Posey County Background Check

Posey County background check records are available through several offices in Mt. Vernon, the county seat. This southwestern Indiana county sits along the Ohio River and has a population of about 25,000 residents. The Posey County Clerk's Office and Sheriff's Office both handle public records that form part of a background check. Court records, criminal case files, and other public documents can be searched through Indiana's statewide systems or requested in person at the courthouse in Mt. Vernon. Anyone can look up these records under Indiana's Access to Public Records Act.

Posey County Sheriff's Office Records

The Posey County Sheriff's Office plays a key role in any background check in this area. Sheriff Tom Latham leads the department, with Chief Deputy Jeremy Fortune assisting. The office sits at 1201 O'Donnell Road in Mt. Vernon. You can reach them by phone at (812) 838-1321 or contact dispatch at (812) 838-1320. The sheriff's office handles court security, jail operations, and civil process for Posey County.

A new jail and confinement center was built in 2018. It can hold up to 208 inmates. This facility replaced the old one and brought Posey County up to date with modern standards. Arrest records from the jail are part of the criminal history that shows up in a background check. The sheriff's office can tell you if someone was booked or held at the Posey County facility. You may need to file a written request for some types of records. Call the office first to ask what forms they need.

The Posey County Sheriff's Office website has contact details and basic info about the department. For broader criminal history searches in Posey County, you can also use the Indiana State Police limited criminal history service.

Background Check Court Records in Posey County

Court records are a big part of any background check in Posey County. The Superior Court, led by Judge Travis Clowers, handles criminal and civil cases. You can reach the court at (812) 838-1325. All case filings, charges, pleas, and judgments go into the public record. These court files tell you about past legal issues tied to a person in Posey County.

Indiana uses the Odyssey case management system for court records. The public side of this system is called MyCase, and you can search it for free. Type in a name or case number to find records from Posey County courts. Results show the case type, filing date, charges, and status. Not all records show up online though. Some are sealed or kept private under Indiana law. Juvenile cases and certain family law matters won't appear in a MyCase search for Posey County.

If you need certified copies of court documents from Posey County, contact the Clerk's Office. Certified copies cost $3 per document as of July 1, 2021. Plain copies cost less. You can make your request in person at the courthouse or send a written request by mail. The clerk can also tell you the status of any pending case in Posey County.

Note: Some Posey County court records may take longer to retrieve if they are older and stored off-site.

How to Run a Background Check in Posey County

There are a few ways to run a background check in Posey County. The path you take depends on what kind of records you need. Each method has its own steps and costs. Here is what you should know.

The fastest way is to use MyCase online. This free tool lets you search court records from all Indiana counties, including Posey County. You can look up a person by name or search by case number. The site shows criminal cases, civil suits, traffic violations, and more. It runs on the Odyssey system that every Indiana court uses. Results show up right away for most Posey County searches. You do not need an account to use the basic search.

For a more thorough background check on someone in Posey County, you may want to check with the Indiana State Police. They run a Limited Criminal History service that covers the whole state. This check pulls records from all 92 counties, not just Posey County. The ISP charges a fee for this service. You can also request records from the Indiana Department of Correction to check if someone served time in a state prison. The IDOC Offender Locator is free to use online.

• MyCase search for Posey County court records (free)
• Indiana State Police Limited Criminal History (fee applies)
• IDOC Offender Locator for state prison records (free)
• Posey County Sheriff's Office for local arrest records
• Sex offender registry check through Indiana

Posey County Background Check Resources

Several state and local resources help with background checks in Posey County. The Posey County government website is a good starting point for general county information. You can find office hours, contact numbers, and links to various departments. The Indiana Access to Public Records Act, found in Indiana Code 5-14-3, gives every person the right to inspect and copy public records. This includes most records used in a background check in Posey County.

The ISP Limited Criminal History page explains how to request a statewide check. You will need the person's full name and date of birth. The state also runs a sex offender registry that covers Posey County. The Sex and Violent Offender Registry lets you search by name, address, or zip code. This is an important piece of a full background check in Posey County. A protection order check is also available through the Indiana Protection Order Registry.

You can see what the Indiana State Police criminal history portal looks like below. This is the main page for starting a statewide background check that would include Posey County records.

The portal walks you through each step. You pick the type of check you want and fill in the person's details. Results come back with records from across Indiana, including any cases filed in Posey County.

Indiana Laws on Background Checks

Indiana law shapes how background checks work in Posey County. The Access to Public Records Act is the main law. It says public agencies must let people see their records. There are exceptions. Juvenile records stay sealed. Mental health records are private. Some investigation files are also off limits until a case is closed.

Expunged records present a special case for background checks in Posey County. Under Indiana Code 35-38-9, a person can ask the court to seal certain criminal records after a set time. Once a record is expunged, it should not show up in a standard background check. The Posey County Clerk's Office removes these records from public view. If you see an expunged record in a search, the person has the right to deny it exists. This law protects people who have completed their sentences and met all the requirements for expungement in Posey County.

Note: Records that are expunged in Posey County may still appear briefly in some databases before removal is complete.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Posey County. If you need to check records in more than one area, each county has its own clerk and sheriff office. Background check records are kept at the county level in Indiana.