Find Recent Arrests in Elkhart County
Elkhart County recent arrests are booked through the Sheriff's Office in Goshen, Indiana. This page covers the Elkhart County inmate search tool, what booking records contain, how to find related court cases, and what other statewide tools are available for free arrest record searches.
Elkhart County Recent Arrests Quick Facts
Elkhart County Inmate Search
The Elkhart County Sheriff's Office provides an inmate search through inmateinfo.com. You search by last name and first name. Results show biographic details, the criminal charges filed, a booking photo, and the inmate's current custody status. This is among the more detailed county jail search tools available in northern Indiana. Booking photos are not available for all counties, so this level of detail sets Elkhart apart.
The Sheriff's Office is at 26861 County Road 26, Elkhart, IN 46517. The main phone is 574-891-2100 and the non-emergency line is 574-533-4151. Elkhart County is one of the largest Indiana counties outside of the Indianapolis metro area, with a population over 200,000. The jail processes a significant number of bookings from multiple jurisdictions including Elkhart city, Goshen, and the surrounding communities.
Under Indiana Code 5-14-3-5, the following must be disclosed from every arrest: the person's name, age, and address; the charge; the date, time, and location of the arrest; the arresting officer's name; and the investigating agency. The Elkhart County inmate search meets these requirements and adds booking photos and charge details for greater transparency.
The Elkhart County inmate search at inmateinfo.com is the primary public tool for Elkhart County recent arrest records. Search by name to see biographic details, charges, booking photos, and custody status.
The Elkhart County inmate search shows booking photos, charge details, and custody status for current jail inmates searchable by name.
Elkhart County Inmate Services
The Elkhart County Sheriff's Office runs an inmate services page at sheriff.elkhartcounty.com. This resource covers everything related to communicating with and supporting people held in the Elkhart County jail. Topics include inmate lookup, email services for inmates, phone services, and how to send money to an inmate's account.
For families trying to stay in contact with someone in the Elkhart County jail, this page is the best starting point. Phone and email services for inmates are managed through third-party providers, and the inmate services page explains how those systems work and what they cost. The GettingOut platform handles inmate communications for many Indiana jails, including services like video calls, messaging, and money transfers.
IC 36-2-13-5 requires the Elkhart County sheriff to document all people in custody with fingerprints, photos, and identifying data. That information flows into both the inmate lookup tool and the state's criminal history database. The inmate services page at the Sheriff's website explains the full range of resources available for people in custody and their families.
The Elkhart County Sheriff's inmate services page at sheriff.elkhartcounty.com covers communications, money transfers, and other jail services.
The Elkhart County inmate services page explains how families can stay connected with someone in custody at the county jail.
Goshen and Elkhart City Police Arrests
Elkhart County has two large cities, each with their own police departments. Goshen Police are based at 111 E Jefferson St, Goshen, IN 46526. Non-emergency calls go to 574-533-4151. The Goshen Police Department website provides information about the department and links to public records. Elkhart city police operate from 100 W Waterfall Dr, Elkhart, IN 46516, with a non-emergency line at 574-295-7070.
Both city police departments book arrestees into the Elkhart County jail. So the Sheriff's inmate lookup includes people arrested by both city departments as well as the sheriff. If you're looking for someone arrested in either Goshen or Elkhart city, the county inmate search at inmateinfo.com covers those bookings alongside sheriff's arrests.
The Goshen Police Department handles law enforcement for the county seat. Visit the Goshen Police Department website for public records and department information specific to Goshen city.
Goshen Police arrests are booked into the Elkhart County jail and appear in the same county inmate search tool used for all Elkhart County bookings.
Elkhart County Court Records
After booking, the Elkhart County prosecutor decides whether to file formal charges. Cases go to the Elkhart Circuit Court or one of the Elkhart Superior Courts in Goshen. You can search all of these cases for free through Indiana's MyCase portal at public.courts.in.gov/mycase. Search by name, case number, or date of birth. Soundex and wildcard search options are available.
MyCase shows formal charges as filed by the prosecutor, case status, attorney names, hearing dates, and outcomes. It covers both criminal and civil matters statewide. For Elkhart County criminal cases specifically, the records go back several years and give a complete picture of what happened after the initial arrest and booking. This is also where acquittals, dismissals, plea agreements, and sentencing orders appear.
Note: An arrest is not a conviction. People in the Elkhart County jail roster are presumed innocent. Charges at booking reflect what law enforcement alleged. Courts determine guilt or innocence.
The MyCase portal indexes all Elkhart County criminal court filings. Search public.courts.in.gov/mycase by name to track Elkhart County case status, charges filed, and case outcomes.
Elkhart County court filings, hearing schedules, and case outcomes for criminal matters are all available free through MyCase.
Statewide Tools for Elkhart County
The INjail portal at public.indianajail.gov provides real-time data from multiple Indiana jails. VINE at vinelink.com or 1-866-959-8463 sends free custody alerts when an Elkhart County inmate's status changes. The Indiana State Police Limited Criminal History system at in.gov/ai/appfiles/isp-lch2 covers statewide felony and Class A misdemeanor records for a fee. For formal records requests to the state police, use the ISP APRA online form. The IDOC offender locator at offenderlocator.idoc.in.gov tracks Elkhart County offenders who have moved to state prison.
Elkhart County Expungement
Indiana's expungement statute at IC 35-38-8 allows eligible people to petition to seal arrest and conviction records. If you were arrested in Elkhart County but not charged, had charges dismissed, or were acquitted, you may qualify. Some misdemeanor convictions can be expunged after eight years. The petition is filed with the Elkhart County court in Goshen where the case was originally heard. The clerk's office handles the filing process and can explain local requirements.
Cities in Elkhart County
Elkhart County has two cities that meet the qualifying population threshold: Elkhart and Goshen. Both cities have dedicated pages with additional information about arrest records and public records resources specific to those communities. Smaller towns in the county, including Middlebury, Nappanee, and Bristol, do not reach the population threshold and do not have separate pages. Arrest records for those areas are handled through the county Sheriff and appear in the Elkhart County inmate lookup.
Nearby Counties
Elkhart County is in northern Indiana near the Michigan border. Several neighboring counties have their own arrest records and public search tools.