Hancock County Arrest Records

In Hancock County, an arrest is made based on a law enforcement officer's reasonable belief that the individual has committed an offense. Law enforcement officers must make arrests if evidence or suspicion is sufficient, such as those from the Hancock County Sheriff's Department and other local police departments.

After an arrest, suspects are usually taken to Hancock County Jail to await their respective court dates or even to be transferred to another facility. The jail is maintained by the Sheriff's Department and serves as a holding facility for those arrested.

Arrest records are produced by the arresting law enforcement agencies, including the Hancock County Sheriff's Department or the Greenfield Police Department. Most arrest records are linked to other public records, specifically Hancock County Court Records. They indicate what transpired following an arrest, like court appearances, the charges filed against an individual, and the final disposition of the case.

Are Arrest Records Public in Hancock County?

Yes, arrest records are public as stipulated by the Indiana Access to Public Records Act. The person requesting them has the right to view them.

Conversely, it has several exceptions. Some information cannot be made open to the public, such as details of an ongoing investigation, juvenile arrest information, or any record that would hinder a person from having a fair trial. If the case is sealed by the court, those particular records would not be available to the public.

Hancock County arrest records can be requested through a written application or personal visit to the enforcement agency. Consequently, access may be restricted to an applicant's identity and/or eligibility conditions based on the nature of a record requested.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

The Hancock County Public Arrest Records contain some basic components of an arrestee, such as a full name, date of birth, gender, and sometimes the address. They also contain information regarding the arrest: the date, approximate time, and place of arrest, as well as which agency initiated the arrest. The records may also reflect the arresting officer's name or badge number.

Arrest records provide details regarding the criminal charges against the individual apprehended, along with the offense, statutes, or laws under which a person is accused of having committed. They also involve booking information: the charges for which one was booked and the bail amount set. Each case is assigned a unique case number for tracking through the court system.

Hancock County Arrest Statistics

Anyone wanting Hancock County arrest statistics will find these at the county's local law enforcement agencies or through the Crime Data Explorer at the FBI. According to the FBI's Crime Data Explorer, there were 645 arrests by the Hancock County Sheriff's Office in 2022. Specific details regarding arrest records, individuals, and incidents are elaborated by local police departments and the sheriff's office in the jurisdictions.

Find Hancock County Arrest Records

Arrest records for Hancock County can be accessed through various public resources at the state, federal, and local levels, allowing individuals to search for inmate and arrest information both online and in person.

Indiana Department of Correction (DOC): The Indiana DOC Inmate Locator provides access to search for currently incarcerated inmates in the prisons under Indiana DOC jurisdiction. The service can be availed by using a name or ID number to retrieve information about the status and location of an inmate, as well as other sentencing details. This search covers inmates at the state level only and not those housed in county or local jail facilities.

Hancock County Sheriff's Department: The Hancock County Sheriff's Department allows online and in-person access for residents requiring arrest records and inmate information from Hancock County. For that matter, the Sheriff's Department maintains an online jail roster where, using the name of the inmate or book date of the inmate, users can search for current inmates in the list. For more detailed information or to obtain specific arrest records, one can contact the Sheriff's Department or visit them in person.

Local Police Departments: Other police departments in the county, such as Greenfield Police Department and New Palestine Police Department, maintain arrest records of arrests within their respective cities or towns. Therefore, requesters can visit them in person to obtain this record.

Federal Bureau of Prisons: If one suspects that the person in question is serving in federal custody, then the Federal Bureau of Prisons provides an Inmate Locator to research federal inmates. Users of this tool can get information on federal prisoners by name or BOP register number and learn their current location and date of release.

Free Arrest Record Search in Hancock County

Free arrest records searches in Hancock County are through resources provided by the Hancock County Sheriff's Department and the Indiana Department of Correction. The Sheriff's Department offers an online jail roster that provides basic information on current inmates; however, individuals may physically visit the department for more inquiries. Other free resources include an Inmate Locator tool from the IDOC that would greatly help anyone looking for somebody who might have been transferred to a state facility. The tool carries minimum information such as where the inmate is being housed and what the sentence is. A number of third-party sites offer initial free searches but charge for complete reports. The accuracy of information on these websites also varies.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

An arrest record in Hancock County does not disappear with time and stays with a person forever. However, Indiana law allows the expungement of an arrest record, a legal process of removing or sealing the records from public view. The eligibility for expungement usually depends on the result of the arrest: charges dismissed, acquitted, or did not result in a conviction.

Expunge Hancock County Arrest Records

Under Indiana Code § 35-38-9-1, one can petition for an expungement of an arrest record if they were arrested but not charged, were charged, but the charges were dismissed or were charged but then acquitted. There is generally a one-year waiting period after the date of the arrest or the date the charges were dismissed. For convictions, there are different provisions under the law with longer waiting periods and more specific eligibility depending on the type and level of offense, be it misdemeanors, Class D felonies, or non-violent felonies. Violent crimes and some serious felonies are usually excluded from expungement.

The expungement process is initiated by filing a verified petition in the court where the arrest or charge was filed-in this instance, the Hancock County court for a local arrest. The petition must include the date of the arrest, the case number (if known), and identifying personal information with a description of how the petitioner meets eligibility under Indiana law. Unless waived by the court upon a showing of financial need, there is a filing fee. The court may consider that petition and hold a hearing on whether the statutory prerequisites are met.

If the court grants the expungement, the records are sealed in accordance with Indiana Code § 35-38-9 and, in many respects, become inaccessible to most employers, licensing boards, and the general public. After the court grants the expungement, individuals lawfully can answer "no" when asked about an arrest or conviction of the expunged offense since Indiana law provides that an expunged record can be treated as if the arrest or conviction never took place.

Hancock County Arrest Warrants

An arrest warrant in Hancock County is a legal paper issued by a judge or magistrate for the apprehension and detention of a suspect in a committed crime. It is usually issued when the police have built sufficient evidence to establish probable cause, meaning it is reasonably believed that an offense was committed and the suspect is the one who has committed it. To obtain a warrant, law enforcement officers or prosecutors bring an affidavit- a written statement that contains all the evidence to prove a need for an arrest. If the judge or magistrate finds that there indeed is probable cause in those cases, they will sign the warrant, which gives law enforcement the legal right to arrest someone.

An arrest warrant is usually issued when law enforcement has not directly witnessed the crime but has acquired sufficient evidence through investigation. It is also issued if one suspects flight, danger to public safety, and failure to appear in court. The warrant contains some specifics, such as the name and description of the person to be arrested, details about the alleged crime, and how and where to apprehend the individual.

Do Hancock County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No. Most arrest warrants issued in Hancock County are not set to expire. These arrest warrants are presumed valid from the date of issuance to service or otherwise invalidated by a court. It means that the police can execute an arrest warrant at any point, which can be much later than its issuance date. However, some factors may interfere with or negate an arrest warrant's perpetual validity and legality.

For instance, the warrant can be dropped or nullified where charges against the suspect have been dismissed, the case has been thrown out of court, or new evidence is clearing them from the commission of the purported crime. Additionally, time and changing circumstances with respect to the suspect's location and current status may be issues that affect how seriously the warrant is pursued. While arrest warrants do not expire, they may fall further down on the list of priorities for law enforcement with the passing of time, at least in cases where the person is no longer readily found and/or the crime involved is less urgent.