What are Vigo County Public Records?
Per section 5-14-3-2(m) of the APRA, Vigo county public records constitutes all writing, paper, report, study, map, photograph, book, card, tape recording, or other materials that are 1maintained, created, retrieved, or filed with or by the county public agencies. However, under section 5-14-3-4, certain records are exempted from public disclosure. These records include:
- Records deemed confidential under state or federal law
- Records containing trade secrets
- Certain confidential financial information
- Research information and reports of research conducted by Indiana education institutions
- Grades and examination scores of a licensure process
- Records deemed or declared confidential by or under Indiana State Supreme Court rules.
- A Patient’s medical record generated by medical service providers. Except if the subject's written consent has been issued to the record seeker.
- Social security numbers in public records.
- An autopsy photograph, a video recording, or an audio recording expect
Besides government agencies, other third-party sites may be used to access and obtain County public records. These service providers render easy-to-use tools and services that allow their users to perform thorough searches of specific records or multiple records at a time. Typically, inquirers would need to provide certain information about themselves and the subject of their inquiry to aid the search. This information may include:
- The subject's name
- The requestor's contact information such as their address
- The record’s case number or file number (optional)
- The requested document location.
- The record’s subject's last known address.
- The registrant's last known address.
Third-party sites are generally not sponsored by the government. As a result, their accuracy and the availability of relevant records reports may vary.
Vigo County Crime Statistics
According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation tabulated list of offenses known by law enforcement agencies, in 2018, 2,010 offenses were committed in Vigo county. Of the 2,010 offenses, 906 were property crimes making it the most committed offense in Vigo County in 2018. Inversely, Murder and non-negligent manslaughter was the least committed offense in 2018 at 2. Other offenses include violence crimes at 90, aggravated assault at 71, burglary at 316, and Larceny-theft at 462 to name a few.
Are Vigo County Criminal Records Public?
Yes. under the Access to Public Records Act (APRA) Vigo county residents are allowed to request and look up criminal records. The county’s law enforcement agencies act as its primary custodian of criminal records.
Vigo county criminal records may be obtained online via Indiana State Police Criminal history service. A name-based or fingerprint criminal record search may be performed through the criminal history service at a fee. For subscribers, each search is subject to a $15 per record fee while credit card payments users are subject to a $16.32 per record fee. Regardless, additional processing fees may apply. Alternatively, requests for Vigo county’s criminal record may be made by mailing a completed request form to the address provided at the bottom of the form.
On the other hand, criminal court records may be obtained online by Performing a search through the mycase search portal. The portal is controlled by the Indiana Supreme Court Office of Judicial Administration. If an online version of the record is unavailable, requesters may contact the relevant county clerk’s offices.
How to Obtain Vigo County Police Reports and Arrest Records?
Vigo county police reports and arrest records are maintained by the Vigo county sheriff's office. The county’s sheriff's office also makes these reports and records publicly available. Interested persons may request Vigo County arrest records and police reports by contacting the county sheriff's office at:
600 W Honey Creek Dr
Terre Haute, IN 47802
Phone: (812) 462-3226
Email: sheriff@vigosheriff.in.gov
How to Find Sex Offender Information in Vigo County
The sex offenders registry maintained by the Vigo county sheriff's department may be used by inquirers to find sex offenders' information in the county. The registry is maintained as a public service tool and contains a list of convicted sexual offenders. There are several ways a sex offender search may be performed through the registry. For example, by the offender's name, city, internet name/email, and phone number. Other ways include “in your area” and “non-compliant” searches.
For an “in your area” search, an inquirer typically would enter their current address to view all published sex offenders within a one-mile radius of their address. For a “non-compliant” search, the inquirer would be provided physical descriptions, photos, and addresses of non-compliant sex offenders. Note that offenders are responsible for updating their records with law enforcement agencies. As such the accuracy of an offender's information depends on their level of compliance in updating their records. Regardless, performing a search through the registry would provide an inquirer with the sex offenders' photo, alert type, name, level of offense, address, city, and zip code amongst other information.
How to Find Vigo County Inmate Records
The jail division of the Vigo county sheriff's department is responsible for the safety and general upkeep of inmates while incarcerated in the county's jail. The division also maintains an inmate lookup service that inquirers may use to find and lookup inmate records. Inmate records dispensed through the service typically contain an inmate's name, booking date, release date, court date, court type, offenses data, arrest date, arresting agency, bond type, and bond amount. For further inquiries, Vigo county jail may be contacted or visited in person at:
Vigo County Sheriff's Office
201 Cherry Street Terre Haute, IN 47807
Phone; (812) 462-3226
How Do I Visit an Inmate in Vigo County Jail?
Video visitation is the only form of visitation that is currently allowed in Vigo county jail and Interested persons may schedule a visitation online.
Court Records
Vigo county resident court system is made up of several courts and services namely, circuit court, superior court division (I, II, III, IV, V, VI), IV-D court, veterans court, juvenile division, probate division, and drug court.
Each type/division of Vigo county court has specific types of cases they handle. The county’s circuit court and superior court division III handles A, B, C, and D Felonies criminal cases and civil cases such as family law, medical malpractices, and personal injuries amongst others. Superior court division I has jurisdiction over both criminal and civil cases. These cases include A, B, C, D, and Level 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 Felonies and civil cases similar to that of the county circuit court. The county’s Superior court division II mainly handles civil cases which are also similar to those handled by the circuit court and product liability cases. Superior court division IV handles civil cases such as small claims, miscellaneous title, protection orders, ordinance violations, mortgage foreclosures, medical malpractice, and personal injury. The court also handles criminal cases including A, B, C, and D misdemeanors and level 5 and level 6 felonies, domestic battery, and invasion of privacy. Superior court division V and division VI handles criminal cases and criminal cases similar to the county's circuit court with the exception of adoptions and probate cases.
The IV-D court presides over child support cases such as enforcement and collection of child support, establishment of paternity, and child support order modifications. The probate division handles estate, trusts, and guardianship cases.
Vigo county superior court division (I, II, III, IV, V, VI), circuit court, and probate division are located in the same court house but on different floors:
Vigo County Courthouse
33 S 3rd St
Terre Haute, IN 47807
Phone: (812) 462-3241
Fax: (812) 232-4995
Phone: (812) 462-320 (probate division)
Fax: (812) 234-3475 (probate division)
The IV-D court is located at:
Vigo County Community Corrections
104 S 1st St
Terre Haute, IN 47807
Phone: (812) 462-3310
Are Vigo County Court Records Public?
Yes. Per the Access to Public Records Act (APRA), interested persons may request and review Vigo county court records. However, under APRA, certain court records may be considered confidential. Hence these records are withheld from public disclosure. Meanwhile, non-confidential court records may be dispensed to the public.
Vigo court records may be accessed online through the mycase search portal. Alternatively, these records may be requested from the court clerks where their respective cases were held. Interested persons may also request Vigo county court records via phone call at (812) 231-4499.
How to Obtain Vigo County Civil Court Case Records
The mycase search portal may be used to find and obtain copies of Vigo County Civil Court Case Records online at no cost to the inquirer. If the record is not available online, the Vigo county clerk's office may be contacted to request these records at:
Vigo County Clerk’s Office
33 South Third Street
Courthouse, 1st Floor
Terre Haute, IN 47807
Phone: (812) 462-3211
Fax: (812) 462-3285
The county clerk serves as the county keeper of records and maintains, develops, and stores certain county records.
How to Obtain Vigo County Criminal Court Records
Vigo County court clerk maintains county criminal court records. Hence, inquirers may also request these records directly from the county clerk’s office (contact information provided above). These records may also be obtained online through the mycase search portal.
What are Vigo County Vital Records?
Vigo County Vital Records are government-generated records of life events that have occurred within the county. In Vigo County, records of death, birth, marriage, divorce, and domestic partnership are considered vital records. Depending on the vital record type, interested persons may obtain and review these records through the Vigo County Department of Health vital statistics division or the county clerk. Note however that certain vital records are considered confidential. As such these records are not disclosed to the general public.
Where and How to Obtain Vigo County Divorce Records
A Vigo county divorce record is official evidence that signifies the dissolution of a marriage in the county. Vigo county divorce records mainly contain basic information about both spouses, the date and place where the divorce was finalized, and the divorce decree. A divorce decree is issued by a court when a divorce is final. It contains the terms of the divorce such as division of marital assets and debt, child custody and visitation rights, child support, and alimony.
To obtain divorce decrees, record seekers may contact the Vigo County Court clerk’s office (contact information provided above). Meanwhile, the mycase search portal may be used to retrieve basic information about a particular divorce online.
Where and How to Get Public Vigo County Marriage Records
A Vigo county marriage record (also referred to as a marriage certificate) is an official documented statement attesting to the marital union of two persons within the county. These records may be obtained through the Vigo County Court clerk’s office.
Where and How to Get Confidential Marriage Records in Vigo County
Generally, all Vigo county marriage records are public. As such copies of these records may be requested from or reviewed through the county court clerk's office.
Where and How to Find Vigo County Birth Records
Vigo County birth records are official records that contain information about the birth of a child in the county such as the infant’s place of birth, name, gender, and parents' names. Vigo county’s Department of Health vital statistics is responsible for maintaining and issuing all birth records in the county as well as submission of these data to the Indiana State Department of Health. Per Indiana state laws, access to an individual’s birth records is restricted to the subject of the record (18 years and above) and their immediate family, which includes:
- Their parents (named on the birth record)
- grandparents (provided their child’s name is listed on the birth record)
- Brother, sister, half-brother/sister (provided the record’s subject is above 18 years)
- Spouse (provided any of their IDs has both the record’s subject name and their name on it; such as an insurance card, checkbook, or marriage license e.t.c)
- Child/grandchild (18 years and above).
To request a copy of a Vigo County birth record, an inquirer would need to provide at least two forms of Identification (a picture and a non-picture). Acceptable forms picture ID includes:
- Driver's license
- State ID card
- Military ID
- Passport.
Whereas, acceptable forms of non-picture ID include:
- Insurance cards (health or auto)
- W-2 forms
- Voter registration card
- Employment license
- Credit/debit card
- Vehicle registration
- Checkbook
- Social security card
- Gun, hunting, or fishing permits
- Payroll stub – computer printed
Vigo County birth certificates are dispensed to eligible inquirers at a fee of $10 per copy. A birth certificate request may either be made in person or by mail. The documents required to request a Vigo County birth certificate include; a completed application, copies of the inquirer’s required IDs (detailed above), and the request fee at $10 per copy (cash, money order, or cashier’s check made payable to Vigo County Health Department ) in a self-addressed stamped envelope to:
Vigo County Health Department
Vital Statistics
171 Oak Street
Terre Haute, IN 47807
Phone: (812) 462-3442
Email: VCHD.vitals@vigocounty.in.gov
Where and How to Find Vigo County Death Records
Similar to Vigo County birth records, county death records are also maintained and issued by the County’s Health Department Vital Statistics. Vigo county death records typically contain the deceased name, age of death, place of death, and cause of death amongst other information about the record’s subject.
According to Indiana state laws, authorized persons who may obtain a deceased person's Vigo county death records are those that have a “direct interest” to the record’s subject. Direct interest refers to verifiable documented proof of legal and financial interest or an immediate direct kinship (i.e adult sibling, parent, or grandparent) to the record’s subject. Other authorized persons may include the deceased’s guardians, attorneys, and funeral directors. Generally, authorized persons who may obtain a county resident’s death certificate include their parents, spouse, children (18 years or older), siblings, grandparents, siblings, direct descendants, and their legal representatives or for legal purposes. Regardless, each requester would need to provide proof of their relationship to the record’s subject. Note however that, the deceased social security ‘number or cause of death may be omitted from certificates issued to their direct descendants or non-relatives for legal purposes.
Other requirements include a photocopy of the requester's driver’s license, state ID Card, military ID, or passport. Requesters are also charged a $10 fee per copy of their requested death certificate. This fee is payable by either cash, money order, or cashier’s check (made out to Vigo County Health Department).
Finally, to obtain a Vigo County death certificate, a requester may submit an application made up of all required documents, a completed application, and the request fee in person or by mail Vigo County Health Department (address provided above).
