Washington County Criminal History
Washington County criminal history records are held at the Clerk's Office and Sheriff's Office in Salem, Indiana. The county has about 28,000 residents in southern Indiana. Criminal cases go through the Washington County circuit court. You can search criminal history records by visiting the courthouse in Salem, calling the Clerk or Sheriff, or using the state's online MyCase portal for free. The Indiana State Police also maintains Washington County criminal history data in its statewide database. The Sheriff's Office has a records division that handles copies of incident and arrest reports.
Washington County Quick Facts
Washington County Clerk's Office
The Washington County Clerk's Office at 99 W Public Square in Salem is the official keeper of all criminal case filings and court records. Every criminal case in Washington County starts here. The Clerk assigns case numbers, stores court documents, and keeps the full case file from charging through final judgment. If you need a copy of any criminal record that went through the Washington County courts, this is where you go.
Visit in person with the full name of the person you are searching for. A case number helps but is not required. Under IC 5-14-3, most criminal court records in Washington County are public and anyone can ask to view them. Sealed and expunged records are not available. The Clerk can handle most requests the same day. Washington County is not a large county, so the office volume is manageable and wait times tend to be short.
Call (812) 883-5748 before your visit to check hours or have staff pull records before you arrive in Salem.
| Address | 99 W Public Square, Salem, IN 47167 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (812) 883-5748 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM |
Washington County Sheriff Records
The Washington County Sheriff's Office is at 801 S Jackson St in Salem. This office handles law enforcement for the county and keeps arrest records. When someone gets arrested in Washington County, the Sheriff creates a booking record with charges, date, and personal details. That arrest data gets reported to the Indiana State Police under IC 10-13-3 and becomes part of the statewide criminal history system.
The Washington County Sheriff's records page provides information on getting copies of incident and accident reports. To get a copy of a report, contact the Sheriff at (812) 883-5999. The Sheriff's records division can help you with arrest records and other law enforcement documents from Washington County. Keep in mind that arrest records and court records are different things. The arrest record shows the booking. The court record shows the case outcome.
| Address | 801 S Jackson St, Salem, IN 47167 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (812) 883-5999 |
| Records | washingtoncountyinsheriff.org/recordsslashcopies |
Search Washington County Criminal History Online
Two online tools help you find Washington County criminal history records. MyCase is free. The ISP search costs $15.70.
MyCase at public.courts.in.gov/mycase provides free access to court case data from Washington County and all 92 Indiana counties. Search by name or case number to see charges, dates, and case status. The system runs on Odyssey, which connects Indiana's trial courts. Over 2 million cases move through Odyssey each year. MyCase data is not an official court record and may have errors. For official copies, visit the Washington County Clerk in Salem.
The Indiana State Police Limited Criminal History search covers felonies and Class A misdemeanor arrests statewide. The fee is $15.70 by credit card. Results come as a PDF that expires in 14 days. Print or save it right away because no copy will be mailed. A "No Records Found" response counts as a completed search and you still get charged. How complete the data is for Washington County depends on local agencies reporting to the state system.
The ISP Limited Criminal History portal lets you search for Washington County felony and Class A misdemeanor arrest records from home.
Criminal Record Laws in Washington County
Several Indiana statutes affect criminal history records in Washington County. IC 5-14-3, the Access to Public Records Act, gives the public a right to see government records. The state's official policy is that all people deserve full information about government affairs. Most criminal case files in Washington County are open under this law. Certain investigatory records may be excluded.
IC 10-13-3 covers criminal history information specifically. It defines what qualifies as a criminal history record and sets the rules for access. Under IC 10-13-3-27, detailed criminal histories can only be accessed in specific instances. Misuse of limited criminal history data is a Class A misdemeanor. These rules apply to Washington County records that go through the state system.
Some people with criminal records in Washington County may qualify for expungement under IC 35-38-9. This law lets certain people petition the court to seal their records. Not all crimes are eligible. The petition goes to the court that handled the original Washington County case. If approved, the record gets sealed from public searches. Criminal history data stays in the ISP system until the person dies or reaches age 99 without criminal activity for 15 years.
State Resources for Washington County
The Indiana State Police CJIS Section manages criminal history records from all 92 counties, including Washington County. Contact them at 317-232-8262 or email CriminalHistory@isp.IN.gov. The office is at 100 N. Senate Avenue, Suite N340 in Indianapolis, open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM Eastern Time.
The ISP criminal history services page has full details on mail-in and online requests. For Washington County cases, the state database should show felony and Class A misdemeanor arrests that local law enforcement has reported. The Odyssey system ties Washington County courts to the statewide platform so case data feeds into MyCase for public access.
Note: For copies of local incident or accident reports in Washington County, contact the Sheriff directly at (812) 883-5999 rather than the state system.
Cities in Washington County
Washington County includes Salem, Pekin, and several other small towns. None of these communities reach the 25,000 population threshold for a separate page. All criminal cases in the county go through the Washington County courts in Salem.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Washington County in southern Indiana. Criminal cases are filed where the crime took place. Verify you are checking the right county for the records you need.