Putnam County Background Check Records

Putnam County background check records are maintained at the courthouse in Greencastle, Indiana. The county sits in west-central Indiana and is home to DePauw University. The Sheriff's Office and Clerk's Office both hold records that feed into a background check. Criminal cases, civil filings, and arrest data are all accessible to the public. You can start searching Putnam County records online through the state's MyCase system or visit the offices in Greencastle for in-person requests.

Putnam County Sheriff and Background Checks

The Putnam County Sheriff's Office is at 13 Keightly Rd in Greencastle, Indiana 46135. Call them at 765-653-3211. The office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. This is a busy department. They handle over 700 calls for service each month, book more than 90 people into jail each month, and respond to 90 or more traffic crashes monthly. All of these events create records that can show up in a Putnam County background check.

The Putnam County Sheriff's Office website provides links to several online tools. The Jail Tracker system lets you look up who is currently in the Putnam County Jail. This is useful when you need to check if someone is being held right now. The OffenderWatch tool lets you search for sex offenders near any address in Putnam County. Both of these are pieces of a complete background check. You can also find the sheriff's contact form at the county website.

For email inquiries about records in Putnam County, write to vjohnson@putnam-sheriff.org. Keep in mind that not all requests can be handled by email. Some need to be made in person or in writing.

Searching Putnam County Court Records

Court records form the backbone of a background check in Putnam County. All criminal charges, civil suits, and traffic violations go through the courts. These records are public under Indiana law. The Putnam County Clerk's Office keeps the original files at the courthouse in Greencastle.

You can search Putnam County court records online through MyCase. This free tool covers every county in Indiana. Enter a name and select Putnam County to narrow your search. The results will show you case types, filing dates, charges, and outcomes. Criminal cases show the specific charges and what happened with each one. This is the fastest route for checking court records as part of a background check in Putnam County. The system runs on the Odyssey platform and updates regularly.

If you need official copies, the clerk charges $3 per certified document. You can pick them up at the courthouse or ask for them by mail. Include the case number in your request. The clerk can also help you find old records that may not be in the online system yet for Putnam County.

• Criminal case records from Putnam County courts
• Civil case filings and judgments
• Traffic violations and infractions
• Protective order records
• Small claims cases

State Resources for Putnam County Checks

A thorough background check in Putnam County should include state-level searches. The Indiana State Police criminal history service is the most complete option. It pulls records from all 92 Indiana counties, not just Putnam County. This gives you a broader picture of a person's criminal history across the state. There is a fee for this service, and the ISP fee schedule has the current rates.

The screenshot below shows the ISP criminal history fee schedule. This page outlines what you will pay for different types of background check searches that include Putnam County records.

Beyond the ISP, the Indiana Department of Correction Offender Locator shows if someone served time in an Indiana state prison. The Sex and Violent Offender Registry is another key tool. Both are free and cover Putnam County along with the rest of the state. The Protection Order Registry shows active protective orders filed in any Indiana county, including Putnam County.

Note: State-level searches may return results from multiple counties if a person has records in more than one location.

Public Records Law in Putnam County

Indiana Code 5-14-3 is the Access to Public Records Act. It applies to all government offices in Putnam County. Under this law, most records held by the clerk, sheriff, and courts are open for you to see. You do not have to say why you want them. The law gives agencies 24 hours to respond to verbal requests and seven days for written ones.

Some records in Putnam County are not open to the public. Juvenile cases stay confidential. Records sealed by a court order cannot be accessed through a background check. Expunged records under Indiana Code 35-38-9 are removed from public files once the court grants the petition. Active investigation files may also be withheld until the case is closed. If a Putnam County office denies your request, they must tell you which law allows the denial. You can file a complaint with the Indiana Public Access Counselor if you believe the denial is improper.

Nearby Counties

Putnam County borders several Indiana counties. Each one keeps its own set of background check records. If you need to search more than one area, check the county pages below.