Marion County Arrest Records

Marion County arrest record is a document describing offenses for which a suspect was apprehended and taken into custody. Upon arrest, the individual is taken to a holding facility where they are booked on the charges. The booking process involves taking the name, personal information, fingerprints, mugshot, clothing, and personal items from the arrestee. All the information taken goes on the arrest record. Marion County arrest records begin a chain of other records if the suspect is charged and prosecuted like Marion County court records.

Are Arrest Records Public in Marion County?

Yes. The Indiana Access to Public Records Act (APRA) guarantees the public's right to access public records created, filed, or maintained by government agencies in the execution of official duties. The APRA applies to all arrest records in the custody of all courts, law enforcement offices, or agencies within the Marion County jurisdiction and the Indiana judiciary. Law enforcement agencies are also required by law to maintain daily arrest logs that shall be open for inspection and copying promptly (IC 5-14-3.5).

Unless specifically exempt by law, public agencies must provide reasonable means of access to public records in their custody. This includes providing public access terminals at their offices or an online searchable database (IC 5-14-3-3.6).

The right of access to arrest records is not absolute. Information contained in an arrest record may be sealed or restricted from public disclosure by an order of the court or a provision of state or federal law (IC 5-14-3-4). The following information may be redacted or exempted from public disclosure:

• Information that may compromise the safety or security of an individual
• Information that may interfere with law enforcement investigation
• Records state as confidential by the Indiana Supreme Court or other state or federal statute
• Records declared confidential under the rules adopted by a public agency
• Confidential financial information
• Social security number
• 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?

Per Section 5-14-3-5 of the Indiana Access to Public Records Act, the following information is available to the public after a person has been arrested:

• Personal identification information: this includes the name, alias, nickname, age, date of birth, and address of the arrested person
• Description and physical features of the arrestee (weight, height, hair and eye color, scars, tattoos, etc)
• Details about the charges for which they were arrested or summoned
• Date, time, and location of the said arrest or summons
• The names of the arresting or investigating officer
• The arresting agency
• The date and time the person was placed in a holding facility, and the date and time of discharge or transfer to county jail or other correctional facility
• Bail or bond amount
• A report of the facts surrounding the incident and arrest
• Description of any injuries, damages, property, and weapons.

Marion County Crime Rate

According to the data available from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Crime Data Explorer for Indiana 2022, 1,614 offenses were reported in 2022. The highest number was crimes against property (49%; 796), followed by crimes against persons ( 31%; 499) and crimes against society (29%; 319).

The most reported property offenses were larceny/theft offenses (488) and theft of motor vehicle parts and accessories (483). Assault offenses ranked highest in crimes against persons, with 292 reports of simple assaults, 128 intimidation, 119 fraud offenses, and 35 aggravated assaults. For crimes against society, drug-related offenses were the most prevalent at 278 reported drug/narcotic offenses and 222 drug/narcotic violations.

Marion County Arrest Statistics

The Federal Bureau of Investigation Crime Data Explorer also indexes arrest statistics and trends in Indiana. However, it does not classify or categorize the datasets on a county-by-county basis or by law enforcement agencies. Therefore, it is difficult to estimate or determine arrest statistics for Marion County in recent years. Furthermore, the Marion County Sheriff has yet to publicize the current capacity of the county prisons and jails, as well as incarceration statistics.

Find Marion County Arrest Records

Arrest records in Marion County are public records. The Indiana APRA requires public agencies to provide enhanced access to records in their custody where necessary. Marion County arrest records are generally in the custody of the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, the County Courts, and other law enforcement agencies authorized to execute arrests in the state (city/municipal police departments). However, it is common for federal or state law enforcement agencies to make arrests, provided they have jurisdiction to do so.

The Marion County Sheriff’s Office has an online jail/inmate database where individuals can find information on inmates/arrested persons awaiting trial. This database can be searched using the inmate’s first or last name or date of birth. A quick search here will give access to an inmate’s name, booking number, incarceration information, date of birth, sex, race, booking and release date, bond and charge information, and next court date.

Additionally, interested persons may contact or visit the sheriff’s office records division for assistance in retrieving arrest information. Individuals can also inspect arrest records online or by mail. For written requests, send a letter to the sheriff’s office or any other agency in custody of the records sought. The mail should include the sender's name, contact information, a precise description of the records sought, and the number of copies needed. Send mail to:

Marion County Sheriff’s Office
Attn: Internal Affairs
695 Justice Way
Indianapolis, IN 46203.

Information on federal inmates arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation is also available online. The FBI Inmate Locator lets users search by inmate name or registered number (FBI Number, INS Number, DCDC Number, or BOP Registered Number).

Free Arrest Record Search in Marion County

In Marion County, a request to inspect or view arrest records comes at no cost to the requester. Individuals can access arrest information online or in person at the Sheriff’s Office for free. However, when an individual requests a copy of an arrest record, it will be subject to some fees. The agency is allowed to charge fees for producing ordinary and certified copies of public records.

Searchers can also lookup arrest records on third-party public records websites. These websites compile arrest information from local, state, and federal agencies to make the search process easier for the searcher. Third-party search applications may be free, but information accessed from these sources is typically limited. Most service providers offer paid or subscription-based search services or limited free searches.

Get Marion County Criminal Records

A criminal record or criminal history is a formal record of offenses for which a person has been convicted. In some jurisdictions or states, a criminal record may be referred to as a “rap sheet”. A rap sheet is a summary of a criminal history report. It lists a person's arrests and convictions. It is also called a “record of arrests and prosecutions”.

Marion County criminal records may be obtained from the Marion County Clerk’s office. Researchers may also find criminal records online using the Indiana State Police Limited Criminal History Search. It is important to note that this site is not free. One must be a registered user to search for criminal information. The search fees are $15-$15.70 per record, and the results are available only for 14 days.

Marion County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Marion County criminal records are fundamentally different from arrest records. Simply put, an arrest record is like a police report of a crime, including details of the suspect, while a criminal record is the official details of a suspect who has been tried on criminal charges and found guilty.

An arrest is made when an officer witnesses a crime or when they have probable cause that the suspect has committed a crime. It does not mean that the individual is guilty because even if he did commit the crime, the case could be thrown out for lack of evidence. A criminal record, on the other hand, means that the accused has been tried by a court, cross-examined by the prosecution, and has been found guilty beyond reasonable doubt.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

In Indiana, an arrest generally stays on a person's records indefinitely. They can only be deleted if the person files a petition to the court to have the records of arrest sealed or expunged. An expungement of an arrest removes it from the individual's records permanently. They will no longer be required to disclose it to an employer.

Expunging a record does not in any way mean being pardoned by the state. It also does not destroy or permanently delete the record. It only removes the record from all public repositories and government agencies' databases. A petition to seal or expunge an arrest record is not automatic. The applicant must meet the eligibility requirements stated in the law.

Expunge Marion County Arrest Record

In line with the provisions of Indiana Code Title 35, Article 38, Chapter 9 of the Criminal Law and Procedure Code (I.C. 35-38-9-1), where a court dismisses a criminal charge or allegations of juvenile delinquency and one year after those charges or allegations were filed, the state is no longer prosecuting the allegations and there is no disposition; or if the defendant in a criminal charge is acquitted or his conviction is later thrown out/set aside, the court shall order all records related to the criminal charges or juvenile delinquency allegations expunged.

Suppose the person was not convicted in juvenile or adult proceedings. In that case, the petition may be filed one year after the date of the arrest, criminal charge, or juvenile delinquency allegation, whichever comes last. But, if the person was convicted and the conviction was later set aside, the petition may be filed one year after the date the judgment vacating the conviction becomes final (here, the arrest record will be expunged after the conviction is expunged).

A petition to delete an arrest record must be filed in the circuit or superior court in the county where the charges were filed. If the state prosecutor did not file any charges, the petition should be filed in the county of arrest (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
• General identifying information, such as the name of the arresting officer, the case or docket number or court case number, the name, driver's license number, date of birth, and social security number of the petitioner, and the list of criminal charges.

The court may grant the petition if the conditions stated above have been met and no criminal charges are pending against the person. If the court approves the petition, all information concerning the arrest, charges, vacated conviction, and juvenile delinquency allegations shall be deleted from any state central repository for criminal records or any criminal history information system maintained by local, municipal, or state law enforcement agencies.

Marion County Arrest Warrant

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 must be in writing and signed by a judge or magistrate. It usually contains the name and description of the person to be arrested, the nature of the offense, probable cause for the arrest, the date and county issued, the signature of the judge, and the date of return.

To obtain a warrant, a law enforcement officer, usually a police officer, will go to the state prosecutor’s office to open a warrant file. The warrant will include an affidavit and a statement of probable cause for the arrest. The application must include evidence or information that establishes probable cause for the arrest. The prosecutor’s office will then file a complaint in court, where the judge will determine whether or not to issue a warrant.

In Indiana, an officer of the law can only make arrests for misdemeanor offenses it is committed in their presence. When this happens, the accused must be presented before a judge in the county where he was arrested promptly (IN Code § 35-33-7-1).

Marion County Arrest Warrant Search

Interested persons can contact the Marion County Sheriff’s Office for assistance in finding warrant information. Marion County does not have an online platform for arrest warrant information. One may also check court records by contacting or visiting the county clerk's office or the court's website.

Do Marion County Arrest Warrants Expire?

It depends. Arrest warrants for misdemeanors expire 180 days (approximately six months) after they are issued (IN Code § 35-33-2-4). But, a warrant for arrest on felony charges and a rearrest warrant for any offense, whether felony or misdemeanor, does not expire.

In this context, a rearrest warrant is an order for the court to take a person who has been arrested before back into custody for violation of parole or probation terms, failure to appear in court, or admission of new evidence. An arrest warrant remains active until the defendant is arrested and brought before the court. An active warrant can be executed at any time, regardless of how long ago it was issued.