DeKalb County Background Check

DeKalb County background check records are held at the Clerk of Circuit Court and the Sheriff's Office in Auburn. The county sits in northeast Indiana and has three courts that hear cases: Circuit Court, Superior Court I, and Superior Court II. If you need to look up a person's criminal record or check court case data in DeKalb County, the process starts with these two main offices. You can also run a search through the state's MyCase system from home. DeKalb County records go back many years, and most can be found with a name or case number. This guide walks through the steps to get a background check done in DeKalb County.

DeKalb County Clerk's Office

The DeKalb County Clerk of the Circuit Court is the main keeper of all court records in the county. Dana Hedrick serves as the current Clerk. This office handles case filings, stores court documents, and provides copies of records to the public. When you need a background check that covers DeKalb County court cases, the Clerk's office is one place to start. Staff can search records by name and pull up case files that go back years.

The office is at 100 S. Main St in Auburn. You can reach them by phone at (260) 333-0701. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. One thing to note is that the Clerk's office now closes for lunch from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM each day. Plan your visit around this break. You can also send a fax to (260) 925-5126 or email Dana Hedrick at dhedrick@co.dekalb.in.us. The Clerk's office in DeKalb County maintains records for the Circuit Court, Superior Court I, and Superior Court II.

The DeKalb County Clerk's website provides information on how to access court records. You can also look up cases through the county's online system. For certified copies of court documents, plan to pay a small per-page fee. The Clerk's office in DeKalb County issues summonses and subpoenas as well.

Note: The Clerk's office closes for lunch daily starting March 1, 2025, so arrive before noon or after 1:00 PM for service.

DeKalb County Sheriff Background Check

The DeKalb County Sheriff's Office is another key source for background check information. Sheriff Brady Thomas took over as the 44th Sheriff on January 1, 2023. The office has more than 80 employees, including deputies, correction officers, and admin staff. They handle law enforcement across the county and run the jail, which holds an average of 134 inmates at any given time.

You can visit the DeKalb County Sheriff's website for details on how to request records. The Sheriff's Office is located at 100 S. Main St in Auburn, the same address as the courthouse. For a local criminal history check, you may need to contact them in person with a valid photo ID. The Sheriff's Office can provide arrest records and other law enforcement data that tie into a DeKalb County background check.

The Sheriff also handles civil process and courthouse security in DeKalb County. This office works with the courts on warrant service and inmate transport. If you need records on a specific arrest or booking, the jail division is the right point of contact.

The screenshot below shows the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office website, where you can find information on records requests and other services.

The site has links to jail information and other public safety resources for DeKalb County.

Search DeKalb County Records Online

The fastest way to run a background check in DeKalb County is through MyCase, the state's online court record system. This free tool covers all Indiana counties, including DeKalb. You can search by name, case number, or attorney. Results show case type, filing date, charges, and disposition. It is not an official court record, but it gives a good snapshot of someone's court history in DeKalb County.

MyCase is run by the Indiana courts and pulls data from the Odyssey case management system. Over 400 trial courts feed into it. For DeKalb County, you will see cases from the Circuit Court, Superior Court I, and Superior Court II. The system is free to use for basic searches. Keep in mind that there may be a delay of 24 hours or more between when a case is filed and when it shows up online. For the most current data, call the DeKalb County Clerk's office.

Doxpop is another option for searching DeKalb County records. This third-party service charges a subscription fee but gives deeper access to court records and property documents. It pulls data from Indiana courts and county recorders. Doxpop can be useful if you need to search recorded documents or do a more detailed background check in DeKalb County.

Note: Online records are not official court documents and may have errors or be incomplete for recent filings.

Indiana State Police Criminal History

For a statewide background check that goes beyond DeKalb County, the Indiana State Police offer a Limited Criminal History service. This search covers all of Indiana, not just one county. You can request it online through the ISP portal. The fee is $15 for subscribers and $16.32 for non-subscribers. There is also a mail-in option with a $7 processing fee.

The ISP criminal history check shows arrests and criminal charges from across the state. It is more thorough than a single-county check. Many people in DeKalb County use this service when they need records that cover all 92 Indiana counties. You will need the person's full name and date of birth to run the search. Results come back fairly quick for online requests.

Under Indiana Code 5-14-3, public records are open to anyone who asks. This is the Access to Public Records Act, sometimes called APRA. It covers court records, arrest records, and other government documents in DeKalb County and all of Indiana. Some records are exempt, such as juvenile cases, sealed files, and active investigations. But most criminal history data is public.

DeKalb County Background Check Records

A background check in DeKalb County can pull up several types of records. Court case data is the most common. This includes criminal charges, civil lawsuits, traffic violations, and protective orders. Each case file shows the parties involved, the charges or claims, and the outcome. The Clerk's office keeps all of these at the DeKalb County Courthouse in Auburn.

Criminal records from the Sheriff's Office cover arrests made in DeKalb County. These show the date, the charge, and the arresting agency. Booking records from the jail include personal details and the reason for arrest. The correction officers and jail staff manage an average of 134 inmates, so there is a steady flow of booking data. You can request this information in person with a valid ID.

• Criminal case filings and dispositions
• Civil case records and judgments
• Traffic violation records
• Arrest and booking data from the jail
• Protective order filings

The Indiana Courts page for DeKalb County lists court contact information and jurisdiction details. This is a good resource if you need to know which court handled a specific type of case in the county.

Privacy Rules for DeKalb County

Not all records in DeKalb County are open to the public. Indiana law protects certain types of information. Juvenile court records are sealed and cannot be accessed through a standard background check. Adoption records, mental health proceedings, and cases sealed by a judge are also off limits. Under Indiana Code 5-14-3-4, records that contain Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, or certain personal data must be redacted before release.

Protection order cases get special treatment too. Federal law shields victim information in these files. If you request a background check in DeKalb County and the results include a protective order, the victim's address and other identifying details will be removed. Active investigation files are also exempt from public access until the case is closed or charges are filed.

Note: Always bring a valid photo ID when requesting records in person at the DeKalb County Clerk's office or Sheriff's Office.

Background Check Fees in DeKalb County

Fees for records in DeKalb County vary by the type of document and how you get it. Court document copies from the Clerk's office cost $1 per page. Certified copies carry a higher fee. The ISP statewide criminal history is $15 to $16.32 depending on how you pay. Local checks at the Sheriff's Office may have their own fee structure.

Payment methods at the DeKalb County Clerk's office include cash, money orders, and cashier's checks. Some offices take credit and debit cards, but a service fee of 2 to 3.5 percent may apply. Personal checks are not accepted at many Indiana county offices, so bring an alternative form of payment. Online services like MyCase are free for basic searches, but Doxpop charges a subscription fee for deeper access to DeKalb County records.

Cities in DeKalb County

DeKalb County includes Auburn, Butler, Garrett, and several smaller towns. All court cases in the county are filed at the DeKalb County Circuit Court or one of the two Superior Courts in Auburn. No cities in DeKalb County meet the population threshold for a dedicated page, but all residents use the same county-level offices for background check requests.

Nearby Counties

These counties border DeKalb County. If you are not sure which county handles your records request, check the address in question. Court jurisdiction depends on where an event took place in Indiana.