Find Felony Records in South Bend
South Bend felony records are filed through the St. Joseph County court system and maintained by the South Bend Police Department. You can search felony records for South Bend cases using the Indiana courts online portal, by visiting the St. Joseph County Clerk, or through the SBPD Records Bureau. This page covers how to access South Bend felony case files, what documents are available, how to file public records requests, and what state-level tools apply to St. Joseph County felony records.
South Bend Quick Facts
South Bend Felony Cases at St. Joseph County Court
All felony cases involving South Bend defendants go through the St. Joseph Superior Court. The court clerk maintains the official case files, including felony charges, hearings, verdicts, and sentences. These are public records in Indiana. The fastest way to search them is through MyCase, the state's free court portal. You can search by person name or case number and see results for St. Joseph County felony cases going back many years.
To visit in person, the St. Joseph County Courthouse is the main location for case file access. The clerk handles certified copy requests for South Bend felony records. In-person searches are useful when you need to review full case documents or request physical copies. Call the clerk's office for current hours and any access restrictions on sealed or active South Bend felony cases.
Note: Active South Bend felony cases may have some filings withheld from public access if a judge has issued a protective order or the case is still under investigation.
South Bend Police Department Records Bureau
The South Bend Police Department Records Bureau is at 701 W. Sample St., South Bend, IN 46601. The records phone is (574) 235-9201. The bureau is open Monday through Friday from 7AM to 11PM, which gives residents more access time than most police records offices in Indiana. On city holidays, hours are 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. The bureau is closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas. Saturday hours are limited to impound releases only, 8AM to 12PM. It is closed on Sundays.
To get incident or offense reports tied to South Bend felony cases, you typically need the victim's last name, report number, or the date of the incident. Accident reports require the report number, date, and driver's or owner's last name. Suspects in open felony cases cannot get copies of their own reports directly from the Records Bureau. Instead, they must file a Public Access Request under the Indiana Access to Public Records Act. The APRA form is at southbendin.gov/apra.
If a South Bend felony case is still open and under review, the city attorney reviews the records request before release. Some records may be delayed or partially redacted. The SBPD main website is at police.southbendin.gov. The full guide to requesting police reports is at police.southbendin.gov/how-do-i/request-police-report.
South Bend Police Records Access
The South Bend Police Department website at police.southbendin.gov is the main resource for learning how to request police records tied to South Bend felony cases, including the APRA process and Records Bureau contact details.
The South Bend City Clerk's site at southbendin.gov/department/city-clerk handles public records requests at the city level. Clerk Bianca Tirado's office is at 227 W. Jefferson Blvd. #455, South Bend, IN 46601. Phone is 574-235-9221.
Indiana State Tools for South Bend Felony Records
State databases give you a broader view of felony records for South Bend residents and St. Joseph County cases. These tools work alongside local police and court access.
The Indiana State Police Limited Criminal History tool at in.gov/ai/appfiles/isp-lch searches statewide felony conviction data, including South Bend cases. The ISP Criminal History Services page at in.gov/isp/criminal-history-services explains what the check covers and how to submit a request.
The IDOC Offender Locator at offenderlocator.idoc.in.gov shows current and past incarceration records for felony offenders in Indiana's prison system. If a person was convicted of a felony in South Bend and served time in state custody, they may appear in this database. SAVIN at indianasavin.in.gov sends notifications when a St. Joseph County felony offender moves to a different facility, gets released, or has a custody change. VINE at vinelink.com offers the same victim notification service for South Bend cases.
Note: For disputes about access to South Bend felony records, the Public Access Counselor at in.gov/pac reviews complaints and issues opinions on what records must be released under Indiana law.
South Bend City Clerk and APRA Requests
South Bend City Clerk Bianca Tirado handles city-level public records under the Indiana Access to Public Records Act. Her office is at 227 W. Jefferson Blvd. #455, South Bend, IN 46601. Phone is 574-235-9221. Email is sbcityclerk@southbendin.gov. The clerk's full website is at southbendin.gov/department/city-clerk.
For South Bend felony records that fall under city jurisdiction, you can file an APRA request with the city clerk. Use the form at southbendin.gov/apra. The form asks you to describe the records with reasonable particularity. The city has a set number of days to respond under Indiana law, and you can appeal to the Public Access Counselor if you believe the denial is improper. For court-based felony records in South Bend, go directly to the St. Joseph County Clerk rather than the city clerk.
South Bend Felony Expungement
Indiana Code 35-38-9 allows certain South Bend felony convictions to be expunged after a waiting period. You file the petition with the St. Joseph Superior Court that handled the original case. If approved, the SBPD and the court clerk both seal the records from public access. Not all felonies qualify. Violent felonies, sex offenses, and official misconduct charges are typically not eligible. The Indiana Courts site at in.gov/courts has expungement eligibility guides for South Bend residents.
Nearby Cities with Felony Records
Other qualifying cities near South Bend also maintain felony records through county courts and local police departments.
- Hammond - Lake County
- Gary - Lake County
- Indianapolis - Marion County
St. Joseph County Felony Records
South Bend is in St. Joseph County. All felony cases for South Bend residents are filed at the St. Joseph County courts in South Bend. For county-wide resources, court contact information, and full details about felony records in this area, visit the St. Joseph County page.