DeKalb County DUI Records
DeKalb County DUI records are maintained by the DeKalb County Circuit Court Clerk in Auburn, Indiana. If you need to find an OWI case filed in this northeastern Indiana county, the state's online court search tool and the clerk's office in Auburn are the places to start. These records cover charges under Indiana's OWI statute, case filings, hearing dates, and final court outcomes. This guide walks through the search process, explains how Indiana law handles OWI offenses, and points to resources that may help you get what you need.
DeKalb County Quick Facts
DeKalb County Circuit Court Clerk
The DeKalb County Circuit Court Clerk handles all OWI and DUI case records in the county. The office is located at the DeKalb County Courthouse, 100 S Main St, Auburn, IN 46706. Phone: 260-925-0912. The clerk's staff can search by name or cause number and provide copies of court documents upon request. In-person visits are accepted during regular business hours, Monday through Friday.
When law enforcement files an OWI charge under IC 9-30-5, the case is assigned a cause number and becomes part of the public record. The clerk's office maintains these files. You can request certified copies for official use or plain copies for general reference. Certified copies cost more. The clerk's staff can guide you on what's available for a specific case and what the current fee schedule looks like.
Mail requests are also accepted. Send a written request with the subject's full name and any other identifying details, along with a self-addressed stamped envelope, to the DeKalb County Courthouse address above.
Online OWI Case Search for DeKalb County
You can search DeKalb County OWI records for free through the MyCase public portal. No account is needed. Search by name or cause number. The system returns case details including charge type, filing date, court hearings, and disposition. It's the fastest way to get a basic overview of a case without going to the courthouse.
Most cases filed after 2005 are available in MyCase. Older paper records require a visit to or a mail request from the Auburn courthouse. The Indiana Courts public records page describes what's in the system, what's excluded, and how to handle records requests for older or sealed cases.
Indiana State Police Records
The Indiana State Police patrols roads and highways throughout DeKalb County. ISP makes OWI arrests and creates its own records at the time of the stop and arrest. Those records are separate from what gets filed in court. The ISP record shows the arrest; the court record shows the full case history and outcome.
If you need arrest records specifically, contact ISP directly. If you want to know what happened in court after an arrest, MyCase or the clerk's office is where to look. For a complete picture of someone's OWI history, you may need both types of records from both sources.
The ISP also handles administrative processes related to OWI arrests, working in coordination with the Indiana BMV. Checking the BMV driver record portal will show current license status and any suspensions tied to a Dearborn County OWI.
OWI Penalties Under Indiana Law
Indiana calls its drunk driving offense OWI, or Operating While Intoxicated. The governing statute is IC 9-30-5. A first OWI with a BAC of .08% to .14% is a Class C misdemeanor. Push it to .15% or higher, or add any element of endangering another person, and it becomes a Class A misdemeanor. Both are misdemeanors, but the Class A carries a heavier penalty range.
A second OWI conviction within seven years of the first converts the charge to a Level 6 felony. Felony OWI cases in DeKalb County are heard in the same circuit court but carry much higher stakes. A person convicted of a Level 6 felony faces possible prison time under Indiana Department of Correction jurisdiction, not just a county jail stay.
Habitual traffic violator status under IC 9-30-9 can result from multiple OWI convictions. This designation triggers extended or permanent license suspension in some cases. Courts in DeKalb County apply the same state statutes as every other Indiana county.
Specialized Driving Privileges and License Suspension
Under IC 9-30-6, the Indiana BMV can suspend a driver's license after an OWI arrest through an administrative process that runs parallel to the criminal case. This means a driver can lose driving privileges before the court case is resolved. The suspension period and the conditions for reinstatement depend on the specifics of the arrest and any prior OWI history.
Specialized driving privileges under IC 9-30-10 give some suspended drivers limited driving rights, typically for things like work, school, or medical care. A DeKalb County court must issue the order. There are conditions attached, and violations of those conditions can lead to additional penalties. Anyone facing a suspension should consult a lawyer or check the Indiana Self-Service Legal Center for more information.
Clearing OWI Records Through Expungement
Indiana's expungement statute, IC 35-38-9, allows qualifying OWI convictions to be sealed. Misdemeanor convictions require a five-year wait from the date of conviction. Level 6 felony OWI convictions require eight years. During the waiting period, all fines must be paid and there can be no new criminal charges. The petition is filed in the same court that handled the original conviction.
Once granted, the expungement removes the record from standard public searches like MyCase. However, certain agencies can still access sealed records. The Indiana Self-Service Legal Center has expungement forms and instructions. Indiana Legal Services may also help low-income residents who qualify for free civil legal assistance.
Indiana State Police Portal
The Indiana State Police page below provides access to law enforcement records and other public safety information relevant to DeKalb County OWI cases.
Indiana State Police portal for DeKalb County DUI records
Use the ISP portal to request arrest records or find contact information for the district that covers DeKalb County in northeastern Indiana.
Cities in DeKalb County
Auburn is the county seat of DeKalb County. No cities in DeKalb County have a population large enough to qualify for individual city pages. OWI and DUI cases for Auburn residents and all others in the county are filed with the DeKalb County Circuit Court in Auburn.
Nearby Counties
DeKalb County borders several other northeastern Indiana counties. Use these links to search OWI and DUI records in neighboring jurisdictions.