Find Fort Wayne Background Check Records
Fort Wayne background check records come from the Fort Wayne Police Department, the Allen County Sheriff, and the Allen County courts. Fort Wayne is the second largest city in Indiana and the county seat of Allen County. The police department runs out of 1 E. Main St and handles local records requests. Allen County court records cover all criminal and civil cases filed in the county, including those from Fort Wayne. You can search many of these records online through MyCase or request them in person at the courthouse. This page covers all the ways to run a background check in Fort Wayne.
Fort Wayne Quick Facts
Fort Wayne Police Background Check
The Fort Wayne Police Department is the main law enforcement agency in the city. Their headquarters sits at 1 E. Main St in downtown Fort Wayne. The non-emergency line is 260-427-1222. For criminal history requests, the city has a dedicated page on its website. The Criminal History Request page walks you through the steps to get a local background check from Fort Wayne police.
Reports from the Fort Wayne Police Department include accident reports, incident reports, and criminal history checks. Accident reports are available online through BuyCrash.com, which is the system most Indiana law enforcement agencies use. For other types of reports, you may need to visit police headquarters in person. Some records require a subpoena before they can be released. This depends on the type of case and whether it is still open.
| Department | Fort Wayne Police Department |
|---|---|
| Address | 1 E. Main St, Fort Wayne, IN 46802 |
| Phone | 260-427-1222 (Non-emergency) |
| Website | fortwayne.in.gov - Police |
The criminal history request page for Fort Wayne is shown below.
That page gives you the form and instructions you need to submit a local criminal history check through the Fort Wayne Police Department. Keep in mind that a local check only covers records held by FWPD. It does not pull from the statewide database.
Note: Statewide criminal history checks must go through the Indiana State Police, not the local Fort Wayne office.
Allen County Sheriff Records
The Allen County Sheriff's Department is another source for background check records in the Fort Wayne area. Their office is at 715 S. Calhoun St in Fort Wayne, Room 101. The main phone number is 260-449-3000. The Allen County Sheriff website has info about their services, including an online inmate search tool.
The sheriff's inmate search at allencountysheriff.org/inmate-search lets you look up people currently in the Allen County jail. This is a free tool. You search by name and get booking details. The sheriff also handles warrants and civil process for Allen County. Their mission, as they put it, is "to enhance the quality of life for the citizens of Allen County by professionally working in partnership to provide safety, security and service to the community." Background check records from the sheriff cover a different set of cases than what the city police hold, since the sheriff handles county-level matters.
The Allen County Sheriff website front page is shown here.
From the sheriff's site, you can reach the inmate search, public records requests, and other services tied to background checks in Allen County and Fort Wayne.
Fort Wayne Court Records Search
Allen County court records are the main source for detailed background check info in Fort Wayne. These records cover all legal cases filed in the county, from criminal charges to civil suits. The Allen County Clerk's office holds and manages all court records. Clerk Christopher M. Nancarrow runs the office at the Allen County Courthouse, 715 S. Calhoun Street, Room 200A. Phone is 260-449-7245. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.
Allen County court records include case files, docket entries, pleadings, motions, orders, judgments, transcripts, exhibits, and sentencing records. The clerk's office serves as the main custodian and gives multiple ways to get records. Court records in Allen County are public under the Indiana Access to Public Records Act (Indiana Code 5-14-3). That said, some records may be sealed by court order. Juvenile records, adoption files, mental health cases, and some family court matters can be restricted under state law.
For online searches, MyCase covers all Allen County courts. You can look up cases by name, case number, attorney, or business name. It is free and shows case status, filing dates, and charges. The courts in Allen County use the Odyssey case management system, and MyCase pulls from that data. Regular copies cost $1.00 per page if you need paper copies from the clerk.
The Indiana Courts page for Allen County lists all the court divisions, including Circuit Court and the Superior Court divisions for civil, criminal, family, and small claims.
That page gives an overview of the Allen County court system. Use it to find the right division for the type of record you need as part of a background check in Fort Wayne.
Note: The Allen County Law Library at the courthouse is open to the public for legal research at no cost.
Statewide Background Check Options
A local background check from Fort Wayne police only covers what FWPD has on file. For records from across Indiana, the Indiana State Police Criminal History Services page is the right place. The ISP runs the statewide criminal history database. A limited criminal history check costs $16 and pulls data from all 92 counties. Fort Wayne residents can submit their request online or by mail through the ISP website.
A fingerprint-based check is also available for a more thorough search. That type of check matches prints against both the state and FBI databases, which means it covers cases from outside Indiana too. The turnaround time is longer for a fingerprint check, but it is the most complete option. Either way, the ISP is the only source for a true statewide background check. Local police in Fort Wayne cannot run that type of search.
How to Search Fort Wayne Records
There are a few paths to a background check in Fort Wayne, and the one you pick depends on what kind of records you need. Here is a quick breakdown of the main options.
- City police records: visit FWPD headquarters or use the criminal history request form online
- Accident reports: order through BuyCrash.com
- County court records: search MyCase for free or visit the Allen County Clerk at the courthouse
- Jail and booking info: use the Allen County Sheriff's inmate search
- Statewide criminal history: submit a request to the Indiana State Police
Each of these sources covers a different piece of the background check puzzle in Fort Wayne. Court records show charges and outcomes. Police records show incident details. The sheriff's inmate search shows who is currently in custody. Putting them together gives you the fullest picture. Most of these records are public under Indiana law, though some have limits on what can be shared.
The Indiana Access to Public Records Act (I.C. 5-14-3) sets the rules. Written requests must get a response within 7 days. In-person requests get a 24-hour window. If a request gets denied, the agency must cite the law that allows them to hold the record back. Fort Wayne residents who run into problems with a denial can reach the Public Access Counselor for help.
Allen County Background Check Records
Fort Wayne is in Allen County, and all court cases for the city go through the Allen County court system. The county covers criminal, civil, family, and small claims cases for Fort Wayne and the rest of Allen County. For more details on searching Allen County records, the full fee list, and other resources, see the Allen County background check page.
Nearby Cities
These Indiana cities are near Fort Wayne and have their own police departments and records offices. Each page covers local background check resources for that city.
Indianapolis · Muncie · Marion · Goshen · Bloomington