St. Joseph County Arrest Records and Jail Roster

St. Joseph County recent arrests are processed at the county jail on W Sample Street in South Bend, managed by the St. Joseph County Police Department. This page explains how to search the inmate roster, access court records, request official documents, and use statewide tools for St. Joseph County arrest data.

St. Joseph County Police Department and County Jail

The St. Joseph County Police Department (SJCPD) operates the county jail at 401 W Sample St, South Bend, IN 46601. The main line is 574-235-9611. For the jail booking desk, call 574-245-6518. The Records Division number is 574-245-6535, and you can email them at records@sjcpd.org. The facility holds more than 800 inmates and serves 11 police departments across the county. When any of those agencies make an arrest, the suspect is brought to this facility for booking.

Booking creates the formal arrest record under IC 36-2-13-5. Staff record the person's name, date of birth, charges, arresting agency, and date and time of arrest. Under IC 5-14-3-5, arrest records are public. The jail's size and the number of agencies it serves mean St. Joseph County handles a high volume of bookings relative to the rest of northern Indiana.

For public records by mail, send your request to: St. Joseph County Police Dept, ATTN: Records Division, 401 W. Sample St., South Bend, IN 46601. The Records Division is open Monday through Friday, 8am to 4pm.

Search St. Joseph County Inmate Roster Online

The SJCPD runs a direct inmate search at sjcpd.org/inmate-search. One important note: the system requires the exact spelling of the person's name. Partial names do not work. If you're not sure of the spelling, try a few variations. Each result shows the person's name, booking date, charges, bond information, and custody status.

The St. Joseph County Court also maintains a jail roster at stjosephcountycourt.org/jail-roster. This is a second option if the SJCPD search doesn't return results. Both sources pull from the same booking system, so the data should match.

The county court's jail roster page provides a quick way to check current inmate status in St. Joseph County.

The statewide INjail portal at public.indianajail.gov is a third option. It covers St. Joseph County along with dozens of other Indiana counties. If you're checking multiple counties at once, INjail is more efficient than using each county's own portal separately.

South Bend Police Department Records

The South Bend Police Department serves the city of South Bend within St. Joseph County. Their main website is at police.southbendin.gov. South Bend PD arrests are booked at the county jail on W Sample St, so the SJCPD inmate search covers South Bend arrests too. You don't need a separate search for city arrests versus county arrests.

The South Bend Police Department site has contact information for its divisions and links to online resources for residents. For arrest records, use the SJCPD inmate search or INjail portal.

Accident reports from South Bend PD or the SJCPD can be obtained through BuyCrash.com for $12 online. If you want the report in person, visit the Records Division at 401 W Sample St during business hours (M-F, 8am-4pm). In-person copies cost $8 cash.

MyCase Court Records for St. Joseph County

St. Joseph County's courts are fully searchable through Indiana MyCase at public.courts.in.gov/mycase. The county has a Circuit Court, Superior Court, and Probate Court. Criminal felonies go to Circuit or Superior Court. Misdemeanors and city ordinance violations may be handled in city courts or superior courts. All of these show in MyCase.

Search by name or case number. MyCase shows the charges, all hearing dates, filings by prosecutors and defense attorneys, and case outcomes. It is free and does not require a login. St. Joseph County is one of the more active court systems in northern Indiana, so there's a significant volume of records to search through. Using a full name with correct spelling gives the best results.

MyCase is particularly useful after an arrest. Once the prosecutor files charges, the case appears in the system. You can track hearings, see if a plea was entered, and find out the final disposition of the case. This gives more context than the jail roster alone, which only shows custody status.

What St. Joseph County Arrest Records Contain

Under IC 5-14-3-5, arrest records are public in Indiana. A St. Joseph County booking report will include the person's full name, date of birth, home address at time of booking, all charges filed, arresting agency, booking number, date and time of arrest, bond information, and the mugshot photograph. All of this is open to the public.

Confidential information is not included. Juvenile records are closed. Medical data from intake is protected. Names of minor victims are redacted. But the standard booking data is available without restriction. Third-party arrest record sites often pull from the public booking logs and post the data online. That content comes from the public records created at the St. Joseph County Jail.

Indiana State Police Limited Criminal History

The Indiana State Police Limited Criminal History (LCH) at in.gov/ai/appfiles/isp-lch2 is a statewide criminal record search. It covers St. Joseph County arrests that were formally charged and entered into the state system. The fee is $16.32 per search, paid online. You get results immediately. The LCH shows convictions, pending charges, and case dispositions across Indiana.

The ISP LCH is different from the jail roster. The roster shows who is currently in custody. The LCH shows historical record going back years. For a full picture of someone's criminal record in Indiana, use both tools together. The LCH does not require any special authorization. Anyone can run a search.

The ISP LCH search is one of the most complete public criminal history tools available in Indiana for individuals and researchers alike.

VINE Victim Notification for St. Joseph County

VINE (Victim Information and Notification Everyday) covers the St. Joseph County Jail. Register at vinelink.com or call 1-866-959-VINE. You can sign up for automatic alerts when an inmate's status changes - release, transfer, or other events. The service is free and available around the clock.

VINE is also useful for checking custody status without registering. Enter the person's name, select Indiana, and choose St. Joseph County. The system will show current status. Given the size of the St. Joseph County Jail and the number of agencies it serves, VINE is a practical tool for tracking inmate status without calling the jail booking desk directly.

Jail Visitation and Communication

Visitation at the St. Joseph County Jail is handled through video visitation. Each inmate receives one free 25-minute visit per week. Additional visits can be purchased. To schedule visits or set up communications, contact Inmate Sales at 1-877-998-5678. Their website has scheduling tools for video calls and messaging. The jail does not offer in-person contact visits for the general inmate population.

Phone calls from inmates go through the jail's communication system. You can set up a prepaid account through the same service. Mail is accepted at the facility - address it to the inmate's full name and booking number at 401 W Sample St, South Bend, IN 46601.

Inmate Sales manages video visitation scheduling, phone accounts, and other communication services for the St. Joseph County Jail.

Public Records Requests in St. Joseph County

Under IC 5-14-3-3, Indiana's Access to Public Records Act gives everyone the right to inspect and copy public government records. Booking logs, incident reports, and arrest records from the SJCPD are public. To request them, call the Records Division at 574-245-6535, email records@sjcpd.org, or mail a request to 401 W. Sample St., South Bend, IN 46601, ATTN: Records Division.

Be specific in your request. Include the name, date of incident, or type of record you want. The office must respond within seven days. If the request is denied, the agency must provide written reasons. In-person records pickup is available Monday through Friday, 8am to 4pm. Copying fees apply. Online requests via email are accepted and can speed up turnaround for straightforward requests.

Expungement of Records in St. Joseph County

Indiana's expungement statute at IC 35-38-8 allows eligible people to seal arrest and conviction records. For arrests that did not result in conviction, you may file after one year. Misdemeanor conviction expungements typically require a five-year wait. Felonies require longer. The most serious violent offenses are not eligible.

Petitions are filed in the St. Joseph County court that handled the original case. The prosecutor can object. If the judge grants the petition, the record is sealed from public searches. Law enforcement retains access under specific circumstances. Indiana Legal Services has offices in South Bend and serves St. Joseph County residents who qualify for free legal help. Call their main line or visit indianalegalservices.org to apply. The Indiana Supreme Court self-help center at in.gov/courts/selfservice also has expungement forms and instructions.

Cities in St. Joseph County

St. Joseph County includes several communities. South Bend is the county seat and the largest city, with a population well over 100,000 and its own city page on this site.

• South Bend - county seat and major urban center

Other communities in St. Joseph County include Mishawaka, Granger, Osceola, Roseland, and New Carlisle. Mishawaka is a substantial city with its own police department, but it does not meet the 100,000 threshold for a dedicated page here. All arrests across the county are processed at the St. Joseph County Jail on W Sample St.

Nearby Counties

St. Joseph County borders three counties in northern Indiana. Use the links below to check arrest records in neighboring counties.