Access Clay County Felony Records

Clay County felony records are maintained by the Clerk of Courts in Brazil, Indiana, the county seat. You can search Clay County felony records online through the Indiana MyCase portal or contact the Clay County Clerk directly for in-person access at the courthouse in Brazil. This page covers the main ways to find and access felony case records in Clay County.

Clay County Clerk of Courts

The Clay County Clerk of Courts in Brazil is the official keeper of all Clay County felony records. The clerk maintains all case files, court orders, and judgments for criminal matters filed in Clay County. The county government website is at claycountyin.org. Clay County has both a Circuit Court and a Superior Court. Local rules for both courts are publicly available at in.gov/courts/files/clay-local-rules.pdf. For in-person records access, visit the Clay County Courthouse in Brazil during regular business hours.

Clay County has both Circuit and Superior Courts, each with a separate judge and docket. Felony cases in Clay County may be assigned to either court depending on the case type and current docket. Both courts are served by the same clerk's office in Brazil, so the clerk's office is the single point of contact for in-person records requests regardless of which court heard the case.

Plain copy fees in Clay County are $1.00 per page under Indiana law. Certified copies cost more. Call the Clay County Clerk's office to confirm current fees and office hours before making the trip to Brazil. The county website at claycountyin.org has contact information for all county departments.

Note: Clay County local court rules govern specific procedures. If you are involved in a Clay County felony case, review the local rules at in.gov/courts/files/clay-local-rules.pdf or ask the clerk's office for a copy.

Clay County Felony Records Online Search

Indiana's MyCase portal at public.courts.in.gov/mycase is the main free tool for searching Clay County felony records from home. Search by name or case number. Results include case summaries, charges, court dates, and current status. Most Clay County criminal case records are public and available without logging in. MyCase is updated regularly and reflects the current status of cases filed in Clay County courts.

The Indiana State Police Limited Criminal History at in.gov/ai/appfiles/isp-lch provides a statewide felony arrest search covering all Indiana counties including Clay County. The cost is $15.70 per name request. This is useful when you need a complete Indiana criminal history for a person rather than a lookup on a single Clay County case. More about ISP criminal history services is at in.gov/isp/criminal-history-services.

Indiana laws governing access to Clay County felony records are published by the Indiana General Assembly at iga.in.gov. The image below links to that official state source.

Under IC 5-14-3, Indiana law gives anyone the right to access Clay County government records, including felony case files maintained by the clerk and the sheriff.

Clay County Sheriff and Arrest Records

The Clay County Sheriff's Office handles felony arrests in the unincorporated parts of Clay County and maintains the county jail. Arrest records from Clay County felony cases are public records under Indiana law. The sheriff must provide arrest logs and basic booking data to anyone who asks under IC 5-14-3-5. No reason is needed for the request. The Indiana Sheriff's Association directory can help you find direct contact information for the Clay County Sheriff's Office in Brazil.

If a Clay County felony conviction results in a state prison sentence, the defendant is transferred to an Indiana Department of Correction facility. You can look up current IDOC inmates at offenderlocator.idoc.in.gov. The free Indiana SAVIN service sends notifications when state custody status changes. VINE at vinelink.com covers Clay County Jail custody changes separately from the IDOC.

Clay County Felony Court Process

Felony cases in Clay County begin with an arrest by county or local law enforcement. The Clay County Prosecutor then reviews the case and files charges if warranted. The case is assigned to Clay County Circuit or Superior Court in Brazil. Every step from initial hearing through sentencing creates records maintained by the clerk. Non-sealed Clay County felony records are open to the public through the clerk's office or through MyCase.

Clay County is a rural county in west-central Indiana, bordering Vigo County to the west, Sullivan County to the southwest, Greene County to the south, Owen County to the southeast, Putnam County to the east, and Parke County to the north. All felony cases arising anywhere in Clay County are filed in Brazil. The courts handle a range of case types, with the Circuit Court handling the more serious felony matters.

Clay County Felony Expungement

Indiana's expungement law at IC 35-38-9 allows some Clay County residents to petition the court to seal their felony records. Once granted, sealed records are removed from MyCase and the ISP LCH system. Indiana waives the petition filing fee. Waiting periods range from one year for some arrests without conviction to ten years for the most serious felony convictions. The Clay County Prosecutor must give written consent for the most serious petitions. All fines and restitution from the original case must be paid first. Murder and most sex crimes cannot be expunged under IC 35-38-9-8.5.

The Indiana Public Access Counselor at in.gov/pac can answer general questions about expungement. For specific advice about your Clay County felony record, consult a licensed Indiana attorney in Brazil or elsewhere in the state.

Cities in Clay County

Brazil is the county seat of Clay County. No Clay County cities meet the population threshold for a dedicated felony records page. All Clay County felony cases are filed at the courts in Brazil regardless of where in the county the offense occurred.

Nearby Indiana Counties