Adams County Arrest Records

Arrest records are generated by law enforcement agencies following an individual's arrest and provide detailed information about the circumstances surrounding the incident. An individual can be arrested if they are suspected of participating in illegal activity.

In Adams County, the Sheriff's Department is the primary law enforcement agency responsible for arrests. The department also operates the county jail, which houses individuals after their capture.

Arrest records form an important part of a person's criminal history information and are often included in the Adams County court records.

Are Arrest Records Public in Adams County?

Yes. Adams County arrest records are accessible to the public under the Indiana Access to Public Records Act (APRA), Indiana Code § 5-14-3. The Act allows members of the public to examine and obtain a copy of an arrest record during periods specified by the public body.

Nonetheless, specific records are protected by Indiana law and deemed exempt from public access. These include an arrestee's sensitive personal information, juvenile records, medical information, sealed or expunged arrest records, and crime victim information (crime victim information may become public at the discretion of the victim or the victim's parent or guardian if the victim is a minor). Notwithstanding, all restricted arrest records become public records in Indiana 75 years after their restriction.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Public arrest records in Adams County typically include this information:

• Arrestee's personal information (Full name, race, sex, and date of birth)
• Arresting agency
• Description of the offense committed
• Booking information (booking number and mugshots)
• Bail amount (if the offense is bailable)
• Court hearing dates

Adams County Arrest Statistics

The Indiana State Police periodically receives offense and arrest data from Adams County local law enforcement agencies. This data is collected to help agencies analyze crime trends in the county and plan how to neutralize threats.

Adams County arrest data is available to the public on the Indiana Management Performance Hub (MPH) Arrests Dashboard. According to the figures reported, Adams County local law enforcement agencies made 814 arrests in 2023. Below is a breakdown of the number of arrests made for different offense categories.

• Child offenses: 19 arrests
• Court offenses: 155 arrests
• Drug offenses: 138 arrests
• Fraud: 7 arrests
• Property offenses: 68 arrests
• Sexual offenses: 12 arrests
• Traffic offenses: 232 arrests
• Violent offenses: 71 arrests
• Weapon offenses: 2 arrests
• Crime (General): 61 arrests
• Uncategorized: 49 arrests

Find Adams County Arrest Records

Individuals seeking an arrest record in Adams County can contact the arresting law enforcement agency. Inquirers can generally request an arrest record in person or by mail. The Sheriff's Office is to be contacted if the desired record is that of a person in jail.

The Indiana Department of Corrections (DOC) maintains records of individuals incarcerated in state correctional facilities. The public can easily access these records through the DOC's online Incarcerated Search portal. Users can search for inmates by entering their last name, first name, or DOC number. It's important to note that individuals who have been sentenced but are not currently incarcerated in a state facility will not appear in the database.

If an inmate has been imprisoned in a federal facility, their records are maintained by the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP). The BOP allows inquirers to search for the records of federal inmates remotely through their Inmate Locator. Users can perform a name search using the inmate's first, middle, and last name, race, sex, and age. A number search can also be done using a BOP, INS, DCDC, or FBI number.

Free Arrest Record Search in Adams County

Individuals wanting to access Adams County arrest records online can search through third-party databases. Searches are usually free to the user. However, the researcher may be asked to pay a fee to have full access to the record. Arrest records found on third-party databases are not official records and may contain inaccurate information.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Arrest records in Adams County are retained until expunged by court order. An expungement is automatic for arrests resulting in dismissed charges or not-guilty verdicts. In these instances, the court immediately orders the expungement after the verdict is issued without requiring the individual to file a petition. Similarly, in juvenile cases, if no prosecution or disposition occurs within one year, an automatic expungement is issued.

Automatic expungements typically take effect 60 days after the court order. Arrests outside this category may be expunged when the arrestee files a petition in court. The court will only approve the petition if the arrest meets the eligibility requirements.

Expunge Adams County Arrest Records

Indiana Code § 35-38-9 governs the expungement of arrest records in Adams County. Individuals who received a conviction must petition the court before their arrest can be expunged. The eligibility criteria for an arrest record expungement depend on the conviction.

• Misdemeanors (including felonies reduced to misdemeanors): An individual convicted of a misdemeanor or a Class D/Level 6 felony reduced to a misdemeanor can file a petition for expungement. However, a minimum of five years must have elapsed since the date of conviction before the petition can be submitted.
• Class D or Level 6 felonies: Individuals with a Class D or Level 6 felony may petition the court to expunge their record after 8 years following the conviction of their sentence.

Serious felonies that resulted in bodily injury or death may be petitioned after 10 years from the date of conviction or 5 years from the completion of the sentence. Written consent from the prosecuting attorney is mandatory in such cases.

Expungement is not possible for the following individuals:

• Sex or violent offenders
• Individuals convicted of homicide and human trafficking
• Elected officials convicted of crimes while in office or as candidates
• Individuals convicted of multiple felonies involving the unlawful use of a deadly weapon

Adams County Arrest Warrants

An arrest warrant is a legal document issued by a judge authorizing law enforcement to arrest an individual. A warrant can be issued if a grand jury files an indictment or a prosecutor files a complaint. When a complaint is filed, the judge must examine its content to determine if probable cause exists before issuing an arrest warrant. This review ensures that warrants are not issued arbitrarily. Any warrant issued in Adams County must be in writing and contain:

• The name of the defendant and, if unknown, a designated name or description by which the defendant can be identified
• The charge or offense
• The county and date of issuance
• The command demanding the suspect's arrest
• The signature and title of the court clerk or issuing judge

Do Adams County Arrest Warrants Expire?

In Adams County, arrest warrants issued for misdemeanor offenses expire after 180 days if they are not executed. However, a new warrant may be issued on the exact charges if the arrest is still deemed necessary. A warrant issued for a felony or a rearrest warrant does not expire until it has been executed or quashed by the court.