Terre Haute Criminal History
Criminal history records for Terre Haute are kept by the Vigo County Clerk and the Terre Haute Police Department. Terre Haute is the county seat of Vigo County with about 58,000 residents and sits along the Wabash River near the Illinois state line. The city handles a large share of criminal cases in western Indiana. You can search court records online through the state MyCase system. The Vigo County Clerk maintains all official criminal case files, and the police department holds arrest and incident reports for cases that start in Terre Haute.
Terre Haute Quick Facts
Terre Haute Criminal History at the County Clerk
All criminal cases filed in Terre Haute go through the Vigo County court system. The Clerk of the Circuit Court keeps the official records for every case. This includes felonies, misdemeanors, and infractions from Terre Haute and the rest of the county. The clerk's office is in downtown Terre Haute at the Vigo County Courthouse.
| Office | Vigo County Clerk of the Circuit Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 33 S 3rd St Terre Haute, IN 47807 |
| Phone | (812) 462-3211 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM |
You can visit the clerk's office in person to look up criminal case files. The staff can search by name or case number and pull records from the court's database. Bring a valid photo ID when you go. Most court records are public unless a judge sealed them. Certified copies cost a small fee per page. Call ahead to check the current copy rates if you need certified documents from a Terre Haute criminal case.
Search Terre Haute Criminal History Online
The easiest way to look up criminal records in Terre Haute is through the Indiana MyCase system. This is a free public tool run by the state courts. It covers all Vigo County criminal cases, including those from Terre Haute. You can search by a person's name, case number, or attorney name. Results show case type, charges, filing dates, and case status.
The Indiana courts MyCase portal covers all of Vigo County, including Terre Haute cases filed in the Circuit, Superior, and City courts.
MyCase results include case summaries and some court documents. Not every document in a case file shows up online. For the full file, you may still need to visit the clerk in person. Some older cases from Terre Haute may not be in the system at all. Cases from before the mid-2000s were not always entered into the electronic database.
You can also run a broader criminal history check through the Indiana State Police. The ISP offers a Limited Criminal History search on their site. This pulls data from statewide records, not just Vigo County. The fee for an ISP check is $15 per person. Go to ISP Criminal History Services for details on how to submit a request. The ISP search covers arrests and convictions from all Indiana counties, so it is more complete than a single county search for Terre Haute residents who may have records elsewhere.
Terre Haute Police Department Criminal Records
The Terre Haute Police Department handles arrests and incident reports within city limits. When someone is arrested in Terre Haute, the police create a report that becomes part of the criminal record. These reports are separate from the court records kept by the Vigo County Clerk. To get a police report or arrest record, you contact the department directly.
| Department | Terre Haute Police Department |
|---|---|
| Address | 1221 Cherry St Terre Haute, IN 47807 |
| Phone | (812) 238-1661 |
Police reports show what happened during an incident. They list the date, time, location, people involved, and a summary from the officer. These reports are public records under Indiana law (IC 5-14-3). Some parts may be redacted if the case is still active or if releasing them could harm an ongoing investigation. The department can tell you what is available when you call or visit.
The Terre Haute police log daily arrests and bookings. If you need to confirm an arrest or find out about a recent incident, calling the department is often the fastest route. For older records, the clerk's office may be a better source since court files cover the full case from start to finish.
Criminal History Checks in Terre Haute
Indiana law under IC 10-13-3 sets the rules for criminal history checks. The Indiana State Police maintain a central repository of criminal records for the whole state. Terre Haute residents can use this system for a thorough search that goes past just the local court.
The ISP Limited Criminal History is the main statewide tool. You can run it online or by mail. The online version gives results in a few days. The fee is $15, paid by credit card or money order. This search pulls arrests and convictions from every Indiana county, including Vigo. It does not cover federal cases or out-of-state records. For those, you would need a national criminal history check through the FBI.
The ISP Limited Criminal History search is the standard tool for checking records across all Indiana counties from Terre Haute.
ISP Limited Criminal History Search
Under IC 35-38-9, Indiana allows some criminal records to be expunged. If a record has been expunged, it will not show up in a search. Terre Haute residents who believe they qualify for expungement can file a petition with the Vigo County court. The clerk's office can tell you what forms are needed. Expungement rules depend on the type of offense and how much time has passed since the case ended.
Terre Haute Criminal History Legal Resources
If you need help understanding a criminal record or dealing with the court system in Terre Haute, several resources are available. Indiana Legal Services has a regional office that serves Vigo County residents. They offer free legal aid to people who qualify based on income. Call their intake line to see if you can get help with your case.
The Vigo County Public Defender's Office handles cases for people who cannot afford a lawyer and face criminal charges in Terre Haute. If you already have a case and need a lawyer, the court will appoint one if you meet the income guidelines. For general legal questions about criminal records, the Indiana State Bar Association runs a lawyer referral service. You can reach them to find an attorney who handles criminal law in the Terre Haute area.
Indiana State University in Terre Haute sometimes offers legal clinics through its pre-law programs. These clinics can help with basic questions about criminal records and court processes. Check with the university for current offerings. The Vigo County Law Library at the courthouse also has self-help resources and forms for people who need to file motions on their own.
Vigo County Criminal History Records
Terre Haute is in Vigo County, and all criminal filings go through the Vigo County court system. The county handles cases from Terre Haute and all other towns in the county. For more about the county court, full fee lists, and other resources, see the Vigo County criminal history page.
Nearby Cities
These Indiana cities also have criminal history pages on this site: