Ohio County OWI and DUI Records
Ohio County DUI records are filed at the Circuit Court in Rising Sun and are accessible to the public through Indiana's MyCase search system. As the smallest county in Indiana by land area, Ohio County has a single trial court that handles all criminal matters including OWI charges, and this page explains how to search those records, what they contain, and how Indiana law governs operating while intoxicated cases in this small southeastern county along the Ohio River.
Ohio County Quick Facts
How to Search Ohio County DUI Records
The Indiana Supreme Court's MyCase portal is the main way to search court records in Ohio County online. The system covers all 92 Indiana counties, including Ohio County's single Circuit Court. You can search by name, by case number, or by party type. OWI cases show up under the criminal case category. The listing shows the charges, the dates of key hearings, and the final outcome.
Ohio County is small enough that a significant share of residents know one another, so searching a specific person's name tends to return clear results quickly. Cases from every town and township in the county — Rising Sun, Patriot, Vevay area traffic, and rural routes — all funnel through the same courthouse. There is no separate municipal court.
If a record does not appear in MyCase, the Ohio County Circuit Court Clerk at 812-438-2610 is the next step. The courthouse is at 413 Main St, Rising Sun. In-person visits allow you to review physical case files. Certified copies are available for a fee. The state's public records access page outlines what is open to the public and what restrictions apply.
Indiana OWI Charges in Ohio County
Indiana uses the term OWI — operating while intoxicated — rather than DUI. The controlling statute is IC 9-30-5. A first OWI with a BAC below .15% is a Class C misdemeanor. At .15% or above, it becomes a Class A misdemeanor. Repeat offenders face a Level 6 felony charge if the second OWI comes within seven years of the first.
Ohio County's location along the Ohio River means some OWI matters involve watercraft. Indiana law also covers operating a watercraft while intoxicated, and those cases can appear in the same Circuit Court. The charging statutes differ slightly from the road-based OWI law, but the case records are public in the same way and searchable through MyCase.
The Indiana State Police district covering Ohio County patrols US 56 and the river routes. ISP arrest reports eventually become court filings in Rising Sun. There can be a lag of several days between an ISP arrest and the appearance of a case in MyCase, so if you are tracking a recent arrest, allow a few days before concluding nothing was filed.
Indiana State Police Records
The Indiana State Police maintains a state-level criminal history database separate from the court system. The ISP portal at in.gov/isp handles requests for certified criminal history records. These are different from court records in that they aggregate information from multiple agencies statewide rather than pulling from a single court's docket.
ISP records are useful when you need an official, certified document showing OWI conviction history across Indiana rather than just a single county's court file.
License Suspensions and Driver Records
An OWI conviction in Ohio County leads to a license suspension administered by the Bureau of Motor Vehicles under IC 9-30-6. Suspension length depends on the offense level, prior history, and whether the driver refused a chemical test at the time of the stop. The BMV's driver record request page lets anyone order an Official Driver Record for $4.
The driver record shows suspension start and end dates, reinstatement requirements, and habitual traffic violator status if applicable. IC 9-30-9 governs HTV designations. Drivers with HTV suspensions can petition for specialized driving privileges under IC 9-30-10, allowing limited driving for work, school, or medical needs. That petition goes to the Ohio County Circuit Court, and if granted, the order appears in the case file.
Expungement in Ohio County
Indiana's Second Chance Law at IC 35-38-9 allows people with certain OWI convictions to petition for expungement. Misdemeanor OWI requires a five-year wait from conviction. Level 6 felony OWI requires an eight-year wait. Cases involving death or serious bodily injury cannot be expunged.
Once a court grants expungement, the record is sealed from public searches. MyCase will no longer show it. Law enforcement retains access, but most civilian searches will come up empty. This explains why some Ohio County OWI cases do not appear in online searches even when you know a charge was filed.
The Indiana self-service legal center has expungement petition forms and guidance documents. For people who need more help, Indiana Legal Services may provide assistance to those who qualify.
What OWI Court Records Contain
An OWI case file in Ohio County typically includes the charging information or information document, the probable cause affidavit, any pre-trial motions, plea agreement (if applicable), sentencing order, and any subsequent modification orders. The charging document names the specific statute violated and the alleged BAC level if applicable. The sentencing order spells out the penalty — jail time, fines, probation conditions, and license suspension terms.
In a small county like Ohio, the Circuit Court judge sees virtually every OWI case that goes through. The record is the same as in a large county — it contains the same types of documents — but the volume is lower. That means the Clerk's staff may be easier to reach and more familiar with individual case histories than in larger jurisdictions.
The Indiana Bar Association at inbar.org has a lawyer referral service if you need legal guidance on an Ohio County OWI matter.
Court Directory and Contact Information
The Indiana courts trial courts directory at in.gov/courts/local lists current contact information for Ohio County Circuit Court, including judge assignments and hours. Ohio County courts follow standard Indiana court hours but may have more limited staffing than larger county courts. Calling ahead before an in-person visit is a good idea.
The state's broader court system information is available at in.gov/courts/public-records. This page explains the rules that govern public access to court records throughout Indiana, including exceptions for sealed or restricted case types.
Cities and Towns in Ohio County
Ohio County is Indiana's smallest county by area and has no cities above the population threshold that would have their own record search pages. Rising Sun is the county seat and main population center. All OWI and DUI case filings in Ohio County — from Rising Sun, Patriot, and every rural road in the county — go through the Ohio County Circuit Court at 413 Main St, Rising Sun. That single courthouse handles all criminal cases for the entire county.