Find DUI Records in Vanderburgh County
Vanderburgh County DUI and OWI records are maintained by the Vanderburgh County Clerk in Evansville, serving the county that includes Indiana's third-largest city and the hub of the tri-state region covering parts of Indiana, Kentucky, and Illinois. The county's courts handle a high volume of OWI cases from Evansville and surrounding communities, with records accessible through Indiana's MyCase portal and the clerk's office at the courthouse. This page explains how to search those records, what the clerk provides, and how Indiana's OWI laws apply in Vanderburgh County.
Vanderburgh County Quick Facts
Vanderburgh County Clerk of Courts
The Vanderburgh County Clerk's office is at the Vanderburgh County Courthouse, 825 Sycamore St, Evansville, IN 47708. Call the clerk at 812-435-5160. The clerk maintains all official court records for the county's circuit and superior courts, including OWI criminal case files. Records on file include charging documents, case histories, plea agreements, sentencing orders, and probation conditions attached to OWI convictions. Evansville is Indiana's third-largest city, and Vanderburgh County serves as the commercial, medical, educational, and cultural hub for the tri-state region.
As a major population center, Vanderburgh County processes a substantial volume of OWI cases each year. The county government's official site at vanderburghgov.org provides access to county services and department contacts. For OWI case records, the clerk's office at the courthouse is the primary source. Certified copies can be requested in person or by mail. Call ahead to confirm hours, fees, and what identification or forms you will need. The county's courts and clerk handle cases from Evansville and from the smaller communities in the surrounding rural portions of Vanderburgh County.
The Vanderburgh County Indiana homepage provides county department contacts, service information, and resources for residents navigating county government.
The county website is a good starting point for finding the clerk's contact details, court schedules, and other resources related to OWI court records in Vanderburgh County.
Online OWI Record Search
Indiana's MyCase public portal covers all Vanderburgh County courts. Search by name or case number and filter to Vanderburgh County. The system shows charges, hearing dates, case status, and dispositions for OWI and other criminal cases. As a large county, Vanderburgh has a substantial number of cases in the system, making the county filter important for narrowing your results.
Records will not appear if they have been expunged under IC 35-38-9, Indiana's Second Chance Law. Eligible OWI defendants may petition for expungement after five years for misdemeanor convictions and eight years for Level 6 felony OWI, provided all sentence terms are complete and no new convictions occurred. Once the court grants expungement, the record is removed from public search. The Indiana Courts Public Records portal explains what types of court records are public statewide.
OWI Law in Vanderburgh County
Indiana charges impaired driving as Operating While Intoxicated under IC 9-30-5. A first OWI with BAC below .15% is a Class C misdemeanor. A first offense at .15% BAC or above is a Class A misdemeanor. A second OWI within seven years of a prior conviction is a Level 6 felony. Vanderburgh County's superior courts handle misdemeanor OWI cases; the circuit court handles felony-level OWI matters. The county prosecutor's office in Evansville handles all OWI prosecutions.
Any OWI conviction triggers license suspension under IC 9-30-6. Defendants who need to keep driving for work or family can petition for specialized driving privileges under IC 9-30-10. These court-issued privileges set specific conditions on when and where a person can drive during the suspension. Repeat offenders may be designated habitual traffic violators under IC 9-30-9, with the Indiana BMV enforcing longer suspension periods. The Indiana BMV portal lets you check a driver record for suspension history and reinstatement status.
Law Enforcement in Vanderburgh County
The Evansville Police Department handles OWI enforcement within the city of Evansville. The Vanderburgh County Sheriff's Office covers unincorporated areas and assists with OWI enforcement throughout the county. The Indiana State Police patrols I-164 and US-41, which are major routes through Vanderburgh County. All three agencies file their OWI cases in Vanderburgh County courts.
ISP arrest records and incident reports can be requested from the Indiana State Police and are separate from the court case records held by the clerk. Court records document what happened after arrest and charging; ISP records document the stop, arrest, and investigation. Both are relevant when researching an OWI case in Vanderburgh County.
Vanderburgh County also has an active Prosecutor's office that works closely with all county law enforcement agencies on OWI cases.
Legal Resources in Vanderburgh County
The Indiana Courts Self-Service Legal Center offers free general guidance for people navigating Indiana courts. The Indiana State Bar Association has a referral service to help you find attorneys handling OWI cases in Evansville and Vanderburgh County. Indiana Legal Services may assist eligible lower-income residents with court record questions, expungement petitions, or related civil legal issues in the Evansville area.
The Vanderburgh County Clerk's office can answer questions about what OWI records are available, how to request them, and what fees apply for copies. Staff cannot give legal advice but can guide you through the record request process.
Cities in Vanderburgh County
One city in Vanderburgh County has an individual page on this site:
- Evansville - County seat and Indiana's third-largest city, served by Vanderburgh County courts
Other communities in Vanderburgh County do not meet the population threshold for individual pages but are covered by the same county court system.