St. Joseph County Arrest Records

State and federal laws authorize law enforcement officers in St. Joseph County to arrest crime suspects within their jurisdiction. Arrests can be done with or without a warrant. However, warrants are necessary if the officer did not witness the crime or lacks substantial probable cause to establish that an arrested individual may have committed a crime. Other on-scene arrests that may be made without a warrant include known fugitives from another jurisdiction and traffic offenders.

Following an arrest, the law enforcement officer must book the arrestee at the police station or county jail (depending on the agency making the arrest). The booking process entails collecting and documenting details about the arrestee, such as their name, date of birth, and a record of items found on the suspect at the time of the arrest. Other details recorded during an arrest include the date, time, location, and related charges of the arrest.

The agency that made an arrest is responsible for creating and maintaining arrest records. However, records may be transferred among courts, the county's corrections department, and other criminal justice system agencies. St. Joseph County court records complement arrest records since these documents are typically needed when filing criminal court cases against people already in custody.

Are Arrest Records Public in St. Joseph County?

Yes, arrest records are public in Indiana under the state's Public Records Act (Indiana Code 5-14-1.5), otherwise known as the Open Door Law (ODL). By this law, citizens can request, view, examine, or copy arrest and other public records. However, the public availability of arrest records is not absolute, as their confidentiality status is also subject to law enforcement agency rules, court judgments, and expungement, as provided by Indiana Code §35-38-8-1. Portions of records may be redacted or access denied if:

• The subject of a record was found innocent of the alleged charges at trial.
• A juvenile is the subject of a record of interest.
• Disclosure of information contained in a record may risk the safety of a witness, offender, or law enforcement officer.
• It contains a person's private information, such as social security numbers or sensitive bank account details.
• The sought record has been sealed or expunged.
• The charges were dropped.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

The following contents of arrest records are public and may be seen during a background check, court record search, or arrest record lookup:

• The arrestee's full name and any known aliases
• Date of birth of the arrestee
• Fingerprints and mugshots
• Arrestee's address and occupation
• The arresting agency
• The facility where the arrestee is presently held
• The charges that led to the arrest
• Time, date, and other booking details.

St. Joseph County Crime Rate

According to a 2018 UCR report by the FBI, South Bend, the largest of the two cities in St. Joseph County, recorded 1,064 violent crimes and 4,406 property crimes. Violent crimes comprised 9 murder and non-negligent manslaughter, 67 rape, 277 robbery, and 711 aggravated assault cases. Of the 4,406 property crimes, 970 were burglary, 2,956 were larceny, 480 were motor vehicle theft, and 44 were arson crimes.

Mishawaka City, on the other hand, recorded 114 violent crimes and 2,525 property crimes. Violent crimes comprised 4 violent and non-negligent manslaughter, 15 rape, 48 robbery, and 47 aggravated assault cases. Property crimes comprised the following: 248 burglary, 2,032 larceny, 245 motor vehicle theft, and 14 larceny crimes.

St. Joseph County Arrest Statistics

According to a 2023 arrest report from the Indiana State Police, the following arrests were made in St. Joseph County: 1,060 for violent crimes (18.8%), 1,317 for traffic violations (21.3%), 1,459 for drug-related crimes (23.6%), 75 juvenile arrests (1.2%), 90 for fraud (1.5%), 52 for sex-related crimes (0.8%), and 229 for weapon-related crimes (3.7%). Black people made up 44.1% of the arrestees, while 53.7% of the arrestees were white. For more specific statistics, interested parties may contact the county police department.

Find St. Joseph County Arrest Records

The St. Joseph County jail maintains an online jail roster where the public can search for current and released inmates. To search this website, one must possess the first and last name of the inmate. Users can also filter search results by specifying whether an inmate is still held at the facility or has been released. Information displayed on this website includes:

• An inmate's photograph.
• Charges.
• Arrest information (date, officer, time, and agency).
• Bond information where applicable (amount and type).
• Court hearing information.

Other information included are an inmate's current age, full name and known aliases, address, and physical descriptors.

For a statewide search, a researcher must contact the Indiana State Police. This typically requires a criminal history check, as arrest records constitute a person's criminal records. Only record subjects may access the full details in these records. Arrest records may be obtained physically at the police department, by mail (using a record request form), and online. In-person requesters and mail requests should go to

Indiana State Police
Criminal History Limited Check
P.O. Box 6188
Indianapolis, IN 46206-6188.

Occasionally, agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) may arrest residents of St. Joseph County. Such arrestees are typically held in federal custody. Interested parties should search the Federal Inmate Locator to find the holding facility where the suspect is held pending a court appearance. This tool is searchable by name or case number. Once located, one may contact the holding facility for further information.

Note that certain arrest records are exempt from public disclosure under the APRA. Such records are only released to requesters who provide a subpoena. Juvenile arrest records belong to this category. Subpoena requests may be submitted to a local court or the county sheriff's office.

Free Arrest Record Search in St. Joseph County

Searches on the sheriff's online jail roster are free. Furthermore, the sheriff's office offers free searches at their office, except when a search necessitates reproduction of copies. Aside from this resource, many third-party websites exist for this purpose. Note that only basic arrest information is displayed for free on these websites. Users must pay specific fees to view a full report. Third-party websites are typically searchable by an arrestee's first and last name.

Get St. Joseph County Criminal Records

St. Joseph County criminal records document county residents' involvement in criminal activities and their interaction with the criminal justice system. Information found in criminal records includes court decisions, sentencing, parole, probation, charges, and bond details. The county sheriff's office is the primary agency maintaining these records.

The Records Division of the county sheriff's office may assist interested parties with background checks for an $8.00 fee. Requests for criminal records can be made by mail or email. Requestors may also contact the sheriff's office for information on how to proceed with a request at (574) 245-6535 and send their request via email at records@sjcpd.org. Alternatively, one may submit their request in a self-addressed stamped envelope, including a copy of a photo I.D., the required fee via cashier's check or money envelope, and the requester's social security number to

St. Joseph County Police Department
Attn: Records Division
401 West Sample Street
South Bend, IN. 46601.

Besides this, criminal record searches may be performed with the local and state police departments. The Indiana State Police maintains the Limited Criminal History Records website for remote access to information about class A misdemeanors and felonies. Payments are made per credit card ($15.00) or per record subscriber ($15.70). Note that the content of criminal records may vary depending on the agency conducting a search.

St.Joseph County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Although often used interchangeably, criminal records and arrest records are distinct record types and are both fundamental to the county's criminal justice system. Nonetheless, arrest records are constituents of criminal records. Notable distinctions between these records are explained below.

A person's St. Joseph County criminal record covers their interactions with criminal justice agencies and their criminal past and has the following features:

• Offenses and criminal charges associated with multiple arrests
• It typically has information created by various criminal justice agencies, including courts, police departments, and correctional facilities
• Contains court dispositions
• Typically includes sentencing information
• Their existence is always linked to a conviction.

Arrest records, on the other hand, only feature limited information and are usually restricted to a particular arrest. Some key features are as follows:

• Offenses and charges that led to a single arrest
• It usually exists for the specific agency that conducted the arrest
• It may not contain court dispositions
• It may not include court sentencing information
• Do not necessarily imply conviction.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Arrests stay on the Indiana State Police database indefinitely.). They are only erased after a person turns 99 on the grounds that there have been no criminal activities linked to their name in the last 15 years. Otherwise, records can only be removed by an expungement order.

Expunge St. Joseph County Arrest Records

Per Indiana Code 35-38-9 (the Second Chance Law), individuals named on arrest records can petition a court of competent jurisdiction to have their records expunged. Note that expungements do not mean that a person's records are destroyed. Expunged records do not appear during a criminal history search by individuals or organizations not affiliated with the criminal justice system. Subjects of expunged records are not required to mention such records during employment, housing, or other screening exercises.

However, expunged records remain visible to law enforcement officers and criminal justice agencies, such as the county sheriff, prosecuting attorneys, police departments, the FBI, and the courts. Criminal record expungement petitions are typically filed at the court where a suspect was arraigned after arrest. If the arrest did not result in a court hearing, the expungement petition should go to the St. Joseph County Superior Court.

To be eligible for an expungement, a record subject must not have any pending criminal charges. Note that conviction records related to the following crimes can not be expunged: child molestation, rape, human trafficking, sexual crimes against minors, and homicides, among others. Interested parties should contact the sheriff's office or court clerk for guidance on how to file an expungement petition. In any case, an arrest expungement petition typically contains the following:

• The arrest date
• The arrestee's name, date of birth, and social security number
• The county where the arrest took place
• The arresting agency, the arresting officer's name, and other known details.

St. Joseph County Arrest Warrants

Arrest warrants are legal documents issued by a judge or magistrate to authorize the apprehension and detention of crime suspects in St. Joseph County. A law enforcement officer must present a court with sufficient probable evidence to establish that a suspect is responsible for a crime that has been committed. The Warrants Division of the St. Joseph County Police Department is responsible for processing and serving warrants issued by the courts. Law enforcement officers may only arrest an individual if they witness the person committing a crime. An arrest warrant typically contains the following:

• The name, signature, and stamp of the issuing authority
• The full name and address of the suspect
• Physical descriptors of the suspect (such as tattoos, marks, scars, etc.)
• Arrest clause
• Bail amount (if applicable)
• Charges.

St. Joseph County Arrest Warrant Search

Rule 9 of the Indiana Supreme Court classifies arrest warrants issued in the state as confidential until served. Interested persons may search for served or outstanding warrants at the county sheriff's office or police department. The court or other issuing authority may also facilitate a warrant search at their office premises.

To find a warrant, a person must possess the name of the individual named on the warrant. Individuals who suspect that there may be an existing warrant authorizing their arrest should have their attorney or anyone else conduct the search on their behalf, as they may be arrested at the scene if they visit a law enforcement agency. They may contact the Warrants Division by phone at (574) 235-9756.

Do St. Joseph County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No. Arrest warrants in St. Joseph County do not expire until the individual named in the warrant has been arrested or voluntarily turns themselves in. Other than these, arrest warrants only go away after a person dies or the issuing authority recalls the warrant. The person named on a warrant may contest the warrant if they find any faults in it on the grounds that it is invalid or illegal.