depend on the facts and any prior record. For the exact rules, see Indiana Code 35-50-2 or consult an attorney.

What is a misdemeanor in Indiana?

Indiana has three misdemeanor classes. A Class A misdemeanor carries up to 1 year in jail and up to a $5,000 fine; Class B up to 180 days and up to $1,000; and Class C up to 60 days and up to $500. Common examples include shoplifting, public intoxication, and many first-time minor offenses.

How far back does a background check go in Indiana?

Indiana does not set its own flat number of years. The federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) limits how long a background-check company can report arrests that did not lead to a conviction (generally 7 years), while convictions can be reported for longer. On top of that, Indiana's Criminal History Providers Act is stricter than many states: a commercial provider preparing a report for employment, housing, licensing, or credit may report only convictions, and may not report non-conviction arrests, expunged records, or records it knows are inaccurate.

Are juvenile records public in Indiana?

Juvenile court records in Indiana are generally confidential and are not open to the public the way adult records are. Once a person turns 18, they may ask a judge to seal or expunge their juvenile record, and the judge decides. Sealing keeps the record private; expungement destroys it.

Official Indiana criminal record sources

• INjail Statewide Jail and Mugshot Search - look up people held in Indiana county jails.
• Indiana Department of Correction Offender Locator - find people in Indiana state prison.
• MyCase Indiana Court Case Search - statewide online court case records.
• Indiana State Police Limited Criminal History - request a name-based criminal history check.
• Indiana Sex and Violent Offender Registry - the official statewide registry, searchable by name or location.

Disclosure: criminal.com may earn a commission when you use the people-search tool on this page, which is powered by a third-party background-check service. Results from such tools are for your personal knowledge only and may not be used to make decisions about employment, housing, credit, tenant screening, or any other purpose covered by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). A mugshot or arrest record is not proof of guilt. This page is general information about Indiana public records, not legal advice; for advice about your situation, consult an attorney. Information was last reviewed in June 2026 and laws may change.