Search DeKalb County Criminal Records

DeKalb County criminal history records are stored at the courthouse in Auburn, Indiana. The county has about 43,000 residents and is in the northeastern corner of the state, near the Ohio and Michigan borders. The DeKalb County Clerk manages all criminal court files from the Circuit and Superior Courts. You can search records in person at the clerk's office, by phone, or through Indiana's online court and state police systems. Arrest records are kept separately by the sheriff's office, also in Auburn.

DeKalb County Clerk and Criminal Case Records

The DeKalb County Clerk's Office holds all criminal case files for the county. This office is in the courthouse at 100 S Main Street in Auburn. Staff file new cases, keep old records, and hand out copies of court documents. The clerk covers both the Circuit Court and the Superior Court, so all criminal records in DeKalb County are in one place.

To look up a criminal record, call (260) 333-0701 or visit during business hours. Give the clerk a full name or case number. They will search the Odyssey system and let you know what they find. Copies are available for a small per-page fee. Certified copies cost a bit more and carry the court's seal. The clerk can also tell you if a case is open, closed, dismissed, or resulted in a conviction. Older files in DeKalb County that have not been moved to the digital system may take extra time to locate.

DeKalb County Sheriff Arrest Records

The DeKalb County Sheriff's Office handles law enforcement and keeps booking records for the county jail. The office is at 215 E 8th Street in Auburn. Every time someone is arrested in DeKalb County, a booking record is created. This record shows the charge, arrest date, and personal details about the person.

Call (260) 925-3811 to ask about arrest records from DeKalb County. The sheriff can tell you what information is available for release. Some records may be restricted if an investigation is still open. Indiana's criminal history law at IC 10-13-3 sets the rules on what law enforcement can share with the public. Booking records only show the arrest side. For court outcomes, you need to check with the DeKalb County Clerk.

Note: Active warrant lists may also be available from the DeKalb County Sheriff upon request.

Search DeKalb County Criminal History Online

Indiana runs two online tools that cover DeKalb County criminal records. Both are state-level systems that work for all 92 counties.

The first is MyCase. This free court records search is run by the Indiana courts. Search by name or case number to find criminal cases from DeKalb County. Results include charges, hearing dates, and dispositions. The data comes from the Odyssey system that all Indiana courts use. MyCase is not an official court record, so get certified copies from the clerk if you need them for legal purposes. Still, it is the quickest way to check on a DeKalb County criminal case for free.

The second is the ISP Limited Criminal History search. Run by the Indiana State Police, it costs $15.70 per name with a credit card. This search covers felonies and Class A misdemeanor arrests statewide, including DeKalb County. The result comes as a PDF that lasts 14 days. Even a "no records found" result costs the full fee. The accuracy depends on how well each county reports data to the state.

The Indiana State Police portal shown above lets you run a paid criminal history check for DeKalb County and all other Indiana counties.

DeKalb County Criminal Record Access Rules

Most criminal records in DeKalb County are public. Indiana's Access to Public Records Act at IC 5-14-3 gives anyone the right to view government records. You do not need a reason to look at a criminal case file. Just visit the clerk or use the online tools.

There are exceptions. Records that have been sealed or expunged will not appear in searches. Juvenile cases are not public in most situations. The DeKalb County Sheriff may hold back records tied to an active investigation. Under IC 10-13-3-27, misusing criminal history data from the state's system is a Class A misdemeanor. This applies to data from both the ISP search and local law enforcement in DeKalb County.

Indiana law also allows certain records to be restricted by court order. A judge can seal parts of a case file if there is a good reason. This is rare but does happen. If you believe a record exists but cannot find it, contact the DeKalb County Clerk to ask if it has been sealed or removed from public access.

DeKalb County Criminal Record Expungement

Indiana's expungement law at IC 35-38-9 lets some people ask to have criminal records removed from public view. The petition is filed with the court that handled the original case. For DeKalb County, that means the Circuit or Superior Court in Auburn. A judge reviews the request and decides based on the type of crime, time passed, and other facts.

Not all crimes are eligible. Arrests that did not lead to a conviction can be expunged right away. Misdemeanor convictions have a five-year wait. Some felonies qualify after eight or more years. Violent felonies and sex offenses usually cannot be expunged. When the court grants an expungement in DeKalb County, the clerk removes the record from public files. The ISP updates the state database, and MyCase will no longer show the case. You only get one chance to file for expungement under Indiana law, so include all eligible records in one petition.

• Non-conviction arrests eligible right away
• Misdemeanors eligible after five years
• Level 6 felonies may qualify after eight years
• Serious violent crimes are usually not eligible

Fingerprint-Based Checks for DeKalb County

For a more thorough criminal history check that goes beyond Indiana records, the fingerprint-based search is an option. This is done through IdentoGo, a vendor that works with the Indiana State Police. The cost is $38.20 and includes both a state and FBI check. The FBI check pulls data from all 50 states, so it catches out-of-state offenses that the online ISP search would miss.

IdentoGo has locations across Indiana where you can get fingerprinted. The closest ones to DeKalb County are in the Fort Wayne area. Results usually come back within 72 to 96 hours. You can learn more and schedule an appointment at the ISP Criminal History Services page. This option is used mostly by people who need a comprehensive criminal history check that covers more than just DeKalb County or Indiana.

Note: Juvenile records will not appear on either the name-based or fingerprint-based criminal history check in Indiana.

Cities in DeKalb County

Auburn is the county seat and the largest city in DeKalb County. Other communities include Garrett, Butler, and Waterloo. All criminal cases from these areas are filed at the DeKalb County courts in Auburn. No cities in DeKalb County meet the population threshold for a separate page, but all criminal records are available through the county clerk's office.

Nearby Counties

These counties border DeKalb County in northeastern Indiana. Check the county where the arrest or crime took place to find the right records.