Dearborn County Arrest Records

Dearborn County, Indiana, arrest records are official documents that detail the arrest of individuals by law enforcement agencies within the county. In Dearborn County, arrest becomes necessary if:

• A court issues an arrest warrant
• An officer witnesses an arrestable crime
• An individual poses a public threat to others
• A person flouts court orders or summons
• An individual violates a protective order.

The Dearborn County Sheriff’s Office, local police departments, the Indiana State Police (ISP), and other law enforcement agencies generate arrest records within Dearborn County. These documents provide details of arrests and may become part of Dearborn County court records. Inmates are held at the Dearborn County Law Enforcement Center.

Are Arrest Records Public in Dearborn County?

Yes, arrest records are public in Dearborn County. According to the Indiana Access to Public Records Act (APRA), every individual has the right to request Dearborn County arrest records in the custody of local and state government agencies. However, Indiana law restricts access to Dearborn County arrest information relating to juveniles, active law enforcement investigations, expunged or sealed records, information that may endanger victims or witnesses, and sensitive national security records. Those eligible to access exempt arrest records are law enforcement, the record owners, and legally authorized persons.

Dearborn County Arrest Statistics

The FBI Uniform Crime Data shows a varying trend in the number of arrests in Franklin County between 2021 and 2023. A 2021 report by the Lawrenceburg Police Department shows 210 arrests for various offenses in Dearborn County; the same agency reported 212 and 210 arrests for Dearborn County in 2022 and 2023, respectively. Between 2021 and 2023, over 430 males and 192 females were taken into custody in Dearborn County.

Also, during this period, drug/narcotics and DUI were the most recurring offenses; 178 individuals were taken into custody for drug-related crimes, and there were 160 arrests for DUI offenses.

Find Dearborn County Arrest Records

Interested individuals seeking to access Dearborn County public arrest records can use the inmate locator to conduct searches. Other sources include:

• Log in to the Indiana Judicial Branch Case Search Page and use names or case numbers to look for Dearborn County arrest information through criminal court records.
• Visit the Indiana State Police Limited Criminal History Request Service Portal, create an account, log in, and search for Dearborn County arrest records through criminal records.
• Request access to Dearborn County arrest records through calls, mail, email, or in-person visits to the Dearborn County Sheriff's Office at:

Dearborn County Sheriff's Office
Law Enforcement Center
301 West High Street,
Lawrenceburg, IN 47025
Phone: (812) 537-8700
Fax: (812) 537-3629
Email: dcsd@dearborncounty.in.gov.

Additionally, a formal request must be submitted to the Dearborn County law enforcement agency responsible for the arrest.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

An arrest may stay on a record indefinitely unless the owner of the record petitions the court for its sealing or removal. Per Indiana Code § 35-38-9 (Indiana Second Chance Law), an individual may be eligible to petition the Dearborn County Superior or Circuit Court to expunge or seal an arrest record if:

• The arrest did not result in a conviction
• The arrest record results from non-violent misdemeanor or Class D felony
• The owner of the record completes a diversion program for the arrest
• The record owner was a minor during the arrest and completed juvenile adjudication.

In addition, the arrestee must have no pending criminal charges, pay all court fines, complete the sentence for the crime, or complete a diversion program. Also, applicants must observe the following waiting period:

• Non-conviction arrests – the record owners may petition the court one year after dismissal or acquittal
• Non-violent misdemeanors – five years after completing the sentence for the crime
• Class D or Level 6 felonies – eight years after the conviction.

Dearborn County Arrest Warrants

Arrest warrants are official orders from the court instructing law enforcement to apprehend individuals for arrestable offenses. Dearborn County Superior or Circuit Court judges may issue arrest warrants if law enforcements provide sufficient evidence that a person is responsible for a crime. Also, the court may issue an arrest warrant if individuals disobey court orders, pose security risks, or intend to flee to avoid trial for offenses.

For an arrest warrant to be legally valid and enforceable, it must contain information that includes but is not limited to:

• Full name, aliases, gender, and physical description of the subject
• The section of the law alleged violated
• Name and signature of the judge authorizing the warrant
• Name and location of the issuing court
• Statement of probable cause
• Instructions to law enforcement on the execution of the warrant
• The geographical area where the warrant is valid.

Do Dearborn County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No, arrest warrants do not expire in Dearborn County or other parts of the United States. Once a Dearborn County Superior or Circuit Court judge issues an arrest warrant, it will remain active until law enforcement takes the subject of the warrant into custody or the court revokes it. Also, arrest warrants become dormant at the demise of the subject.