Adams County Criminal History

Adams County criminal history records are held at the Clerk's Office and Sheriff's Office in Decatur, Indiana. The county has a population near 36,000 and processes criminal cases through its local circuit court. You can look up a criminal case by visiting the courthouse, calling the Clerk, or searching through the state's online court system. Adams County criminal history data is also part of the Indiana State Police central repository, which stores felony and Class A misdemeanor arrest records from across Indiana. Getting records from this county starts with knowing which office to contact and what search tools are at your disposal.

Adams County Clerk's Office

The Adams County Clerk's Office in Decatur handles all criminal case filings and court records. This office collects filing fees, court costs, and judgment payments in criminal cases. It also issues arrest warrants and other court documents. When a new criminal case is filed in Adams County, the Clerk assigns a case number and stores all related papers in the official case file. If you need a copy of a criminal record from a local case, start here.

You can visit the Clerk in person to ask for criminal case records from Adams County. Bring the full name of the person and a case number if you have one. Staff can pull files and make copies. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. It helps to call ahead so staff can get your records ready before you arrive. The Clerk's Office can tell you about both pending cases and past convictions that went through the Adams County courts. Under IC 5-14-3, most court records in Adams County are open to the public and anyone can request them.

The Adams County Clerk's Office website lists the range of services this office provides, along with contact details for staff in Decatur.

This page shows what the Clerk handles, including collecting fines and fees in Adams County criminal and infraction cases.

Adams County Sheriff Criminal Records

The Adams County Sheriff's Office is at 313 S 1st St in Decatur. This office keeps arrest records and runs law enforcement for the county. When someone is arrested in Adams County, the Sheriff creates a record of the arrest that includes charges, date, and booking details. That data gets sent to the Indiana State Police under IC 10-13-3 and becomes part of the person's criminal history in the state database.

If you want a local arrest record, contact the Sheriff directly at (260) 724-3807. Arrest records and court records are two different things. An arrest record shows that someone was taken into custody. A court record shows what happened in the case after the arrest. For a full picture of someone's criminal history in Adams County, you may need data from both the Sheriff and the Clerk. The Sheriff's Office can also point you toward incident reports and other law enforcement records they keep on file.

Note: For a more complete picture that spans all Indiana counties, use the state criminal history check through the Indiana State Police instead of just the local Sheriff records.

Search Adams County Criminal History Online

There are two main ways to search Adams County criminal history records from home. The first is MyCase, a free court records portal. The second is the Indiana State Police Limited Criminal History search, which costs $15.70.

MyCase at public.courts.in.gov/mycase lets you search court case records from Adams County and every other county in Indiana. You can search by name or case number. The site shows case details, charges, and court dates. It is free to use. Keep in mind that MyCase is not an official court record and the data may contain errors. For official copies, you still need to go to the Adams County Clerk's Office. MyCase runs on the Odyssey Case Management System, which connects all Indiana trial courts into one searchable platform. Indiana's courts handle more than 2 million cases a year through this system.

The Indiana State Police Limited Criminal History search at in.gov/ai/appfiles/isp-lch covers felonies and Class A misdemeanor arrests statewide. The fee is $15.70 by credit card or $15.00 for IN.gov subscribers. A "No Records Found" result still counts as a completed search and you will be charged. Results come as a PDF that expires 14 days after the search. Print or save the record right away because the state will not mail you a copy. Data completeness depends on county participation, so some Adams County records may not show up if they have not been reported to the state database yet.

Criminal History Laws in Adams County

Several Indiana statutes control how criminal history records work in Adams County. The Access to Public Records Act under IC 5-14-3 gives the public the right to see government records, including many criminal justice records. The official policy of the state is that all persons are entitled to full and complete information about government affairs. Some investigatory records are excluded from public access, but most criminal case files are open.

IC 10-13-3 sets the rules for criminal history information across Indiana. It defines what counts as a criminal history record and who can access it. Under IC 10-13-3-27, access to criminal histories is allowed only in specific instances. Misuse of limited criminal history information is a Class A misdemeanor. This means you can look up records in Adams County, but you must follow the rules about how you use what you find.

If someone wants to clear their criminal history in Adams County, IC 35-38-9 covers sealing and expungement. This law lets certain people petition the court to seal or expunge their records. Not all crimes qualify. The process starts with a petition to the court that handled the original case. If granted, the record is sealed from public view and will not show on most searches. A person's criminal history stays in the Indiana State Police database until they die or reach age 99 without any criminal activity for the prior 15 years.

State Resources for Adams County Records

The Indiana State Police is the central repository for all criminal history data in the state. Their CJIS Section manages records from every county, including Adams County. You can reach them at 317-232-8262 or email CriminalHistory@isp.IN.gov. The main office is at 100 N. Senate Avenue, Suite N340, Indianapolis. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM Eastern Time.

The Indiana State Police criminal history services page has details on how to request records. You can do online searches or send requests by mail. The ISP handles both limited criminal history checks (name-based) and full fingerprint-based searches. For Adams County cases, the ISP database will show any felony or Class A misdemeanor arrest that local law enforcement has reported. The Odyssey system ties Adams County courts into the statewide network, and IC 24-4-18-6 also controls what information certain providers can share about a person's criminal background.

• ISP Criminal History: in.gov/isp/criminal-history-services
• MyCase Court Search: public.courts.in.gov/mycase
• Odyssey System Info: in.gov/courts/admin/tech/odyssey

Cities in Adams County

Adams County has several cities and towns, including Decatur, Berne, Geneva, and Monroe. All criminal cases filed in the county go through the Adams County courts in Decatur. None of these cities meet the population threshold for their own page, but all use the same court system for criminal history matters.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Adams County. A criminal case is filed where the crime took place, so make sure you search the right county for the records you need.