Crawford County Criminal Records

Crawford County criminal history records are held at the county courthouse in English, Indiana. With a population of roughly 10,500, Crawford County is one of the smaller counties in the state. The Circuit Court Clerk handles all criminal case files and can help you look up past charges, dispositions, and sentencing details. You can also use the state court system or the Indiana State Police to run a criminal history search that covers Crawford County cases. Most searches take just a few days to finish, and some options let you get results right away through an online portal.

Crawford County Clerk and Criminal Records

The Crawford County Clerk's Office is the main place to get criminal case records in this county. Staff at the clerk's office file new cases, keep old files, and hand out copies of court papers. If you need to see a criminal case from Crawford County, this is where you start. The office sits in the courthouse in English and is open on weekdays.

You can call or visit to ask about a case. Give the clerk a full name or case number. They will look it up in the system and tell you what they find. Copies of court papers cost a small fee per page. Certified copies cost more but are needed for some legal matters. The clerk can also tell you if a case is still open or if it has been closed. For older cases that may not be in the digital system, staff can check paper files stored at the courthouse in Crawford County.

Crawford County Sheriff's Office

The Crawford County Sheriff's Office also plays a role in criminal history records. The sheriff handles arrests and keeps booking records. When a person is booked into the Crawford County jail, a record is made. This record shows the charge, the arrest date, and basic details about the person. You can ask the sheriff for arrest records or jail booking logs.

The sheriff's office shares a building with the courthouse at 715 Judicial Plaza in English. Call (812) 338-2803 to ask about arrest records or other law enforcement files from Crawford County. Some records may be restricted under IC 10-13-3, which sets rules on who can see criminal history data in Indiana. Investigative files that are still open are typically not released to the public.

Note: Booking records at the sheriff's office may not show the final outcome of a case, so check with the clerk for full disposition details.

How to Search Crawford County Criminal History

There are a few ways to look up criminal records in Crawford County. The fastest option for most people is the state's online tools. Indiana runs two main systems that cover all 92 counties. Both of these include Crawford County cases.

The first tool is MyCase. This is the free court records search run by the Indiana courts. You can look up any case by name or case number. MyCase shows criminal charges, hearing dates, and case outcomes. It covers cases from Crawford County and every other county in the state. The data comes from the Odyssey case management system that all Indiana courts use. Keep in mind that MyCase is not an official court record. If you need a certified copy, you still have to go to the Crawford County Clerk.

The second tool is the Limited Criminal History check from the Indiana State Police. This search costs $15.70 per name if you pay by credit card. It shows felonies and Class A misdemeanor arrests from across the state, including Crawford County. Results come as a PDF that you can print right away. The PDF is good for 14 days after the search is done. Even a result of "no records found" counts as a completed search and costs the full fee.

The ISP Limited Criminal History portal is the paid state search that covers Crawford County felony and misdemeanor records.

Criminal Record Access Laws in Crawford County

Indiana's public records law gives people the right to see most government records. This includes criminal case files held by the Crawford County Clerk and court system. Under IC 10-13-3, criminal history data is kept by law enforcement and courts. Access depends on the type of record and who is asking for it.

Court records in Crawford County are generally open to the public. Anyone can go to the clerk's office and ask to see a criminal case file. You do not have to give a reason. The Access to Public Records Act, found at IC 5-14-3, backs up this right. Some records are kept private, though. Sealed cases and expunged records will not show up in a search. Juvenile cases are also not open to the public in most situations.

Under IC 10-13-3-27, misuse of criminal history data from the state system is a Class A misdemeanor. If you get records from the ISP Limited Criminal History check, you must use them only for allowed reasons. The law spells out who can ask for these records and what they can do with them.

Note: Indiana's expungement law at IC 35-38-9 lets some people seal or erase old criminal records, which means not every past case will show up in a Crawford County search.

Crawford County Court System

Crawford County has a Circuit Court that handles criminal cases. This is the main trial court for the county. Felonies, misdemeanors, and infractions all go through this court. The judge hears cases and enters orders that become part of the criminal record. All of these case files are stored at the clerk's office.

Because Crawford County is small, it does not have a separate Superior Court. The Circuit Court handles all types of cases. This makes it simpler to search for criminal records since there is only one court to check. If a case was filed in Crawford County, the Circuit Court handled it. The clerk keeps both active and closed case files going back many years. For very old cases, the records may be on paper rather than in the electronic system.

How to Get Criminal Record Copies in Crawford County

You can get copies of Crawford County criminal records in person or by mail. Visit the clerk's office at 715 Judicial Plaza in English during business hours. Give the staff the name and case number if you have it. They will pull the file and make copies for you. The fee depends on how many pages you need. Certified copies cost more but carry an official stamp from the court.

To request by mail, send a letter to the Crawford County Clerk at the address above. Include the full name of the person, any case details you have, and a check or money order for the copy fees. Call (812) 338-2565 first to ask about the total cost so you can send the right amount. Mail requests take longer than in-person visits. Allow one to two weeks for the clerk to process your request and mail back the copies.

For a statewide search, contact the Indiana State Police Criminal History Services at 317-232-8262. The ISP can run a full check that goes beyond just Crawford County. Their online tool costs $15.70, and a fingerprint-based check through IdentoGo costs $38.20. The fingerprint check pulls data from the FBI as well, so it covers crimes in other states too.

Crawford County Criminal Record Expungement

Indiana law allows people to petition for expungement of certain criminal records. This process is handled at the court level in Crawford County. If a person meets the conditions under IC 35-38-9, they can ask the Circuit Court to seal or erase their record. Not all crimes can be expunged. Violent felonies and sex offenses are usually not eligible.

Once a record is expunged in Crawford County, it will not show up in most public searches. The clerk removes it from the public file, and the ISP marks it in their system. Expunged records should not appear on a MyCase search or a Limited Criminal History check. If you believe a record was expunged but it still shows up, contact the Crawford County Clerk to have it corrected.

• Arrests with no conviction may be expunged right away
• Misdemeanors may be expunged five years after the conviction
• Class D and Level 6 felonies may be expunged after eight years
• More serious felonies have longer waiting periods or are not eligible

Note: Filing for expungement in Crawford County does not guarantee it will be granted; the judge reviews each petition on its own facts.

Cities in Crawford County

Crawford County has several small towns and communities. English is the county seat and the largest town. Other communities include Marengo, Leavenworth, and Milltown. All criminal cases from these areas are filed at the Crawford County Circuit Court in English. None of the cities in Crawford County meet the population threshold for a separate city page, but their criminal records are all handled through the same county clerk's office.

Nearby Counties

These counties sit next to Crawford County. If you are not sure where a case was filed, check which county the arrest took place in. Each county keeps its own criminal records at the local clerk's office.