Shelby County Background Check Search

Shelby County background check records are managed at the courthouse and Criminal Justice Center in Shelbyville, Indiana. This county southeast of Indianapolis has been served by its sheriff's department since 1822. The Clerk's Office and Sheriff's Office both hold records used in background checks. Court filings, arrest records, and criminal history data can be searched online through Indiana's MyCase portal or requested at the offices in Shelbyville.

Shelby County Sheriff Background Check Info

Sheriff Louie Koch leads the Shelby County Sheriff's Department from the Criminal Justice Center at 107 W. Taylor St. in Shelbyville, IN 46176. Call 317-392-6345 to reach them. The lobby is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, except holidays. This is a well-staffed department with 37 Merit Deputies, 3 Reserve Deputies, 6 Courthouse Security Deputies, and a Civil Process Server.

The Shelby County Criminal Justice Center is an 80,000 square foot facility that opened in 1994. It houses both the sheriff's department and the Shelbyville Police Department. The jail holds over 200 inmates and has 35 correctional staff. Deputies patrol more than 408 square miles and 864 miles of roadway. Every arrest, warrant service, and booking at this facility generates records that can show up in a Shelby County background check.

The Shelby County Sheriff's Office page has contact details and department information. For specific records requests, call the office or visit during lobby hours. Some requests may need a written form. The sheriff's office can guide you through the process for getting background check records in Shelby County.

Court Records in Shelby County

The Shelby County Clerk's Office maintains all court records at the courthouse, 407 S. Harrison St. in Shelbyville, IN 46176. Call 317-392-6320 to reach the clerk. Shelby County has a Circuit Court (317-392-6360), Superior Court I (317-392-6350), and Superior Court II (317-392-6340). All three courts produce records that feed into a background check.

You can search Shelby County court records for free through MyCase. This statewide system lets you look up any person by name. Results from Shelby County will show criminal cases, civil suits, traffic violations, and more. Each entry includes the case type, filing date, charges, and outcome. This is the quickest and easiest way to check someone's court history in Shelby County without visiting the courthouse.

The Shelby County Clerk's Office website is shown below. This is the starting point for in-person records requests and certified copy orders.

Certified copies cost $3 per document. The clerk's office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. You can also mail a request. Include the case number, the person's name, and what documents you need. The clerk will mail back the copies with a bill.

State Resources for Shelby County Checks

A thorough background check in Shelby County should go beyond local records. The Indiana State Police Limited Criminal History search covers every county in Indiana. This is the best option when you need to know about a person's full criminal history, not just what happened in Shelby County. A fee applies.

Free state tools include the IDOC Offender Locator, which shows if someone has served time in a state prison. The Sex and Violent Offender Registry lets you search for registered offenders by name or address. The Indiana Protection Order Registry lists active protective orders from all counties.

• MyCase for Shelby County court records (free)
• ISP criminal history check (fee applies)
• IDOC Offender Locator (free)
• Sex Offender Registry (free)
• Protection Order Registry (free)

Note: The Shelby County contacts page has phone numbers for the prosecutor (317-392-6440), public defender (317-421-8030), and recorder (317-392-6370).

Records Law in Shelby County

Indiana Code 5-14-3 is the law that gives you the right to access background check records in Shelby County. It is called the Access to Public Records Act. Under this law, most records at the clerk's office, sheriff's department, and courts are open to the public. You do not need to give a reason for your request. Offices must respond to verbal requests within 24 hours and written ones within seven days.

There are exceptions. Juvenile records in Shelby County cannot be accessed through a background check. Records that have been expunged under Indiana Code 35-38-9 are removed from public access. Once the court grants an expungement, the Shelby County clerk pulls those records from the public system. Mental health records and active investigation files are also restricted. If your request is denied, the office must cite the law that supports the denial. You can contact the Indiana Public Access Counselor at 317-234-0906 if you disagree with the decision.

Nearby Counties

These counties surround Shelby County. Each one has its own records offices for background checks. If your search needs to cover a wider area, check these pages.