Wayne County Arrest Records

Under IC 35-33-1-1, an arrest may also become necessary when the law enforcement officer has probable cause to believe that an individual has committed or attempted to commit, and is committing or attempting to commit an offense. Inmates in Wayne County are typically held at the Wayne County Jail facility, managed by the Wayne County Sheriff's Office.

The county sheriff's office, along with other local law enforcement agencies, is primarily responsible for generating arrest records within the county. These documents, however, might be included in the public records maintained by other state and municipal organizations. For instance, one may find arrest information in Wayne County Court Records.

Are Arrest Records Public in Wayne County?

Yes. The Indiana Access to Public Records Act (APRA) grants all individuals the right and entitlement to complete information regarding the affairs of government and the official acts of those who represent them as public officials and employees.

Any person may inspect and copy the public records of any public agency during the regular business hours of the agency. However, some information is exempt from public access and may not be obtained upon request. They include:

• Records and documents declared confidential by statute.
• Records required to be kept confidential by federal law
• Social Security number contained in the records of a public agency
• The identity of a crime informant
• A record or a part of a record whose public disclosure may threaten individual or public safety
• Investigatory records of law enforcement agencies.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

The following information may be obtained by the general public in a Wayne County arrest record.

• Full name
• Sex, age, and date of birth
• City/county of residence
• Booking photograph/mugshot
• Identification number
• Race, hair, and eye color
• Height and weight
• Booking date
• Release date
• Charges.

Wayne County Arrest Statistics

According to the arrest information-based statistics provided by the FBI UCR arrest statistics for the year 2018, a total of 125,536 arrests were made for all classes of offenses in the state of Indiana. The highest number of arrests were made for all other offenses at 39,648 with 25,058 arrests made for drug abuse violations, making it the second highest. 14,135 arrests were made for property crimes, and 11,890 arrests were made for driving under the influence. 11,037 and 10,492 arrests were made for larceny-theft and other assaults, respectively.

Find Wayne County Arrest Records

The Wayne County Sheriff's Office is primarily in charge of the generation and maintenance of arrest records in the county. Interested persons seeking an arrest information may contact the Sheriff's Office in person at

Wayne County Sheriff's Office
200 East Main Street
Richmond, IN 47374
Phone: (765) 973-9393

For information on persons arrested by a state law enforcement agency, search the online incarcerated individual locator maintained by the Indiana Department of Corrections. Members of the public may utilize this service to look up Wayne County arrestees online. However, it is important to note that this inmate search service provides information on individuals convicted of committing a crime.

To search, input the last name, or both the first and last name of the offender. A search can also be conducted by inputting the DOC number of the offender. Interested persons may also submit a request form via email to COAOffenderRecordRequest@idoc.in.gov or call the Record Division at (317) 232–5765.

Furthermore, anyone looking for arrest records regarding a federal arrestee may visit the Federal Inmate Locator maintained by the Federal Bureau of Prisons. One can search for an inmate by inputting the inmate's BOP register number or the inmate's first and last name.

Free Arrest Record Search in Wayne County

Interested persons may find arrest information on the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office Inmate Search page. This service is free. Individuals may view arrestees according to their names and booking dates.

Alternatively, members of the public may utilize the services of independent websites. These third-party websites maintain and provide interested persons with public records search services. A basic arrest record search involving the first and last name of a subject may be conducted for free. However, access to more details may require purchasing the complete search results or paying a subscription. In any case, remember to verify the information from these websites if intended for official purposes as the records may vary in completeness and accuracy.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

People who are arrested or charged with a crime need not request expungement in cases where they have not been found guilty, according to an amendment to Indiana's expungement legislation. The amended public law IC 35-38-9-1 provides that arrest records be immediately expunged if no charges are pending 180 days after the arrest. All records related to the criminal charges 60 days following dismissal or acquittal may also be expunged automatically.

Expunge Wayne County Arrest Records

Under the I.C. 35-38-9, expunging an arrest record in Indiana refers to restricting access to and the use of arrest and conviction records. A petition to expunge records must be validated and filed in a circuit or superior court in the county where the criminal charges or juvenile delinquency allegations were filed.

When a request for expungement is submitted along with a properly certified expungement order, the Wayne County Circuit or Superior Court will notify the Wayne County prosecuting attorney and set the matter for hearing. However, the court may grant an expungement request without a hearing if the record conclusively determines that the petitioner is entitled to the expungement of records related to a collateral hearing. No fee is required to file for an expungement.

Notwithstanding, an individual’s eligibility for expungement of any conviction under I.C. 35-38-9 is based on that individual’s entire criminal history and not just the conviction that the person seeks to expunge. Categories of individuals eligible for expungement include the following:

• Automatic expungements and arrests without a criminal conviction or juvenile adjudication (I.C. 35-38-9-1).
• All misdemeanors, including Class D and Level 6 felonies decreased to misdemeanors (I.C. 35-50-2-7(b)), (I.C. 35-38-9-2).
• Level 6 or Class D felonies that do not result in bodily harm (I.C. 35-38-9-3).
• Felonies that do not include the death of another person or serious bodily injury (I.C. 3538-9-4).
• Remaining eligible felonies without the death of another person (I.C. 35-38-95).

Wayne County Arrest Warrants

An arrest warrant is a document issued by a clerk of court or a judge to the sheriff, commanding that an individual be arrested. Per IC 35-33-2-1, a Wayne County arrest warrant is issued when an indictment has been found charging an individual for committing an offense. An arrest warrant may also be issued when a judge determines that there is probable cause for an individual to commit a crime and information has been filed, charging the individual with the crime.

A Wayne County arrest warrant must be in writing and may contain the following information:

• The name of the arrestee, or a description by which the arrestee may be identified if the name is unknown
• The nature of the offense for which the warrant is issued
• Date of issuance
• County where the warrant was issued
• Signature of the judge or clerk of the court with the title of office stated
• An order directing the County Sheriff to immediately bring the person the indictment was filed against before the court
• Arrestee's bail amount.

Do Wayne County Arrest Warrants Expire?

It depends. Per IC 35-33-2-4, the validity of an arrest warrant in Wayne County depends on the type of offense. A warrant of arrest for a misdemeanor expires one hundred eighty (180) days after it is issued. However, warrants of arrest for a felony or a rearrest for any offense do not expire.

A sheriff with an expired warrant may return the warrant to the clerk of the court that issued it, stating that it has expired. Upon the prosecuting attorney's request, the court shall issue another warrant.