Owen County Arrest Records

In Owen County, Indiana, the administration of criminal justice usually begins with an arrest. When an individual is suspected of committing a crime, they may be arrested immediately by law enforcement or apprehended following the issuance of an arrest warrant. The Owen County Sheriff's Office documents these events in arrest records.

An Indiana arrest record comprises information about the arrestee and the circumstances surrounding the arrest. Persons convicted of crimes serve their sentences in the Owen County Security Centre. The court's findings and the reason for conviction are typically documented in a case file and added to the Owen County Court Records.

Are Arrest Records Public in Owen County?

Owen County arrest records are open to the general public under the Indiana Access to Public Records Act (APRA) (Indiana Code § 5-14-3). Certain arrest records, however, may be restricted from public access under a court order or a statutory provision. These include:

• Information contained in an arrest that may jeopardize the safety of a witness or offender
• Arrest records of someone who was arrested but never prosecuted in a court of law
• Records of an arrestee whose charges were dropped or dismissed
• Juvenile arrest records
• Arrest records for class A misdemeanors or class D felony convictions where someone was not injured in the process of the offense

Aside from these restrictions and exemptions under appropriate state and federal laws, all arrest records created from an arrest over crimes committed under the State Criminal Law and Procedure Act are considered public records. Researchers can contact or visit the Owen County Sheriff's Office for further details:

Owen County Sheriff's Office
291 Vandalia Avenue,
Spencer, IN 47460
Phone: (812) 829-5757

Owen County Arrest Statistics

According to FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Data, Owen County, Indiana, reported 21 arrests for violent crimes in 2022. These comprised zero arrests for murder/nonnegligent manslaughter, one arrest for rape, three arrests for robbery, and 17 arrests for aggravated assault.

Owen County also reported 72 arrests for property crimes in 2022, including 18 for burglary, 52 for larceny theft, 2 for motor vehicle theft, and zero for arson. Over the three years from 2020 to 2022, Owen County amassed 601 arrests (187 in 2020, 205 in 2021, and 209 in 2022). However, it is essential to note that an individual may be arrested for multiple offenses.

Find Owen County Arrest Records

Indiana Department of Corrections (IDOC):

The IDOC's offender locator tool allows users to search for individuals incarcerated in Indiana state facilities by last name, first name, and DOC number. Individuals can access this tool on the IDOC website.

Limited Criminal History (LCH):

The Limited Criminal History report contains only felonies and misdemeanor arrests in Indiana. To use LCH, individuals can search based on the inmate's name, date of birth, race, gender, and, if needed, Social Security Number and place of birth. As an alternative to performing a search online, LCH can also be obtained by mailing a request form to the Indiana State Police.

Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP):

The BOP's inmate locator tool enables searches for federal inmates, providing information on their location and other details. This tool is available on the BOP website. Researchers can visit the BOP website and navigate to the "inmates" section on the menu. Then select "find inmates", after which the inmate locator tool appears. Search by inmate name, othe,r or BOP registration number.

Owen County Sheriff's Office:

Researchers can request arrest records from the Owen County Sheriff's Office, which may include information about inmates in their custody. Individuals must download and complete the Public Records Request Form to inspect or receive arrest records. The completed form must be mailed to:

Owen County Sheriff's Office
291 Vandalia Avenue,
Spencer, IN 47460
Phone: (812) 829-5757

Owen County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

In Owen County, Indiana, arrest records document an individual's apprehension by law enforcement. This includes details like name, charges, and arrest date, without indicating guilt or court outcomes. The Owen County Sheriff's Office maintains them, which are generally public. On the other hand, criminal records offer a comprehensive history of interactions with the criminal justice system, encompassing arrests, charges, court proceedings, convictions, sentences, and dispositions. They reflect the complete legal process and are maintained by both the Owen County Sheriff's Office and the Owen County Court Clerk. The apparent difference is that arrest records only show an arrest, while criminal records detail the case history and legal outcome.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Arrest records in Owen County may remain on file indefinitely, even if the arrestee was never tried or convicted. Under Indiana law, however, arrests that did not result in a sentence may be eligible for expungement after one year, provided there are no pending charges. Misdemeanor convictions can be expunged after five years. More serious felony convictions may be eligible after eight years or three years after completing the sentence.

The expungement process in Owen County is regulated by the Indiana Code (35-38-9). Under this law, for a record to qualify for expungement, the arrestee (if convicted) must have completed all terms of their sentence, including payment of fines and fees, and must not have reoffended during the required waiting period. Expungement petitions are filed in the Owen County Circuit Court:

Owen County Circuit Court
60 S Main St, Spencer, IN 47460
Phone: (812) 829-5005

Owen County Arrest Warrants

An arrest warrant is a court order directing a law enforcement agency to arrest a person and bring them before the court to answer the charge alleged in a prior complaint. Owen County Circuit Court has jurisdiction to issue arrest warrants upon the written request of the prosecuting or municipal attorney.

A typical arrest warrant contains:

• The name of the person to be arrested, date of birth, physical characteristics, and any known aliases
• The description of the crime and the relevant statutes or laws violated
• The signature of the committing magistrate
• The name of the law enforcement officer authorized to execute the warrant

However, the court must issue a summons instead of a warrant unless the person against whom the complaint was made will not appear upon a summons or the prosecutor requests a warrant.

Do Owen County Arrest Warrants Expire?

Arrest warrants in Owen County, Indiana, follow the Indiana Code regarding their duration and expiration. Per Indiana Code (35-33-2-4), arrest warrants retain their legal force indefinitely and remain active until one of three definitive conditions is met:

• The warrant is resolved when law enforcement successfully apprehends the suspect named in the document.
• A judge or court formally recalls the warrant, which may occur if charges are dismissed due to insufficient evidence, procedural errors, or a negotiated resolution.
• The statute of limitations for the alleged offense expires

Expunge Owen County Arrest Records

Under Indiana Code (§ 35-38-9), eligible persons for expungement are those with non-conviction records (dismissed charges or acquittals) and conviction records, depending on the severity of the offense. To expunge an arrest record in Indiana County, follow these steps:

• Identify eligible records (non-conviction or conviction with proper waiting)
• Obtainthe prosecutor's written consent (a condition peculiar to Owen County)
• File a verified petition in Owen County Circuit Court (a Clerk's fee of $157 applies), then wait 30 days for objections.
• A court grants an order to seal/destroy specified records. Then, local and state agencies act within 30 days to implement the order and update records.

Note: Under the Indiana Code, the number of petitions a person can file requesting the expungement of arrest records is not limited.