Find Elkhart Criminal History
Criminal history records in Elkhart are handled by the Elkhart County Clerk and the Elkhart Police Department. Elkhart has about 54,000 residents and is the largest city in Elkhart County, though the county seat is in Goshen. All criminal cases from Elkhart are filed at the Elkhart County Courthouse in Goshen. You can search court records online through MyCase at no cost. The police department keeps arrest reports and incident records for cases that happen in the city, and those are available through a separate request.
Elkhart Quick Facts
Elkhart Criminal History at the County Clerk
The Elkhart County Clerk of the Circuit Court maintains all official criminal case records for the city of Elkhart. The clerk's office is at the county courthouse in Goshen, which is about 10 miles east of Elkhart. This is where you go for certified copies, to view case files, or to check the status of a criminal case.
| Office | Elkhart County Clerk of the Circuit Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 101 N Main St Goshen, IN 46526 |
| Phone | (574) 523-2375 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM |
The clerk handles felonies, misdemeanors, and infractions. Walk in with a valid photo ID and staff can search records for you. They look up cases by name or case number. Copies are available for a fee. Certified copies cost more. Criminal records are public under IC 5-14-3 unless the case has been sealed or the person got their record expunged. Call (574) 523-2375 for the current copy fees.
Because the clerk's office is in Goshen and not Elkhart, plan for the short drive. Parking at the courthouse is free. If you cannot make the trip, the online search options described below may give you what you need without leaving Elkhart.
Search Elkhart Criminal Records Online
The Indiana MyCase system lets you search Elkhart County criminal records for free from any computer. This covers all cases from the city of Elkhart. You can search by a person's name, case number, or attorney. Results include case type, charges, filing dates, and status updates. Some court documents are viewable right in the system.
MyCase is the free public search tool run by Indiana courts, covering all Elkhart criminal cases filed in Elkhart County.
Not every document in a case file appears online. Older cases from Elkhart may not be in the electronic database. For the full record, visit the clerk in Goshen. The system gets updated regularly, but a day or two may pass between a filing and its appearance on MyCase.
The Indiana State Police offer a statewide criminal history check that pulls records from all counties. The fee is $15 per person. This is useful for Elkhart residents who may have records in other parts of Indiana. Submit the request online at ISP Limited Criminal History and get results by email. The ISP check is governed by IC 10-13-3.
Elkhart Police Department Records
The Elkhart Police Department handles arrests and investigations in the city. Police reports from Elkhart are kept by the department. These are separate from court files. To get a copy of an arrest report or incident report, contact the department directly.
| Department | Elkhart Police Department |
|---|---|
| Address | 175 Waterfall Dr Elkhart, IN 46516 |
| Phone | (574) 295-7070 |
Police reports are public records under IC 5-14-3. Active investigations may limit what the department can share. When a case is closed, the full report is usually available. Call (574) 295-7070 to ask about a specific report. The department can tell you about fees and how to pick up or receive copies by mail. If you need to confirm an arrest or check on a recent booking in Elkhart, calling the police is the fastest way to get that information.
Criminal History Expungement in Elkhart
Indiana's expungement law under IC 35-38-9 allows certain records to be sealed. Elkhart residents who want to clear a criminal record file a petition with the Elkhart County court in Goshen. The clerk's office provides the forms. Eligibility depends on the type of offense and how long ago the case ended.
Misdemeanor convictions generally qualify sooner than felonies. Arrests that did not lead to a conviction have their own rules. Once a record is expunged, it will not appear in MyCase, ISP checks, or other public searches. The process takes several weeks after the petition is filed. There is a filing fee for the petition. If you have questions about whether your Elkhart record qualifies, a criminal defense attorney or Indiana Legal Services can help you figure out your options.
Elkhart Criminal History Legal Resources
Indiana Legal Services covers Elkhart County and offers free legal help to people who meet income requirements. The Elkhart County Public Defender's Office handles cases for people facing criminal charges who cannot afford an attorney. The Indiana State Bar Association has a lawyer referral service that can connect you with criminal law attorneys in the Elkhart area.
The Elkhart County Law Library at the courthouse in Goshen has self-help resources and forms. Staff can help you find what you need. They cannot provide legal advice, but they can point you to the right materials for issues like expungement filings, record searches, or understanding court procedures in Elkhart County.
Elkhart County Criminal History Records
Elkhart is in Elkhart County, and all criminal cases go through the Elkhart County court system in Goshen. For more about the county court, fees, and related criminal records, visit the Elkhart County page.
Nearby Cities
These Indiana cities also have criminal history pages on this site: