Evansville Background Check Records
Evansville background check records are kept by the Evansville Police Department and the Vanderburgh County courts. Evansville is the third largest city in Indiana and the county seat of Vanderburgh County. The police department runs a Central Records Unit that handles all records requests for the city. One key thing to know is that all records inquiries at EPD must be done in person. Vanderburgh County also holds court records and sheriff records that are part of a full background check. This page covers every way to search and get background check records in Evansville.
Evansville Quick Facts
Evansville Police Background Check
The Evansville Police Department handles police records through its Central Records Unit. This unit sits in Room 126 at Police Headquarters, 15 NW MLK Jr. Blvd. All records inquiries have to be done in person at Central Records. There is no mail or email option listed on their site. The phone number for the Records Section is (812) 436-7956, and the fax is (812) 435-6231. You can call to ask questions before you go, but the actual request must happen face to face.
Hours are Monday through Friday, 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The office is closed on holidays and weekends. If you need police records as part of a background check in Evansville, plan to visit during those hours. Get there early if you can. The 7:00 AM start time gives you a chance to take care of your request before most offices in the city open. Bring a valid photo ID and know the name, date, or case info you need. The more details you give the staff, the faster they can pull your records.
| Department | Evansville Police Department - Central Records Unit |
|---|---|
| Address | Room 126, Police Headquarters 15 NW MLK Jr. Blvd, Evansville, IN 47708 |
| Phone | (812) 436-7956 |
| Fax | (812) 435-6231 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM Closed Holidays and Weekends |
The Evansville Police Department website has general info about the department and its units. It is a good starting point if you want to understand how EPD is set up before going in for a background check request.
The screenshot above shows the main EPD website. From here you can find links to the Central Records Unit and other divisions that handle background check records in Evansville.
Note: A case must be closed before the incident report is available to the public at the Evansville Central Records office.
Central Records Unit Details
The Central Records Unit page on the EPD site gives specifics about what the unit does and how to get records. This is the single point of contact for all police background check records in Evansville. Whether you need an incident report, an accident report, or a criminal history check, Central Records is where you go.
The page above shows the Central Records Unit section on the EPD website. It confirms the in-person requirement and lists the office hours and contact info. The unit handles a wide range of records, and staff can tell you what is available for your specific request when you visit.
The record inquiries page goes into more detail about the types of records you can ask for and any limits that apply. Some records have restrictions based on whether the case is open or closed. Others may need a signed release from the person named in the record. The record inquiries page spells out these rules so you know what to expect before you make the trip to the Evansville police station.
That page lists the specific steps and forms you may need when requesting background check records at the Evansville Police Department. Review it before you go so you bring everything with you.
Vanderburgh County Sheriff Records
The Vanderburgh County Sheriff's Office is another source for background check records in the Evansville area. Their main office is at 3500 N. Harlan Ave, Evansville, IN 47711. The sheriff's public records page explains how to request records from their office. The sheriff handles jail operations, warrants, and civil process for all of Vanderburgh County.
The sheriff's website also has a recent bookings page where you can see who has been booked into the county jail. This is free to access and shows names, booking dates, and charges. It is a useful tool if you are running a background check on someone in Evansville and want to see recent activity. The data updates regularly and covers the whole county.
The screenshot above shows the Vanderburgh County Sheriff's public records section. Use this page to start a records request with the sheriff's office for background check records outside what the city police hold.
Evansville Court Records
Court records for Evansville are filed in the Vanderburgh County courts. The court office is at 1 NW Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Civic Center Complex, Room 231, in Evansville. Phone is (812) 435-5160. The Vanderburgh County Clerk's Office is at 825 Sycamore Street in Evansville.
You can search for court records in person for free in Room 231 of the Civic Center Complex during business hours. Online, the county uses Tapestry (fee per search) and Laredo (subscription-based) for remote access to records. The statewide MyCase system is also an option and covers Vanderburgh County courts. MyCase is free and lets you search by name, case number, or attorney. It shows case status, charges, and filing dates for criminal and civil cases in Evansville.
Pursuant to the Indiana Access to Public Records Act (I.C. 5-14-3), the county clerk's office will notify you within 7 days with the status of your written request. This applies to all public records held by Vanderburgh County, not just court files. The law gives the public a right to inspect and copy most government records, with some exceptions for sealed or restricted cases.
Note: The Vanderburgh County Clerk also handles deeds, so if you need property-related records as part of a background check in Evansville, that office can help with both.
Statewide Check From Evansville
Police records from Evansville only cover what EPD has on file locally. For a background check that pulls records from across the whole state, you need the Indiana State Police. The ISP Criminal History Services page lets you run a name-based or fingerprint-based check. A limited criminal history check costs $16 and covers all 92 Indiana counties. Evansville residents can submit requests online through the ISP website.
A fingerprint-based check takes longer but goes deeper. It runs through both the Indiana and FBI databases, which means it can show records from other states too. For most people in Evansville, the name-based ISP check combined with a MyCase search gives a solid background check picture. Adding the EPD Central Records visit fills in any local details that the state databases might not have.
Tips for Evansville Background Checks
Running a background check in Evansville takes a bit more planning than in some other Indiana cities because of the in-person rule at EPD. You cannot email or mail in a police records request. You have to go to Room 126 in person. That said, the office opens at 7:00 AM, which is earlier than most. Use that to your advantage.
Here are some practical tips when searching for background check records in Evansville:
- Plan to visit EPD Central Records in person for any police report requests
- Bring a photo ID and as much detail as you can about the record you need
- Check MyCase online first for free court record info before visiting the clerk
- Use the sheriff's recent bookings page for current jail info
- Allow reasonable time for staff to pull records, especially for older cases
The Vanderburgh County offices and the EPD Central Records Unit work on similar schedules. If you plan well, you can hit both in one trip and cover most of what you need for a background check in Evansville. The courthouse and police headquarters are both in the downtown area, just a short drive apart.
Vanderburgh County Background Check
Evansville is in Vanderburgh County, and all court cases for the city go through the Vanderburgh County court system. The county handles criminal, civil, and family cases for Evansville and the surrounding towns. For full details on how to search Vanderburgh County records, the fee schedule, and extra resources, visit the Vanderburgh County background check page.
Nearby Cities
These Indiana cities are in the same part of the state as Evansville. Each page covers local police records, court access, and other background check resources.