Elkhart County Criminal History
Elkhart County criminal history records can be searched through the Clerk's Office in Goshen and the Indiana State Police online portal. With a population near 207,000, Elkhart County is one of the larger counties in northern Indiana and processes a high volume of criminal cases each year. The Clerk's Office at the county courthouse maintains all case files, while the Sheriff's Office at a separate location handles arrest records and local law enforcement data. You can search court records online through the state's MyCase system or request a formal criminal history check through the ISP Limited Criminal History portal for $15.70 per search.
Elkhart County Quick Facts
Elkhart County Criminal History Records
The Elkhart County Clerk's Office is the main place to get criminal history records in this county. Staff at the office handle case filings, store court files, and provide copies of records to the public. The office sits at 101 N Main St in Goshen. You can walk in during business hours to ask for records. Phone requests are also an option if you call ahead.
Criminal cases in Elkhart County go through the local circuit and superior courts. All of these records end up with the Clerk. The office keeps files on felonies, misdemeanors, and infractions. Under IC 10-13-3, the state defines what counts as criminal history record information. This includes arrest data, charges, and case outcomes. Elkhart County follows these same state rules when it shares records with the public. The Clerk can help you find a case by name or case number, and staff will tell you how to get a certified copy if you need one.
| Clerk's Office |
Elkhart County Courthouse 101 N Main St Goshen, IN 46526 Phone: (574) 523-2375 |
|---|---|
| Sheriff's Office |
26851 CR 26 Elkhart, IN 46517 Phone: (574) 523-2101 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM |
Search Elkhart County Court Records Online
The fastest way to look up criminal history in Elkhart County is through the MyCase portal. This is a free tool run by the Indiana courts. You can search by name, case number, or date. The system covers all trial courts in Elkhart County and across the state. It shows case details, charges, and hearing dates. Keep in mind that MyCase is not an official court record. It may have errors or missing data. For certified copies, you still need to go to the Clerk's Office in Goshen.
The Indiana State Police also runs the Limited Criminal History search. This costs $15.70 per search with a credit card. It pulls up felonies and Class A misdemeanors from the ISP database. The results come as a PDF that you can print or save. The PDF expires after 14 days. A "no records found" result is still a valid search and you still pay the fee. This tool is useful if you need a quick criminal history check for someone in Elkhart County.
Note: The completeness of the ISP Limited Criminal History depends on how well each county reports its data to the state.
Criminal History Search Tools
The Indiana State Police provides a Limited Criminal History search portal that covers Elkhart County and all other Indiana counties.
This search tool is the primary state-run option for checking criminal history records in Elkhart County. It pulls data from law enforcement agencies across Indiana.
Public Access to Elkhart County Criminal Records
Indiana law gives the public broad access to criminal history records. Under IC 5-14-3, the Access to Public Records Act says that all persons can get information about government actions. Criminal cases in Elkhart County fall under this law. You can ask the Clerk for case files, and they must provide them unless a court order seals them.
Some records in Elkhart County may not be open to the public. Sealed and expunged records are off limits. Under IC 35-38-9, Indiana allows people to petition for expungement of certain criminal records. If a judge grants the petition, the record gets sealed from public view. This means a criminal history search in Elkhart County might not show every past case for a given person. Juvenile records are also sealed by default and will not show up in any public search.
If you want to file a public records request in Elkhart County, you can do so in writing. Send your request to the Clerk's Office in Goshen. Include the full name of the person and any case numbers you know. The Clerk has to respond within a set time under state law. Fees may apply for copies. The cost varies depending on the number of pages and whether you need certified copies or plain ones.
Elkhart County Sheriff Criminal Records
The Elkhart County Sheriff's Office keeps its own set of criminal records. These include arrest logs, booking data, and incident reports. The Sheriff's Office is at 26851 CR 26 in Elkhart. You can call (574) 523-2101 to ask about records. Walk-in requests are accepted during business hours.
The Sheriff's records are different from the Clerk's records. The Clerk has court case files. The Sheriff has arrest and booking data. If you need both, you may have to visit two offices in Elkhart County. The Sheriff can also tell you about active warrants. For a full criminal history that covers the whole state, use the ISP portal instead. It combines data from local law enforcement agencies across Indiana, including the Elkhart County Sheriff.
How Indiana Tracks Criminal History
Indiana uses the Odyssey Case Management System to link courts across the state. The Indiana Supreme Court chose this system to connect over 400 trial courts. Elkhart County is part of this network. That means a judge in Elkhart County can see criminal cases a person has in other counties.
The state handles more than 2 million cases a year. The ISP serves as the central place for criminal history information under IC 10-13-3. They collect data from local agencies and keep it in a statewide database. Criminal history records stay in the system until the person turns 99 or dies, unless they get an expungement. Misuse of criminal history data is a Class A misdemeanor in Indiana. This law protects people from having their records shared in ways the state does not allow.
Note: Always check with the Elkhart County Clerk for the most current information on fees and procedures.
Cities in Elkhart County
Elkhart County has several cities and towns. All criminal cases filed here go through the Elkhart County courts. The two largest cities both have populations over 25,000.
Other communities in Elkhart County include Middlebury, Nappanee, Wakarusa, and Bristol. All of these file criminal cases through the Elkhart County court system.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Elkhart County. Make sure you file or search in the right county for the case you need.