Shelby County Arrest Records

The Indiana Code Title 35, Article 33, Chapter 1 authorizes law officers to effect arrest without warrants if they witness criminal acts or there is probable cause to believe an Individual committed a felony, a battery resulting in bodily injury, or violated a protective order. Also, arrests become imminent if the courts issue arrest warrants.

In Shelby County, the Sheriff's Office, Indiana State Police (ISP), and other law enforcement agencies create arrest records to document those who violate state or federal laws.

Shelby County arrest records are evidence of law enforcement detention of individuals for arrestable offenses. These documents are accessible through law enforcement offices or as part of Shelby County court records if they are evidential materials during case trials within the Shelby County Circuit or Superior Court.

After processing and documentation, Shelby County law enforcement agencies detain arrestees at the Shelby County Jail. However, they transfer individuals serving long-term sentences for felonies to Indiana Department of Corrections facilities and send minors to regional juvenile detention centers.

Are Arrest Records Public in Shelby County?

Yes, arrest records are public in Shelby County. The Indiana Access to Public Records Act grants interested individuals the right to access Shelby County arrest records. However, there are exemptions to public disclosure of some Shelby County arrest records. For privacy and security reasons, the public cannot access Shelby County arrest information relating to juveniles, sealed or expunged cases, active law enforcement investigations, witness or victim information, national security or public safety, or confidential informants.

Per Indiana laws, exempted arrest records are accessible to the subjects of the documents and legally authorized entities. Individuals seeking to access Shelby County arrest records should contact local law enforcement offices or visit the Shelby County Sheriff's Office at:

107 W. Taylor Street,
Shelbyville,
IN 46176
Phone: (317) 392-6345

Shelby County Arrest Statistics

The Shelby County Sheriff's Office and Shelbyville Police Department reported 1,152, 1,239, 1,023, and 1,183 arrest incidents to the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) in 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023. These figures comprise 3,083 male and 1,315 female arrestees. Between January 2020 and December 2023, drug-related violations were the most common arrest incidents within Shelby County (there were 983 drug violation arrests). Also, there was a high number of arrests for DUIs (515) and simple assaults (275). The table below shows Shelby County's 2020 to 2023 arrest statistics.

Find Shelby County Arrest Records

Shelby County arrest records are accessible through law enforcement office databases and Shelby County court records. Inquirers seeking to access Shelby County arrest records should:

• Call, mail, or visit the Shelby County Sheriff's Office or the police department or law enforcement agency responsible for the specific arrest.
• Log into the Indiana Department of Correction (IDOC) Incarcerated Search Portal and use the online tools to look for information relating to Shelby County convicts serving time in state detention facilities
• Visit the Indiana Limited Criminal History Request Service Page, create accounts, use the login credentials to access the request portal, and request access to Shelby County criminal records (publicly available Shelby County arrest records may be part of Shelby County criminal records)
• Log into the Indiana Courts MyCase Search Portal and access Shelby County arrest records through Shelby County criminal court records
• Call, visit, or send mail requests to the Shelby County Clerk of Courts Office at:

407 S. Harrison Street, Room 206,
Shelbyville,
IN 46176
Phone: (317) 392-6360
Fax: (317) 392-6349.

Shelby County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

There are several distinctions between Shelby County arrests and criminal records. Although arrests and criminal records play crucial roles in law enforcement, there are differences in their contents, legal implications, and impact on their owners.

Shelby County arrest records are law enforcement documents; they detail the arrest and detention of offenders within Shelby County. Arrest records contain personal information, processing details, and the requirements for the release of arrestees. These documents are not evidence of offense unless the arrests result in convictions by the courts.

Arrest records may not have major impacts on their owners; the courts may remove them if they do not lead to convictions.

Shelby County criminal records encompass Shelby County arrest records and other Shelby County court-generated documents during criminal trials within the Shelby County Circuit and Superior Courts. Criminal records provide more comprehensive details than arrest records.

A criminal record confirms the owner to be legally guilty of a criminal offense. Criminal records affect personal relationships, employment, housing, and social status.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Arrest information may stay on records permanently unless the court seals or removes them. Section 35-38-9 of the Indiana Codes (Indiana Second Chance Law) outlines the requirements for sealing or removing arrest information.

According to the Second Chance Law, arrest records may qualify for expungement if:

• There were no charges against the owners
• The arrest results in dismissal or acquittal
• The owner of the record has no previous expungement petition (it is a one-time opportunity)
• The arrest is for a non-violent and non-sexual offense
• The owner of the record has no previous disqualifying conviction
• The record owner has no pending criminal trials.

Also, applicants must observe the following waiting periods before filing for expungement of Shelby County arrest information:

• No charges - 1 year from the date of arrest
• Dismissals and Acquittals - immediately after the judgment
• Arrests leading to diversion or pretrial agreement - 1 year after completing the diversion program
• Misdemeanors and Class D felonies - 5 years from the date of conviction
• Non-violent felonies - 8 years post-conviction or 3 years after completing the sentence for the crime
• Serious Felonies - 10 years post-conviction or 5 years after the sentence and with the consent of the public prosecutor.

Shelby County Arrest Warrants

Shelby County arrest warrants are legal orders issued by judges/magistrates of the Shelby County Circuit and Superior Courts authorizing law enforcement to arrest suspects of crimes. Judges/magistrates issue warrant records if law enforcement provides proof of arrestable offenses. The courts also issue warrants for other reasons. For example, a judge/magistrate may issue a bench warrant if an individual fails to pay fines or make restitution, violates probation or parole, is in contempt of court, does not comply with subpoenas, or disregards court orders.

A Shelby County arrest warrant should contain the following information to be legally valid:

• Name, aliases, last known address, and physical description of the wanted person
• Charges against the subject/defendant
• Sections of Indiana Codes allegedly violated
• Date of issuance of the warrant
• An affidavit or statement of probable cause from law enforcement
• A statement of authorization for the arrest of the subject
• Name and signature of the issuing judge/magistrate
• Name and location of the originating court
• Name of the requesting agency
• The jurisdiction of the warrant
• Instructions on how law enforcement should execute the warrant.

Do Shelby County Arrest Warrants Expire?

Generally, arrest warrants do not have expiration dates. Once a judge/magistrate issues an arrest warrant, it remains active until law enforcement executes it and apprehends the subject, or the court recalls it or resolves the underlying case.

However, several factors may influence the validity of a Shelby County arrest warrant. For instance, if the underlying crime has a statute of limitation, prosecutors must file charges against the suspect within that time frame. Otherwise, any warrant outside this period is invalid.

Also, changes in case dynamics may invalidate a Shelby County arrest warrant.