Howard County Arrest Records

Indiana Code 35-33-1-1 grants law enforcement officers the power to arrest a person. This means taking a person into custody when there is probable cause to believe the person committed, attempted to commit, or is committing a crime. Local law enforcement agencies in Howard County, such as the sheriff’s office, are typically responsible for generating arrest records.

Arrest records are usually generated and maintained by local law enforcement agencies that make arrests. However, they may be obtained from other sources. As they form part of criminal records, they may be obtained from the Indiana State Police or as part of Howard County Court Records available from Howard County courts or the Indiana Judicial Branch.

Are Arrest Records Public in Howard County?

The Indiana Access to Public Records Act classifies arrest records as public information. Under the act, the public has the right to inspect and copy records in the custody of public agencies such as law enforcement, with some exceptions. Some records may have information restricted by law and exempted from public disclosure. Information that is exempted by law from disclosure includes the following.

• Information that would identify a confidential informant of law enforcement
• Information that would identify the victims of a crime or their families
• Personnel files where releasing the information they contain would be an unwarranted invasion of privacy
• Records that are expunged or sealed under a court order
• Records required to be kept confidential under state or federal statutes

Although such information is confidential, law enforcement and government agencies may still access the full records. Conversely, the general public may access them, but all confidential parts will be deleted.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

An arrest record contains details of the crime, information about the arrested suspect, and events surrounding the arrest. The exact format may be different according to jurisdiction, but an arrest record will usually contain a mixture of the following information.

• Personal information about the arrested suspect, including their full name, age, gender, ethnicity, and physical description(hair color, eye color, scars, tattoos, weight, and height)
• The charges brought against the suspect and statutes broken by the crime
• Arrest information such as the location, time, and date of the arrest, the arresting officer, and the arresting agency
• Booking details, including the date and time of the booking, booking number, bail/bond details, and arraignment date
• An incident report detailing the events concerning the arrest

Some arrest records may also contain court case information, including docket information, court dates, and the final disposition of the case(guilty, acquitted, dismissed, etc.)

Howard County Arrest Statistics

Howard County Sheriff’s Office collates crime data in the county and passes these statistics to the FBI using the Uniform Crime Reporting program. Statistics for 2023 indicate that the Howard County Sheriff’s Office reported about 1963 arrests. This included 122 arrests for drug offenses, 95 arrests for driving under the influence, 26 arrests for simple assaults, 13 arrests for aggravated assaults, four arrests each for disorderly conduct, fraud, and weapons violations, three arrests for robbery, two arrests each for larceny, vandalism, and homicide offenses, and one arrest for arson.

Find Howard County Arrest Records

Arrest records and inmate information for Howard County may be obtained by contacting the Howard County Sheriff's Office. Interest parties may request these records by contacting the sheriff’s office at:

Howard County Sheriff’s Office
Howard County Criminal Justice Center
1800 West Markland Avenue
Kokomo, Indiana 46901
Email: hcsd@howardcountyin.gov
Phone: (765) 457-1105
Fax: (765) 456-2145

Requests may also be made by submitting a Record Request Form to the sheriff’s office in person or by mail. Record seekers may call the sheriff’s office corrections department at (765) 456-2026 for any questions or instructions about requesting arrest and inmate records. Inmate information is available online via the Current Inmates list and search tool maintained by the sheriff’s office.

Inmates' records may also be found using the Indiana Department of Corrections, Incarcerated Search Database.

Free Arrest Record Search in Howard County

Free inmate information and arrest details are available online via the databases operated by the Indiana Department of Corrections and the Howard County Sheriff. Interested parties may use the Incarcerated Search and the Current Inmates list to look up arrest details and inmate information at no charge.

Free arrest records and inmate information may also be available from third-party record websites. These private record websites collate public records across jurisdictions and may be accessed from any internet-capable smart device. These sites may allow users to search for records and download search results directly to their devices for free. Record seekers who use this option should note that these are not official government resources; hence, their search results may not be up-to-date.

Howard County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Howard County arrest and criminal records document a person’s relationship with the criminal justice system. The difference between these records lies in what aspects they cover. Arrest records are generated by arresting agencies and cover the circumstances around their arrests, while criminal records are much more comprehensive and detail a person’s full criminal history. A criminal record is a combination of records from different agencies and contains information on all aspects, including arrests, court proceedings, jail sentences, and supervisory periods.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

In Indiana, the time an arrest remains on a person’s record will depend on the offense the arrest was for and the case’s outcome. Arrests that lead to a conviction will remain on a person’s record until they take the necessary steps to seal or expunge the record. For example, some felony arrests and convictions may only be expunged 8 years after completing your sentence. Alternatively, an arrest that ended with a dismissal or acquittal may be automatically expunged 60 days after the dismissal.

Expunge Howard County Arrest Records

Expungement in Howard County, Indiana, is a legal process that allows offenders to remove arrests and charges from their records. Indiana Code 35-38-9 governs the sealing or expungement of arrest records and criminal convictions in Indiana.

The applicant must meet specific conditions and criteria to qualify for expungement. Some of these conditions include the following.

• The arrest or criminal charge did not lead to a conviction
• No current charges are pending against the applicant
• The applicant is not attending any pretrial diversion programs
• At least one year must have passed since the arrest or charges were filed
• At least 5 years must have passed since a conviction for a misdemeanor and 8-10 years for a felony

Some offenses, such as sex offenses, violent crimes, perjury, and official misconduct by an elected official, do not qualify for expungement in Indiana. Some general guidelines for expunging arrest records are given below.

• Gather the necessary documents, including a certified copy of your criminal record and any supporting documents, such as incident reports or case dismissal orders, if available.
• Obtain the expungement forms from either the Howard County Clerk's office or the local court clerk or download them online from the Self-Service Section of the Indiana Judiciary website.
• Fill out the form completely and accurately.
• File the completed petition form at the appropriate court. This is the Howard County Superior or Circuit Court where the conviction occurred, or the charges were filed. Consult the county clerk for any specific procedures and fees.
• Indiana law requires that petitioners serve a copy of their petition to the prosecuting attorney’s office in the county. The prosecutor has 30 days to respond and decide if they object, consent, or require a hearing for the petition.
• If the prosecutor objects, then a hearing will be scheduled where the petitioner must plead their case as to why they qualify for an expungement.
• If the petition is successful, the court will issue an order to seal the records. Applicants should ensure the order is forwarded to all parties concerned.

Although applicants may go through the process on their own, they may want to consult an expungement lawyer to ensure the petition is made properly. Expungement in Indiana is a one-time thing, so a full denial may be final.

Howard County Arrest Warrants

Arrest warrants in Howard County, Indiana, are legal documents issued to law enforcement agents, such as the County Sheriff, authorizing them to arrest anyone suspected of a crime. The law governing arrest warrants and how they work is set down in Indiana Code 35-33-2-2.

To obtain an arrest warrant, law enforcement agents or the prosecuting attorney submit an affidavit to a judge showing probable cause that a crime was committed and the subject of the warrant committed it. If the judge determines that probable cause exists, they will issue the warrant. An arrest warrant issued in Indiana should be in writing and contain the following information.

• The name of the person to be arrested, any aliases, and a reasonable physical description
• The specific nature of the crime the warrant is issued for and statutes broken by it
• The date and location the warrant was issued
• It should contain a command to law enforcement to arrest and bring the suspect to the specific court without delay.
• Should specify the law enforcement agency to make the arrest
• Indicate the amount for bail (if available)
• The title, name, and signature of the judicial officer who issued the warrant

Do Howard County Arrest Warrants Expire?

Arrest warrants in Howard County and the rest of Indiana may expire based on the type of crime they were issued for. While warrants for felonies do not expire, warrants for misdemeanors expire 180 days after they are issued. Law enforcement with an expired warrant must return it to the court that issued it, who will notify the prosecuting attorney. If necessary, the prosecuting attorney may request a new warrant for the offender. A judge at the court that issued an arrest warrant may also recall or cancel a warrant if they accept a motion to do so filed by the subject of the warrant.