Daviess County DUI Records
Daviess County DUI records are public court documents filed with the Daviess County Circuit and Superior Court Clerk in Washington, Indiana. These records cover OWI charges, case dispositions, and court outcomes for offenses that occurred in Daviess County. If you need to find a specific case or confirm whether someone has an OWI on record in this southwestern Indiana county, the state's MyCase system and the clerk's office in Washington are your two main access points. This guide covers how to search, what you'll find, and what the law says about these cases.
Daviess County Quick Facts
Daviess County Court Clerk
The Daviess County Circuit Court Clerk keeps all OWI and DUI case records for the county. The office is at the Daviess County Courthouse, 200 E Walnut St, Washington, IN 47501. You can call 812-254-8690 to reach the clerk directly. Hours are generally Monday through Friday during normal business hours, but it's worth calling ahead to confirm before you make the drive.
When someone is charged with an OWI offense in Daviess County, the case gets filed with this clerk's office and assigned a cause number. Under IC 9-30-5, Indiana defines OWI as operating a vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration of .08% or higher, or while impaired by any substance. Once filed, the case record is public. The clerk can search by name or cause number and can pull up filings, hearing dates, and final dispositions. Certified copies cost more than plain copies, so know which one you need before requesting.
Mail requests are accepted. Include the subject's full name, approximate filing date if known, and a self-addressed stamped envelope. The clerk will respond with whatever the office can confirm in its system.
Online Search Through MyCase
Indiana's MyCase public search portal is the easiest way to look up Daviess County DUI records without visiting the courthouse. It's free, no login required, and available around the clock. You can search by the defendant's name or by cause number. Results show the case type, charges filed, court dates, and the outcome once the case closes.
Most Daviess County OWI cases filed after 2005 appear in the system. For older records, you may need to go directly to the clerk's office, since paper-only records don't always make it into the online database. The MyCase portal is maintained by the Indiana Office of Judicial Administration, which also provides general guidance on accessing public court records statewide.
The Indiana Courts public records page at in.gov/courts/public-records explains what's accessible and what's sealed. Most OWI case records are open, though certain information in juvenile cases or sealed expungement orders won't appear in results.
Indiana OWI Laws and Charges
Indiana does not use the term DUI in its statutes. The correct term is OWI, or Operating While Intoxicated. The main law is IC 9-30-5. A first OWI offense with a BAC between .08% and .14% is a Class C misdemeanor. If the BAC is .15% or higher, or if the driver endangered another person, the charge goes up to a Class A misdemeanor, which carries a heavier penalty.
A second OWI within seven years becomes a Level 6 felony. That's a significant jump. Felony OWI cases carry the possibility of prison time, not just jail. They also tend to stay on record longer and have more conditions attached to any sentence. IC 9-30-9 governs habitual traffic violator status, which can apply after multiple OWI convictions and results in long-term license suspension or revocation.
Specialized driving privileges under IC 9-30-10 can sometimes allow a person to drive for limited purposes during a suspension, such as getting to work or medical appointments. A court must approve these privileges, and there are conditions that go with them.
License Records and BMV
An OWI charge in Daviess County often triggers an administrative action separate from the criminal case. Under IC 9-30-6, the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles can suspend a driver's license before the criminal case is even resolved. This is the administrative suspension process, and it operates on its own timeline. You can check a driver's status and official record through the Indiana BMV driver record portal.
The BMV record is not the same as the court record. The court file shows the criminal charges and disposition. The BMV record shows license status, points, and any administrative actions. You may need both depending on what you're looking for. BMV records cost a small fee to obtain officially, while court records through MyCase are free to view online.
Expungement of OWI Records in Daviess County
Indiana allows expungement of certain OWI convictions under IC 35-38-9. The waiting period depends on the severity of the conviction. A misdemeanor OWI typically requires five years from the date of conviction before a petition can be filed. A Level 6 felony OWI requires eight years. There are additional conditions, including that all fines and costs must be paid and that the person has had no new criminal charges during the waiting period.
Expungement does not erase a record entirely. Some agencies and courts may still access sealed records under specific legal circumstances. But for most purposes, an expunged OWI conviction won't appear in public searches, including on MyCase. Anyone considering this process should consult an attorney. The Indiana Self-Service Legal Center has forms and guidance for people who want to file without an attorney.
State Police and Arrest Records
The Indiana State Police patrols state and county roads in Daviess County and makes OWI arrests. ISP arrest records are separate from court records. An arrest record shows that someone was taken into custody, but it does not show what happened in court. To find out how a case ended, you need the court record from the clerk or MyCase.
The Indiana Courts system at in.gov/courts/local lists all county trial courts and their contact information. This is useful if you're trying to identify which court handled a specific case or if you need to contact the Daviess County court directly. Daviess County operates within the state's unified court structure, so cases follow standard Indiana procedures.
Legal Help in Daviess County
If you have an OWI case in Daviess County or need help understanding your record, a few resources are worth knowing. Indiana Legal Services provides free civil legal help to qualifying low-income residents. They may be able to assist with questions about expungement or understanding court records. The Indiana State Bar Association also has a lawyer referral service for people who need to connect with a licensed attorney in the area.
For self-represented parties, the Indiana Self-Service Legal Center is a good starting point. It has guides, forms, and step-by-step instructions for common court actions, including expungement petitions. The center is run by the Indiana Supreme Court and is geared toward people who can't afford or don't want to hire an attorney.
About the Public Records Portal
The Indiana courts public records page explains which records are available and under what conditions. You can visit the page at in.gov/courts/public-records. It covers everything from how to request records to what fees may apply and what types of records are restricted from public view.
The page linked below shows Indiana's official court records access portal, which covers Daviess County along with all other Indiana counties.
Indiana Courts Public Records Portal
The portal is a good first stop if you're new to searching Indiana court records and want to understand your options before diving into MyCase or visiting the courthouse.
Cities in Daviess County
Washington is the county seat and largest city in Daviess County. No cities in Daviess County meet the population threshold for individual city pages. Washington and other smaller communities in the county are served by the Daviess County Circuit and Superior Courts for all OWI and DUI matters.
Nearby Counties
Daviess County borders several other southwestern Indiana counties. If you need records from a neighboring jurisdiction, check the pages below.