Knox County Public Records /Knox County Criminal Records

Knox County Criminal Records

How To Look Up Criminal Records In Knox County in 2026

KnoxINRecords.us aggregates publicly available information related to criminal records maintained by government agencies in Knox County, Indiana. Members of the public seeking criminal history data may find records that include arrest logs, court case filings, charge dispositions, sentencing information, and booking records. The categories of records that may be accessible through official channels include:

Felony and misdemeanor arrest records
Circuit and superior court case filings and dispositions
Jail booking and inmate records
Sex offender registration data
Warrant information
Probation and sentencing records
Drug court participation records

Records can be searched through official county resources, clerk offices, public access terminals, and online tools. The following five methods describe the primary access points available to members of the public.

1. County Court Records

The Knox County Clerk of the Courts administers official court records for all trial court cases with jurisdiction in Knox County and prepares the permanent historical records for the county. Members of the public may inspect court records in person at the clerk's office during regular business hours. Requestors should bring a valid government-issued photo ID and, where possible, the full legal name of the subject and an approximate case filing date or case number.

Knox County Clerk of the Courts
111 North 7th Street
Vincennes, IN 47591
Phone: (812) 885-2521
Clerk of the Courts

Public access terminals are available at the clerk's office for on-site case searches. The Knox County Circuit Court, presided over by Hon. Monica Gilmore, handles felony, civil, and domestic matters at the same address.

2. Sheriff's Office

The Knox County Sheriff's Office maintains arrest logs, booking records, and jail inmate information. Members of the public may submit records requests directly to the sheriff's office. Fees for copies of records are assessed in accordance with Indiana's public records fee schedule.

Knox County Sheriff's Office
111 North 7th Street
Vincennes, IN 47591
Phone: (812) 882-7660
Knox County Departments & Services

3. Online Court Search

The Indiana Office of Judicial Administration operates MyCase, the statewide online court case search portal. Members of the public may search Knox County court records by entering a party's full name, case number, or attorney name. The portal returns case status, charge information, hearing dates, and dispositions. Note that certain case types, including juvenile matters and sealed cases, do not appear in MyCase results.

4. State Criminal History Repository

The Indiana State Police maintains the state's criminal history repository. Members of the public may submit a Limited Criminal History Search online through the ISP portal. This search returns felony and Class A misdemeanor arrests within Indiana. Certified background checks requiring fingerprint submission are processed through the ISP Criminal History Services division. Processing times and fees vary by request type; the current fee for a name-based limited criminal history search is $16.32.

5. Written/Mail Requests

Members of the public may submit written records requests by mail to the Knox County Clerk of the Courts at 111 North 7th Street, Vincennes, IN 47591. Requests should include the subject's full legal name, date of birth, and the type of record sought. Under Indiana Code § 5-14-3, agencies are required to respond to public records requests within a reasonable time, and in no event later than seven days for most record types.

What Is Knox County Criminal Records

A criminal record is the official documentation of an individual's contacts with the criminal justice system, encompassing arrests, charges, court proceedings, and dispositions. Under Indiana law, criminal records are created and maintained by multiple agencies as a case moves through the justice system—from initial law enforcement contact through final court disposition.

The distinction between record types is significant:

Arrest records vs. conviction records: An arrest record documents that an individual was taken into custody; it does not indicate guilt. A conviction record reflects a formal finding or plea of guilty entered by a court.
Felony vs. misdemeanor records: Felonies are the more serious classification under Indiana Code § 35-50-2 and carry potential sentences exceeding one year. Misdemeanors carry lesser penalties.
Adult vs. juvenile records: Adult criminal records are subject to public access under Indiana's Access to Public Records Act. Juvenile records are confidential by statute and are not available to the general public.
Active warrants vs. historical records: Active warrants reflect outstanding court orders for arrest; historical records document resolved matters.

The agencies responsible for maintaining criminal records in Knox County include:

Knox County Sheriff's Office — arrest records, jail booking records, inmate records
Knox County Circuit Court and Superior Court — case files, charge information, plea agreements, trial outcomes, sentencing orders
Indiana State Police Criminal History Repository — statewide criminal history database
Local police departments, including the Bicknell Police Department, which operates with 24/7 coverage assistance from the Knox County Sheriff's Office

Records maintained by the Indiana Judicial Branch's Knox County courts may include charges, arraignments, plea agreements, trial outcomes, sentencing details, probation conditions, and appellate filings.

Are Criminal Records Public In Knox County

Criminal records in Knox County are subject to public disclosure under Indiana's Access to Public Records Act, codified at Indiana Code § 5-14-3-3, which establishes that public records are presumptively open to inspection and copying by any person. Court records maintained by the Indiana Judicial Branch are similarly subject to public access under the Indiana Rules on Access to Court Records.

As stated by the Indiana Judicial Branch: "Court records are presumptively open to the public. The public has a right to inspect and copy court records unless a specific exception applies."

The following categories of records are accessible to the public:

Adult felony and misdemeanor conviction records
Court case filings, hearing records, and dispositions
Arrest and booking records maintained by the sheriff's office
Sentencing orders and probation terms

The following categories are restricted or exempt from public disclosure:

Juvenile delinquency records (sealed by statute)
Expunged records (removed from public access upon court order)
Records sealed by court order
Ongoing criminal investigation files
Victim and witness identifying information in certain cases
Mental health and substance abuse treatment records

Federal criminal records maintained by the FBI are governed by separate federal statutes and are not subject to Indiana's public records law. Records of participation in the Knox County Drug Court program may be subject to confidentiality protections depending on the nature of the underlying case.

How To Find Criminal Records in Knox County Online?

Official County Resources

The primary online resources for Knox County criminal records are:

MyCase – Indiana Courts Case Search: The statewide portal operated by the Office of Judicial Administration allows searches by name, case number, or attorney. Users may filter results by county, selecting Knox County to narrow results. The portal displays case status, charges, hearing dates, and dispositions for most adult criminal matters.
Knox County Clerk of the Courts: The clerk's office website provides information on accessing court records and the services available through the clerk's office.
Knox County Circuit Court: Case information for circuit court matters may be accessed through MyCase using the court's case number format.

State-Level Resources

Indiana State Police Limited Criminal History Search: Provides name-based searches returning felony and Class A misdemeanor arrests statewide.
ISP Criminal History Services: Offers certified background checks with fingerprint submission for employment and licensing purposes.
Indiana State Library – Knox County Research Guide: Provides access to historical court records, including Common Pleas records, for genealogical and historical research.

Search Tips

Search using the subject's full legal name and any known aliases.
Case number searches return the most precise results; obtain the case number from the clerk's office when possible.
Cross-reference results across MyCase and the ISP criminal history portal, as each database may contain different record sets.
Understand that sealed and expunged records do not appear in public online searches.

Limitations

Online databases may reflect a data lag of several days to weeks following a court event. Records predating the digitization of Knox County court files may not appear in online portals and require in-person requests. Online searches do not constitute official background checks for employment or licensing purposes.

Can You Search Knox County Criminal Records for Free?

Free Options

1. In-Person Inspection: Indiana Code § 5-14-3-3 mandates that members of the public have the right to inspect public records at no charge. In-person inspection of court records is available at the Knox County Clerk of the Courts, 111 North 7th Street, Vincennes, IN 47591, during regular business hours. Copying fees apply to reproductions.

2. Free Online Databases: The following portals are available at no cost:

Resource	What's Free	Link
MyCase	Case search, case status, charge info	mycase.in.gov
Knox County Clerk	Office information, record access guidance	knoxcounty.in.gov
ISP Limited History (view only)	Name-based search results	in.gov/ai/appfiles/isp-lch

3. Sheriff's Logs: Daily arrest and booking reports maintained by the Knox County Sheriff's Office may be inspected in person at no charge pursuant to Indiana's public records law.

What Costs Money

Certified copies of court records: fees set by the clerk's office per page
Official state background checks through ISP: currently $16.32 for name-based searches
Fingerprint-based certified criminal history: additional fees apply
Staff-assisted record searches beyond standard inspection
Expedited processing requests

State Fee Law: Under Indiana Code § 5-14-3-8, agencies may charge fees for copies of public records not to exceed the actual cost of reproduction. Fee waivers may be available in limited circumstances as determined by the custodial agency.

What's Included in a Knox County Criminal Record?

Identifying Information

Full legal name and known aliases
Date of birth
Physical description (height, weight, hair color, eye color)
Booking photograph (mugshot)
Last known address
State Identification Number (SID) and FBI number (where assigned)

Arrest Information

Date, time, and location of arrest
Arresting agency (Knox County Sheriff's Office, Vincennes Police Department, or other local agency)
Booking number and jail facility
Charges filed at arrest
Bail or bond amount set

Court Case Information

Case number and court of jurisdiction (Circuit Court or Superior Court)
Filing date and case type
Charges and applicable statutes, including felony or misdemeanor classification under Indiana Code § 35-50-2
Plea entered
Attorney of record

The joint local rules for the Knox County courts govern procedural matters affecting how cases are processed and documented within the county's court system.

Disposition

Verdict or plea outcome
Conviction date
Sentencing details (incarceration length, fines, restitution, probation conditions)
Appeals filed
Probation or parole status

Additional Record Elements

Active or recalled warrants
Protective orders
Sex offender registration status
DUI/OWI notations
Pending charges

NOT Included in Public Records

Juvenile delinquency adjudications
Expunged or sealed records
Records from other states
Federal criminal records
Completed diversion program records (where sealed by court order)

Accuracy Note: Members of the public who identify errors in their own criminal records may petition the originating court or agency for correction. The process for challenging inaccurate criminal history information is administered through the Indiana State Police Criminal History Services division.

How Long Does Knox County Keep Criminal Records?

Legal Requirements

Indiana's public records retention schedules, established under state administrative rules, govern how long criminal records must be maintained by county agencies. Courts are required to retain certain records permanently, while law enforcement agencies follow separate schedules.

Retention by Record Type

Record Type	Retention Period
Felony convictions	Permanent
Misdemeanor convictions	Permanent
Arrest records (no conviction)	Minimum 5 years; may be retained longer
Dismissed or acquitted cases	Permanent (disposition noted in record)
Juvenile records	Sealed at age 18; subject to destruction per court order
Pending cases	Retained until final resolution

Agency Differences

County courts: The Knox County Clerk of the Courts retains court records permanently in accordance with Indiana court records retention rules. The Indiana Judicial Branch public records page provides guidance on court record retention standards.
Sheriff and jail: Booking and arrest records are retained for a minimum period established by the Indiana State Archives retention schedule.
State repository: The Indiana State Police retains conviction records permanently in the state criminal history database.

Physical vs. Electronic Records

Electronic records are retained for longer periods than paper records. Paper records may be destroyed following scanning and digitization, provided the electronic copy is preserved in accordance with state standards.

Destruction vs. Sealing vs. Expungement

Destruction refers to the physical or electronic elimination of a record at the end of its retention period.
Sealing removes a record from public access while preserving it for law enforcement use.
Expungement under Indiana Code § 35-38-9 provides eligible individuals with a court-ordered process to restrict public access to certain arrest and conviction records. Eligibility depends on the offense type, time elapsed since conviction, and completion of sentence. Even following expungement, records may remain accessible to law enforcement and certain licensing agencies.

Old Records Access

Records predating electronic filing systems may require special requests to the Knox County Clerk of the Courts or the Indiana State Library's Knox County research collection, which holds historical court records including Common Pleas records.

Federal Records

Criminal records maintained by the FBI are retained separately under federal rules and are not affected by Indiana expungement orders.

Practical Implications

Felony convictions remain on public record permanently absent a court-ordered expungement. Consumer reporting agencies conducting employment background checks are subject to the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act, which limits reporting of most criminal records to seven years for certain positions; however, no such limit applies to positions with salaries above a statutory threshold. Professional licensing boards in Indiana may require full disclosure of criminal history regardless of the age of the conviction. Even where a county agency has destroyed physical records, electronic copies may exist in state databases unless the record has been legally expunged pursuant to Indiana Code § 35-38-9.