Madison County Criminal Records
What Is Madison County Criminal Records
Criminal records in Madison County, Indiana, are official government documents that chronicle an individual's interactions with the criminal justice system, from initial law enforcement contact through final court disposition. These records are generated and maintained by multiple agencies across the county and state.
Key distinctions among record types include:
- Arrest records vs. conviction records: An arrest record documents that law enforcement took an individual into custody based on probable cause; it does not indicate guilt. A conviction record reflects a formal finding of guilt entered by a court of law following a plea or trial verdict.
- Felony vs. misdemeanor: Under Indiana law, felonies are the more serious classification, carrying potential sentences of more than one year in a state correctional facility. Misdemeanors carry lesser penalties, typically served in a county jail.
- Adult vs. juvenile records: Adult criminal records are generally accessible to the public. Juvenile adjudication records are confidential by statute and are routinely sealed to protect the interests of minors.
- Active warrants vs. historical records: An active warrant is a current court order authorizing law enforcement to arrest a named individual. Historical records document past arrests, charges, and dispositions that have already been resolved.
The principal agencies responsible for generating and maintaining Madison County criminal records are:
- Madison County Sheriff's Office — maintains arrest records, booking logs, and jail rosters
- Madison County Clerk of the Circuit Court — maintains court case files, pleas, trial records, and sentencing documents
- Indiana State Police — maintains statewide criminal history data accessible through the Limited Criminal History Search portal
- Local municipal police departments — generate arrest and incident reports at the city level
Individual criminal records may include charges filed, arraignment proceedings, entered pleas, trial outcomes, sentencing orders, probation and parole conditions, and any subsequent modifications to those orders. Court case information for Madison County is administered through the Indiana Judicial Branch's Madison County court portal. The primary state statute governing the collection and dissemination of criminal history data is Indiana Code § 10-13-3, which establishes the framework for limited criminal history records maintained by the Indiana State Police.
Madison County Sheriff's Office 1006 N. Main St., Anderson, IN 46016 (765) 646-9285 Sheriff's Office – Madison County, Indiana
Madison County Clerk of the Circuit Court 16 E. 9th St., Room 213, Anderson, IN 46016 (765) 641-9443 Clerk of the Circuit Court – Madison County, Indiana
Are Criminal Records Public In Madison County
Adult criminal records in Madison County are presumptively open to the public under Indiana's Access to Public Records Act (APRA), codified at Indiana Code § 5-14-3. Under current law, any person may inspect and copy public records without being required to state a reason for the request.
Records that are generally available to the public include:
- Adult conviction records and court dispositions
- Felony and Class A misdemeanor arrest data maintained by the Indiana State Police
- Court proceedings, case filings, and sentencing orders
- Jail booking logs and inmate rosters maintained by the Sheriff's Office
Records that are restricted or exempt from public disclosure include:
- Juvenile adjudication records, which are sealed pursuant to Indiana Code § 31-39-1-2
- Records pertaining to ongoing criminal investigations where disclosure would jeopardize the investigation
- Expunged records that have been ordered sealed by a court under Indiana's Second Chance Law
- Confidential informant identities and certain victim information in sensitive cases
Members of the public should be aware that an arrest record alone does not constitute evidence of criminal conduct, and agencies are required to note when charges were dismissed or resulted in acquittal.
How To Look Up Criminal Records In Madison County in 2026
Members of the public may obtain Madison County criminal records through several official channels. The following steps outline the standard process for accessing these records in person or by mail.
Step 1 — Identify the appropriate agency. Determine whether the record sought is an arrest record (contact the Sheriff's Office or local police), a court case record (contact the Clerk of the Circuit Court), or a statewide criminal history (contact the Indiana State Police).
Step 2 — Prepare identifying information. Requesters should have the subject's full legal name, date of birth, and, if available, a case number or booking number to facilitate an accurate search.
Step 3 — Submit a public records request. Requests may be submitted in person at the relevant agency's public counter, by mail, or through available online portals. Written requests should reference Indiana Code § 5-14-3 to invoke the requester's statutory right of access.
Step 4 — Pay applicable fees. Agencies may charge a reasonable fee for copies of records. The Clerk of the Circuit Court currently charges a per-page fee for certified copies of court documents. Fee schedules are available at each office's public counter.
Step 5 — Await response. Under APRA, agencies are required to respond to public records requests within a reasonable time, and in most cases within 24 hours for inspection of existing records.
Madison County Clerk of the Circuit Court 16 E. 9th St., Room 213, Anderson, IN 46016 Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. (765) 641-9443 Clerk of the Circuit Court – Madison County, Indiana
Madison County Sheriff's Office 1006 N. Main St., Anderson, IN 46016 (765) 646-9285 Sheriff's Office – Madison County, Indiana
How To Find Criminal Records in Madison County Online?
Several official online portals currently provide access to Madison County criminal records and related law enforcement data without requiring an in-person visit.
Available online resources include:
- Indiana Judicial Branch Case Search — The Madison County court case search portal, administered by the Indiana Judicial Branch, allows members of the public to search civil and criminal case records by party name or case number. The portal contains case filing dates, charge information, hearing schedules, and disposition data for cases processed through Madison County courts.
- Indiana State Police Limited Criminal History — The ISP Limited Criminal History Search portal provides statewide felony and Class A misdemeanor arrest data. A fee is assessed for each search conducted through this portal. No registration is required for a single search, though volume users may establish an account.
- Madison County Sheriff's Office — The Sheriff's Office maintains current inmate and jail roster information accessible through the county website.
- Madison Police Department — The Madison Police Department provides access to certain incident and arrest log information at the municipal level.
Important distinctions between online and in-person access:
- Certified copies of court documents are available only in person or by mail through the Clerk of the Circuit Court; online portals provide informational access only.
- Certain older case records that predate electronic filing may not appear in online databases and must be requested directly from the Clerk's office.
- Expunged or sealed records do not appear in any publicly accessible online portal.
Can You Search Madison County Criminal Records for Free?
Under Indiana Code § 5-14-3-8, agencies are required to permit inspection of public records at no charge; fees may only be assessed for the reproduction of copies. Members of the public therefore have a statutory right to inspect criminal records in person without incurring a cost.
Free access options currently available include:
- In-person inspection at the Clerk of the Circuit Court — Members of the public may inspect court case files at no charge during regular business hours at 16 E. 9th St., Room 213, Anderson, IN 46016.
- Indiana Judicial Branch case search portal — Basic case information, including charges, hearing dates, and dispositions, is available at no cost through the Madison County court portal.
- Sheriff's Office jail roster — Current inmate information maintained by the Madison County Sheriff's Office is accessible online at no charge.
Fees apply in the following circumstances:
- Certified copies of court documents from the Clerk of the Circuit Court carry a per-page reproduction fee.
- Statewide criminal history searches conducted through the Indiana State Police Limited Criminal History portal are subject to a fee per transaction.
- Requests requiring extensive staff research time may be subject to additional charges as permitted by statute.
What's Included in a Madison County Criminal Record?
A comprehensive Madison County criminal record may contain several categories of information, depending on the maintaining agency and the nature of the underlying case.
Identifying Information:
- Full legal name and known aliases
- Date of birth and physical description (height, weight, eye and hair color)
- Mugshot photograph taken at the time of booking
- Last known address
- State Identification (SID) number and, where applicable, FBI number
Arrest Information:
- Date, time, and location of arrest
- Arresting agency (Sheriff's Office, local police department, or state agency)
- Booking number and jail facility
- Charges filed at the time of arrest
- Bail or bond amount set
Court Case Information:
- Case number and assigned court or jurisdiction, accessible through the Indiana Judicial Branch Madison County portal
- Filing date and prosecuting attorney information
- Specific charges and applicable statutes, including felony level or misdemeanor class
- Entered plea (guilty, not guilty, or no contest)
- Defense attorney information
Disposition:
- Verdict (guilty, not guilty, or dismissed)
- Conviction date and sentencing order
- Sentence type and length, including incarceration, probation, fines, restitution, and special conditions
- Appeals filed and outcomes
- Probation or parole status and supervising agency
Additional Record Elements:
- Active or recalled arrest warrants
- Protective or no-contact orders
- Sex offender registration status
- DUI or DWI adjudications
- Traffic violations processed through criminal court
- Pending charges not yet adjudicated
How Long Does Madison County Keep Criminal Records?
Criminal records in Madison County are retained in accordance with Indiana's statewide records retention schedules, which govern the minimum periods for which public agencies must preserve official documents.
General retention periods under current Indiana administrative rules include:
- Felony conviction records: Retained permanently by the Indiana State Police and the Clerk of the Circuit Court; these records do not expire.
- Misdemeanor conviction records: Retained for a minimum of ten years following the close of the case, though many are maintained permanently.
- Arrest records without conviction: Retained for a minimum of five years; however, if an expungement order is granted under Indiana's expungement statute, the record must be sealed or destroyed as directed by the court.
- Juvenile records: Retained until the subject reaches age 23 or for five years following the date of the last juvenile court action, whichever is later, pursuant to Indiana administrative retention schedules.
- Court case files (general): The Indiana Commission on Public Records establishes minimum retention periods for court records; felony case files are generally retained permanently, while certain misdemeanor and infraction files may be destroyed after specified periods.
Indiana's expungement law, codified at Indiana Code § 35-38-9, permits eligible individuals to petition a court to seal or expunge qualifying criminal records. Upon the granting of an expungement order, the relevant agencies are required to restrict public access to those records. The Indiana Commission on Public Records maintains the official retention schedules applicable to county-level agencies, and the Clerk of the Circuit Court is responsible for compliance with those schedules at the local level.