Starke County DUI Records Lookup
Starke County DUI and OWI records are filed and maintained by the Starke County Clerk in Knox, serving this northwestern Indiana county. The Starke County courts process OWI cases from Knox and communities throughout the county, with records accessible through Indiana's MyCase portal. This page explains how to find those records, what the clerk's office provides, and how Indiana's OWI laws apply to cases handled in Starke County courts.
Starke County Quick Facts
Starke County Clerk of Courts
The Starke County Clerk's office is at the Starke County Courthouse, 53 E Washington St, Knox, IN 46534. Reach the clerk at 574-772-9127. The clerk maintains all court filings for Starke County's courts, including OWI criminal case records. These records cover charging documents, case histories, plea agreements, sentencing orders, and probation conditions. Starke County sits in Indiana's northwestern region, bounded by LaPorte County to the north, Marshall County to the east, Pulaski County to the south, and Jasper County to the west.
For OWI cases filed in Starke County, the clerk's office is the official source for certified copies and case history documents. You can visit in person during business hours or send a mail request. Call ahead at 574-772-9127 to confirm current fees, required forms, and office hours before you go. The clerk can tell you what records are on file and what it will cost to get copies.
The Indiana State Police patrols highways throughout Starke County and is a major source of OWI arrests in the county.
ISP arrest records and incident reports can be requested from the Indiana State Police separately from the court records the Starke County Clerk maintains.
Online Record Search
The free way to search Starke County OWI records is through Indiana's MyCase public portal. Enter a name or case number and filter results to Starke County. The system shows charges, hearing dates, case status, and dispositions for OWI and other criminal cases filed in the county's courts. The database is updated regularly and reflects current case information.
Records that have been expunged under IC 35-38-9 will not appear in the public search. Indiana's Second Chance Law allows eligible OWI defendants to petition for expungement after five years for misdemeanor convictions and after eight years for Level 6 felony OWI convictions. If all sentence conditions are met and no new convictions occurred, the court may grant expungement and remove the record from public view. The general guide to Indiana court public records is available through the Indiana Courts Public Records portal.
OWI Law Applied in Starke County
Indiana calls impaired driving OWI, not DUI. IC 9-30-5 defines operating while intoxicated and sets the penalty structure. A first OWI with BAC below .15% is a Class C misdemeanor. A first offense at .15% or above is a Class A misdemeanor. A second OWI within seven years is a Level 6 felony. Starke County's circuit court handles felony-level cases. Superior courts handle misdemeanor OWI matters.
Any OWI conviction triggers license suspension under IC 9-30-6. Defendants who need to drive for work or family needs can petition the court for specialized driving privileges under IC 9-30-10. These privileges allow restricted driving during the suspension period. Multiple OWI offenses may also result in a habitual traffic violator designation under IC 9-30-9, which carries a longer suspension enforced by the Indiana BMV. Check a driver record through the Indiana BMV portal.
Starke County Law Enforcement
The Starke County Sheriff's Office and the Knox Police Department handle OWI enforcement in the county and city, respectively. The Indiana State Police also has significant presence on US-30 and US-35, which run through Starke County. All agencies that make OWI arrests in the county file their cases in the Starke County courts, and those records are then available through the clerk and through MyCase.
ISP records are separate from court records. If you need the arrest report or ISP documentation of an OWI stop in Starke County, contact the Indiana State Police directly. The court record shows the charges and outcome; the ISP record documents the arrest and investigation.
Legal Resources
The Indiana Courts Self-Service Legal Center provides free general guidance for navigating Indiana's court system. The Indiana State Bar Association can refer you to attorneys who handle OWI cases in Starke County. Indiana Legal Services offers free civil legal help to eligible residents and may assist with questions about court records or expungement eligibility.
The Starke County Clerk's office can answer questions about what records are available and how to request them. Staff cannot give legal advice but can help you understand the record request process.
Cities in Starke County
Starke County does not have any cities that meet the population threshold for individual city pages on this site. Knox is the county seat and largest community. All OWI court cases from Starke County communities are processed through the county courts in Knox.