Boone County Arrest Records

Any act that falls within the definition of crime or is contrary to the provisions of the Indiana Criminal Law and Procedure Code may lead to an arrest. Indiana Code § 35-41-2-4 provides that any person who knowingly and intentionally helps another person commit a crime or hides, conceals, and aids the escape of a person who commits a crime is guilty of that offense and will be arrested as such (not being a parent, child or spouse to the offender).

When a person is arrested, they undergo a booking process, which involves recording information about the person and the circumstances relating to the arrest for documentation. The documents created during booking are what is referred to as arrest records.

Arrest records are an important tool in the Indiana Criminal Justice System. It is useful to public agencies like the courts, correctional institutions, and law enforcement officials, as well as to citizens and arrested persons. Arrest records are a matter of public safety, accountability, and transparency in the Indiana Criminal Justice System. Arrest records are the starting point in the creation of court records. Boone County Court records are legal documents that help file and keep track of trials, petitions, motions, orders, and judgments issued in a criminal prosecution.

Are Arrest Records Public in Boone County?

Yes. The Indiana Access to Public Records Act (APRA) establishes and protects the rights of general members of the public to access and request copies of documents made or received in connection with the public business of all government authorities within the state (I.C. 5-14-3).

Law enforcement agencies and other record custodians are required by law to provide a means for citizens to access arrest records without stating or explaining the purpose of the request. However, these privileges and rights may not be absolute. Some government records and documents are subject to non-disclosure laws or sealed or protected by court order/federal or state statute.

In line with the provisions of the APRA, a public agency may deny an individual access to arrest information for any of the reasons below, as these are exceptions to the right of inspection:

• Where such disclosure will not serve public interest
• Information that may endanger the safety or security of an individual's life or property
• Law enforcement investigatory records
• Records declared as confidential by the Indiana Supreme Court or other state or federal statutes.
• Records declared confidential under the rules adopted by a public agency
• Personal identification information (confidential financial information, social security number, tax identification number, residential address, medical records).
• Records requested by an offender, a relative, or an agent of an offender contain personal information about a victim, judge, law enforcement officer, probation officer, corrections or community corrections officer, or any of their relatives.
• Identity of any person who calls to report fraud and any information whatsoever about the call to the fraud hotline
• Juvenile records.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

In Boone County, Indiana, public arrest records will generally contain the following information:

• The arrestee's general identification information: The accused's full government name, alias, and age.
• The arrestee's physical description includes race, ethnicity, gender, weight, height, hair, and eye color.
• Booking ID
• Booking photo/mugshot
• Arrest information: Arrest and booking time and date, arresting agency, location, and County of arrest.
• Outstanding warrants.
• Charge: Counts, charge, description of the charge, class of offense (felony, misdemeanor, minor infractions)
• Incidents report
• Bail Information, bond amount, and conditions for release.
• Case number
• Holding Facility
• Case Information: If the suspect/accused has been released on bond
• Court Schedule.

Boone County Arrest Statistics

According to arrest data extracted from the FBI's Crime Data in 2023, law enforcement agencies in Brooke County made 164 arrests in 2023. 73.8% of the arrested persons were male offenders (121 male arrestees), and 26.2% were female offenders (43 female arrestees). The most popular crimes in Boone County for that year were violent and property crimes. The most prevalent offenses were Larceny, simple assault, aggravated assault, disorderly conduct, driving under the influence, disorderly conduct, stolen property offenses, and drug/narcotic offenses.

Find Boone County Arrest Records

The Indiana APRA ensures that all persons have equal access to arrest records in the custody of state and local law enforcement agencies. The act mandates public agencies to provide enhanced access to both paper and electronic documents in the manner requested, provided that the information sought is not exempt from public disclosure.

Boone County arrest records are generally prepared, filed, and maintained by the Boone County Sheriff's Office. Alongside the Sheriff, municipal police departments within the County also have the authority to make arrests and execute arrest warrants in apprehending suspects and offenders. Federal or state law enforcement agencies also make arrests in the County, provided they have jurisdiction to do so. Summarily, researchers can direct their search efforts to any of the above agencies to find information on persons arrested in Boone County.

The Boone County Sheriff's Office maintains an online database for warrants, wanted persons, and current detainees in the County. This means that interested persons can find information on arrestees and defendants awaiting trial. Search results will usually include the inmate's name, booking number, incarceration information, date of birth, sex, race, booking and release date, bond and charge information, and next court date.

Moreover, interested persons may visit or contact the Sheriff's office to inquire if there is an option to retrieve arrest records in person or by mail. Written requests ought to be sent by mail to the Sheriff's office or the address of any agency in the custody of the records sought (federal or state law enforcement departments). The mail should include a stamped self-addressed envelope with the requester's name, contact information, the name, case number or description of the records sought, and the number of copies needed. Attach all associated postage and administrative fees (search, copy, and certification fees) and send the mail to:

Boone County Sheriff's Office
1905 Indianapolis Avenue
Lebanon, IN 46052
Phone: (765) 483-5782, (765) 894-9869
Fax: (765) 483-3370

Free Arrest Record Search in Boone County

Residents of Boone County can perform free arrest record searches at the County Court clerk's office. Boone County court records (criminal cases) contain basic arrest information. These records are free and available to all members of the public. Moreover, members of the public can walk into the Boone County Sheriff's Office to make inquiries on the availability of arrest records and find out the rules and procedures for inspecting copies in person. Requests to inspect or obtain copies of arrest records exempt from disclosure rules will be refused.

Interested parties can also search arrest records online using third-party aggregate search sites. These sites primarily compile information from various states in a single database. However, these service providers are not affiliated with the government. As a result, the information available on these sites may not be up to date, making it inaccurate and incomplete.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

In Indiana, an arrest typically remains on a person's record indefinitely. However, it can be deleted if the individual files a petition with the court to have the arrest records sealed or expunged. To do so, the applicant must first meet and satisfy the requirements for sealing or expunging criminal records as stated in the law.

Expunging a record does not destroy or permanently delete it. It only permanently removes all arrest and related official records from the person's record and all public and government-owned databases and platforms.

Expunge Boone County Arrest Records

Per I.C. 35-38-9-1, any person who has been arrested, charged with an offense, or alleged to be a delinquent child may petition the court for expungement of the records related to the arrest, criminal charge, or juvenile delinquency allegation after one year after the date of the arrest or allegation whichever is later, if the arrest criminal charge or allegation of juvenile delinquency:

• Did not result in a conviction or juvenile adjudication, or
• It resulted in a conviction or adjudication, and it was vacated on appeal, rendering the previous judgment void and
• The person is not currently enrolled in any pretrial diversion program.

The petition must be verified and filed in a circuit or superior court in the County where the arrest occurred or where the criminal charges or juvenile delinquency allegation was filed. (I.C. 35-38-9-1(c)). The petition must state:

• The date of the arrest, charges, juvenile delinquency allegations, or conviction
• The County where the arrest occurred and the indictments or allegations were filed (if applicable)
• The arresting agency
• The court where the charges or juvenile delinquency allegation was filed
• Identification information: The name of the arresting officer, the case or docket number or court case number, the petitioner's name, driver's license number, date of birth, and social security number, and all the criminal charges.

Suppose the petition is approved, and the arrest records are thereafter deleted. In that case, the petitioner is no longer required to disclose the arrest on any application, and they will not be guilty of perjury if they fail to acknowledge the existence of the record under oath.

Boone County Arrest Warrants

An arrest warrant is a legal document issued by a magistrate or a judge of a competent court authorizing law enforcement officials or a named individual to make an arrest. An arrest warrant issued in Boone County must be in writing and specify the name of the person to be arrested. Where the name is not known, it shall state a name or provide a description by which he can be identified with reasonable certainty. It must state the nature of the offense, the date and County of issuance, and the bail amount (IN Code § 35-33-2-2).

To obtain a warrant, a law enforcement officer, typically a police officer, must go to the state prosecutor's office to create a warrant file. The warrant application includes an affidavit and a statement of probable cause for the arrest of the named defendant. It must also present evidence or information that establishes probable cause. The prosecutor's office will then file a complaint in court, where a judge will decide whether to issue the warrant.

An arrest warrant is usually issued where it is believed that the accused will not respond to summons, will abscond, or poses a severe threat and imminent danger to the safety and security of the public.

Do Boone County Arrest Warrants Expire?

It depends. In Indiana, the law states that arrest warrants for misdemeanors expire 180 days (approximately six months) after being issued (IN Code § 35-33-2-4). However, warrants related to felony charges and rearrest warrants for any offense—whether felony or misdemeanor—do not expire.

A rearrest warrant is an order from the court to arrest an offender who has been previously released for violating parole or probation, failing to appear in court, or the emergence of new evidence. An arrest warrant remains active until the defendant is apprehended and brought before the court. This means an active warrant can be executed at any time, regardless of how long it was issued.