When you need to look up an arrest record in Marion County, the records live across two distinct systems: the court side and the Sheriff’s side. On the court side, Indiana’s statewide MyCase portal publishes case filings for Marion County’s Circuit Court and Superior Courts, searchable by name at no charge. On the Sheriff’s side, booking records are maintained by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, accessible through the Marion County Sheriff’s Office records page. For certified copies of court records, the Marion County Clerk’s Office handles requests — visit the Marion County Clerk’s Office or the Clerk’s duties and divisions page for records-request details. Confirm current fees and hours before visiting, as the Clerk’s office closes at 4:30 p.m. and phone lines are frequently congested.
If someone you know was just booked tonight, our Marion County inmate-search page has phone-first contact info.
If your person has a history in other states
Marion County’s MyCase portal and the Sheriff’s records page cover Indiana filings only. A nationwide search may help surface records from other states or federal court cases that county portals never index — useful when you need to verify whether a name appears in jurisdictions beyond Indiana, or when records predate the online window of any single state’s portal. The preliminary scan is free; a full report requires creating an account.
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How to look up arrest records in Marion County
Records sealed or expunged under Indiana’s Second Chance Law will not appear in any of the searches below — if that’s your situation, skip ahead to the expungement section. For all other records, Marion County offers four concrete pathways.
MyCase — Indiana’s statewide court portal. Go to Indiana MyCase docket search and search by name or case number. Marion County’s Circuit Court and Superior Court filings are indexed here, including criminal case dockets, charge descriptions, and dispositions. MyCase is free and requires no account. Keep in mind that MyCase reflects court-side data — it shows what was filed and adjudicated, not the raw booking record from the jail.
Marion County Sheriff’s Office records page. The Marion County Sheriff’s Office page is the county-official starting point for Sheriff-side records. Marion County operates under Unigov — city and county government are consolidated, so the Sheriff’s Office serves the entire county. Booking records, including booking photos, are generally public under Indiana’s Access to Public Records Act. For the Sheriff’s records request process and any associated fees, check the indy.gov page directly or ask the office — phone lines at the Marion County Jail are frequently busy, so plan to leave a message.
Marion County Clerk’s Office — certified copies. The Marion County Clerk’s Office is the official record keeper for the Circuit Court. To request certified copies of criminal court records, visit the Request Copies of Records page. The Clerk’s office is spread across multiple floors of the City-County Building in Indianapolis — documents may be on the 7th, 10th, or 13th floor, so confirm which division handles your record type before visiting. The office closes at 4:30 p.m. on weekdays. When you call, voicemail boxes are sometimes full; pressing 0 may connect you to a live person. Ask specifically whether you need a regular copy or a certified copy, as the fees differ.
Marion County Community Corrections and IDOC. If the person you’re researching served time in a state facility rather than the county jail, check the Marion County Community Corrections page for community-supervision records, and the Indiana Department of Correction offender search for state prison records. The IDOC portal covers individuals sentenced to state custody — it won’t show county-jail-only bookings.
Federal cases. Marion County sits within the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana. Federal arrest records don’t appear in MyCase or the Sheriff’s system. For federal cases, use the Southern District of Indiana case search information page to understand PACER access options.
Are Marion County arrest records public?
Does Indiana law actually require Marion County to make arrest records available to the public? The short answer is yes, with narrow exceptions. Ind. Code § 5-14-3 — Indiana’s Access to Public Records Act — establishes that booking records, including booking photographs, are public records by default. Any member of the public can request them from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office without stating a reason.
Court filings are similarly public under the same framework. Marion County’s Circuit Court and Superior Court case records are accessible through MyCase, and the Marion County Clerk’s Office provides certified copies on request. The default-public rule covers arrest records regardless of whether charges were ultimately filed.
The exceptions are real but narrow. Juvenile records are not public — arrests involving individuals under 18 are handled through the juvenile justice system and are shielded from general public access. Victim-identifying information in certain cases — particularly sex offenses — may be redacted before a record is released. Records that have been expunged or sealed under Ind. Code § 35-38-9 are removed from public view entirely; a standard MyCase search or Clerk’s records request will return nothing for a successfully expunged case.
Ongoing investigations present a separate consideration. Law enforcement agencies may withhold records for an active investigation if disclosure would endanger a person or compromise the case — but this is a temporary exception, not a permanent one. Once a case moves to the court system, the docket becomes public.
Marion County’s Unigov structure means the Sheriff’s Office serves the entire county, including Indianapolis. Records from Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department arrests flow through the same Sheriff’s booking system. Municipal court matters — traffic violations and lower-level offenses handled through Marion County’s traffic court — are accessible via the Marion County traffic court page.
What’s in a Marion County arrest record?
Depending on whether you pull a booking record from the Sheriff’s side or a case docket from the court side, the fields you see will differ — and understanding that distinction saves time. The two systems are separate databases maintained by separate agencies.
Sheriff-side booking record. When someone is arrested and booked at the Marion County Jail, the Sheriff’s Office creates a booking entry. That entry typically includes: the arrestee’s full name and date of birth, the booking date and time, the arresting agency (IMPD, Indiana State Police, or another Marion County law enforcement agency), the charges as listed at booking, bond information, and — in most cases — a booking photograph. Marion County booking photos are generally public under Ind. Code § 5-14-3. For the current mugshot release policy, check the Marion County Sheriff’s Office page directly, as policies can change.
Court-side docket record. Once a case is filed with the Marion County Circuit or Superior Court, the Clerk’s Office creates a separate case record. The docket entry in MyCase will show: the case number, the court division assigned, the formal charges as filed by the prosecutor (which may differ from booking charges), all hearing dates and outcomes, the attorney of record for the defense, the prosecutor’s name, and the final disposition — guilty plea, conviction at trial, dismissal, or acquittal. The docket does not include the booking photograph or bond payment details.
Paper vs. digital records. Marion County’s court records are well-indexed in MyCase for cases filed in recent years. Older records — particularly those predating the Marion County Courthouse’s digital transition — may exist only as paper files at the Marion County Clerk’s Office. The City-County Building in Indianapolis, which houses the Clerk’s Office, holds physical case files going back decades. If you’re researching a case from the 1990s or earlier, a in-person visit to the Clerk’s Office is likely necessary. The Clerk’s staff can confirm whether a specific older case has been digitized. Note that the Marion County Courthouse records span multiple floors of the building, so confirm which division holds the file you need before making the trip.
What the record does not show. Neither the booking record nor the court docket will tell you whether a case was expunged — a successfully expunged record simply disappears from public view. The docket also won’t show sealed portions of a file or juvenile companion cases. If a disposition is listed as “dismissed” or “acquitted,” Indiana law provides for automatic expungement of that record no sooner than 60 days after the order — so a dismissed case may already be gone from public search results by the time you look.
How to expunge an arrest record in Marion County
Petitioning to seal an arrest record in Marion County is a routine legal procedure under Indiana law — one that thousands of residents pursue each year. Juvenile records carry their own separate sealing procedures, typically more accessible than the adult expungement process; if the record involves someone who was under 18 at the time of arrest, ask the Marion County Clerk’s Office about the juvenile records division specifically.
For adult records, Ind. Code § 35-38-9 (Indiana “Second Chance Law”) governs the entire expungement process. Indiana uses a single tiered statute rather than separate sealing and expungement laws. The tier that applies to your situation determines the waiting period and the court’s discretion.
Arrest with no conviction. If you were arrested but never convicted — charges were dropped, dismissed, or you were acquitted — you can petition to expunge the arrest record one year after the arrest date. A dismissal or acquittal is expunged automatically (the order takes effect no sooner than 60 days after entry), but you may still need to petition for arrests that didn’t result in a filed case. This is the most accessible tier.
Misdemeanor conviction. A misdemeanor conviction can be expunged five years after the conviction date, provided you meet the eligibility requirements. The court must grant the petition if you qualify — it is not discretionary at this tier.
Class D or Level 6 felony conviction. The waiting period is eight years from the conviction date. As with misdemeanors, the court must grant a qualifying petition.
More serious felony convictions. The court may expunge these after the later of eight years from conviction or three years from completing the sentence. The most serious felonies — including those requiring the prosecutor’s written consent — carry a waiting period of the later of ten years from conviction or five years from completing the sentence. Sex offenses, violent offenses, and official-misconduct offenses are excluded from expungement entirely under Ind. Code § 35-38-9.
Where to file. File a verified petition in the Marion County court where the conviction occurred. For non-conviction arrests, file in the county of arrest — which is Marion County. Indiana requires that all petitions in a given county be filed together in a single filing. This matters: Indiana effectively allows one expungement petition per lifetime, so timing and completeness are critical. Do not file until you are ready to include every eligible record.
Practical steps. Obtain the petition form from the Marion County Clerk’s Office duties and divisions page or ask the Clerk directly. A filing fee applies; an indigency waiver path exists if you cannot afford the fee — ask the Clerk about the fee waiver process when you pick up the form. You can self-petition without an attorney, but given the one-petition lifetime limit, many people choose to work with a licensed Indiana attorney. Search the Indiana Roll of Attorneys for attorneys in Marion County, or contact the Indiana Public Defender Council for guidance on low-cost options.
What remains visible after expungement. Law enforcement agencies retain access to expunged records. The public — including standard background check databases — does not. Confirm the current statute text or ask the Marion County Clerk before filing, as statutory details can change.
Quick reference: Marion County arrest record resources
| Resource | What it confirms | What it cannot confirm | Next step |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indiana MyCase portal | Court filings, charges as filed, case dispositions, attorney of record for Marion County Circuit and Superior Courts | Booking photos, bond amounts, expunged or sealed cases, federal cases, pre-digital paper records | Search by name or case number — free, no account required |
| Marion County Sheriff’s Office | Booking records, booking photographs, arrest charges at time of booking, bond status | Court dispositions, expunged records, records from other counties | Submit a records request via the indy.gov Sheriff’s page; phone lines are frequently busy |
| Marion County Clerk’s Office | Certified copies of court records, felony and misdemeanor case files, expungement petition filing | Booking records, Sheriff-side data, expunged case files | Visit the City-County Building in Indianapolis; confirm which floor holds your record type before visiting |
| Indiana Department of Correction offender search | State prison sentences, IDOC custody status, release dates for state-sentenced individuals | County-jail-only bookings, court dockets, expunged records | Search by name on the IDOC offender search portal |
| Marion County Community Corrections | Community supervision status for Marion County defendants on alternative sentences | State prison records, court dockets, booking records | Check the indy.gov Community Corrections page; phone lines experience significant congestion during business hours |
| U.S. District Court, Southern District of Indiana | Federal criminal cases involving Marion County defendants | State court records, county booking records, expunged state records | Review PACER access options on the Southern District case search information page |
Sources used for this page, verified 2026-07-26:
- Marion County Sheriff’s Office — county-official records page for Sheriff-side booking records and records requests.
- Marion County Clerk’s Office — official Clerk’s Office page; record keeper for Marion County Circuit Court criminal files.
- Marion County Clerk’s Office Duties and Divisions — divisions breakdown including criminal records and expungement petition filing.
- Request Copies of Records — official process for requesting certified copies of Marion County court records.
- Indiana MyCase — Indiana Judiciary — statewide public court records portal covering Marion County Circuit and Superior Courts.
- Indiana Judicial Branch: Public Records — state-level guidance on public access to Indiana court records.
- Marion County — Indiana Judicial Branch — Indiana Judiciary’s county-specific court information page.
- Marion County Community Corrections — county-official page for community supervision programs.
- Indiana Department of Correction offender search — state corrections agency offender lookup for state-sentenced individuals.
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of Indiana — Case Search Information — federal court case access guidance for Marion County federal matters.
- Bond Types and Payments — Marion County bond information and licensed bondsmen reference.
Found an error or outdated detail? Submit a correction — we review and update within 48 hours.
Frequently asked questions about Marion County arrest records
How do I find out what bond was set on a Marion County arrest, and where is it paid?
Bond information for a Marion County arrest appears in two places. On the court side, the Indiana MyCase portal shows bond conditions as set by the judge in the case docket. On the Sheriff’s side, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office holds the booking-level bond record. For bond types and payment options — including cash bond, surety bond, and release on recognizance — the Marion County bond types and payments page explains the process. Phone lines at the Marion County Jail are frequently busy; plan to leave a message if you call for bond status. Confirm numbers and hours before visiting or calling.
Who do I contact to get a Marion County arrest record expunged, and how long does it take?
Expungement petitions for Marion County arrests are filed with the Marion County Clerk’s Office under Ind. Code § 35-38-9 (Indiana’s Second Chance Law). For an arrest with no conviction, you can petition one year after the arrest date. For a misdemeanor conviction, the waiting period is five years from conviction; for a Class D or Level 6 felony, eight years. The petition must be filed in the court where the conviction occurred — or, for non-conviction arrests, in Marion County as the county of arrest. Indiana requires all eligible petitions in a county to be filed together in a single filing, so gather every eligible record before you file. Visit the Marion County Clerk’s duties and divisions page for petition forms and fee information, or search the Indiana Roll of Attorneys for an attorney who handles expungements in Marion County.
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