Dubois County Public Records / Dubois County Arrest Records

Dubois County Arrest Records

Are Arrest Records Public in Dubois County

Arrest records in Dubois County, Indiana, are generally considered public records under state law. Pursuant to the Indiana Access to Public Records Act (APRA), codified at Indiana Code § 5-14-3, members of the public may inspect and obtain copies of law enforcement records, including arrest logs, booking information, and incident reports maintained by county agencies. The statute establishes a presumption of openness, meaning records are accessible unless a specific statutory exemption applies.

It is important to distinguish between an arrest record and a conviction record. An arrest record documents the act of being taken into custody by law enforcement and does not indicate guilt or a criminal conviction. A conviction record, by contrast, reflects a formal finding of guilt by a court of law. Under Indiana law, individuals who are arrested but not convicted retain certain rights regarding the use and dissemination of their arrest information. Certain categories of records — such as those involving ongoing investigations, juvenile offenders, or sealed proceedings — may be withheld from public disclosure under exemptions provided within § 5-14-3-4 of the Indiana Code.

What's in Dubois County Arrest Records

Dubois County arrest records contain a standardized set of data fields compiled at the time of booking and maintained by the arresting agency. The following categories of information are typically included:

Arrestee Identifying Information:

Full legal name and any known aliases
Date of birth and age at time of arrest
Physical descriptors including height, weight, hair color, and eye color
Race and gender
Last known residential address

Arrest Details:

Date, time, and location of arrest
Name and badge number of the arresting officer
Arresting agency (e.g., Dubois County Sheriff's Office, Jasper Police Department)
Incident or case number

Charge Information:

Specific criminal charges filed
Indiana statute citation for each charge
Classification of offense (felony, misdemeanor, infraction)

Warrant Information (if applicable):

Warrant number and issuing court
Date warrant was issued
Jurisdiction of the warrant

Booking Information:

Booking number and date
Facility where the individual was processed
Fingerprint and photograph (mugshot) notation

Bond/Bail Information:

Bond type (cash, surety, personal recognizance)
Bond amount set by the court
Bond status (posted, pending, denied)

Court Information:

Assigned court and cause number
Scheduled hearing or arraignment date
Presiding judge

Custody Status:

Current custody status (held, released, transferred)
Release date and conditions, if applicable

Additional Information May Include:

Prior arrest history referenced in the booking record
Detainer or hold information from other jurisdictions
Notations regarding medical or mental health screening at intake

How To Look Up Arrest Records in Dubois County in 2026

Members of the public may obtain Dubois County arrest records through several official channels. The following steps outline the standard process currently in effect:

Contact the Dubois County Sheriff's Office — The Sheriff's Office serves as the primary custodian of county-level arrest and booking records. Requestors may appear in person during public counter hours, submit a written request by mail, or inquire by telephone. Requests should include the full name of the subject, approximate date of arrest, and any known case or booking number.
Submit a Public Records Request — Under Indiana Code § 5-14-3-3, any person may submit a written request for public records. The agency is required to respond within 24 hours for in-person requests and within seven days for written requests. No statement of purpose is required.
Contact the Dubois County Clerk of Courts — For records associated with criminal court proceedings, the Clerk of Courts maintains case files, charging documents, and disposition records. Requestors may visit the clerk's office in person or submit a written request.
Use the Indiana MyCase Portal — The Indiana Supreme Court's MyCase court records search provides online access to case-level information, including criminal charges and court dates, for cases filed in Dubois County courts.
Pay Applicable Fees — Agencies may charge a reasonable fee for copies of records, consistent with rates established under Indiana APRA. Fees are typically assessed per page for paper copies.

Dubois County Sheriff's Office One Courthouse Square, Jasper, IN 47546 (812) 481-7000 County Sheriff — Dubois County

Dubois County Clerk of Courts One Courthouse Square, Suite 200, Jasper, IN 47546 (812) 481-7035 Dubois County Clerk of Courts

How To Find Dubois County Arrest Records Online

Several official online platforms currently provide access to Dubois County arrest and criminal justice records without requiring an in-person visit.

Indiana MyCase Portal — The Indiana Courts Case Search system, maintained by the Indiana Supreme Court, allows members of the public to search criminal case records by name, cause number, or court. This platform reflects case filings, charges, hearing dates, and dispositions for Dubois County Circuit and Superior Courts.
Dubois County Sheriff's Office Website — The Dubois County Sheriff's Office may publish current inmate rosters and recent arrest logs on its official website. Availability of this information is subject to change based on agency policy.
Indiana Judicial Branch — Dubois County — The Dubois County page on the Indiana Judicial Branch website provides contact information for local courts and links to court-related resources maintained at the state level.
Indiana Incarcerated Database — The Indiana Department of Correction operates the Indiana Incarcerated Database Search, which allows the public to search for individuals currently or previously incarcerated in state correctional facilities. This resource is distinct from county jail records and reflects state-level custody information.

How To Search Dubois County Arrest Records for Free?

Members of the public may access certain Dubois County arrest records at no cost through the following methods:

MyCase Online Portal — The Indiana Courts Case Search is available to the public at no charge and provides case-level criminal records for Dubois County courts, including charge information and case status.
In-Person Inspection at the Sheriff's Office — Under Indiana APRA, members of the public have the right to inspect public records in person at no cost. Fees apply only when copies are requested. Visiting the Dubois County Sheriff's Office during public counter hours allows for free inspection of available arrest logs and booking records.
In-Person Inspection at the Clerk of Courts — Similarly, criminal case files maintained by the Dubois County Clerk of Courts may be inspected in person without charge. Copies are subject to standard per-page fees.
Indiana Incarcerated Database — The Indiana Department of Correction's incarcerated search tool is freely accessible online and does not require registration or payment.
Indiana Department of Correction Records Request — The IDOC records request portal allows members of the public and family members to submit requests for records related to incarcerated individuals at no initial cost, though fees may apply for extensive document production.

How To Delete Arrest Records in Dubois County

Indiana law provides two primary legal mechanisms for limiting public access to arrest records: expungement (legal erasure) and sealing (restricting public access). These are distinct remedies with different eligibility criteria and legal effects.

Expungement results in the destruction or erasure of arrest and criminal records, effectively removing them from public view and, in many cases, from law enforcement databases. Sealing restricts public access to records without destroying them; sealed records remain accessible to certain government agencies and courts.

Under the Indiana Second Chance Law, Indiana Code § 35-38-9, individuals may petition for expungement of arrest records in the following circumstances:

The arrest did not result in a conviction and the charges were dismissed or the individual was acquitted
A specified waiting period has elapsed since the date of arrest or conviction
The individual has no pending criminal charges and meets all statutory eligibility requirements

Steps to Pursue Expungement in Dubois County:

Determine eligibility based on the nature of the arrest, the outcome of any related criminal proceedings, and the applicable waiting period under § 35-38-9.
Obtain a certified copy of the arrest record and any related court documents from the Dubois County Clerk of Courts.
Prepare and file a Petition for Expungement with the Dubois County Circuit or Superior Court. Filing fees may apply unless waived by the court.
Serve the petition on the prosecuting attorney's office, which has the right to object within a statutory timeframe.
Attend any scheduled hearing and await the court's ruling.
If granted, the court will issue an order directing all relevant agencies — including the Sheriff's Office, State Police, and court clerk — to expunge or seal the designated records.

Dubois County Prosecutor's Office One Courthouse Square, Suite 300, Jasper, IN 47546 (812) 481-7060 Dubois County Prosecutor

What Happens After Arrest in Dubois County?

The criminal justice process in Dubois County follows a structured sequence of events from the point of arrest through final case disposition.

Arrest and Booking — Upon arrest, the individual is transported to the Dubois County Security Center for booking. During this process, identifying information is recorded, fingerprints and photographs are taken, and personal property is inventoried.
Initial Hearing — Within a short period following arrest, the individual appears before a judge for an initial hearing. At this stage, the court advises the defendant of the charges, determines eligibility for appointed counsel, and sets bond conditions.
Arraignment — The defendant formally enters a plea (guilty, not guilty, or not contest) before the assigned Dubois County court. Case scheduling proceeds based on the plea entered.
Pretrial Proceedings — Depending on the complexity of the case, pretrial motions, discovery exchanges, and status conferences may occur. Plea negotiations between the defense and the Dubois County Prosecutor's Office are common at this stage.
Trial or Plea Disposition — Cases are resolved either through a negotiated plea agreement or a bench or jury trial conducted in the Dubois County Circuit or Superior Court.
Sentencing — Upon a finding or plea of guilt, the court imposes a sentence consistent with Indiana sentencing guidelines. Sentences may include incarceration, probation, fines, community service, or a combination thereof.

Case status and hearing dates for active Dubois County criminal matters are accessible through the Indiana Courts Case Search portal maintained by the Indiana Supreme Court.

How Long Are Arrest Records Kept in Dubois County?

Arrest records in Dubois County are subject to retention schedules established under Indiana law and applicable administrative rules. Under Indiana Code § 5-15-5.1, which governs public records management and retention, state and local agencies are required to maintain records in accordance with schedules approved by the Indiana Public Records Commission.

Key retention principles currently applicable to Dubois County arrest records include:

Law enforcement agencies, including the Dubois County Sheriff's Office, are generally required to retain arrest records for a minimum period that varies based on the severity of the underlying offense. Records related to felony arrests are typically retained for longer periods than those involving misdemeanor or infraction arrests.
Court records associated with criminal proceedings are maintained by the Dubois County Clerk of Courts in accordance with judicial records retention schedules issued by the Indiana Supreme Court. Felony case records are commonly retained permanently or for extended multi-decade periods.
Records subject to an expungement order must be destroyed or sealed within the timeframe specified by the court's order, notwithstanding standard retention schedules.
Different agencies — including the Sheriff's Office, the Indiana State Police, and the Indiana Department of Correction — maintain independent records and may apply different retention periods to the same underlying arrest event.

Retention of arrest records serves the dual purposes of preserving evidence for potential future proceedings and maintaining accountability within the criminal justice system.

How to Find Mugshots in Dubois County

What Mugshots Are A mugshot is a standardized photographic image taken by law enforcement at the time of booking. Mugshots are part of the official arrest record and are used for identification purposes by law enforcement agencies.

Where Mugshots Are Maintained In Dubois County, booking photographs are maintained by the Dubois County Sheriff's Office as part of the official arrest and booking record. The Indiana State Police Central Repository may also retain copies of booking photographs submitted as part of the statewide criminal history record system.

Finding Mugshots Members of the public seeking a specific booking photograph may submit a public records request to the Dubois County Sheriff's Office, referencing the subject's name, date of arrest, and booking number if known. Requests may be submitted in person, by mail, or in writing.

Can They Be Found Online The Dubois County Sheriff's Office may publish current inmate photographs on its official website as part of an active inmate roster. The Dubois County Sheriff's Office website should be consulted for the current availability of this information. Third-party websites that aggregate and republish mugshots operate independently of county government and are not official sources.

Obtaining Mugshots Officially Official copies of booking photographs may be obtained through a formal public records request submitted to the Dubois County Sheriff's Office. Fees for copies are assessed in accordance with Indiana APRA.

Restrictions on Mugshot Access Booking photographs associated with records that have been expunged or sealed pursuant to Indiana Code § 35-38-9 are no longer subject to public disclosure. Juvenile booking photographs are generally exempt from public access under Indiana law. Photographs related to ongoing investigations may also be withheld under applicable statutory exemptions.