St. Joseph County Criminal History

St. Joseph County criminal history records are held by the Clerk's Office and Sheriff's Office in South Bend, Indiana. This is one of the largest counties in northern Indiana with a population near 272,000. The county processes a high volume of criminal cases through its circuit and superior courts. You can search for criminal records in person, by phone, or through multiple online tools. St. Joseph County arrest data feeds into the Indiana State Police central repository, giving you both local and statewide search options for finding criminal history information.

St. Joseph County Clerk's Office

The St. Joseph County Clerk's Office is at 101 S Main St in South Bend. This office handles all criminal case filings and maintains the official court records for the county. With 272,000 residents, St. Joseph County processes far more criminal cases than most Indiana counties. The Clerk assigns case numbers, stores documents, and collects fees and fines. If you need a copy of any criminal record from a case that went through the St. Joseph County courts, this is where to go.

Walk in during business hours and ask for the records you need. Bring the person's full name and a case number if you have one. Staff can search the system and make copies for you. Call (574) 235-9635 ahead of time so the files are ready. Under IC 5-14-3, most court records from St. Joseph County are open to the public. You do not need to be part of the case to request access. The Clerk's Office also handles civil matters, small claims, and other court documents, but the criminal case file is what you want for criminal history searches.

The St. Joseph County Quick Links page provides direct access to the Indiana Odyssey court system search for looking up cases filed in this county.

This page links you straight to the MyCase search where you can find St. Joseph County criminal case records.

St. Joseph County Sheriff Criminal Records

The St. Joseph County Sheriff's Office is at 401 W Sample St in South Bend. This office handles arrests and keeps booking records for the county. As one of the most populated counties in Indiana, St. Joseph County sees a high number of arrests each year. Each arrest creates a record with charges, dates, and booking details. That data goes to the Indiana State Police under IC 10-13-3.

Arrest records from the Sheriff are different from court records at the Clerk's Office. An arrest record shows that someone was taken into custody in St. Joseph County. A court record shows the charges, hearings, and final outcome. For the most complete criminal history, check with both offices. Call the Sheriff at (574) 235-9611 for arrest reports, incident records, and warrant checks. South Bend police and Mishawaka police also make arrests in the county, so those records may be with the city departments rather than the county Sheriff.

The St. Joseph County government site provides links to various county departments that handle criminal records.

Note: City police departments in South Bend and Mishawaka keep their own arrest records separate from the St. Joseph County Sheriff.

Search St. Joseph County Criminal History Online

St. Joseph County criminal history can be searched online through two main tools. MyCase is free. The ISP Limited Criminal History check costs $15.70.

MyCase at public.courts.in.gov/mycase gives you free access to court case data from St. Joseph County and all 92 Indiana counties. Search by name, case number, or attorney. The site shows charges, court dates, and case outcomes. It runs on the Odyssey Case Management System, which links more than 400 trial courts statewide. Indiana courts handle over 2 million cases per year. MyCase is not an official court record, so for certified copies, visit the St. Joseph County Clerk in South Bend.

The Indiana State Police Limited Criminal History search at in.gov/ai/appfiles/isp-lch covers felonies and Class A misdemeanor arrests from across Indiana. The fee is $15.70 by credit card. Results come as a PDF that expires in 14 days. Save or print it right away because the state will not mail copies. Even a "No Records Found" response counts as a completed search and costs the full fee. Data completeness depends on county participation, and St. Joseph County as a larger county generally reports well to the state database.

Criminal History Laws in St. Joseph County

Indiana law controls how criminal history records work in St. Joseph County. IC 5-14-3, the Access to Public Records Act, gives the public the right to see government records. This includes most criminal case files. Some investigatory records can be withheld, but finished case records are generally open. The state's official position is that everyone deserves access to government information.

IC 10-13-3 sets rules for criminal history information statewide. It defines what counts as criminal history data and who can access it. Under IC 10-13-3-27, access is allowed only in specific situations. Misuse of limited criminal history data is a Class A misdemeanor. Criminal history stays in the ISP database until the person dies or reaches 99 without new criminal acts for 15 years.

IC 35-38-9 covers sealing and expungement in St. Joseph County. A person with a criminal record can petition the court to seal or expunge it. The court looks at the type of crime, how much time has passed, and conduct since the conviction. If granted, the record gets sealed from most public searches. Juvenile records in St. Joseph County are sealed by default and do not show on standard criminal history checks.

State Resources for St. Joseph County

The Indiana State Police CJIS Section is the central repository for criminal history data from every county. For St. Joseph County records at the state level, call 317-232-8262 or email CriminalHistory@isp.IN.gov. The ISP 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 explains all the ways you can request records. They offer both name-based limited checks and full fingerprint-based searches. For St. Joseph County cases, the state database shows felony and Class A misdemeanor arrests reported by local law enforcement. The Odyssey system ties St. Joseph County courts into the statewide court network.

• ISP Criminal History: in.gov/isp/criminal-history-services
• MyCase Court Search: public.courts.in.gov/mycase
• St. Joseph County Government: sjcindiana.gov

Cities in St. Joseph County

St. Joseph County includes South Bend, Mishawaka, and several smaller communities. Both South Bend and Mishawaka have populations over 25,000 and have their own criminal history pages. All criminal cases in the county go through the St. Joseph County courts in South Bend.

Other communities in St. Joseph County include Osceola, Granger, Roseland, and Walkerton. All use the St. Joseph County court system for criminal matters.

Nearby Counties

These counties border St. Joseph County. A criminal case is filed where the crime took place. Check that you are searching the correct county.