Fort Wayne Criminal Case Files
Fort Wayne felony records are filed and maintained through the Allen County court system and the Fort Wayne Police Department. Residents and members of the public can search felony records for Fort Wayne cases using the state's online court portal, the FWPD NextRequest system, or by visiting the Allen County Clerk's office directly. This page explains where to find Fort Wayne felony case files, how to request police reports, and what statewide tools apply to Allen County criminal records.
Fort Wayne Quick Facts
Fort Wayne Felony Cases at Allen County Court
Felony charges filed in Fort Wayne go through the Allen Superior Court. The Allen County Clerk's office maintains all case records, including filings, judgments, and sentencing documents. These are public records under Indiana law. You can search Allen County felony cases using MyCase, the Indiana statewide court portal. MyCase is free to use and covers Fort Wayne felony cases going back many years. Search by party name, case number, or filing date.
The Allen County Courthouse is the main location for in-person record access. The clerk's office handles certified copy requests for felony case files. For court records tied to Fort Wayne cases, you can also check the Allen County Recorder at allencountyrecorder.us, which keeps property and civil records that sometimes overlap with felony case outcomes like forfeiture orders.
Note: Some Fort Wayne felony case documents may require a formal written request if they involve ongoing investigations or protected information.
Fort Wayne Police Department Records Process
The Fort Wayne Police Department uses the NextRequest platform for all public records requests. This includes felony arrest reports, incident reports, and police records tied to criminal cases in Fort Wayne. You must submit your request online at cityoffortwayne.nextrequest.com. A valid email address is required. You can also start a new request directly at cityoffortwayne.nextrequest.com/requests/new.
The FWPD Records Bureau is at 1 E. Main Street, Suite 108, Fort Wayne, IN 46802. The phone number is 260-427-2020. The bureau is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, which means you can drop off requests at any time. However, police reports for Fort Wayne felony cases are not released at the front desk while you wait. All requests go through the NextRequest system and are reviewed before release under the Indiana Access to Public Records Act. Staff at the bureau can help you navigate the NextRequest portal if you need assistance.
For Fort Wayne records, you can also email Malak.Heiny@cityoffortwayne.org with questions about your request. The FWPD website at cityoffortwayne.in.gov has full instructions for getting police reports. A second page at cityoffortwayne.in.gov/612/Records-Bureau covers the Records Bureau directly.
Allen County Sheriff records are handled through a separate portal at allencountyin.nextrequest.com. If the felony case you are researching involves the sheriff's office rather than the Fort Wayne Police, use that portal instead.
Fort Wayne Police Records Online Portal
The Fort Wayne Police Department's records portal at cityoffortwayne.nextrequest.com is the only official way to request police reports tied to Fort Wayne felony cases. The NextRequest system tracks your request and sends updates by email.
The page at cityoffortwayne.in.gov explains which types of reports are available and what the APRA review process covers for Fort Wayne felony record requests.
State Resources for Fort Wayne Felony Records
Several Indiana state tools help you find felony records tied to Fort Wayne and Allen County cases. These work alongside local police and court resources.
The Indiana State Police Limited Criminal History service gives a statewide felony record check. Run a search at in.gov/ai/appfiles/isp-lch. Results include felony convictions for Fort Wayne residents that appear in the state criminal history database. The ISP Criminal History Services page at in.gov/isp/criminal-history-services explains the process and what's included in a search.
The Indiana Department of Correction Offender Locator at offenderlocator.idoc.in.gov tracks felony offenders in state custody. If a person was convicted of a felony in Fort Wayne and sent to prison, you can look them up here. The tool shows facility name, sentence length, and release date if applicable. SAVIN at indianasavin.in.gov lets you sign up for notifications when an Allen County felony offender has a change in custody status.
Note: The Indiana Public Access Counselor at in.gov/pac handles complaints when a public agency denies access to felony records in Fort Wayne or elsewhere in Indiana.
Fort Wayne City Clerk Records
The Fort Wayne City Clerk's Office is at Citizens Square, Fort Wayne, IN 46802. Phone is 260-427-1221. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm. The clerk keeps municipal records and can help direct felony-related record requests to the right office. The website is at cityoffortwayne.in.gov/281/City-Clerk.
For felony cases in Fort Wayne, the clerk's office and the Allen Superior Court clerk work in parallel. Court-based records like dockets, orders, and sentencing documents stay with the court clerk. City administrative records and police-related matters go through the FWPD and city clerk systems. If you are unsure where to start, call the city clerk at 260-427-1221 and they can point you to the right office for Fort Wayne felony record requests.
Fort Wayne Felony Expungement
Indiana Code 35-38-9 allows certain Fort Wayne felony convictions to be expunged after a waiting period. The waiting time depends on the felony level. If the Allen Superior Court grants an expungement, the public record is sealed. The FWPD and court clerk both update their files. Not all felonies qualify. Crimes like murder and Class A felonies involving violence are typically not eligible. The Indiana Courts site at in.gov/courts has expungement guides for Fort Wayne residents.
Other Indiana Cities with Felony Records
Fort Wayne is the largest city in northeast Indiana. Other qualifying cities across the state maintain similar felony record access through county courts and local police departments.
- Indianapolis - Marion County
- South Bend - St. Joseph County
- Evansville - Vanderburgh County
Allen County Felony Records
Fort Wayne is in Allen County. All felony cases for Fort Wayne residents are filed at the Allen County courts in Fort Wayne. For county-wide resources, court contact information, and full details about felony records in this area, visit the Allen County page.