Carroll County Arrest Records

When Carroll County, Indiana, law enforcement officers have probable cause to believe that a crime has occurred, they proceed to arrest and temporarily detain the suspect for investigation or court proceedings. Arrests are necessary to commence the judicial process and to ensure public safety and prevent further offenses. Inmates in Carroll County are usually held at the Carroll County Jail, which is managed by the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office. With a capacity for about 50 inmates, it houses pre-trial and short-sentence detainees in the county.

The primary agency responsible for generating and maintaining Carroll County arrest records is the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office. Arrest records contain details of the detainee’s name, date, address, booking information, and the apprehending officer. These records form a vital piece of the broader public records, connecting with Carroll County Court Records, which document disposition and case filing details, as well as criminal history maintained by the Indiana State Police.

Basically, Carroll County arrest records may be accessed via court records or criminal history files kept by the state police. The interconnection ensures comprehensive background checks, which aid employers, licensing agencies, and landlords in navigating legal histories effectively.

Are Arrest Records Public in Carroll County?

Under Indiana’s Access to Public Records Act (APRA), entrenched in Indiana Code 5-14-3, Carroll County arrest records are generally open to the public for inspection and copying unless specifically exempted. The accessibility of arrest records helps promote governmental transparency, which allows citizens to obtain information like inmate rosters, mugshots, and charge sheets from the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office.

However, under IC 5-14-3-4(a)(1), certain arrest records are excluded from public disclosure to protect privacy, victim rights, or to safeguard an ongoing investigation. They include:

• Witness statements or forensic evidence
• Juvenile arrests
• Sealed adult conviction
• Records containing social security numbers or medical details
• Law enforcement body camera footage (maybe released only when sensitive victim identification is redacted, unless consent is given).

In order to access public arrest records, requesters must submit a formal APRA request to the custodian at:

Carroll County Sheriff’s Office
6499 W. 100 N,
Delphi, IN 46923
Phone: (765) 564-2413

There are no fees required for inspection, but copying costs $0.10 per page. Anyone can request public arrest records, as eligibility requires no special status. Agencies typically respond within a week, but if denied access, requesters can appeal to the Indiana Public Access Counselor. This entire process balances public interest with legal shields for arrest records, ensuring accountability without perpetuating injustice.

Carroll County Arrest Statistics

According to the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program, through the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS), Carroll County recorded 142 arrests in 2024. The rural county, which has a population of 20,306, recorded 18 violent crime arrests (including 8 for aggravated assault and 5 for domestic battery), 52 property crime arrests (including 15 for burglary and 22 for larceny), 45 arrests for drug violations, and 27 confirmed arrests for other categories, e.g, DUI.

Find Carroll County Arrest Records

Carroll County arrest records are available through the following resources:

• Navigate to the Indiana County Jail Public Portal through the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office website under Inmate Search. Also, requesters can submit an APRA request to the Sheriff’s Office (6499 W. 100 N, Delphi, IN 46923).
• Researchers can also search for Carroll County arrest records using the Indiana Department of Corrections (IDOC) Offender Locator. Search by entering the inmate’s DOC number or their incarcerated name. This resource provides the facility where they’re being held, the release date, and the sentence details.
• Search the Limited Crime History under the menu of the Indiana State Police website. It contains felony and misdemeanor arrests statewide, and the search costs $15.
• Federally, use the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Inmate Locator to search for individuals incarcerated in federal prisons.

Carroll County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Arrest records and criminal records in Carroll County perform different roles within the Indiana legal framework, even though they overlap during background checks.

An arrest record documents the initial details surrounding detention: date, time, location, charges, officer’s narrative, and booking photo/fingerprints, generated by the Sheriff’s Office upon probable cause under IC 35-33-1-1. Regardless of merely reflecting suspicion, arrest records remain on criminal records even if charges are dropped. Criminal records document details of the full case, including prosecution outcomes like convictions, pleas, or acquittals, maintained in court files.

The difference is evident in their scope and mode of release. Arrest records reflect enforcement actions and are accessible through APRA requests, while criminal records reflect judicial outcomes and are maintained by the ISP’s Criminal History Service.

For instance, an arrest for theft might not advance to a conviction if there is no evidence, which leaves the arrest on file. However, both arrest records and criminal records affect employment, licensing, or other life essentials. Also, expungement eligibility differs: arrests without conviction seal easier (one-year wait) than convictions (five years or more).

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

County law enforcement, such as in Carroll County, follows statewide guidelines. Therefore, under I.C. 35-38-9, arrests remain on an individual’s record indefinitely in Carroll County, unless expunged, sealed, or statutorily restricted.

Eligibility for expungement applies to arrests not resulting in conviction or juvenile adjudication, including vacated convictions. The key requirements include:

• The arrest must not lead to a conviction
• There are no pending charges
• Not currently in a pretrial diversion program

However, automatic expungement occurs if:

• Charges are dismissed after 60 days, but can be extended to 1 year
• Charges are acquitted or vacated
• No prosecution after 1 year for juvenile allegations.

Once expunged, records are sealed or redacted from public access, but not destroyed. There are no filing fees, so unlimited petitions are allowed. Courts must grant if the criteria are met, unless charges are pending. Expungement limits background checks, but internal agency records (e.g., diversion) remain unchanged.

Carroll County Arrest Warrants

Judges in Carroll County issue arrest warrants under IC 35-33-2-1 when probable cause is established through an affidavit. The process begins with a prosecutor or police submitting a sworn statement explaining evidence, such as witness testimony or surveillance, to the Carroll Superior or Circuit Court clerk. If adequate, the court signs the warrant, which specifies the offense, the suspect's description, and the execution instructions.

In Carroll County, failure to appear, new probable cause after investigation, or probation violations necessitate the issuance of an arrest warrant. They usually contain the following:

• The suspect’s name
• Charges
• Bail amount
• Issuing court
• Validity terms

They are served by Sheriff’s deputies, and they enable entry into homes with force if needed, per knock-and-announce rules. In Carroll, the Sheriff’s Office executes most, logging into the Indiana Warrant System for statewide alerts.

Do Carroll County Arrest Warrants Expire?

Under IC 35-33-2-4, Carroll County arrest warrants’ duration varies by offense type, without a universal expiration. For instance, misdemeanor warrants expire 180 days after issuance. The statute of limitations is a primary factor that affects validity (e.g., 5 years for felonies below Class A and 2 years for misdemeanors, per IC 35-41-4-2), nullifying the warrant. The defendant’s death also terminates an arrest warrant in Carroll County.

Expunge Carroll County Arrest Records

Carroll County, Indiana, follows I.C. 35-38-9-1, which proposes sealing or restricting access rather than destroying them. There are limited expungement eligibility circumstances in Indiana. For non-conviction records:

• Arrest must not result in conviction or juvenile adjudication
• Charges must have been vacated on appeal
• There are no pending charges

However, under I.C. 11-8-8-5, expungement is not allowed in Indiana for violent or sexual offenders or those with specific criminal records. After a year from the arrest or vacate date, the majority of arrests without conviction are eligible. After 60 days, dismissals are automatically expunged, whereas inactive juvenile cases or acquittals are dismissed after a year.

Here is the process for expungement in Carroll County:

• File the Petition: Submit a verified petition in the Carroll Superior Court where charges were filed (or where the arrest occurred if no charges). Assign a new XP case number per Indiana Administrative Rule 8(B)(3). No filing fee is required. The petition must include:
  • Date of arrest, charges, allegations, and conviction
  • County of arrest or filing
  • Arresting law enforcement
  • The court where the charges were filed
• Hearing: If the prosecutor objects, a hearing is set no sooner than 60 days after service. If no objection, the court may grant without a hearing. The court can summarily deny if requirements aren’t met or if charges are pending.
• Court Decision: The court must grant if eligibility is proven; no discretion otherwise.

After the expungement process, records are removed from central repositories and sealed in courts.