What are Shelby County Public Records?
Shelby county public records are documents or information created or maintained by government agencies in the course of their official business. The Indiana Access to Public Records Act (IAPRA) governs the release of public records. Under IAPRA, all government agencies are required to make their public records available for inspection and copying upon request, unless the records are exempt from disclosure.
There are a few exceptions to this general rule, such as records that contain personally identifiable information or trade secrets, but otherwise, the public has a right to access most government records.
In addition to government agencies, some public records may also be accessible 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. However, users will need to provide enough information to assist with the search such as:
- The name of the subject involved in the record (subject must be older than 18 or not juvenile)
- The address of the requestor
- A case number or file number (if known)
- The location of the document or person involved
- The last known or current address of the registrant
Third-party sites are not sponsored by government agencies. Because of this, record availability and results may vary.
Are Shelby County Criminal Records Public?
Yes. Criminal records are public in Shelby County, Indiana. While the Shelby county Sheriff’s office serves as the county’s official and overseeing law enforcement department, the office no longer offers limited criminal background checks to the public.
To obtain Shelby county criminal records, interested persons may query the Indiana State Police Department which maintains a Criminal History Repository of information pertaining to state residents. To obtain information through the department, the requesting party may utilize the Online Limited Criminal History Search Form or download and complete the Mail-in request form and send it via mail. Mail requests must be sent along with the money order of the required fee made out to the State of Indiana, it may be addressed to:
Indiana State Police
Criminal History Limited Check
P.O. Box 6188,
Indianapolis, IN, 46206-6188
How to Obtain Shelby County Police Reports and Arrest Records?
The Shelby County Sheriff's Office is the primary law enforcement agency in the county. They are responsible for maintaining all police records, including arrest records. To obtain a copy of an arrest record from the sheriff's office, interested members of the public will need to submit submit a written request to the office of the county Sheriff. The request must contain information required to facilitate the record search as well as a self-addressed and stamped envelope (if the request is being made via mail). Typically, the requesting party will be charged a nominal fee to cover the cost of research and copying.
Shelby County Sheriff's Office
Attn: Records Division
107 W. Taylor St.
P.O. Box 1266
Shelbyville, IN 46176
Requests for arrest records may also be made to the Shelbyville Police Department depending on the jurisdiction where the incident occured. Like requests to the county Sheriff’s office, the requestor will be required to submit a notarized request form which must contain a self-addressed stamped envelope for mail-in requests. Requests may also be made in-person, but the requesting party will be required to present a valid photo ID. Requests must be mailed to:
Shelbyville Police Department
Attn: Records Division
P.O. Box 1266
105 West Taylor Street
Shelbyville IN, 46176
Both the Shelby County Sheriff's Office and the Shelbyville Police Department charge a fee for copies of arrest records.
The Indiana State Police (ISP) maintain a statewide database of criminal history information including arrest records. To obtain a copy of an arrest record from the ISP, the requesting party will need to submit a written request. This request must include the name of the person whose records are being sought as well as their birth date. The ISP will then provide requestors with a copy of the requested record.
Requests to the ISP must be mailed to:
Indiana State Police
Attn: Records Division
100 N. Senate Ave.
Indianapolis, IN 46204-2253
How to Find Sex Offender Information in Shelby County
The Shelby county sheriff's office maintains a sex offender registry that is available to the public. The website allows interested persons to search for sex offenders by name, address, or city. Users can also sign up for email alerts when new sex offenders move into their area.
For more detailed information about a particular sex offender, interested persons may contact the sheriff's office directly. County residents may also find out if there are any restrictions on where sex offenders can live or work within county limits and obtain information regarding their criminal history and relevant personal information
Similarly, the Indiana State Police maintains the Indiana sex offender registry that is available to interested members of the public. The website allows requestors search for sex offenders by name, city, county or zipcode.
How to Find Shelby County Inmate Records
The Shelby County Sheriff’s office oversees the operations of the Shelby County Jail, and maintains records pertaining to administrative functions as well as inmate criminal history, welfare and general jail information.
Interested members of the public may obtain Shelby county inmate records by querying the Jail Division of the Sheriff’s office, or directly contacting a jail officer. To obtain inmate information, the requesting party will be required to furnish the attending officer with information relevant to the search such as the name(s) of the inmates concerned, their DOC number, arrest and/or booking date as well as any information on their sentence (if applicable).
In-person and mail-in requests may be made to:
Shelby County Jail
107 West Taylor Street
Shelbyville, IN 46176
Phone: (317) 392-6405
How Do I Visit an Inmate in Shelby County Jail?
To visit an inmate in Shelby County Indiana, interested persons are required to schedule an appointment with a jail officer. Appointments can be scheduled by calling (317) 392-6405
or by enquiring from the inmate when their visitation is. Visitors arriving for their appointment will be required to present a Valid Photo ID and undergo a security screening, which may include a metal detector and/or pat-down search.
The following are some visitation guidelines for the county jail:
- All visitors must be 18 years of age or older.
- Visitors are limited to two per inmate per day.
- Visitation hours are during official working hours
- Visits are limited to 30 minutes.
- All visitors must dress appropriately (no tank tops, short shorts, etc).
- Cell phones and other electronics are not allowed in the visitation area.
- The Shelby County Jail reserves the right to deny any visitor access at their discretion.
Shelby County Court Records
There are several different types of courts in Shelby County, Indiana. The most common are the Circuit Courts and the Superior Courts. There are also a few specialized courts, such as the Drug Court and the Juvenile Court.
The Circuit Courts are the trial courts of general jurisdiction in Shelby County. They hear felony criminal cases, civil cases involving more than $4,000, and appeals from lower courts. There are two Circuit Courts in Shelby County - one for the northern half of the county, and one for the southern half.
The Superior Courts are the trial courts of limited jurisdiction in Shelby County. They hear misdemeanor criminal cases, small claims cases (involving less than $4,000), and some juvenile cases. There are four Superior Courts in Shelby County - one for each township.
The Drug Court is a specialized court that hears cases involving non-violent offenders who have been charged with drug-related offenses. The goal of the Drug Court is to help offenders get treatment for their addiction and to avoid future criminal activity.
The Juvenile Court is a specialized court that hears cases involving minors who have been accused of crimes. The Juvenile Court works to rehabilitate juvenile offenders and prevent them from re-offending in the future.
The following are the locations and contact information of the courthouses in Shelby county, Indiana:
Shelby County Circuit Court
407 S Harrison
St, #111,
P.O. Box 198,
Shelbyville, IN 46176
Phone: (317) 392-6320
Fax: (317) 392-6339
Shelby County Superior Court No. 1
407 S Harrison St, #111,
Shelbyville, IN 46176
Phone: (317) 392-6320
Fax: (317) 392-6339
Shelby County Superior Court No. 2
407 S Harrison St, #111,
Shelbyville, IN 46176
Phone: (317) 392-6320
Fax: (317) 392-6339
Are Shelby County Court Records Public?
Yes, court records are public in Shelby County, Indiana. However, there are some exceptions to this general rule. For example, juvenile court records are typically not open to the public. Additionally, some sensitive information contained in court records may be sealed or redacted in order to protect the privacy of individuals involved in the case. To access Shelby County court records, interested persons may contact the county clerk's office directly.
How to Obtain Shelby County Civil Court Case Records
Shelby county civil court records are available through the office of the Shelby County Clerk. Interested members of the public may obtain these records by submitting a written request to the office. The request must include the case number, the name of the parties involved, and the date of the case. The records will be provided to the requester as soon as they are available.
In person or mail in requests may be made to the clerks office at the following address:
Shelby County Clerk
407 S. Harrison Street
Room 111
Shelbyville, IN 46176
Phone: (317) 392-6320
Fax: (317) 392-6339
The court will release any non-confidential documents associated with a case, but may require a fee for copies.
For online access to Shelby county civil court records, visit the website of the Indiana Supreme Court. The website provides a searchable database of all court cases in the state of Indiana. interested individuals may search for cases by party name, case number, or attorney name. The website also provides access to court dockets and other documents related to the case.
How to Obtain Shelby County Criminal Court Records
Interested members of the public may obtain Shelby county criminal court records by querying the Shelby County Circuit court's office in person, by mail, or online through the court's website.
In order to obtain records in person, members of the public must fill out a Records Request Form. This form must be signed and notarized, and contain the information required to facilitate a record search.
Records requests may also be submitted by mail. To do so, members of the public must send a written request to the aforementioned address. The request must include the case number, if available, and the desired type of record. The court will then mail the requested records to the requester, along with an invoice for payment.
What are Shelby County Vital Records?
Shelby county vital records are the official records of births, deaths, marriages, and divorces that occur in a community. In Shelby County, Indiana, vital records are kept by the Shelby County Clerk's Office and the Vital Records Division of the Shelby County Health Department.
The Shelby County Clerk's Office is responsible for maintaining all birth, death, marriage, and divorce records for the county. These records are open to the public, and anyone can request copies of them. At state level, these records are maintained the the Indiana Department of Health, Division of Vital Records, The Eligibility requirements for accessing these records remain the same across board. While uncertified divorce records and marriage records may be accessed by interested members of the public on request, persons requesting birth or death records will be requred to demonstrate tangible interest in the records before they are allowed access to them.
Where and How to Obtain Shelby County Divorce Records
Interested members of the public may obtain Shelby County divorce records in person, by mail, or online through the Shelby County Clerk's Office. To obtain records in person, bring a valid photo ID and complete the Records Request Form. The cost for each certified copy of a record is $4.
For mail-in requests, send a completed Records Request Form and a check or money order for the required fee to the Shelby County Clerk’s Office.
To obtain a divorce decree, the requesting party must provide the case number, name of the petitioner and respondent, and the date of divorce. If the case number is not known, they may provide as much information as possible about the parties involved in the divorce.
Shelby County divorce records are public record and are available to anyone who requests them. However, there are some restrictions on who can obtain certified copies of divorce decrees. Only the parties to the divorce, their attorneys, and certain government officials may request certified copies.
Where and How to Get Public Shelby County Marriage Records
To obtain a copy of a marriage record in Shelby County, Indiana, interested members of the public may contact the county clerk's office. The address and phone number for the office are as follows:
Shelby County Clerk
52 Main St.
Suite 101
Shelbyville, IN 46176
Phone: (317) 392-6322
There is a fee for copies of marriage records, which must be paid in advance. Requestors can send a check or money order payable to "Shelby County Clerk" along with a self-addressed, stamped envelope. They must incluide the full name of the groom and bride, as well as the date of marriage. For certified copies of marriage records, there is an additional fee.
Where and How to Find Shelby County Birth Records
In order to obtain birth records in Shelby County, interested persons may query the Vital Records Division of the County Health Department or the State Department of Health.
To request from the county health department, the requesting party must download and complete the Birth Certificate Request Form. The completed application must be sent along with the indicated fees and ID requirements to:
Shelby County Health Department
20 W Polk St suite 202,
Shelbyville, IN 46176
Similarly, requestors can obtain birth certificates from the Indiana Department of Health by sending a completed Request for Birth Certificate to:
Indiana State Department Vital Records Division
3838 N Rural St,
Indianapolis, IN 46205
Persons who are authorized to obtain birth records in Shelby County, Indiana include:
- The individual named on the birth record
- A parent or legal guardian of the individual named on the birth record
- A grandparent of the individual named on the birth record
- A spouse of the individual named on the birth record
- A child of the individual named on the birth record, if that child is over 18 years of age
- An attorney representing the individual named on the birth record
- A licensed adoption agency that has placed a child for adoption with the individual named on the birth record
Where and How to Find Shelby County Death Records
Similar to birth records, Shelby county death records can be obtained by querying the County Department of Health Vital Records Division or the State Department of Health.
Death records less than 50 years old are not available to the public and can only be obtained by immediate family members or those with a legal right to the record.
To request these records from the county office, the requesting party may download and complete the Death Record Request Form. However, for queries to the state office, the requesting party may utlize the Death Certificate Request Procedures outlined by the Indiana Department of Health.
