Dubois County DUI Records
Dubois County DUI records are public court filings maintained by the Dubois County Circuit Court Clerk in Jasper, Indiana. When someone is charged with an OWI offense in Dubois County, that case enters the public court record and can be searched by anyone. The county's circuit court handles all OWI matters for Jasper and the surrounding communities. This page explains how to find Dubois County DUI and OWI records online and in person, what the charges mean under Indiana law, and what resources are available locally.
Dubois County Quick Facts
Dubois County Circuit Court Clerk
The Dubois County Circuit Court Clerk is the official custodian of all OWI and DUI case records in the county. The office is at the Dubois County Courthouse, 1 E Main St, Jasper, IN 47546. The clerk's phone number is 812-481-7030. Staff can search records by name or cause number and can provide plain or certified copies of court documents on request.
Under IC 9-30-5, Indiana's primary OWI statute, charges are filed in the county where the offense occurred. For Dubois County arrests, that means the Jasper courthouse. The case becomes part of the public record from the time of the initial filing. Dubois County also has a PTABOA hearing process and other county functions that operate through the same courthouse building, so it's worth calling to confirm which office handles what if you're visiting in person.
Mail-in requests for copies are accepted. Include the defendant's name, any known case details, and a self-addressed stamped envelope when writing to the clerk's office. The clerk will respond with available information.
Searching Dubois County OWI Records Online
The state's MyCase portal lets you search Dubois County court records at no cost. No login is needed. Enter a name or cause number to see case details including charges, filing dates, hearings, and outcomes. This tool is available at any time and gives you most of what you need for a basic case lookup without going to the Jasper courthouse.
Most Dubois County OWI cases filed from around 2005 onward are in the system. Cases filed before that point may only be available in paper format at the courthouse. The Indiana Courts public records page explains the full scope of what's accessible through the online system and how to handle older records requests.
OWI Law in Indiana and Dubois County
Indiana law calls drunk driving OWI, which stands for Operating While Intoxicated. The main statute is IC 9-30-5. A first-time OWI with a BAC of .08% to .14% is a Class C misdemeanor. When the BAC reaches .15% or when the driver endangered someone else, the charge becomes a Class A misdemeanor, which carries a higher potential penalty.
A second OWI within seven years of the first is charged as a Level 6 felony. That's a substantial jump from misdemeanor territory and means the defendant faces possible time in an Indiana state facility rather than the local jail. Dubois County courts follow these same state guidelines in every OWI case. IC 9-30-9 governs habitual traffic violator status, which can result from accumulating OWI convictions and leads to long-term license suspension.
Specialized driving privileges under IC 9-30-10 can allow limited driving during a suspension period. These require a court order from a Dubois County judge and come with specific conditions about when and where driving is permitted.
BMV Records and License Suspension
An OWI arrest in Dubois County can trigger an administrative license suspension from the Indiana BMV under IC 9-30-6. This suspension runs on a separate track from the criminal case. It can go into effect before the trial takes place, and it has its own process for contesting. The Indiana BMV driver record portal lets you check current license status and see any active suspensions on a driver's record.
The BMV record is not the same as the court record. Both are useful, but they cover different things. The court record shows charges, hearings, and the verdict. The BMV record shows license status and administrative actions. If you need a complete picture of a person's OWI history in Dubois County, check both sources.
Expungement of OWI Records
Under IC 35-38-9, Indiana allows some OWI convictions to be expunged after a waiting period. Misdemeanor OWI convictions require five years from the date of conviction. Level 6 felony OWI convictions require eight years. All fines and fees must be paid, and no new criminal offenses can occur during the waiting period.
Once expunged, the record is sealed and won't appear in standard public searches. That includes MyCase. But expungement doesn't make the record disappear completely. Certain government agencies and courts can still access sealed records for specific legal purposes. The Indiana Self-Service Legal Center has petition forms and step-by-step guidance. Indiana Legal Services may be able to assist those who qualify for free legal help.
BMV Resources for Dubois County
The Indiana BMV page below provides access to driver records and license status information, which is often relevant in Dubois County OWI cases involving administrative suspensions.
Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles resources for Dubois County DUI records
Use the BMV portal to verify license status or request an official driver record for someone involved in a Dubois County OWI case.
Legal Help in Dubois County
If you need legal assistance in Dubois County for an OWI matter, Indiana Legal Services provides free help to those who qualify based on income. The Indiana State Bar Association offers a lawyer referral service that covers attorneys in southern Indiana including the Jasper area. For self-represented parties, the Indiana Self-Service Legal Center provides plain-language guides and forms for many court processes.
The Indiana State Police handles OWI arrests on state roads throughout Dubois County. ISP arrest records are separate from court records. Both may be needed for a complete view of an OWI case history.
Cities in Dubois County
Jasper is the county seat and largest city in Dubois County. No cities in Dubois County meet the population threshold for individual city pages. All OWI and DUI cases for Jasper residents and others across the county are handled through the Dubois County Circuit Court in Jasper.
Nearby Counties
Dubois County borders several other southern Indiana counties. Use these links for DUI records in neighboring jurisdictions.