Marion County DUI Records
Marion County DUI and OWI records are maintained by the Marion County Clerk of Courts, one of Indiana's largest and most active court clerk offices, covering Indianapolis and the surrounding townships. As Indiana's most populous county, Marion County processes a high volume of OWI cases each year through its circuit and superior courts. This page explains how to search those records online and in person, how to get certified copies, what fees apply, how expungement works, and what legal resources are available to Indianapolis and Marion County residents.
Marion County Quick Facts
Marion County Clerk of Courts
The Marion County Clerk of Courts is Kate Sweeney Bell. Her office is the official custodian of all court records in Marion County, including OWI and DUI case files. The main office is at the City-County Building, 200 E Washington St, Indianapolis, IN 46204. You can call the clerk at 317-327-4740 or email clerkpublic@indy.gov. The clerk's office is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Plan to arrive at least one hour before closing if you need to research records in person.
For physical records requests, the clerk operates a Records Facility at 1330 Madison Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46225 (Room W122). This is where you go to view and request copies of older case files. Physical copies cost $1 per page. Certification of a document is $3 per document. A certified one-page document therefore costs $4 total. Payment methods accepted include cash, money order, cashier's check, and credit or debit cards. Personal checks are not accepted. If you need a document urgently or on the same day, call the urgent requests line at 317-327-4715.
Court transcripts are a separate matter. To get a transcript from a Marion County OWI case, you need to contact the court reporter assigned to the courtroom where the hearing took place. The clerk's office can direct you to the right person. Transcripts take longer and cost more than standard document copies.
You can submit a records request online through the Marion County court records request page at indy.gov. This lets you request copies without visiting in person, though turnaround times vary depending on workload and the age of the records.
How to Search Marion County DUI Records
The primary online search tool is MyCase, Indiana's free public court portal maintained by the Indiana Supreme Court. You can search Marion County OWI cases by name, partial name, cause number, or attorney. Results show the case type, charge description under IC 9-30-5, filing date, assigned judge, hearing dates, and current case status. Marion County's high caseload means results may include many name matches, so narrowing by date range or cause number helps.
The Marion County Court Records page at marioncountycourt.org is another useful resource. It explains what types of records are available, how to request them, and what the process looks like for different record categories. Types of records maintained by Marion County courts include criminal case records, civil case records, marriage license records, divorce decree records, name change records, and tax warrants. Juvenile records are restricted -- only parties of record with valid ID can access them.
Marion County generates a high volume of OWI filings each year given Indianapolis's population. The statewide MyCase portal handles these cases well, but for complex searches or old records, calling the clerk at 317-327-4740 or visiting the Records Facility on Madison Avenue may be necessary. Staff can search by name or case number even for files that predate the electronic system.
The Marion County / Indianapolis City-County homepage serves as the digital access point for court records requests and county government services.
The indy.gov site, described as Indianapolis's Digital City Hall, provides the official gateway for court records requests, clerk information, and access to Marion County's court system resources.
The Marion County Court Records page at marioncountycourt.org gives a detailed breakdown of the types of court records available and the procedures for requesting them.
This page is a good starting point before visiting the clerk's office, as it explains what records are public, what restrictions apply, and how to submit requests for certified copies of OWI case documents.
OWI Laws and Charges in Marion County
Indiana calls it OWI, not DUI. The governing statute is IC 9-30-5. A driver with a BAC at or above .08% can be charged with OWI. A first offense at that level is a Class C misdemeanor, carrying a maximum of 60 days in jail. If the BAC is .15% or higher, the charge becomes a Class A misdemeanor with up to one year in jail. A second OWI within seven years of the first conviction is a Level 6 felony, which carries a sentence range of six months to two and a half years.
Marion County processes a very large number of OWI cases each year. Indianapolis is Indiana's capital and its largest city, and the court system reflects that scale. OWI misdemeanors go to superior court divisions that handle high volumes of criminal cases. Felony OWI cases receive full felony treatment with arraignment, discovery, pre-trial conferences, and a disposition through plea or trial. Prosecutors in Marion County apply consistent standards, though outcomes vary based on the specific facts, evidence, and whether the defendant has a prior record.
Aggravated OWI cases carry heavier charges. An OWI that causes serious bodily injury is a Level 5 felony. An OWI causing death can be charged at Level 4 or higher. These cases go through the superior court felony divisions with multi-year sentencing exposure. Marion County also has OWI-related cases involving drugs rather than alcohol, which are also governed by IC 9-30-5 but may involve additional controlled substance charges.
Administrative license suspension under IC 9-30-6 runs alongside the criminal case. The BMV suspends the license of any driver who fails or refuses a chemical test. This starts before any conviction and is handled entirely through the BMV. Two separate processes -- the criminal court and the BMV administrative track -- run at the same time after an OWI arrest in Marion County.
Driving Records and License Actions
Indiana residents can get their official driver record from the BMV online portal for $4. The record shows all license suspensions, OWI-related actions, and habitual traffic violator status under IC 9-30-9. A habitual violator designation, which can come from repeated OWI convictions, can trigger a 10-year license suspension.
If your license is suspended after an OWI in Marion County, you can petition the court for specialized driving privileges under IC 9-30-10. These limited driving rights cover essential purposes like work, medical care, and school. The petition is filed with the court that handled your original case. Forms are available at the Indiana Self-Service Legal Center. Given the volume of petitions in Marion County, having an attorney prepare and file the petition correctly the first time is advisable.
Expunging Marion County OWI Records
Indiana's Second Chance Law at IC 35-38-9 lets people petition to restrict public access to certain criminal records. For a misdemeanor OWI conviction in Marion County, the waiting period is five years from the date of conviction. For a Level 6 felony OWI, the wait is eight years. The petition is filed with the Marion County court that handled the original case.
Expungement petitions for Marion County OWI cases are filed at the Community Justice Campus, 675 Justice Way, Indianapolis, IN 46203. This is where the county's criminal courts are now based. The Marion County Prosecutor must be notified and can object before the judge rules. Expungement restricts public access but does not erase the record for law enforcement and courts. Most people seek expungement to remove the case from public databases so it no longer shows up in standard searches.
The rules are strict. Not all OWI convictions are eligible, and errors in the petition can cause delays. Indiana Legal Services can help qualifying low-income residents with the process. Private attorneys who handle Marion County expungements regularly are also a solid option given the high stakes of getting it right in the state's largest court system.
Legal Resources in Marion County
Marion County has more legal resources than any other county in Indiana. Indiana Legal Services has an Indianapolis office and provides free civil legal help to low-income residents, including assistance with post-conviction matters and expungement. The Indiana State Bar Association runs a lawyer referral service that connects people to private criminal defense attorneys in Indianapolis. The city has a large number of experienced OWI defense lawyers who practice regularly in Marion County courts.
The Indiana Self-Service Legal Center is a strong resource for people who need to handle their own court paperwork. It covers petition forms for specialized driving privileges, expungement instructions, and plain-language guides to court procedures. For urgent questions about a specific case, the clerk's same-day requests line at 317-327-4715 is available during business hours. The Indiana courts general public records page at in.gov/courts/public-records/ explains what records are public and how to request them across all Indiana courts.
Cities in Marion County with DUI Records
Marion County includes two qualifying cities above the population threshold. OWI cases from Indianapolis, Lawrence, and all other municipalities in the county are handled by Marion County courts.
Nearby Counties
Marion County is surrounded by several Indiana counties, each with its own court system and OWI records. These pages cover adjacent counties.