What are Indianapolis Public Records
According to Indiana’s Access to Public Records Act, Indianapolis public records are documents created, filed, reproduced, or kept by the state, city, or county agencies. Indiana public records include written documents, audio and video files, maps, and pictures. Custodian agencies may restrict certain portions of a public record if it satisfies the following criteria:
- Financial information about an individual or organization.
- Trade secrets.
- The investigative procedure of law enforcement agencies.
- Medical records and adoption records.
Indianapolis Crime Statistics
The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department provides citywide statistics on arrests, traffic violations, and crime trends. More so, it collates the annual summaries of all reported crimes within the city. According to the 2018 crime statistics for Indianapolis, the city reported a total number of 47,407 crimes. The report includes 11,170 violent crimes and 36,237 property crimes. The reported violent crimes consist of 162 murder and non-negligent murders, 677 rapes, 3,081 robberies, and 7,250 aggravated assaults. Alternatively, the reported property crimes include; 782 burglaries, 23,448 larcenies, 4,947 motor vehicle thefts, and 229 arsons. Compared with the 2015 Crime Statistics Report, the city saw a slight decline in crimes reported within the 3-year (2015 to 2018) duration. Violent crimes decreased by 0.4 percent, while property crimes declined by 12 percent.
Are Indianapolis Criminal Records Public?
Not all Indianapolis criminal records are available to the public. The Indiana State Police Department, for instance, redacts access to criminal records that contain ongoing investigations. However, requesters can access Indianapolis criminal records using a name-based record search or a fingerprint-based record search.
How to Obtain Indianapolis Police Reports and Arrest Records
Interested persons may obtain Indianapolis police reports and arrest records from Indiana's official records request platform, which serves as the main repository of all arrest records. Requesters may obtain arrest records by completing an online form or by submitting a written request to the:
200 East Washington Street
Suite 1601
Indianapolis, IN 46204
In the written request, requesters should include a clear description of the record and also include the following information:
- The requester's name, address, and phone number.
- The date.
- The name of the custodial agency.
How to Find Sex Offender Information in Indianapolis
The Indiana Department of Corrections, in conjunction with the Marion Sheriff's Office, maintains and updates a list of all convicted sex offenders residing in Indianapolis and the state in general. Via the Sex Offender registry, record seekers can search for sex offenders by name, city, phone number, offender status (compliant or non-compliant), and location.
How to Find Indianapolis Inmate Records
Interested persons may obtain inmate records from the Indiana Department of Corrections's online search database, which serves as the statewide repository of all inmates incarcerated within the state jails. Requesters may search for Indianapolis inmate records by inputting the offender's first and last name or via the Offender Number.
How Do I Visit an Inmate in Indianapolis Jail
Interested persons should get approval from the Marion County Sheriff's Office before visiting inmates at the Indianapolis Jail. Inmate visitation is either through video calls or in-person visits. Visitors must always schedule video calls 24 hours before the visit. Conversely, visitors may visit the prison facility in person at:
40 South Alabama Street
Indianapolis, IN 46204
The number of visitors for on-site visits should not exceed four individuals. In addition to this, an adult must be present when minors are visiting. Visitors should always dress appropriately during video or on-site visits.
Court Records
As a part of the 13th Indiana Judicial District, the Marion County Superior Court provides access to a myriad of Indianapolis court records including but not limited to administrative records, probate records, traffic records, and criminal records.
Location of Courts in Indianapolis
The City and County is home to one Circuit Court, three Superior Courts, two City and Town Courts, and nine Small Claims Courts. The contact details of the courts are listed below:
Marion County Circuit Court
City-County Building
200 East Washington Street
Suite W122
Indianapolis, IN 46204
Phone: (317) 327-4740
Fax: (317) 327-3893
Marion County Superior Court
City-County Building
200 East Washington Street
Suite W122
Indianapolis, IN 46204
Phone: (317) 327-4740
Fax: (317) 327-3893
Marion County Superior Court - Juvenile Division
Juvenile Justice Complex
2451 North Keystone Avenue
Indianapolis, IN 46218
Phone: (317) 327-8381
Fax: (317) 327-8382
Marion County Traffic Court
8115 East Washington Street
Indianapolis, IN 46219
Phone: (317) 327-7995
Beech Grove City Court
340 East Churchman Avenue
Beech Grove, IN 46107
Phone: (317) 803-9155
Fax: (317) 782-4943
Cumberland Town Court
11501 East Washington Street
Cumberland, IN 46229
Phone: (317) 894-3525
Center Township Small Claims Court
Julia M. Carson Government Center
300 East Fall Creek Parkway
North Drive #130
Indianapolis, IN 46205
Phone: (317) 920-4530
Fax: (317) 920-4534
Decatur Township Small Claims Court
3730 South Foltz Street
Indianapolis, IN 46241
Phone: (317) 241-2854
Fax: (317) 247-5960
Franklin Township Small Claims Court
4351 Independence Square, Indianapolis, IN 46203
Phone: (317) 784-1751
Fax: (317) 784-1871
Lawrence Township Small Claims Court
4455 McCoy Street
Indianapolis, IN 46226
Phone: (317) 545-2369
Fax: (317) 545-1662
Perry Township Small Claims Court
4925 Shelby Street #100
Indianapolis, IN 46227
Phone: (317) 786-9242
Fax: (317) 788-4826
Pike Township Small Claims Court
5665 Lafayette Road
Suite B
Indianapolis, IN 46254
Phone: (317) 293-1842
Fax: (317) 290-8319
Warren Township Small Claims Court
501 North Post Road
Suite C
Indianapolis, IN 46219
Phone: (317) 327-8919
Fax: (317) 327-8922
Washington Township Small Claims Court
5302 North Keystone Avenue
Suite E
Indianapolis, IN 46220
Phone: (317) 327-8184
Fax: (317) 327-8190
Wayne Township Small Claims Court
5401 West Washington Street
Indianapolis, IN 46241
Phone: (317) 241-9573
Fax: (317) 248-7917
Can You Look Up an Indianapolis Court Case Online?
Interested persons can obtain only non-confidential Indianapolis court cases online. The Indiana Judicial system maintains an online database for both closed and open court records that are deemed non-confidential by Indiana’s Access to Public Records Act.
How to Obtain Indianapolis Criminal and Civil Court Case Records?
Interested persons can obtain Indianapolis's civil court records by accessing the State's Odyssey Case management system, which acts as the principal repository for all non-confidential court records. The online database enables interested persons to search for Indianapolis civil court records by case, name of the defendant, and the attorney's name. Record seekers can also look up Indianapolis's criminal court case records by utilizing the Odyssey Case Management System, the online search database for all court records in Indiana.
What are Indianapolis Vital Records?
Indianapolis's vital records consist of all government-verified documents that contain data on all life events within the city. Vital records include marriage records) certificates and licenses, birth certificates, death certificates, and divorce records. Interested persons can obtain vital records from the custodial agencies in charge of the records at the state and county level.
Where and How to Obtain Indianapolis Divorce Records
The Marion County Clerk's Office is responsible for recording and dispensing copies of divorce certificates for divorce events recorded within the county. Requesters may request for Indianapolis divorce records from the County Clerk's Office in person or via mail. To obtain Indianapolis divorce records, requesters must submit the completed divorce record request form to the Marion County Clerk's Office, which is located at:
Marion County's Clerk Office
Civil Filing Division
200 East Washington Street
Room 1410
Indianapolis, IN 46204 - 3381.
Divorce certificates cost $1 per copy. In addition to this, requesters must pay an additional $1 per request for certified copies.
Where and How to Obtain Indianapolis Marriage Records
Record seekers may obtain copies of Indianapolis marriage certificates from the Marion County Clerk Office or Indiana’s Marriage License Public Lookup database. The Marion County Clerk’s Office is the primary custodian for all marriage events recorded since January 1, 1978, in the county. To request marriage records via the Marion County Clerk’s Office, requesters may utilize the Marion County’s Legacy Search Platform - an online database for all marriage records. Requesters can search for Indianapolis marriage records by typing “MAR” in the Document Type search box to obtain copies of marriage records. Furthermore, requesters can obtain marriage records by using the record bearers’ names. Alternatively, requesters can also obtain marriage records from Indiana’s Marriage License Public Lookup database to access marriage records. Requesters can search by record bearers’ first and last names, by marriage year, and by the county where the marriage license was issued.
Where and How to Obtain Indianapolis Birth Records
The Marion County Health Department is the county-level custodian of Indianapolis birth records, while the Indiana Department of Health’s Vital Records Section keeps records of birth records at the state level. The Marion County Health Department provides both walk-in and mail-in services to requesters who seek to obtain birth records. To get birth records via walk-in services, requesters should visit the:
Marion County Public Health Department
Hasbrook Building
First floor
3838 North Rural Street
Indianapolis, IN 46205-2930
Phone: (317) 221-2400
Fax: (317) 221-2411
Office hours are on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. More so, birth records at Marion County Health Department cost $15 per copy. To obtain birth records via mail, requesters should submit the completed birth record request form, and submit to the:
Marion County Public Health Department
Hasbrook Building, first floor
3838 North Rural Street
Indianapolis, IN 46205-2930
Phone: (317) 221-2400
Fax: (317) 221-2411
Requesters must provide a valid form of identification when requesting birth records. Alternatively, requesters may obtain copies of birth records from the Indiana Department of Health’s Vital Records Section. According to the Department, only the following individuals and entities are eligible to request birth records:
- Relatives (parents, aunt or uncle, sibling, grandparents, step-parent, and current spouse) of the record bearer.
- Court-appointed guardian(s).
- Social agency workers.
- Attorneys representing the record bearer.
- State and Federal agencies.
Alternatively, requesters may visit the Marion County Public Health Department to obtain death records. Office hours are on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Marion County Public Health Department
Hasbrook Building, first floor
3838 North Rural Street
Indianapolis, IN 46205-2930
Phone: (317) 221-2400
Fax: (317) 221-2411
Where and How to Obtain Indianapolis Death Record
Interested persons may request copies of death certificates from either Marion County Health Department or the Vital Records Section of the Indiana Health Department (ISDH). The Marion County Health Department provides online, walk-in, and mail-in services. Before requesters can access death records, they must provide a valid form of identification, preferably a state or federal-issued ID, to prove their eligibility to obtain death records. The following requesters are eligible to receive Indianapolis death records:
- Spouse of the record bearer
- Parents of the record bearer.
- Grandchild or child, above the legal age, of the record bearer.
- Siblings of the record bearer
- Aunts and Uncles of the record bearer.
- Nephews and Nieces of the record bearer.
- Individuals and entities with a legal interest in the death record.
Requesters can obtain death records from 1900 to the present from the ISDH. Each search for death records costs $8; the search covers a 5-year period. To obtain death records via online services, requesters may place orders via the Vital Records Online Vital Management. Obtaining death records online cost $15, which is payable through a credit card. To obtain death records via mail, requesters should complete the online form and submit it to the:
Marion County Public Health Department
Hasbrook Building
First floor
3838 North Rural Street
Indianapolis, IN 46205-2930
Phone: (317) 221-2400
Fax: (317) 221-2411
In addition to government agencies, county public records may also be obtained from third-party websites. These non-government platforms come with intuitive tools that allow for expansive searches. Record seekers may either opt to use these tools to search for a specific record or multiple records. Users are able to search third-party websites remotely for multiple records at a time with just the name of the record subject and their last known location, including the city, county, or state. Third-party sites are not sponsored by government agencies. Because of this, record availability and results may vary.
