Starke County Criminal History Lookup
Starke County criminal history records are available through the Clerk's Office and Sheriff's Office in Knox, Indiana. This northern Indiana county has a population near 23,000. Criminal cases run through the local circuit court in Knox. You can search for criminal records in person, by phone, or using the state's online court system. Starke County data also feeds into the Indiana State Police central repository, which tracks felonies and Class A misdemeanor arrests from every county in the state.
Starke County Quick Facts
Starke County Clerk's Office
The Starke County Clerk's Office sits at 53 E Washington St in Knox. All criminal case filings and court records for the county go through this office. The Clerk assigns case numbers, stores court documents, and collects fees and fines in criminal cases. When you need copies of a criminal record from a Starke County case, the Clerk's Office is the place to ask.
Walk in during office hours to request records. Bring the full name of the person and a case number if you have it. Staff can search and pull files for you. Call ahead at (574) 772-9120. Under IC 5-14-3, most court records in Starke County are public and anyone can request them. The Clerk can show you both pending criminal cases and closed cases from the Starke County courts.
Starke County is in the northern part of Indiana, between St. Joseph County and Pulaski County. The courthouse in Knox is the only location for Starke County criminal filings.
| Address | 53 E Washington St, Knox, IN 46534 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (574) 772-9120 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM |
Starke County Sheriff Criminal Records
The Starke County Sheriff's Office is at 5435 E State Rd 8 in Knox. This office handles arrests, keeps booking records, and runs law enforcement for the county. When someone is arrested in Starke County, the Sheriff creates a booking record. That data gets reported to the Indiana State Police under IC 10-13-3 and ends up in the statewide criminal history database.
Arrest records from the Sheriff are not the same as court records from the Clerk. The arrest record tells you someone was booked in Starke County. The court record tells you the outcome of their case. For a thorough criminal history search, check with both offices. Call the Sheriff at (574) 772-3771 for arrest records, incident reports, and warrant information from Starke County.
| Address | 5435 E State Rd 8, Knox, IN 46534 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (574) 772-3771 |
Search Starke County Criminal History Online
Two main online tools let you search Starke County criminal history from home. The free option is MyCase. The paid option is the ISP Limited Criminal History at $15.70.
MyCase at public.courts.in.gov/mycase gives free access to court case data from Starke County and all other Indiana counties. Search by name or case number. You will see charges, court dates, and how each case ended. The Odyssey Case Management System powers this site. Remember that MyCase is not an official court record and may have errors. For certified copies, visit the Starke County Clerk in Knox.
The ISP FAQ page answers common questions about the limited criminal history search process that covers Starke County.
The Indiana State Police Limited Criminal History check at in.gov/ai/appfiles/isp-lch covers felonies and Class A misdemeanor arrests statewide. The cost is $15.70 by credit card. Results come as a PDF that expires in 14 days. Print or save it right away because the state does not mail copies. A "No Records Found" result still costs the full fee. Data completeness depends on how well each county reports to the state database.
Criminal History Laws in Starke County
Indiana statutes control criminal history records in Starke County. IC 5-14-3, the Access to Public Records Act, says anyone can request government records. This includes most criminal case files from the Starke County courts. Some investigatory records may be withheld, but completed case files are generally open to the public.
IC 10-13-3 defines what criminal history record information is and who can see it. Under IC 10-13-3-27, access is allowed only in specific situations. Misusing limited criminal history data is a Class A misdemeanor in Indiana. A person's criminal history stays in the Indiana State Police database until they die or turn 99 without new criminal acts for 15 years.
IC 35-38-9 covers expungement in Starke County. A person can petition the court to seal or expunge their criminal record. The judge reviews the crime type, time elapsed, and conduct since conviction. If granted, the record is sealed from most public searches. Juvenile records are sealed by default in Indiana.
State Resources for Starke County
The Indiana State Police keeps criminal history records from all 92 counties. For Starke County data 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.
The ISP criminal history services page covers all ways to request records. They offer limited name-based checks and full fingerprint-based searches. The Odyssey system connects Starke County courts into the statewide network.
- ISP Criminal History: in.gov/isp/criminal-history-services
- MyCase Court Search: public.courts.in.gov/mycase
- ISP Limited Criminal History: in.gov/ai/appfiles/isp-lch
Cities in Starke County
Starke County includes Knox, North Judson, Hamlet, and several smaller towns. All criminal cases go through the Starke County courts in Knox. None of these communities meet the population threshold for their own criminal history page.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Starke County. Make sure you search the right county for your criminal records request.