Fayette County, Indiana Arrest Records Search

When you need to check an arrest record in Fayette County, the records split across two systems: the Fayette County Clerk of Court holds court filings and dispositions, while the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office maintains booking records at the jail. Indiana’s statewide MyCase portal covers Fayette County court cases and is searchable without an account. The Clerk’s pay window sits on the second floor of the Fayette County Courthouse — take the elevator and bring cash or a money order, as personal checks are not accepted. Confirm current hours and any records-request fees before visiting, as phone lines can run slow.

If someone you know was just booked tonight, our Fayette County inmate-search page has phone-first contact info.

If you need records outside Fayette County

A nationwide search may help surface records that pre-date the portal’s online window, cases filed in other Indiana counties, or federal charges that local court systems never display. Run a preliminary scan below to see what’s indexed under the name you’re researching. The preliminary scan is free; a full report requires creating an account.

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How to look up arrest records in Fayette County

“Public records are open to inspection and copying by any person,” reads Indiana’s Access to Public Records Act — and that principle shapes every pathway below. A Fayette County arrest moves through a predictable sequence: booking at the jail, a case number assigned by the court, then docket entries tracking each hearing through to disposition. Each stage lands in a different system, so knowing which stage you need tells you where to look.

Booking records — Sheriff’s side. The Fayette County Sheriff’s Office runs the county jail and generates the booking record the moment someone is processed. The Fayette County Sheriff’s Office inmate lookup shows current and recent bookings by name. For older booking records or a formal written request, contact the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office directly. The jail’s confirmed phone number is (765) 825-1110.

Court docket — MyCase. Once the prosecutor files charges, the case appears in Indiana’s statewide court portal. Search by name at MyCase to pull Fayette County Circuit Court and Superior Court docket entries, hearing dates, and dispositions. MyCase is free and requires no account for basic name searches. You can also create an account and request an access code to link your own case for more detailed online viewing. Note that MyCase reflects what the court has entered — booking details from the Sheriff’s side won’t appear there.

Court records — Indiana Judicial Branch Fayette County page. The Indiana Judicial Branch: Fayette County page links directly to Fayette County court resources and is the county-official entry point for court record information. Use it to confirm which courts handle which case types and to navigate to clerk contact details.

Clerk records request — in person or by mail. For certified copies of court documents, go to the Fayette County Clerk of Court at the Fayette County Courthouse. The pay window is on the second floor — use the elevator. Bring cash or a money order; the office does not accept personal checks. Call ahead to confirm current fees and weekday hours, as phone response can be delayed. The Fayette County Clerk page on the county website lists contact information.

State corrections lookup. If the person you’re researching was sentenced to a state facility rather than held locally, the Indiana Department of Correction offender search at IDOC Offender Search covers state prison placements. This is separate from the Fayette County Jail roster and covers sentences served in IDOC custody.

Are Fayette County arrest records public?

Provided the record hasn’t been sealed or expunged, arrest records in Fayette County are open to anyone who asks — journalist, paralegal, or private individual alike. Indiana’s open-records framework is governed by Ind. Code § 5-14-3, which establishes a default-public presumption for government records. Booking records, including booking photographs, fall squarely within that default under the statute. A reporter researching a case and a paralegal pulling records for a client have the same legal right of access as anyone else.

The default-public rule has narrow exceptions. A record that has been expunged under Indiana’s Second Chance Law is no longer accessible to the public — the court order removes it from public view, though law enforcement retains access. Juvenile records are generally confidential under Indiana law and do not appear in public court searches. Victim-identifying information in certain case types may be redacted before release. These carve-outs are the exception, not the rule; the vast majority of adult arrest records in Fayette County are publicly accessible.

For press and research requests that need certified documentation, the Fayette County Clerk of Court at the Fayette County Courthouse is the right contact for court-side records. The Fayette County Sheriff’s Office handles requests for booking-side records. Both offices operate under Ind. Code § 5-14-3 and must respond to properly submitted public-records requests. The Indiana Judicial Branch: Public Records page provides statewide guidance on submitting records requests to Indiana courts when county-level contact isn’t sufficient.

One practical note: MyCase reflects what the court clerk has entered into the system. There can be a lag between a court event and its appearance online. For time-sensitive research, calling the Fayette County Clerk directly is more reliable than waiting for the portal to update.

What’s in a Fayette County arrest record?

A single arrest in Fayette County can generate at least three distinct records across two separate systems — and each record contains different fields, maintained by different agencies, with different update timelines.

The booking record, held by the Fayette County Jail, captures what the Sheriff’s Office recorded at intake: the person’s full legal name, date of birth, booking date and time, arresting agency, and the charges as listed at booking. It may also include a booking photograph. This record exists on the Sheriff’s side regardless of what happens in court afterward. The Fayette County Sheriff’s Office inmate lookup reflects current and recent bookings; older records require a direct request to the jail at (765) 825-1110.

The court docket, maintained by the Fayette County Clerk of Court and searchable through MyCase, shows what happened after the arrest reached the court. Fields include the case number (formatted as a Fayette County identifier), the charges as formally filed by the prosecutor (which may differ from booking charges), each hearing date and outcome, the attorney of record on both sides, and the final disposition — guilty plea, dismissal, acquittal, or conviction with sentence. The docket is the authoritative record of the case’s legal outcome. Booking entries and docket entries are not synchronized; a charge dropped at the prosecutor’s discretion before filing may appear in the booking record but never in the court docket.

A citation for a lower-level offense may generate a court filing at the Fayette County Courthouse without a jail booking at all — meaning the court docket exists but no Sheriff’s booking record does. Conversely, someone booked and released before charges are filed will have a booking record but no court case.

For the Fayette County Courthouse’s mugshot release policy, contact the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office directly — the policy isn’t published online. The Fayette County Jail Division page is the right starting point for that inquiry.

How to expunge an arrest record in Fayette County

Provided the case ended without a conviction — dismissed, acquitted, or never charged — the path to clearing a Fayette County arrest record is generally more straightforward than post-conviction sealing. Indiana handles all criminal-record relief through a single statute: Ind. Code § 35-38-9 (Indiana “Second Chance Law”). Understanding which tier applies to your situation determines both the waiting period and whether the court must grant the petition or may exercise discretion.

Non-conviction arrests. A dismissal or acquittal in Fayette County is expunged automatically — the order takes effect no sooner than 60 days after the dismissal or acquittal. For an arrest where charges were never filed, you can petition to expunge the arrest record one year after the arrest date. These non-conviction paths are the most accessible under the statute, and the court must grant a qualifying petition.

Misdemeanor convictions. A misdemeanor conviction can be petitioned for expungement five years after the conviction date, provided you meet the eligibility requirements. The court must grant a qualifying petition at this tier.

Class D / Level 6 felony convictions. The waiting period extends to eight years after the conviction. The court must grant a qualifying petition here as well, making this tier mandatory rather than discretionary once eligibility is met.

More serious felonies. For felonies above Level 6, the court may expunge after the later of eight years from conviction or three years from completing the sentence. The most serious felonies — which also require the prosecutor’s written consent — have a waiting period of the later of ten years from conviction or five years from finishing the sentence. Sex offenses, violent offenses, and official-misconduct offenses are excluded from expungement entirely under Indiana law.

Filing in Fayette County. Petition to expunge under Ind. Code § 35-38-9 in the court where the conviction occurred — for non-conviction records, in the county of arrest, which is Fayette County. Indiana requires that all petitions in a given county be filed together in a single filing. That one-petition rule is significant: Indiana effectively gives each person one expungement petition per county, so timing matters. Filing too early on one case can foreclose relief on another.

The Fayette County Clerk of Court at the Fayette County Courthouse accepts expungement petitions. The pay window is on the second floor. Bring cash or a money order for filing fees; the office does not accept personal checks. An indigency waiver may be available — ask the Clerk about fee waiver procedures when you file.

You can self-petition without an attorney, and the Indiana courts’ e-filing system at Indiana courts e-filing supports electronic submission for some case types. For complex situations — multiple cases, serious felonies requiring prosecutor consent, or cases where eligibility is unclear — an Indiana-licensed attorney can help you avoid the timing errors that would exhaust your one-petition opportunity. Search the Indiana Roll of Attorneys or contact the Indiana Public Defender Council for referrals. Confirm the current statute text or ask the Fayette County Clerk before filing — the Second Chance Law has been amended, and eligibility details can shift.

Frequently asked questions about Fayette County arrest records

How do I find out what’s on my Fayette County arrest record?

Run your name through MyCase to see any court cases filed in Fayette County — this covers charges, hearing dates, and dispositions. For the booking side, the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office inmate lookup shows recent bookings. For a complete picture including older records, visit the Fayette County Clerk of Court at the Fayette County Courthouse (second floor, cash or money order only) and request a records search in person. Confirm current fees and hours before visiting, as phone response can be slow.

How do I get a Fayette County arrest record expunged?

Indiana’s expungement process runs through Ind. Code § 35-38-9 (the Second Chance Law). If your case was dismissed or you were acquitted, the dismissal may be automatically expunged — no sooner than 60 days after the order. An arrest without charges can be petitioned one year after the arrest date. Misdemeanor convictions become eligible five years after conviction; Class D or Level 6 felonies after eight years. File your verified petition at the Fayette County Courthouse with the Clerk of Court — Indiana requires all county petitions to be filed together, so timing matters. Bring cash or a money order. Confirm current eligibility requirements against the statute text or ask the Clerk before filing, as the law has been amended.