Marion County Warrant Search

A Marion County warrant search becomes necessary when law enforcement is seeking to build cases against individuals suspected of committing crimes. It also checks for active warrants issued against an individual within the county. Moreover, it helps the court confirm that a person has no outstanding legal requirement or is not wanted by law enforcement for any criminal act.

In Marion County, warrant checks are conducted by different law enforcement agencies, including the police department. These custodians may handle warrant search processes depending on the type of warrant involved. For instance, warrants permit officers to make an arrest and take other specific actions. To determine if an arrest was made with a warrant in Marion County, one may need to access Marion County Arrest Records.

In some cases, warrants are issued within the boundaries of the law to protect the public and ensure individual freedom. To resolve these warrants, the individual may have to show up in court, surrender to the arresting officer, or plead guilty or not guilty to the charges.

Are Warrants Public Records?

It depends. According to the Access to Public Records Act (APRA), warrants are confidential records that are not accessible to the public in Marion County. An agency may not disclose records the Indiana Supreme Court declares confidential unless a state or federal statute or a court order requires access to the records (I.C. § 5-14-3-4(a)(8)). However, arrest and search warrants may be confidential if they have not yet been executed.

Per the Indiana Supreme Court Administrative Rule 9, arrest warrants and search warrants are confidential only if an agency has yet to serve them and only if a trial judge has ordered them to be kept confidential. Moreover, Rule 5 of the Indiana Rules of Court specifies that search warrants are not accessible to members of the public.

Types of Warrants in Marion County

In Marion County, a judge may issue a warrant to law enforcement officers to arrest them or perform other actions upon establishing probable cause. The various types of warrants have different purposes, including search warrants, arrest warrants, bench warrants, fugitive warrants, and no-knock warrants.

Do I Have a Warrant in Marion County?

Interested persons can search for active or outstanding warrants in Marion County through the following custodians and sources:

• The Marion County Sheriff's Office
• The Marion County Clerk's Office
• Indiana Official Court's website
• Indiana State Police Limited Criminal History Search
• Third-party websites

Active Warrant Search in Marion County

The process of searching for an active warrant in Marion County will be unique depending on the type of warrant involved because each type serves different purposes. In most cases, warrants are court-issued documents that require the individual to visit the courthouse where a case is pending.

However, an individual will have to access resources made available through the court or lawful custodians in person and online to complete a search for active warrants. Each department can inform the public about whether someone has a warrant in their name, especially when the search is for an arrest warrant.

In Marion County, warrant custodians provide different ways to find or confirm active or outstanding warrants, and they include the following:

Arrest Warrant Search

An arrest warrant permits police officers to take a person suspected of committing a crime into custody. However, there must be an affidavit of probable cause backing it up. To conduct an active arrest warrant search, individuals can visit the Marion County Sheriff's Office in person at 40S Alabama St, Indianapolis, IN 46204, or call (317) 327-1700. The office is responsible for serving criminal warrants but does not have an online website for individuals to access warrant information.

Alternatively, the individual may also search for arrest warrant information by requesting non-confidential copies of court records on the Indiana Court website. On the MyCase online portal, click the case tab to search by case number, party name, or the Attorney.

The Indiana State Police may also provide statewide information on all arrest warrant services. Visit the official Indiana State Police website to access the Limited Criminal History Search tool. The individual must create an account for a $15 fee before entering the necessary information to submit a request.

In cases where the type of warrant is unavailable online, individuals can also visit the Marion County Clerk's Office in person to make a request. The Clerk's Office is located at 200E Washington St., Indianapolis, IN 46204.

Bench Warrant Lookup

Bench Warrant in Marion County has to do with getting someone to the court if they fail to comply with a court order or miss a scheduled court appearance. Interested individuals can visit the official courthouse during working hours or call the respective Court Clerk's office. The Indiana's Court MyCase online portal also gives access to bench warrants within the county. Although it may not directly list warrants, it provides case information on the issuance of the warrant to the officer in charge.

Free Warrant Search

Most warrant search options in Marion County are free. Individuals can search for free warrants on the Indiana Court website using the MyCase online portal. Some law enforcement agencies may also assist interested individuals to conduct warrant searches for free in person.

Can You Check Warrants Online?

Yes. There are various warrant search options online, including third-party websites offering free search services. While some websites allow the public to access warrants for free, others may charge a fee to complete a search. These third-party websites will require the individual to complete a warrant search using information such as the subject's name or case number. However, most of these aggregate sites are unofficial and will not display any information made confidential by law, including sealed warrant information.

Do Warrants Expire?

It depends. According to Indiana Code § 35-33-2-4, an arrest warrant for a misdemeanor expires one hundred eighty (180) days after it is issued. However, an arrest warrant for a felony and a rearrest warrant for any offense do not expire. A warrant becomes invalid if it has been reversed by the issuing authority or if the authorities have arrested the person named in the warrant. If the court recalls a warrant, it also makes it ineffective or invalid.

How to Clear a Warrant Without Going to Jail

It depends on the type of warrant involved. Individuals with a bench warrant in Marion County will typically need to appear in court. Generally, there are several options to clear the warrant without going to jail, including:

• Consult a criminal defense attorney for legal guidance.
• Visit the issuing court to strategize based on individual circumstances.
• Request a new court date to resolve the issue and present evidence to support your case.
• If the warrant has to do with an unpaid fine, negotiate a payment plan or the amount to pay.