Franklin County Public Records /Franklin County Criminal Records

Franklin County Criminal Records

How To Look Up Criminal Records In Franklin County in 2026

Members of the public seeking criminal records in Franklin County, Indiana, may access publicly available information through official government repositories, court systems, and aggregator platforms such as FranklinINRecords.org. Criminal record searches may return information related to arrests, charges, court dispositions, sentencing outcomes, and incarceration history, subject to applicable state law and the availability of digitized records. The categories of records that members of the public may encounter include:

Felony and misdemeanor arrest records
Court case filings and dispositions
Conviction records and sentencing details
Jail booking and inmate records
Sex offender registration entries
Active and recalled warrants
Probation and parole status (where publicly disclosed)

Records can be searched through official resources, clerk offices, public access terminals, and online tools. The following five methods are available to members of the public at present:

1. County Court Records

The Franklin County Circuit Court maintains case files for criminal matters adjudicated within the county. Members of the public may appear in person at the courthouse to inspect records using public access terminals located in the clerk's office.

Franklin County Clerk's Office
459 Main Street, Room 104
Brookville, IN 47012
Phone: (765) 647-5111
Clerks Department – Franklin County

Requestors should provide the full legal name of the subject, date of birth, and case number if known. Government-issued photo identification is required for certified copy requests. Public terminals are available during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

2. Sheriff's Office

The Franklin County Sheriff's Office maintains arrest logs, booking records, and current inmate rosters. Members of the public may submit records requests directly to the Sheriff's Office.

Franklin County Sheriff's Office
1010 Franklin Ave
Brookville, IN 47012
Phone: (765) 647-4141
Franklin County – Indiana

Arrest and booking records are subject to disclosure under Indiana's Access to Public Records Act. Fees may apply for reproduced copies.

3. Online Court Search

The Indiana Judicial Branch operates MyCase: Indiana Courts Case Search, a statewide online portal through which members of the public may search court case records by party name, case number, or attorney. The portal returns case type, filing date, charges, and disposition information. Searches are conducted without registration. Users should note that not all historical records are available electronically, and sealed or expunged cases do not appear in results.

4. State Criminal History Repository

The Indiana State Police maintains the state's criminal history repository. Members of the public may submit a Limited Criminal History Search request online. This search returns felony and Class A misdemeanor arrests within Indiana. Fingerprint-based searches are available for employment and licensing purposes and carry a separate fee schedule. Processing times vary based on request volume.

5. Written/Mail Requests

Written requests for court records may be submitted to the Franklin County Clerk's Office at 459 Main Street, Room 104, Brookville, IN 47012. Requests must include the subject's full name, date of birth, and the nature of the records sought. Under Indiana Code § 5-14-3, agencies are required to respond to public records requests within a reasonable time, not to exceed seven days for most requests.

What Is Franklin County Criminal Record

A criminal record in Franklin County is a documented history of an individual's interactions with the criminal justice system, encompassing arrests, charges, court proceedings, and outcomes maintained by law enforcement agencies, courts, and state repositories. Under Indiana law, criminal records are created at multiple points in the justice process and updated as cases progress through the system.

The distinction between record types is significant. An arrest record documents that law enforcement took an individual into custody and does not constitute evidence of guilt. A conviction record reflects a formal finding of guilt, whether by plea, bench trial, or jury verdict. Felony records involve offenses classified under Indiana Code § 35-50-2, carrying potential sentences exceeding one year of incarceration, while misdemeanor records involve lesser offenses. Juvenile records are subject to confidentiality protections under Indiana law and are not accessible to the general public in the same manner as adult records. Active warrants reflect outstanding judicial orders for arrest and are distinct from historical arrest records.

The agencies responsible for maintaining criminal records in Franklin County include:

Franklin County Sheriff's Office — arrest records, jail booking records, inmate rosters
Franklin County Circuit Court — court case files, charging documents, dispositions, sentencing orders
Indiana State Police Criminal History Repository — statewide criminal history, accessible via the Indiana Judicial Branch public records portal
Local police departments — incident reports, arrest documentation

Records are created when law enforcement initiates an arrest, updated as charges are filed or modified, and further amended upon plea agreements, trial outcomes, sentencing, and any subsequent appellate proceedings. A complete criminal record may include charges, arraignment details, plea agreements, trial outcomes, sentencing terms, fines, restitution orders, and probation or parole status.

Are Criminal Records Public In Franklin County

Criminal records in Franklin County are public records under Indiana's Access to Public Records Act, codified at Indiana Code § 5-14-3-3, which establishes that any person may inspect and copy the public records of any public agency. Adult conviction records, court proceedings, and case dispositions are accessible to members of the public absent a specific statutory exemption.

As the Indiana Judicial Branch states regarding court records: "If the document you're looking for isn't available online, you'll need to contact the clerk's office in the county where the case is being heard."

Certain categories of records are restricted from public disclosure. These include:

Juvenile delinquency records, which are confidential under Indiana Code § 31-39-1-2
Expunged records, which are treated as though the underlying events did not occur following a court order
Sealed records pursuant to court order
Ongoing criminal investigation materials exempt from disclosure
Victim and witness identifying information in certain cases
Mental health and medical records incorporated into court files

Federal records maintained by the FBI are governed by separate federal statutes and are not subject to Indiana's open records law. Pardoned convictions may remain in state databases but carry notations reflecting the executive action. Members of the public seeking guidance on exemptions may reference the Indiana Public Access Counselor's office, which provides advisory opinions on the application of the Access to Public Records Act.

How To Find Criminal Records in Franklin County Online

Official County Resources

The Franklin County government website provides access to county department contacts and services. The Franklin County Clerk's Department handles court record requests and processes certified copy orders. At present, the county does not maintain a standalone online case search portal separate from the statewide MyCase system.

State-Level Resources

MyCase: Indiana Courts Case Search — Statewide court case portal; search by name, case number, or attorney; returns case type, charges, and disposition; no registration required
Indiana State Police Limited Criminal History Search — Returns felony and Class A misdemeanor arrests statewide; fee-based for most requestors
Indiana Incarcerated Database Search — Indiana Department of Correction database for locating currently and formerly incarcerated individuals

Search Tips

Search using the subject's full legal name and any known aliases
Case number searches return the most precise results
Cross-reference multiple databases, as no single portal contains all record types
Note that records predating electronic filing may not appear in online results
Sealed and expunged records do not appear in any public online database

Limitations

Online databases reflect a data lag and may not capture the most recent case activity. Records filed prior to the implementation of electronic case management systems may require in-person requests. Online results do not constitute official certified records and are not suitable substitutes for formal background checks required by employers or licensing boards.

Can You Search Franklin County Criminal Records for Free

Free Options

1. In-Person Inspection

Indiana Code § 5-14-3-3 mandates that members of the public have the right to inspect public records at no charge. Inspection of court records at the Franklin County Clerk's Office is available at no cost during regular business hours. Copying fees apply when reproductions are requested.

2. Free Online Databases

MyCase: Indiana Courts Case Search — Free to search; returns case-level information without charge
Indiana Incarcerated Database Search — Free public access to IDOC inmate records
Franklin County Courts – Indiana Judicial Branch — Free informational access to court contact and case guidance

3. Sheriff's Logs

Daily arrest and booking logs maintained by the Franklin County Sheriff's Office are public records subject to inspection at no charge under the Access to Public Records Act.

What Costs Money

Service	Estimated Fee
Certified copy of court document	$1.00 per page (standard Indiana rate)
Official state criminal history (ISP)	$16.32 (online, non-fingerprint)
Fingerprint-based background check	Varies by purpose
Staff-assisted record searches	May incur hourly research fees
Expedited processing	Additional fee where available

Fee amounts are subject to change and members of the public should confirm current rates directly with the issuing agency. Indiana Code § 5-14-3-8 governs the fees agencies may charge for public records reproduction and limits charges to the actual cost of reproduction.

What's Included in a Franklin County Criminal Record

Identifying Information

A Franklin County criminal record at present may include the subject's full legal name and known aliases, date of birth, physical description, photograph (mugshot), last known address, State Identification Number (SID), and FBI number where applicable.

Arrest Information

Arrest records document the date and time of arrest, the arresting agency, booking number, charges filed at the time of arrest, bail or bond conditions, and the jail facility where the individual was held.

Court Case Information

Court records accessible through the Indiana Judicial Branch public records system include the case number, court of jurisdiction, filing date, statutory charges with felony or misdemeanor classification, plea entered, and attorney of record.

Disposition

Disposition records reflect the verdict or resolution of the case, conviction date where applicable, sentencing terms including incarceration length, fines, restitution, probation conditions, and any appellate proceedings.

Additional Record Elements

Outstanding or recalled warrants
Protective and no-contact orders
Sex offender registration status
DUI/OWI adjudications
Pending charges

NOT Included in Public Records

Juvenile adjudication records (confidential under state law)
Expunged or sealed records following court order
Records from other states or federal jurisdictions
Completed pretrial diversion program records (where sealed by statute)

Accuracy Note

Members of the public who identify errors in their own criminal records may petition the originating court or agency for correction. The Indiana State Police Expungement Section processes court-ordered expungements that affect the state criminal history repository, as described at the ISP expungement information page.

How Long Does Franklin County Keep Criminal Records

Legal Requirements

Indiana's public records retention schedules, administered through the Indiana Archives and Records Administration, establish minimum retention periods for criminal justice records. Courts operating under the Indiana Judicial Branch follow retention rules promulgated by the Indiana Supreme Court.

Retention by Record Type

Felony convictions: Retained permanently by courts and the state criminal history repository
Misdemeanor convictions: Retained permanently in court records; state repository retains indefinitely
Arrest records without conviction: Retained in law enforcement records; subject to expungement eligibility under Indiana Code § 35-38-9
Dismissed or acquitted cases: Court records retained permanently with disposition noted; arrest records may be expunged upon petition
Juvenile records: Confidential; subject to sealing and potential destruction pursuant to Indiana Code § 31-39-8-3 upon the subject reaching adulthood and meeting statutory criteria
Pending cases: Retained until final resolution

Agency Differences

County courts retain case files permanently under Indiana Supreme Court retention rules. The Franklin County Sheriff's Office retains jail and booking records according to the county's adopted retention schedule. The Indiana State Police criminal history repository retains conviction records permanently and arrest records until expunged by court order.

Physical vs. Electronic Records

Electronic records are retained for longer periods than paper records in many instances. Paper records may be destroyed following scanning and digital preservation, but the electronic record persists in the state system absent a legal expungement order.

Destruction vs. Sealing vs. Expungement

Destruction refers to the physical elimination of a record. Sealing restricts public access while preserving the record for law enforcement use. Expungement, available under Indiana Code § 35-38-9, results in the record being treated as though the underlying arrest or conviction did not occur for most purposes, though law enforcement agencies retain access. The Indiana State Police processes expungement orders received from local courts through the ISP Expunge Criminal History program.

Practical Implications

Felony convictions appear on background checks indefinitely absent expungement. Consumer reporting agencies conducting employment background checks are subject to the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act, which limits reporting of most criminal records to seven years for positions paying below a statutory threshold, though no such limit applies to positions above that threshold. Professional licensing boards in Indiana may require full disclosure of criminal history regardless of age. Even where a county destroys physical records, electronic copies may exist in state databases unless legally expunged through the proper judicial process.