Indiana DUI Records
Indiana DUI records document OWI (Operating While Intoxicated) arrests, charges, and court outcomes across all 92 counties in the state. Indiana law uses the term OWI, though most people search using the term DUI. You can look up Indiana DUI records online through the MyCase court portal, check your driving history through the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, or contact the clerk's office in the county where a case was filed. This guide covers the main sources, search tools, and legal steps you need to access these records.
Indiana DUI Records Quick Facts
Where Indiana DUI Records Are Kept
Indiana DUI records sit in three main places. County circuit courts hold the full criminal case files. The Indiana Judicial Branch runs an online portal for statewide court access. The Bureau of Motor Vehicles keeps driving records that show OWI-related suspensions and violations.
Each of the 92 counties in Indiana has its own Circuit Court Clerk. This office stores every OWI case filed in that county. Files include the original charge, all hearing records, plea agreements, and final sentencing orders. For recent cases, most records are searchable online. Older files may only exist on paper, and you may need to visit the courthouse in person to see them. Staff can help you find what you need, but you should call ahead to ask what to bring.
The Indiana Judicial Branch public records portal explains which court documents are online and when you need to go directly to a county clerk. If you need help finding records, the portal points to your local library, the Indiana State Library, and the Indiana Supreme Court Law Library as additional resources. The public records portal at in.gov/courts/public-records is a good place to start your search for Indiana DUI records.
The Indiana public records portal outlines which court documents are available online and explains when to contact your county clerk directly for documents that are not posted.
Not all DUI case documents are online. If what you need is not on MyCase, reach out to the clerk in the county where the OWI case was heard.
Note: The Indiana Supreme Court Law Library and Indiana State Library both offer assistance for people who have trouble finding court records on their own.
Search Indiana DUI Records on MyCase
MyCase.in.gov is the main tool for searching Indiana DUI records online. It runs on the Odyssey Public Access platform and is managed by the Office of Judicial Administration. You can search by name, case number, or attorney. Most OWI criminal cases filed in Indiana courts appear in this system, though some older cases may not be indexed yet.
The MyCase court search at mycase.in.gov is available to anyone. No account is required for basic case lookups. Type in the defendant's name or the case number to pull up results. You will see charges, court dates, hearing history, and case status. Some case documents require you to log in or request copies from the clerk. MyCase is not an official court record and may have errors. Always get certified copies from the court if you need them for legal use.
The MyCase court search is the fastest way to find Indiana DUI case details without leaving home.
Results show charges, court dates, and current case status for OWI cases filed across Indiana counties.
You can also access the direct public search at public.courts.in.gov/mycase without going through the main MyCase site. This page lets you search DUI records across Indiana courts right away.
The public access search works across all counties that use the Odyssey system, covering most of Indiana's 92 counties.
Indiana DUI Laws and OWI Charges
Indiana uses the term OWI for all drunk and impaired driving offenses. The primary law is IC 9-30-5, which sets the legal blood alcohol limit at .08%. The statute also covers drivers impaired by drugs or a mix of alcohol and drugs. What the record shows depends on the specific charge and how the case was resolved.
A first OWI offense is a Class C misdemeanor in Indiana. The charge steps up to Class A misdemeanor when the driver had a BAC of .15% or more, or when someone was put at risk. A second offense within seven years becomes a Level 6 felony. Charges get more severe when a minor is in the vehicle, when someone suffers serious injury, or when a death occurs. Level 3 and Level 4 felonies apply in the most serious OWI cases under IC 9-30-5. These distinctions are visible in DUI case records and affect what you see when you search.
When a driver refuses a chemical test or tests above the legal limit, a separate administrative process starts under IC 9-30-6. This triggers a license suspension that runs apart from the criminal case. Drivers may be able to get specialized driving privileges under IC 9-30-10 while their regular license is suspended. The habitual traffic violator statute at IC 9-30-9 applies when someone racks up multiple serious violations, including repeated OWI offenses. These Indiana Code sections show up often when you read through DUI case records from the court system.
Note: Indiana DUI records may show OWI, OVI, or other abbreviations depending on how the charge was entered into the court system.
Indiana State Police and DUI Criminal Records
The Indiana State Police (ISP) manages statewide criminal history records. These include OWI arrests and convictions from across Indiana. You can request a limited criminal history through the ISP for official purposes. The ISP is organized by district, with state troopers serving all 92 Indiana counties. Their tip hotline is 800-382-4628.
The Indiana State Police handles DUI-related criminal history requests and can assist with active case inquiries.
ISP records can include arrest details that do not always appear in the public court search system, making them useful for comprehensive DUI record checks in Indiana.
The ISP district map at in.gov/isp/districts shows which district covers each Indiana county. Clicking on a county pulls up local ISP contact information. If you need information on an OWI arrest that was handled by state police rather than a local agency, this is your starting point.
BMV Driving Records and OWI History
The Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles holds driving records tied to DUI cases. These records show OWI-related license suspensions, chemical test refusals, and habitual traffic violator status. They are separate from court case files but directly linked to how an OWI arrest affects your driving privileges in Indiana.
Two types of records are available through the BMV. A Viewable Driver Record (VDR) is free and can be seen online through your myBMV account at mybmv.bmv.in.gov. An Official Driver Record (ODR) costs $4 and comes with a certification letter from the BMV. Some employers and agencies require the certified version. You can order either type at in.gov/bmv/resources/driver-record. If you do not have your license number, you can request records by mail using State Form 53789, mailed to Indiana Government Center North, Room 412, 100 North Senate Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46204.
The Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles provides driver records that include OWI suspensions, violations, and license status tied to DUI cases.
A certified BMV driver record shows all current and resolved suspensions, including those from OWI cases, at a cost of $4 per record.
Note: The BMV cannot fix court judgments or address child support holds tied to a DUI case. Those issues must be resolved with the court directly.
County Clerk Offices and Indiana DUI Case Files
Each Indiana county has a Circuit Court Clerk who keeps DUI case files. These offices store all court documents for OWI charges, including the original filing, hearing records, plea deals, and sentencing orders. To get a certified copy of a DUI court record, go to the clerk in the county where the case was filed.
The Indiana trial courts directory at in.gov/courts/local lists all 92 county courts. Each entry has the clerk's contact details, local rules, and e-filing information. Most clerk offices are open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, though exact hours vary by county. For counties not fully on the MyCase system, the clerk is your only option for searching older DUI records.
The Indiana Trial Courts Directory is the best starting point when you know which county handled a DUI case and need direct clerk contact information.
Each county listing includes local rules and guidance on getting copies of DUI case records from that court.
The county courts directory covers all 92 Indiana counties and links to each court's local information page.
Clerk offices can make copies of any document in a DUI case file, with fees charged per page for plain copies and a higher rate for certified copies.
The Office of Judicial Administration at in.gov/courts/admin oversees Indiana's court technology and manages the systems that power the statewide court search. They certify probation officers, manage court interpreters, and run the Court Services division that supports clerks across all 92 counties.
The OJA handles appeals and data systems that affect how DUI records are stored and accessed across Indiana.
Expunging Indiana DUI Records
Indiana has a record sealing law called the Second Chance Law, found at IC 35-38-9. This law allows some people to restrict public access to their criminal records, including OWI convictions. Sealed records are not destroyed. Courts, prosecutors, and police can still see them. Only the public loses access to the sealed information.
Waiting periods depend on the type of conviction. For a misdemeanor OWI, the wait is five years from the conviction date. For a Level 6 felony OWI, it is eight years. You must have no pending charges, no active or pending driver's license suspensions, and you must have completed your sentence including any supervised release. Filing fees apply. You file the petition in the county where the conviction happened, and it gets assigned back to the original trial court. Marion County filings go to the Community Justice Campus at 675 Justice Way, Indianapolis, IN 46203. All other counties use the courthouse where the case was heard.
OWI cases involving serious bodily injury or death cannot be expunged. If the charges against you were dropped or you were not convicted, you may petition to expunge the arrest record after just one year, and no filing fee is required for that type of petition. Legal help for expungement is available through the Neighborhood Christian Legal Clinic, Indiana Legal Services, and the Self-Service Legal Center.
Legal Help for Indiana DUI Cases
Several groups offer help for Indiana DUI cases. The Indiana Self-Service Legal Center at in.gov/courts/selfservice is built for people who represent themselves in court. It offers forms, guides, and links to other resources across Indiana. The site notes that self-representation should not be taken lightly and recommends talking to an attorney before filing anything.
Indiana Legal Services at indianalegalservices.org provides free civil legal help to eligible low-income individuals. The Indiana State Bar Association at inbar.org runs a lawyer referral service for people who need an attorney. For quick legal questions, IN.FreeLegalAnswers.org lets eligible clients post questions to private attorneys at no cost. Resources available through the Self-Service Legal Center also include links to Indiana Courts and Clerk's Offices, the State Bar, and Indiana Legal Services at in.gov/courts/selfservice/resources.
The Indiana Self-Service Legal Center provides forms and guides for people navigating DUI-related court matters on their own.
The site links to forms, legal guides, and a directory of legal aid organizations across Indiana that can assist with DUI cases.
Browse Indiana DUI Records by County
Each county in Indiana has its own Circuit Court Clerk who keeps DUI case files. Pick a county below to find local contact info and resources for OWI records in that area.
DUI Records in Major Indiana Cities
Residents of major Indiana cities file OWI cases at their county circuit court. Pick a city below to learn about DUI records in that area.