Putnam County OWI Records Search
Putnam County DUI and OWI records are filed at the Circuit and Superior Courts in Greencastle and are available to the public through Indiana's MyCase search system. This page covers how to search those records, what they include, how Indiana's OWI laws apply to Putnam County cases, and what options exist for expungement, license reinstatement, and legal help in this west-central Indiana county.
Putnam County Quick Facts
Searching OWI Records in Putnam County
Indiana's MyCase portal is the main tool for online OWI record searches in Putnam County. You can search by name or case number. Results show OWI and other criminal case filings with charge details, filing dates, hearing schedules, and dispositions. Putnam County has a Circuit Court and Superior Court in Greencastle, and MyCase searches both at the same time.
Greencastle is the county seat and the only courthouse location in Putnam County. All OWI arrests from anywhere in the county — from Cloverdale, Russellville, Bainbridge, or the rural western townships — result in cases filed in Greencastle. One search returns all Putnam County OWI records. Interstate 70 cuts across the southern part of the county and generates significant OWI enforcement activity from ISP troopers.
If a record does not appear in MyCase, contact the Putnam County Clerk at 765-653-2648 or go to 1 E Washington St, Greencastle. Certified copies are available for a per-page fee. Indiana's court access rules are at in.gov/courts/public-records.
Indiana OWI Law in Putnam County
Indiana calls impaired driving OWI — operating while intoxicated — under IC 9-30-5. A first offense below .15% BAC is a Class C misdemeanor. At or above .15%, the charge becomes a Class A misdemeanor. A second OWI within seven years is a Level 6 felony. These distinctions appear in the case record and determine which court handles the case — Circuit Court takes the felonies.
Putnam County's location along I-70 means a lot of OWI arrests involve out-of-state travelers. Indiana courts handle those cases the same as any other — the driver's home state does not change what Indiana charges. If an OWI results in injury on I-70, the case file is often more complex and extensive than a typical stop-and-charge misdemeanor case.
DePauw University is located in Greencastle. Cases involving young adults from the university community appear in Putnam County court records the same as any other OWI. First-time misdemeanor cases there sometimes resolve through diversion or alcohol education programs rather than conviction, which affects what the final case record shows.
Indiana Public Records Portal
Indiana provides a statewide portal for public records access that covers all county courts. The portal is shown below:
This portal links to MyCase and explains the framework for accessing court records across Indiana, including what is public, what is restricted, and how to request records from the Putnam County Clerk.
License Suspensions and BMV Records
A Putnam County OWI conviction triggers a BMV license suspension under IC 9-30-6. Suspension length varies based on offense level, prior OWI history, and whether the driver refused a chemical test at arrest. Test refusal brings a separate administrative suspension that the BMV applies before the criminal case is resolved. Both suspensions can run concurrently or sequentially depending on the facts.
You can order an Official Driver Record from the BMV online system for $4. The record shows current license status, active suspensions, reinstatement requirements, and any habitual traffic violator designation under IC 9-30-9. An HTV finding can bring a 10-year suspension. Drivers with HTV suspensions can petition for specialized driving privileges under IC 9-30-10 in Putnam County Circuit Court. If granted, the order is part of the public case record in MyCase.
Expungement in Putnam County
Indiana's Second Chance Law at IC 35-38-9 allows qualifying people to petition Putnam County courts to seal OWI conviction records. Misdemeanor OWI: five-year wait from conviction. Level 6 felony OWI: eight-year wait. Cases with death or serious bodily injury do not qualify.
After expungement, the record is sealed from public searches. MyCase will not show it. Law enforcement can still see it. If a Putnam County OWI case you are searching for does not appear in MyCase, expungement may be the reason. Forms and instructions are at in.gov/courts/selfservice. Indiana Legal Services assists qualifying low-income residents with expungement petitions.
The Case Process in Putnam County
After an OWI arrest in Putnam County, the person appears at an initial hearing — typically within 48 to 72 hours. The court reads the charges and the defendant enters a plea. The case then moves through pre-trial conferences. Defense counsel and the Putnam County Prosecutor negotiate. Most cases end in a plea agreement before trial. A few go to a bench or jury trial, and those produce lengthier case records with more document types.
Sentencing follows conviction. The judge orders jail time (or suspended jail), fines, probation, alcohol education, and a license suspension. All of this appears in the sentencing order — part of the public case file. Post-sentencing, probation violations or sentence modification requests appear as new docket entries in the same case number. MyCase captures all of this in real time.
The Indiana Bar Association's referral service at inbar.org can connect you with criminal defense attorneys familiar with Putnam County courts.
Court Directory and State Police Records
The Indiana courts trial courts directory lists current contact information for Putnam County Circuit Court and Superior Court, including judge assignments and clerk office hours. If you need to make an in-person visit or call to follow up on a records request, the directory is the most reliable source of current contact details.
The Indiana State Police maintains certified criminal history records at the state level, useful when you need a complete Indiana OWI history across multiple counties in a single document. For Putnam County-specific OWI court records, MyCase and the Putnam County Clerk are the primary sources.
Cities and Towns in Putnam County
Putnam County has no cities above the 100,000-population threshold. Greencastle is the county seat and largest city. Cloverdale, Bainbridge, and Russellville are other communities in the county. All DUI and OWI case filings from anywhere in Putnam County are processed at the Putnam County Courthouse at 1 E Washington St, Greencastle. That courthouse handles all criminal filings for the entire county.