Decatur County Criminal Records
How To Look Up Criminal Records In Decatur County in 2026
Members of the public seeking criminal records in Decatur County may access publicly available information through official government repositories, court systems, and third-party aggregators such as DecaturRecords.org. Criminal records maintained by county and state agencies may include documentation related to arrests, charges, court proceedings, convictions, and sentencing outcomes. The scope and completeness of accessible records depend on the agency holding them, the nature of the offense, and whether any legal restrictions—such as expungement or sealing orders—apply.
Records that may be available through official channels include:
- Arrest and booking records
- Court case filings and dispositions
- Felony and misdemeanor conviction records
- Jail and inmate records
- Sex offender registration information
- Warrant records
- Probation and parole status (where publicly disclosed)
Records can be searched through official resources, clerk offices, public access terminals, and online tools. The following five methods outline the primary avenues available to members of the public.
1. County Court Records
The Decatur County Clerk's Office maintains court records for both the Circuit Court and Superior Court. Members of the public may inspect non-confidential court filings in person during regular business hours. Requestors should bring a valid government-issued photo ID and, where possible, the full name of the subject or a case number to facilitate the search. Public access terminals are available at the clerk's office for on-site record review.
Decatur County Clerk's Office
150 Courthouse Square, Suite 5
Greensburg, IN 47240
Phone: (812) 663-8223
Clerk | Decatur County, Indiana
2. Sheriff's Office
The Decatur County Sheriff's Office maintains arrest logs, booking records, and jail inmate information. Members of the public may submit records requests directly to the Sheriff's Office in person or in writing. Fees may apply for copies of records. The Sheriff's Office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Decatur County Sheriff's Department
601 South Ireland Street
Greensburg, IN 47240
Phone: (812) 222-4911 (Dispatch)
Sheriff | Decatur County, Indiana
3. Online Court Search
The Decatur County Clerk's Office provides an online portal through which members of the public may search non-confidential Circuit and Superior Court filings. Users may search by party name or case number. Confidential, sealed, and juvenile case records are excluded from online results. The portal is accessible through the Clerk | Decatur County, Indiana website.
4. State Criminal History Repository
The Indiana State Police maintains the state's criminal history repository and offers a Limited Criminal History Search for public use. A Limited Criminal History contains felonies and Class A misdemeanor arrests within Indiana. Formal background checks requiring fingerprint submission are processed through the Indiana State Police Identity Verification Unit. Processing times and fees vary depending on the type of request submitted.
Indiana State Police
100 North Senate Avenue
Indianapolis, IN 46204
Phone: (317) 232-8264
Indiana State Police - Limited Criminal History Search
5. Written/Mail Requests
Members of the public may submit written requests for court records to the Decatur County Clerk's Office at 150 Courthouse Square, Suite 5, Greensburg, IN 47240. Requests should include the full name of the subject, date of birth, case number if known, and a description of the records sought. Under Indiana Code § 5-14-3, agencies are required to respond to public records requests within a reasonable time, with a statutory deadline of 24 hours for denial and seven days for fulfillment of the request.
What Is Decatur County Criminal Records
A criminal record is an official compilation of documented interactions between an individual and the criminal justice system, maintained by law enforcement agencies, courts, and state repositories. In Indiana, criminal records are created at the point of arrest and updated as a case progresses through the judicial process—from arraignment and plea proceedings through trial, sentencing, and any subsequent appeals or supervision.
The distinction between record types is significant for access and use purposes:
- Arrest records vs. conviction records: An arrest record documents that an individual was taken into custody; it does not indicate guilt or a finding of conviction. A conviction record reflects a formal judicial determination of guilt.
- Felony vs. misdemeanor records: Felony records document the most serious offenses under Indiana law, while misdemeanor records document lesser offenses. Both are part of the public criminal history under Indiana Code § 35-38-9, subject to expungement eligibility.
- Adult vs. juvenile records: Adult criminal records are subject to public access under Indiana's Access to Public Records Act. Juvenile records are confidential by statute and are not available to the general public.
- Active warrants vs. historical records: Active warrant information may be available through the Sheriff's Office or court clerk, while historical records reflect resolved matters.
The agencies responsible for maintaining criminal records in Decatur County include the Decatur County Sheriff's Office (arrest and jail records), the Decatur County Circuit and Superior Courts (case filings and dispositions), the Indiana State Police (statewide criminal history repository), and local police departments such as the Decatur Police Department. Records may reflect charges, arraignments, plea agreements, trial outcomes, sentencing details, and probation or parole status.
Are Criminal Records Public In Decatur County
Criminal records in Decatur County are subject to public disclosure under Indiana's Access to Public Records Act, codified at Indiana Code § 5-14-3-3, which establishes that public records are presumptively open to inspection and copying by any person. Adult conviction records, court proceedings, and case dispositions are accessible to members of the public through the county clerk and state repositories.
As stated in the Indiana Access to Public Records Act, "any person may inspect and copy the public records of any public agency." This broad access right applies to criminal court records maintained by the Decatur County Clerk's Office and to arrest records held by the Decatur County Sheriff's Office.
Certain categories of records are restricted from public disclosure under current law:
- Juvenile records, which are sealed by statute
- Expunged records, which are treated as if they do not exist for most purposes following a court order
- Records subject to active investigative exemptions
- Victim and witness identifying information in certain cases
- Mental health and medical records incorporated into court files
- Records sealed by judicial order
Federal criminal records maintained by the Federal Bureau of Investigation are governed by separate federal statutes and are not subject to Indiana's public records law. The Indiana Attorney General's Office provides guidance on the application of the Access to Public Records Act to criminal justice records.
How To Find Criminal Records in Decatur County Online?
Official County Resources
The Decatur County Clerk's Office provides online access to non-confidential Circuit and Superior Court filings through its official website. Users may search by party name or case number to locate case information, including charges, hearing dates, and dispositions. The portal excludes confidential, sealed, and juvenile records. No registration is required for basic case searches. The Decatur County Clerk's Office website serves as the primary online access point for county-level court records.
State-Level Resources
At the state level, the Indiana State Police operates the Limited Criminal History Search portal, which allows members of the public to search for felony and Class A misdemeanor arrest records statewide. The Indiana Department of Correction maintains the Indiana Incarcerated Database Search, which allows searches by incarcerated individual name to locate persons currently or previously held in state correctional facilities.
Search Tips
- Search using the subject's full legal name as well as known aliases
- Case number searches yield the most precise results
- Cross-reference multiple databases, as no single portal contains all records
- Be aware that records predating digital systems may not appear in online searches
- Expunged or sealed records will not appear in public online databases
Limitations
Online databases may reflect a data lag of several days to weeks following a court event. Historical records predating electronic filing systems are not fully digitized and may require in-person requests. Online search results do not constitute an official background check and are not suitable as a substitute for certified records in employment or licensing contexts.
Can You Search Decatur County Criminal Records for Free?
Free Options
1. In-Person Inspection: Under Indiana Code § 5-14-3-3, members of the public have the right to inspect public records at no charge. The Decatur County Clerk's Office and the Decatur County Sheriff's Office permit in-person inspection of non-confidential records during regular business hours. Copying fees apply to reproductions of records.
2. Free Online Databases: The following portals provide free access to certain criminal records:
| Resource | What's Free | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Decatur County Clerk Online Search | Non-confidential court case filings | Decatur County Clerk |
| Indiana State Police LCH Search | Felony and Class A misdemeanor history | ISP Limited Criminal History |
| Indiana DOC Incarcerated Search | Current and former state inmates | Indiana Incarcerated Database |
3. Sheriff's Logs: The Decatur County Sheriff's Office maintains arrest and booking records that may be reviewed in person at no charge during business hours.
What Costs Money
- Certified copies of court records: fees set by the Decatur County Clerk's Office (contact office for current schedule)
- Official state background checks through the Indiana State Police: fees apply per request
- Staff-assisted record searches beyond standard inspection
- Expedited processing requests
State Fee Law
Indiana Code § 5-14-3-8 governs the fees agencies may charge for public records. Agencies may charge for the actual cost of copying but may not charge for inspection of records. Fee waivers may be available in limited circumstances as determined by the agency.
What's Included in a Decatur County Criminal Record?
Identifying Information
A criminal record maintained by Decatur County agencies and the Indiana State Police may include the subject's full legal name and known aliases, date of birth, physical description, photograph (mugshot), last known address, State Identification (SID) number, and FBI number where applicable.
Arrest Information
Arrest records document the date and time of arrest, the arresting agency, booking number, charges filed at the time of arrest, bail or bond information, and the jail facility where the individual was held.
Court Case Information
Court records maintained by the Decatur County Clerk's Office include the case number, court and jurisdiction, filing date, charges and applicable statutes (including felony or misdemeanor classification), plea entered, and attorney of record.
Disposition
Disposition records reflect the verdict or outcome of the case, conviction date where applicable, sentencing details (including type and length of sentence, fines, restitution, and conditions of supervision), any appeals filed, and probation or parole status.
Additional Record Elements
- Active or recalled warrants
- Protective or restraining orders
- Sex offender registration status
- DUI/DWI adjudications
- Pending charges
NOT Included in Public Records
- Juvenile adjudication records (sealed by statute)
- Expunged or sealed records following a court order
- Records from other states or federal jurisdictions
- Records from completed diversion programs where expungement has been granted
Accuracy Note
Members of the public who identify errors in their own criminal records may petition the maintaining agency or court for correction. The Indiana State Police provides a process for challenging inaccurate criminal history information through its criminal history unit.
How Long Does Decatur County Keep Criminal Records?
Legal Requirements
Indiana's public records retention schedules, administered through the Indiana Archives and Records Administration, establish minimum retention periods for criminal justice records. County courts and law enforcement agencies are required to follow these schedules under state law.
Retention by Record Type
| Record Type | Retention Period |
|---|---|
| Felony convictions | Permanent |
| Misdemeanor convictions | Permanent |
| Arrest records (no conviction) | Minimum 5 years; varies by agency |
| Dismissed or acquitted cases | Retained with disposition noted; permanent in court system |
| Juvenile records | Sealed at age 18 or upon petition; subject to destruction per statute |
| Pending cases | Retained until final resolution |
Agency Differences
County courts retain case records permanently as part of the official judicial record. The Decatur County Sheriff's Office retains jail and arrest records in accordance with the Indiana Archives and Records Administration retention schedule. The Indiana State Police retains conviction records permanently in the state criminal history repository, accessible through the Limited Criminal History Search.
Physical vs. Electronic Records
Electronic records are retained for longer periods than paper records in many instances. Paper records may be destroyed following scanning and digitization, but the electronic record remains accessible through the appropriate agency or state repository.
Destruction vs. Sealing vs. Expungement
- Destruction refers to the physical or electronic elimination of a record following the expiration of its retention period.
- Sealing restricts access to a record without eliminating it; sealed records remain in existence but are not accessible to the public.
- Expungement under Indiana Code § 35-38-9 results in the restriction of criminal history records from public access. Expunged records may still be accessible to law enforcement and certain licensing authorities.
Indiana's expungement statute establishes eligibility criteria based on offense type, time elapsed since conviction, and completion of sentence. Petition forms are available through the Decatur County Clerk's Office. Even where county agencies have destroyed physical records, electronic copies may exist in state databases unless a valid expungement order has been entered and served on all relevant agencies.
Federal Records
Criminal records maintained by the Federal Bureau of Investigation are governed by federal law and are retained separately from state records. Federal retention rules differ from Indiana state requirements, and federal records are not subject to Indiana's expungement statute.
Practical Implications
Felony and misdemeanor convictions remain part of the permanent public record and will appear on background checks conducted through the Indiana State Police repository. Employment background checks conducted under the Fair Credit Reporting Act are subject to a seven-year reporting limitation for certain non-conviction records, though convictions may be reported without time limitation. Professional licensing boards in Indiana may require full disclosure of criminal history regardless of the age of the record.