Search Adams County Arrest Records

Adams County recent arrests are searchable through the Adams County Sheriff's Office and several Indiana public record portals. Residents can find current booking records, inmate rosters, and arrest data at no cost using the tools listed on this page.

Adams County Sheriff's Office Booking Records

The Adams County Sheriff's Office handles all arrests and inmate bookings at its facility in Decatur. The office is at 313 S 1st St, Decatur, IN 46733. You can reach them at 260-724-2600 during regular business hours. The jail operates around the clock, so arrests can happen at any time. Booking data is created each time someone is brought in and held.

When someone is booked at the Adams County jail, staff collect identifying information under IC 36-2-13-5. This includes taking fingerprints, photographs, and personal ID data. That record becomes part of the county's arrest database. The booking entry typically records the person's name, date of birth, the charges filed, the arresting officer, and the date and time of the arrest. Bond amounts may also appear once they are set by the court.

For live inmate lookup in Adams County, the best starting point is the statewide INjail portal. Adams County participates in this free multi-county system.

Note: The Adams County Sheriff's Office may update booking records throughout the day, so check back if a recent arrest does not show immediately.

Search Adams County Arrests Online

Two free portals cover Adams County inmate and arrest data. The first is the Indiana multi-county jail portal (INjail), which shows real-time custody status for people held in participating county jails. You can search by name and see who is currently in the Adams County jail. The results show the person's name, charges, and booking date. This portal updates as jails enter new bookings.

The second tool is Indiana Courts MyCase at public.courts.in.gov/mycase. MyCase is the state's court record search system. It lets you look up criminal case filings by name, case number, or date of birth. Once someone is charged after an arrest in Adams County, their case typically appears here. You can see the charges, next court date, and the assigned judge. MyCase covers all Indiana counties and is free to use.

The image below links to the Indiana Courts MyCase portal, where Adams County criminal cases appear after booking.

MyCase shows Adams County case filings including criminal charges tied to recent arrests in Decatur and throughout the county.

What Adams County Arrest Records Include

Under IC 5-14-3-5, Indiana law requires agencies to disclose specific details from arrest records. These include the name, age, and address of the person arrested, the charge, the date, time, and location of the arrest, and the name and agency of the arresting officer. Adams County follows this rule. These items are public regardless of whether charges are later filed or dropped.

Beyond the required disclosures, Adams County booking records often include the booking number, the date and time the person was brought into the jail, bond amount and type, and housing location within the jail. Mugshots may also be available. If the case moves to court, the MyCase system adds filings, hearing dates, and case outcomes. Not every arrest leads to a court case, and not every case ends in conviction. An arrest is an accusation only. Every person taken into custody in Adams County is presumed innocent until a court finds otherwise.

Indiana State Police Criminal History for Adams County

The Indiana State Police runs a separate criminal history search called the Limited Criminal History (LCH) search. This is not the same as checking the current jail roster. LCH covers felony arrests and Class A misdemeanor convictions across all Indiana counties, including Adams County. The search costs a fee and is done online at the ISP criminal history portal. Results show charges that resulted in a court record, not just bookings.

The image below links to the Indiana State Police Limited Criminal History search, which covers Adams County felony and misdemeanor records.

The ISP LCH portal lets you search by name across all Indiana counties and returns a statewide criminal history for felony and Class A misdemeanor records.

Note: LCH results do not include arrests that did not result in charges or convictions. Use the INjail portal or MyCase for current Adams County booking data.

VINE and Custody Notifications in Adams County

VINE (Victim Information and Notification Everyday) lets you track the custody status of someone held in the Adams County jail. The service is free. You can sign up to get a call, text, or email when a person's custody status changes. This is useful if you need to know when someone is released or transferred from the Adams County facility.

To use VINE, visit VINELink or call 1-866-959-VINE (8463). You will need the person's name or offender ID to register. VINE checks the Adams County jail database and sends alerts automatically. Registration takes just a few minutes. The service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Public Records Requests Under Indiana Law in Adams County

Indiana's Access to Public Records Act (APRA), found at IC 5-14-3, gives anyone the right to inspect and copy public records. Arrest records in Adams County are public records. You can submit a request to the Adams County Sheriff's Office or to the arresting agency directly. Requests can often be made by phone, email, or in person.

Under IC 5-14-3-3, an agency must allow inspection of public records during regular business hours. If you want copies, the agency can charge a reasonable fee for reproduction. The Adams County Sheriff's Office at 260-724-2600 can direct you to the right person for records requests. Police reports may take longer to receive than basic booking data because some details in active cases can be temporarily withheld.

Expungement under IC 35-38-8 allows some individuals to petition to seal older arrest and conviction records in Adams County. This does not delete public records automatically but restricts access once a court grants the petition.

Cities in Adams County

Adams County includes the city of Decatur, which serves as the county seat with a population of around 9,000. Decatur residents who have been arrested will have their records processed at the Adams County Sheriff's Office. Other communities in Adams County include Berne, Bluffton Township areas, Geneva, Decatur Township, and Monroe. None of these communities meet the 25,000 population threshold for a dedicated city page, but arrests in any of these areas are booked at the county jail in Decatur.

Nearby Counties

Adams County borders several counties in northeastern Indiana. If you are searching for someone who may have been arrested in a neighboring area, check these county pages.