Arrest warrants issued in Indiana
According to the laws of the State of Indiana, an arrest warrant may not be issued for a person until an indictment has been found charging him with a criminal act and a judge has determined that probable cause exists that the person committed a crime. An arrest warrant must be in writing and state the name of the person to be arrested or designate such person by any name or description by which he can be identified. It must state the nature of the offense and give the date and county where the warrant was issued. The warrant must be signed by the clerk for the judge and include the title of his office. It also must command that the person named is to be arrested and brought before the court issuing the warrant. The warrant is then sent to the sheriff of the county in which it is issued.
What happens after a judge issues a warrant in Indiana?
After a judge in one of Indiana’s courts issues an arrest warrant, the warrant is given to the sheriff of the county where the indictment or information is filed. Using the warrant, any law enforcement officer may serve it or arrest the person on any day of the week and at any time of day or night.
Once the law enforcement officer has arrested the suspect, he or she must be delivered to the sheriff for the county where the arrest warrant was issued. The sheriff will hold the alleged criminal in jail if no bail is granted or if bail is not paid.
Do arrest warrants expire in Indiana?
Yes, a warrant for arrest on a misdemeanor expires 180 days after it is issued. A sheriff that has an expired arrest warrant in Indiana must return the warrant to the clerk of court for the county in which it was issued. The clerk of court records that the warrant has expired without being served and notifies the county’s prosecuting attorney. The prosecuting attorney may request that the warrant be reissued.
Arrest warrants for felonies and re-arrest warrants for any offense do not expire in Indiana.
What resources are available for searching arrest records and criminal records in Indiana?
Individual counties may have resources for searching county records that pertain to that specific county; however, Indiana has several excellent resources for searching arrest records for the entire state. Furthermore, the state also has excellent online resources for searching the current inmates in Indiana and viewing Indiana’s most wanted criminals.
- Indiana State Police’s Limited Criminal History Search – For a small fee, you can search for felonies and class A misdemeanor arrests. You may search online or by submitting a written request by mail.
- Indiana Department of Corrections Most Wanted list – Online database of the most wanted criminals in the state with pictures and outstanding charges.
- Offender Search – The Indiana Department of Corrections has an online search engine for current inmates housed within the state.
- State of Indiana Public Records Inquiry – You can search for criminal and citation case records for the state through the State Court Administration’s website.
What if I am the victim of a crime in Indiana?
If you are the victim of a crime in Indiana, or the parent or legal guardian of a victim who is a minor, you can receive up-to-date, real-time information about the status of the inmate. Through the Indiana SAVIN system, victims, legal guardians or the next of kin of a deceased victim can receive manual and/or automated notification when the status of an inmate changes. You must register in order to receive these notifications.
Crime rates in Indiana
Between 1999 and 2008, a crime occurred somewhere in Indiana approximately every two minutes. Reported crimes averaged more than 230,000 per year during that time. Over the course of the 10 years, crime rates rose in Indiana by 4% with violent crimes increasing 5% overall. When compared to 10 other states with similar populations, Indiana ranks in the middle for the rate of crime per 1,000 people.