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  1. Howard County Court
  2. Howard County Arrest Records

Howard County, Indiana Arrest Records

Howard County arrest records are official documents created by local, county, and state law enforcement agencies to document individuals arrested and booked on outstanding warrants or for alleged crimes within the county. The Indiana State Police, Howard County Sheriff's Office, Kokomo Police Department, and other law enforcement agencies operating within the county create and maintain arrest records to document criminal charges and the custody status of individuals they apprehended and booked.

Indiana describes arrest records and how individuals access them under Section 5-14-3-5 of the Indiana Code. However, a separate law applies to the state's criminal offender records information. Section 10-13-3 of the Indiana Code is the statutory law that governs the collection and dissemination of criminal history records information in the state, while Section 5-14-3-4(b)(1) of the Indiana Code grants law enforcement agencies the discretion over releasing investigatory files.

Are Arrest Records Public Information in Howard, Indiana?

Yes, Howard County arrest records are public information. Section 5-14-3-5 of the Indiana Code requires law enforcement agencies in the state to make basic arrest and jail booking information available to the public for inspection and to create daily incident logs within 24 hours of a reported crime or complaint.

In Howard County, public inspection of arrest logs does not require an ID. Nonetheless, formal requests for physical copies typically require the requester's contact information and valid state-issued photo identification (depending on agency policies).

Additionally, requests must not be vague; record seekers must provide data to identify the requested files with reasonable particularity. Consequently, a request for a Howard County arrest record should include search data, such as the subject's name, case number, or approximate date of arrest. Requesters should also note that while they may view Howard County arrest records for free, law enforcement agencies may charge nominal fees for physical copies.

What Do Public Howard County Arrest Records Contain?

Section 5-14-3-5 of the Indiana Code requires law enforcement agencies to make specific arrest, booking, and incident details available for public inspection and copying. In compliance with this legislation, the content of a typical Howard County arrest record includes:

  • The subject's full name, age, race, gender, and address
  • Mugshot (if available)
  • Date, time, and location of the arrest
  • Arresting agency
  • Criminal charges and specific Indiana Code provisions allegedly violated
  • Holding authority
  • Custody timeline
  • Bail or bond details.

While Indiana mandates public disclosure of basic arrest details, Section 5-14-3-4(b)(1) of the Indiana Code grants law enforcement agencies the discretion to withhold or redact investigatory records, such as:

  • Detective notes
  • Witness interviews
  • Internal strategy memos
  • Active investigative files.

Additionally, unauthorized persons cannot access juvenile or Howard County arrest records that have been legally sealed or expunged.

Howard County, Indiana Arrest Search

Beyond local resources, individuals may access Howard County arrest records through state and federal repositories. The Indiana State Police Limited Criminal History Search Portal provides access to arrest records through official background check reports. Information seekers may create accounts, log in, and make paid searches for criminal history records, which include arrest details. Alternatively, for $7.00, requesters may print, complete, and mail the Indiana State Police Criminal History Information Request Form to:

Indiana State Police Criminal History Limited Check

P.O. Box 6188,
Indianapolis,
IN 46206-6188.

Howard County public arrest records are also accessible through the Indiana Judicial Branch's MyCase Search Portal. This platform permits name and case number-based searches for Howard County arrest records linked to criminal trials.

For Howard County federal arrest records, information seekers should log in to the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) portal. The PACER system provides access to judicial records generated by the United States federal courts, including those from the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana. Howard County arrest records are also accessible through the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Individuals may access their rap sheets through FBI Identity History Summary Checks.

Howard County Inmate Locator

In Howard County, the Sheriff's Office operates the local adult jail (Howard County Jail). This facility houses pretrial detainees and individuals serving sentences for misdemeanor and felony offenses. The Howard County Sheriff's Office maintains a digital roster of the county's current inmates. To access Howard County inmate arrest records, visit the Howard County Sheriff's Office Current Inmates Search portal and use the search tool to find the specific individual. Alternatively, call (765) 457-1105, or visit the Howard County Sheriff's Office at:

1800 W Markland Avenue,
Kokomo,
IN 46901.

Howard County also operates an adult work release facility. For arrest records of inmates at the Howard County Work Release Facility, interested parties should call (765) 456-2220 or visit the facility at:

623 S. Berkley Road,
Kokomo,
IN 46901.

How to Find Arrest Records for Free in Howard County

Information seekers may access Howard County arrest records for free at the local and state levels. The Howard County Sheriff's Office Current Inmates Search provides the arrest details of individuals incarcerated at the Howard County Jail. Similarly, the Indiana Judicial Branch's MyCase Search Portal allows free docket searches for Howard County arrest records linked to criminal prosecutions. Additionally, individuals may visit local law enforcement offices to inspect their daily activity reports and blotters at no cost.

While individuals may access Howard County arrest records at no cost without identification, free search options have practical limits. For instance, the Howard County Sheriff's Office Current Inmates Search Portal displays only the records of individuals in custody at the Howard County Jail. Once an inmate is released or transferred to a state or federal detention facility, the record is no longer accessible through this platform. Additionally, free websites do not display unredacted materials or archive historical records.

Howard County Arrest Report

A Howard County arrest report is a factual, firsthand narrative written by the arresting or responding officer immediately after an arrest. This document provides an in-depth account of the circumstances surrounding the specific arrest. Unlike arrest records, which contain basic summary data, Howard County arrest reports provide detailed narratives that prosecutors, defense attorneys, investigators, and judges use during legal trials. A typical Howard County arrest report includes:

  • The arresting officer's stepwise account of events leading to the arrest
  • The officer's observations upon arriving at the scene
  • Witness and victim interviews
  • Evidence collected from the arrest scene
  • Initial justification for law enforcement contact and arrest
  • Statement establishing probable cause
  • Subject's demeanor, behavior, and statements
  • Description of physical injuries sustained or property damage
  • Documentation of any use of force or vehicle impound and towing during the arrest.

While Indiana mandates public disclosure of arrest records (Section 5-14-3-5 of the Indiana Code), the state grants law enforcement agencies the discretion to withhold investigatory arrest reports under Section 5-14-3-4(b)(1).

How to Get an Arrest Record Expunged in Howard County

In Howard County, expungement of Howard County arrest records complies with Section 35-38-9 of the Indiana Code (Indiana Second Chance Law). This process does not physically destroy criminal records, but hides them from the public. Section 35-38-9-1 of the Indiana Code mandates permanent sealing of expunged arrest records, making them inaccessible through official channels.

A Howard County arrest record qualifies for automatic sealing if it results in an acquittal or a dismissal, or if charges were never filed. The judge will order the relevant agencies to seal the record if there are no objections within 60 days of the judgment. Individuals whose arrests did not result in automatic expungement must observe a 1-year waiting period and must not have pending criminal charges or convictions during this period.

The Indiana Second Chance Law allows expungement for misdemeanors (Section 35-38-9-2 of the Indiana Code) and non-violent Class D/Level 6 felonies (Section 35-38-9-3 of the Indiana Code). Individuals may also petition under Section 35-38-9-4 of the Indiana Code for expungement of non-violent Classes A to C felonies (Levels 1 to 5 felonies) that did not result in serious bodily harm.

Additionally, high-level offenses that resulted in bodily harm, as well as offenses committed by elected officials while in office, may be eligible for expungement under Section 35-38-9-5 of the Indiana Code. In addition to statutory eligibility, the following waiting periods apply to the expungement of Howard County conviction arrest records through judicial petition:

  • Misdemeanor - 5 years from the date of the conviction (the waiting period may be shortened if the prosecutor consents)
  • Class D and Level 6 felonies - 8 years from the date of the conviction (the waiting period may be reduced if the prosecutor consents in writing)
  • Major non-violent felonies (Levels 1 to 5/Classes A to C) - 8 years from the date of the conviction or 3 years after completing the sentence, whichever is later
  • Bodily injury felonies and elected officials' offenses - 10 years after the conviction or 5 years after the subject completes the sentence for the crime (whichever is later), and requires written consent from the prosecutor.

Individuals may file only one expungement petition per lifetime and must also:

  • Have no active criminal charges in any county or state
  • Pay all fines, fees, and restitution.
  • Maintain clean records during the waiting period.

To expunge a Howard County arrest record:

  • Obtain the arrest details, including the arresting agency, case number, and final disposition.
  • Prepare a Petition for Expungement of Arrest Record. This must contain:
  • The subject's full legal name
  • Social Security number
  • Date of birth
  • Arrest date
  • Arresting agency.
  • Submit the petition to the Howard County Clerk's Office and pay any applicable fee (no filing fee is required for expungement of non-conviction records)
  • Serve a copy of the petition on the Howard County Prosecuting Attorney's Office.
  • A judge will sign the sealing order if the public prosecutor's office does not object within 30 days, or schedule a formal hearing if the prosecutor objects.
  • The expungement order instructs the relevant agencies to seal the arrest record, making it inaccessible through public databases.

How Do You Remove Howard County Arrest Records From the Internet?

The first step to removing a Howard County arrest record from the internet is to expunge it. Indiana permits both automatic and court-ordered expunction of arrest records. The expungement process makes the record inaccessible through public databases.

After expungement, serve copies of the court order along with valid identification and removal requests on all private digital publishers hosting the arrest record. Additionally, submit de-indexing requests and the target URLs to search engines to ensure cached versions of the record do not appear in search results.