St. Joseph County Criminal Records

Criminal records in St. Joseph County, Indiana, are accessible through several channels — from online tools to official court systems and law enforcement agencies. StJosephCourt.us allows you to quickly find public information about criminal cases in the county. Additionally, records can be obtained through the state court system portal, the county court clerk's office, and the records division at the county jail.

How to Search Criminal Records in St. Joseph

Start by determining what specific information you are looking for — case data, arrest, or a person's criminal history. Depending on this, choose one of the methods below.

Online Search

1. StJosephCourt.us — enter the person's first and last name to view publicly available information about criminal cases in the county.
2. Indiana MyCase — a statewide Indiana court system portal. Search is possible by last name, case number, or court name. The system contains data entered through the Odyssey platform, as well as records uploaded by individual courts. Detailed search instructions for MyCase are available on the judiciary's website.
3. Limited Criminal History — a tool from the Indiana State Police. It shows only felonies and Class A misdemeanors within the state. The result is generated in a PDF file valid for 14 days.
4. INjail Public Access — a portal to check if a person is in custody at the county jail. Last name, first name, or date of birth is required.
5. Indiana Incarcerated Database — a database from the state's Department of Corrections for searching individuals serving sentences in state facilities.

In-Person Visit

To check criminal history, contact the Records Division at the St. Joseph County Jail:

You can also use public access terminals in the county court building or contact the clerk's office directly.

Written Request

A state-level criminal history request can be mailed to Indiana State Police — Criminal History Services. A full report (Full Criminal History) usually requires fingerprinting. A limited report (Limited Criminal History) is available online without fingerprints.

What You Need for the Search

• Full name of the person
• Date of birth (preferably)
• Case number (if known)
• Valid ID — for in-person requests

Search St. Joseph Criminal Cases by Case Number

In Indiana, each court case is assigned a standardized number. The format looks like this:

71D01-2401-F6-000123

• 71 — county code (St. Joseph County has code 71)
• D01 — court designation (D = Superior Court, C = Circuit Court; the number is the division number)
• 2401 — year and month of filing the case (2024, January)
• F6 — case type and severity level (F6 = Level 6 felony; CM = Class A or B misdemeanor; IF = infraction)
• 000123 — sequential case number

If you know the full number, enter it in MyCase — the system will display the case card with all events, charges, and scheduled hearings. The case number is often indicated on court summons, bail receipts, and attorney documents.

Charges, Case Status, Hearings, and Court Results in St. Joseph

Charges

Case Status

• Pending — the case is filed, but no decision yet
• Active — the case is under court consideration
• Disposed — the court has made a final decision
• Closed — all procedural actions are completed, including sentence execution

Types of Hearings

A criminal case in the Superior Court or Circuit Court of the county goes through several stages:

1. Initial Hearing / Arraignment — first court appearance, charges announced
2. Preliminary Hearing — determination of evidence sufficiency (for felonies)
3. Pre-Trial Conference — procedural issues discussion between parties
4. Jury Trial / Bench Trial — substantive court hearing
5. Sentencing — sentencing after a guilty verdict
6. Review Hearing — checking compliance with probation conditions

Case Outcomes

• Guilty — found guilty
• Not Guilty — acquitted
• Dismissed — case closed (prosecutor withdrew charges or court closed the case)
• Acquitted — acquitted by jury or judge decision
• Plea Agreement — plea agreement on agreed terms

Some records may be excluded from public access according to Rule 5 of the Indiana Rules for Access to Court Records — this includes, in particular, juvenile cases, sealed cases, and certain personal data.

How to Request Certified Criminal Records in St. Joseph

Certified copies of court documents are issued by the county court clerk's office. Background checks are conducted by the Records Division at the jail.

To Obtain Certified Court Documents

1. Contact the St. Joseph County Clerk's Office.
2. Provide the case number or full name and approximate date.
3. Present a valid photo ID.
4. Pay the established certification fee.

For a Background Check

Visit the Records Division in person. According to the county FAQ, checks are conducted at the jail address (401 W. Sample St, South Bend) during business hours from 8:00 to 16:00.

State Level

Indiana State Police provides two types of reports:

• Limited Criminal History — online, without fingerprints, contains only felonies and Class A misdemeanors
• Full Criminal History — requires fingerprinting and submission through an authorized agency

Fees, Copy Costs, and Processing Times for Criminal Records in St. Joseph

Below are approximate fees charged by official bodies. It is recommended to verify exact amounts directly with the clerk's office or the relevant division.

Processing Times

• Online Search (MyCase, Limited Criminal History) — results are usually available instantly or within a few minutes. The Limited Criminal History PDF file is valid for 14 days.
• Certified copies at the clerk's office — generally issued the same day for in-person requests.
• Mail requests — processing may take from a few business days to two weeks, depending on the request volume and office workload.

For current fee details, call the clerk's office at 574-235-9635 or check the information on the official clerk's website.