Porter County Felony Records
Porter County felony records are maintained by the Clerk of Courts and the Porter County Sheriff's Office, both based in Valparaiso. You can search Porter County felony records online through the Indiana MyCase portal or visit the clerk's office in person at the Valparaiso courthouse. The county's free adult court record access page also lets you find case data without leaving home. Whether you need a case number, charge details, or a full copy of court documents, this guide covers every way to get Porter County felony records.
Porter County Felony Records Quick Facts
Porter County Clerk of Courts Records
The Porter County Clerk of Courts, currently Jessica A. Bailey, is the official keeper of all felony case records in the county. The clerk's office is at 16 Lincolnway, Suite 211, in the Valparaiso courthouse. You can reach the office by phone at (219) 465-3400. Office hours run Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The clerk's website at portercountyin.gov/142/Clerks-Office has forms and contact details for different record types.
For Porter County felony records, the clerk maintains the complete case file from the moment charges are filed through final sentencing. That file contains charging documents, court motions, orders from the judge, and the final judgment. Copy fees follow the Indiana rate of $1.00 per page for standard copies. Certified copies cost $3.00 per certification. Staff can search by name or case number, so have that information ready before you call or visit.
Porter County also keeps a separate county records portal at portercountyin.gov/1146/County-Records where you can find general information on public record types maintained by various county offices. This is a good starting point if you are not sure which office holds the records you need.
Note: The clerk's Marriage and Records Division processes protective orders and marriage licenses only until 4:00 p.m., so arrive early if you need those services alongside felony record requests.
Search Porter County Felony Cases Online
The fastest way to find Porter County felony records online is through the Indiana MyCase portal at public.courts.in.gov/mycase. This free statewide system lets you search by name or case number and returns charge information, court dates, and case status. No account is needed for basic searches. Porter County participates in the Odyssey Case Management System, so most active felony cases filed after the mid-1990s appear here.
Porter County also runs its own free adult court record access page at portercountyin.gov/1019/Free-Access-To-Adult-Court-Case-Records. This page links directly to the county's public-facing records tools and explains what is available at no charge. The Indiana Judicial Branch maintains additional information about Porter County courts at in.gov/courts/local/porter-county.
The Porter County Sheriff's Office at portercountysheriff.com provides an inmate search, a tip line, and a mobile app. Sheriff Jeff Balon's office is the primary source for arrest records and booking information related to Porter County felony offenses. Arrest logs and other public safety records are available directly through the sheriff's website.
The Porter County Sheriff's Office at portercountysheriff.com provides resources for checking current inmate status alongside arrest history for Porter County cases.
The Porter County Sheriff and Clerk offices together cover the full lifecycle of felony records in the county, from the first arrest through the court's final order.
Porter County Sheriff Felony Records
Sheriff Jeff Balon leads the Porter County Sheriff's Office at 2755 State Road 49, Valparaiso, IN 46383. The main office number is (219) 477-3000. The Sheriff's Office handles arrest records for felony offenses committed in the unincorporated areas of Porter County and assists local police departments with larger felony investigations. Arrest logs showing offense dates, locations, and charges are public record under IC 5-14-3-5.
The bureau maintains criminal history files for individuals arrested on felony charges in Porter County. These records include booking photos, fingerprint data, and the official arrest report. You do not need to state a reason when requesting basic arrest records. The public access standard in Indiana means the Sheriff must release core arrest information upon request. For more detail on a specific case, the clerk's office holds the full court file.
Note: Attorneys filing felony cases in Porter County must use the mandatory e-filing system; pro se filers may still file in person at the clerk's office on the first floor.
Porter County Felony Case Process
Felony cases in Porter County begin with an arrest by the Sheriff's Office or a local police department. The case moves to the Porter County Prosecutor's Office, which decides whether to file formal charges. If charges are filed, the case is assigned to one of the Porter County Superior Courts or the Circuit Court at 155 Indiana Avenue, Valparaiso. All filings from that point are part of the official Porter County felony record.
The courts use the Odyssey Case Management System, which feeds data directly into the MyCase portal. Every motion, order, and hearing date entered by the clerk is visible to the public online within a short time. For cases that result in a prison sentence, the Indiana Department of Correction maintains its own records. You can search for currently incarcerated people at offenderlocator.idoc.in.gov. Victims who want to track custody changes in Porter County cases can sign up for free notifications through Indiana SAVIN.
VINE also sends free notifications when a Porter County offender's jail status changes. Register at vinelink.com or call 866-959-8463. This service covers the county jail, separate from the state prison system.
Expungement of Porter County Felony Records
Indiana law under IC 35-38-9 gives Porter County residents a path to seal certain felony records. Once a court grants expungement, the sealed records are removed from MyCase and the Indiana State Police Limited Criminal History database. Filing fees for expungement petitions are waived in Indiana, which removes a cost barrier for people who qualify.
Waiting periods vary by offense type. Arrests with no conviction may qualify after one year under some circumstances. Less serious felony convictions require eight years from the date of conviction or release from custody, whichever is later. More serious Class B or Class A felonies require ten years and written consent from the Porter County Prosecutor before the court will consider the petition. All court costs, fines, and any restitution must be paid in full before filing.
Some crimes cannot be expunged anywhere in Indiana regardless of how long ago they occurred. Homicide offenses, most sex crimes, and other serious violent felonies listed under IC 35-38-9-8.5 are permanently excluded. If you are unsure whether your Porter County record qualifies, contact the Indiana Public Access Counselor at in.gov/pac for general guidance.
Statewide Criminal History for Porter County Cases
For a name-based criminal history search covering all of Indiana, use the Indiana State Police Limited Criminal History system at in.gov/isp/criminal-history-services. The online LCH search at in.gov/ai/appfiles/isp-lch costs $15.70 per name and covers felony arrests and Class A misdemeanor arrests statewide going back to the mid-1930s. Porter County felony arrests are included in this database.
The Clerk Archives system at clerkarchives.in provides access to older Porter County court records that predate the Odyssey electronic system. This can be useful for felony cases from the 1980s and early 1990s that may not appear in MyCase. The Indiana Courts website at in.gov/courts is the central hub for all state court resources, including links to local county court pages.
Porter County Cities with Felony Records Pages
The following Porter County cities have their own felony records pages. All felony cases from these cities are filed at the Porter County courts in Valparaiso.