Find the Right Indiana Jail or Prison Record Before You Search
An Indiana inmate search can lead to several different systems. A person arrested locally may be in a county jail, while someone serving an Indiana state sentence may appear in the Department of Correction locator.
Start by identifying the custody level. Then use the appropriate county jail, IDOC, MyCase, Indiana SAVIN, federal or immigration source instead of treating one database as a universal Indiana inmate roster.
Indiana Lookup Board
Fast Answer: County Jail and IDOC Searches Are Different
For a recent Indiana arrest, start with the county where the person was arrested. County sheriffs commonly operate local jails, and many counties maintain their own inmate lookup, roster or jail-information system.
For Indiana state-prison custody, use the Indiana Department of Correction locator. IDOC says you can search by last name, first name or DOC number. Use MyCase separately when you need criminal case information, hearings, filings or court disposition rather than current housing.
Go directly to the Indiana inmate-search task you need
- Choose the correct source
- Compare custody systems
- Search a county jail
- Indiana county examples
- No-result troubleshooting
- Search IDOC
- MyCase court records
- Bail and pretrial release
- Indiana SAVIN
- IDOC mail rules
- IDOC visits
- Money and commissary
- Phone and messages
- Criminal-history checks
- Federal and ICE custody
- Records and verification
- Official action directory
- FAQs
Which Indiana Inmate Search Should You Use?
This routing helper does not search a sheriff, jail, IDOC, court, BOP, ICE or SAVIN database. It only points you to the correct official source.
Select a situation above
The recommended official source will appear here.
Indiana County Jail, IDOC, MyCase and SAVIN Are Not the Same Database
| System | Use it for | Do not assume it proves |
|---|---|---|
| County jail / sheriff | Recent arrest, local pretrial detention, county jail housing and local jail services. | State-prison location or final court disposition. |
| Indiana DOC locator | People in Indiana Department of Correction custody and state correctional facilities. | Every recent county-jail booking. |
| Indiana MyCase | Public non-confidential court cases, docket events, hearings and some court documents. | Real-time jail housing or a complete criminal-history report. |
| Indiana SAVIN | Custody information and notifications, including participating county and state custody. | Emergency protection or the official certified court record. |
| Federal BOP | Federal Bureau of Prisons custody. | Indiana county jail or IDOC state custody. |
| ICE ODLS | Applicable immigration detention. | Indiana criminal-court disposition or county-jail status. |
How to Search an Indiana County Jail
Indiana has 92 counties, and local jail searching is decentralized. Many sheriff offices provide an inmate lookup, current-inmate list or jail roster, while others rely more heavily on phone information or Indiana SAVIN.
- Identify the arrest county. Start with where the arrest happened, not where the person normally lives.
- Find the official county sheriff or county government site. Look for “Inmate Lookup,” “Jail,” “Current Inmates,” “Roster” or similar wording.
- Search by legal name. If the local system accepts an identifier such as a booking number, use it when available.
- Compare more than a name. Check available age, booking date, facility or other identifiers before deciding you found the correct person.
- Record useful identifiers. A booking number or local inmate number may be required for mail, deposits, visits or calls.
- Check MyCase separately. Jail custody and the criminal case are different records.
- Recheck before acting. Transfers, court releases and housing changes can occur quickly.
Examples of Official Indiana County Jail Search Routes
Indianapolis / Marion County
Indianapolis provides a dedicated official inmate lookup tool. The search supports name-based lookup and identifier-based searching, with an option to include released inmates.
Hamilton County
Hamilton County’s official government website provides an “Inmate Lookup” route as part of its county jail and sheriff services.
DeKalb County
The DeKalb County Sheriff’s website provides inmate-search and jail-service information, illustrating why local county rules must be checked instead of importing another county’s procedures.
What to Do When an Indiana Jail Search Shows No Result
Booking May Still Be Processing
Transport, fingerprints, medical screening, identification and court paperwork can happen before a public jail record appears.
Confirm Jurisdiction
A person may be held in a neighboring county, regional arrangement or a county different from their home address.
Check IDOC
If state-prison transfer or state custody is possible, search the Indiana Department of Correction locator.
Check Federal or ICE
Federal criminal detention and immigration detention use different systems from Indiana county jails.
Use This Troubleshooting Order
- Recheck the exact spelling of the legal name.
- Try a local booking or inmate identifier if the county search supports it.
- Confirm the arrest county and state.
- Allow for a recent-booking processing delay.
- Check another appropriate county facility if transfer is possible.
- Check Indiana DOC if state custody is possible.
- Check Indiana SAVIN for supported statewide custody information.
- Use BOP if federal custody applies.
- Use ICE only when immigration detention is relevant.
- Contact the responsible jail when the official online information remains unclear.
How to Use the Indiana DOC Incarcerated Individual Locator
The Indiana Department of Correction locator is the correct statewide tool for people in IDOC custody. Indiana’s official guidance says the locator can be searched by last name, first name or DOC number.
DOC Number
A DOC number is more precise than a common name and is useful when arranging mail, money, visitation or other state-prison services.
First or Last Name
If you do not have the DOC number, search by name and compare the returned record carefully before using the result.
Confirm Current Location
Use the facility shown in the current locator before checking mail, visits or local institution instructions.
Use Indiana MyCase for Court Records, Not Jail Housing
Indiana’s MyCase service provides public access to non-confidential case information from courts using the state’s Odyssey case-management system. It is useful after a jail lookup when you need the criminal case, filings, hearing information or later disposition.
Case, Citation or Cross-Reference Number
MyCase allows searching by case number, citation number or cross-reference number. Indiana’s search guidance says hyphens and leading zeroes are not required when entering a case number.
Last Name With Optional Filters
For a party search, enter the last name and narrow with first name, middle name or date of birth when useful. MyCase also offers “sounds-like” searching for spelling variations.
Some public court documents are available online at no cost, while others require contacting the clerk’s office in the county where the case is being heard.
Indiana Bail and Pretrial Release: Check the Local Court
Indiana uses a risk-informed pretrial system built around Indiana Criminal Rule 2.6. Pretrial decisions can involve release on recognizance, supervision, monetary bail or other court-ordered conditions depending on the case and local implementation.
Do not assume that every Indiana county uses the same payment method, percentage, kiosk, bondsman procedure or release timeline. Bail is set by the court, while the county jail and clerk may handle different parts of the payment or release process.
Verify the Current Order
Use MyCase and the responsible court or clerk to confirm the current case, bail amount and release conditions.
Payment Rules Differ
One sheriff may accept a lobby kiosk or particular service while another county may use a different process. Follow the county holding the person.
Payment May Not Mean Immediate Release
Another case, warrant, hold, detainer or processing requirement can affect release even after an eligible bond is posted.
Read Indiana Pretrial Information ↗
Indiana SAVIN: Custody Information and Notifications
Indiana SAVIN stands for Statewide Automated Victim Information and Notification. Indiana’s official guidance says the service provides custody information across all 92 counties and lets users register for notifications about events such as placement, release, transfer or other custody-status changes.
All 92 Counties
SAVIN provides a statewide route when local county custody information or notification is needed.
No Charge
Indiana describes SAVIN as a free service available by internet and telephone.
24/7 Availability
Official Indiana guidance lists SAVIN as available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with telephone assistance.
Important 2026 IDOC Mail Address Change
Indiana DOC changed its general personal-mail process in 2026. Beginning July 1, 2026, general correspondence for most IDOC facilities is sent to a centralized mail-processing address in Phoenix, Maryland.
Incarcerated Individual’s Name, DOC# Facility Name PO Box 460 Phoenix, MD 21131IDOC states that after July 31, 2026, personal mail sent to the wrong location will be returned to the sender. General correspondence is scanned in full color and uploaded to the incarcerated individual’s tablet or made available through an approved device.
Attorney-client privileged mail, packages and parcels continue to use different handling and should be sent according to the facility’s current instructions rather than the general correspondence address above.
Check Current IDOC Mail Rules ↗
Indiana DOC Visitation
IDOC uses ViaPath for state-prison visitor registration and scheduling. Visitors must register and receive approval before scheduling in-person or online visits.
- Locate the incarcerated individual first. Confirm the current IDOC facility.
- Create a ViaPath visitation account. Registration itself is free.
- Submit the visitation application. IDOC may require supplemental identity documentation.
- Wait for approval. Do not schedule travel until approval is confirmed.
- Select the correct facility and appointment. Available dates and times depend on the institution.
- Remember the scheduling time zone. IDOC states that ViaPath scheduling is displayed in Eastern Time even when the facility is located in a Central Time area.
- Review facility-specific rules. Identification, clothing, property, search procedures and visit availability can vary by institution.
Sending Money to Someone in Indiana DOC Custody
IDOC currently uses ViaPath / ConnectNetwork for state-prison trust-fund and communication accounts. County jails may use completely different vendors.
| Account / method | Current IDOC use | Important detail |
|---|---|---|
| Trust Fund | Funds available for approved commissary and account purchases. | Deposit fees can vary by correctional facility. |
| AdvancePay | Prepaid collect phone account for calls to a designated number. | Current support: 800-483-8314. |
| PIN Debit | Funds the incarcerated individual’s calling account. | Current funding support: 855-706-2445. |
| Online Trust Fund | Deposit through ConnectNetwork. | Current telephone trust-fund line: 888-988-4768. |
| Money Order | Mail using the current IDOC/ViaPath deposit form. | Current maximum is $300 per money order. |
IDOC Money-Order Details
- Make the money order payable to ViaPath Financial Services.
- Use the incarcerated individual’s full name.
- Double-check the correct DOC number.
- Include the current deposit form.
- Do not include cash, letters, photos, staples or paper clips with the deposit.
IDOC Phone Calls, Messages and Tablets
ViaPath / ConnectNetwork
IDOC uses ViaPath for state-prison telephone services. AdvancePay can fund calls to your number, while PIN Debit can fund the incarcerated individual’s calling account.
ViaPath support: 877-650-4249
GettingOut
IDOC’s current digital-correspondence guidance directs friends and family to GettingOut for electronic messages and photos.
Facility-Controlled Devices
IDOC tablets operate through a correctional intranet rather than unrestricted public internet access. Available communication features depend on facility permissions and services.
Need an Indiana Criminal-History Check Instead?
A jail search, IDOC locator and MyCase search answer different questions from a formal criminal-history request. If your actual task is an Indiana background check, use the Indiana State Police service rather than treating a current jail result as a complete history.
Limited Criminal History
The Indiana State Police Limited Criminal History service is a name-and-date-of-birth based Indiana-only record check. ISP cautions that completeness depends partly on county participation.
Online or Mail
The current ISP fee schedule lists the state-only Limited Criminal History report at $7 by mail or $16.32 online, including the online process fee.
Open ISP Criminal History Guide ↗
Federal BOP and ICE Custody Are Separate
Bureau of Prisons
Use the Federal Bureau of Prisons locator for federal BOP custody rather than an Indiana county jail or IDOC search.
ICE Online Detainee Locator
If the issue is immigration detention rather than Indiana criminal custody, use ICE’s separate Online Detainee Locator System.
Records, Historical Information and Verification
| What you need | Best source | Important limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Current county jail custody | County sheriff / jail or Indiana SAVIN | Local systems and update schedules vary. |
| Current IDOC custody | Indiana DOC locator | Not a county-jail roster. |
| Court docket or hearing | Indiana MyCase | Online information is not the official court record. |
| Certified court record | Clerk of the court maintaining the case | May require direct contact when a document is unavailable online. |
| IDOC public records | Indiana Department of Correction records request | Disclosure limits and exemptions can apply. |
| Indiana criminal history | Indiana State Police | Limited Criminal History is not a nationwide check. |
| Historical prison records | Indiana State Archives where applicable | Archives state that prison records generally transfer after release or death under its records schedule. |
Official Indiana Inmate Search Action Directory
Search Indiana Department of Correction custody by name or DOC number.
Open IDOC Locator ↗Search public non-confidential Indiana court cases and available documents.
Open MyCase ↗Search supported custody information and register for custody-status notifications.
Open SAVIN ↗Official Indianapolis/Marion County inmate-search tool.
Open Marion Lookup ↗Review statewide pretrial framework and Indiana Criminal Rule 2.6 resources.
Open Pretrial Guide ↗Check the new 2026 centralized personal-mail instructions and facility exceptions.
Open Mail Guide ↗Register through ViaPath, complete approval and check facility-specific rules.
Open Visit Guide ↗Review current ConnectNetwork trust, phone and money-order instructions.
Open Money Guide ↗Check current ViaPath phone-account and blocking/unblocking information.
Open Phone Guide ↗Use ISP when the task is an Indiana criminal-history check rather than current custody.
Open ISP Guide ↗Search federal Bureau of Prisons custody separately from Indiana state and county systems.
Open BOP ↗Use Indiana DOC’s records route when you need agency-maintained records rather than a live locator result.
Open IDOC Records Route ↗Before You Visit, Pay, Mail or Share an Indiana Custody Result
- Confirm the correct county and custody level.
- Use the official sheriff, county, IDOC, court or federal source.
- Match the person with more than a common name when possible.
- Write down the correct booking number or DOC number.
- Check MyCase separately when the criminal case matters.
- Confirm the current bail or pretrial order with the responsible court or county.
- Recheck current visitation, phone, money and mail rules before spending money.
- For IDOC personal mail, use the current 2026 centralized-mail instructions unless an exception applies.
- Do not treat an arrest, booking, jail listing or charge as proof of guilt or conviction.
Indiana Jail Inmate Search FAQs
Is there one official Indiana county jail inmate search?
No single IDOC search replaces every county jail roster. Recent arrests are generally searched through the responsible county sheriff or jail. Indiana SAVIN can also provide supported statewide custody information across all 92 counties.
What is the official Indiana state inmate locator?
The Indiana Department of Correction Incarcerated Individual Locator is the state-prison search. Indiana’s official guidance says users can search by last name, first name or DOC number.
Why can’t I find someone who was arrested recently?
The person may still be in booking, may be in a different county, may have been transferred or released, or the name may not match the public record. Check the arrest county first and use SAVIN or another custody system when appropriate.
Where can I check Indiana criminal court cases?
Use Indiana MyCase for public non-confidential cases available through participating Odyssey courts. The Judicial Branch warns that MyCase is not the official court record; official records come from the court maintaining the case.
Does Indiana SAVIN cover county jails?
Indiana states that SAVIN provides custody-status information across all 92 counties and allows users to register for notifications involving placement, transfer, release and other supported custody changes.
How do I mail a letter to an Indiana state-prison inmate in 2026?
For most IDOC facilities, general personal mail now goes to the centralized address using the incarcerated individual’s name, DOC number, facility name, PO Box 460, Phoenix, MD 21131. Reception Diagnostic Center is an exception, and privileged legal mail follows separate rules.
How do I send money to someone in IDOC custody?
IDOC currently uses ViaPath and ConnectNetwork for trust-fund and communication accounts. Money orders require the current deposit form and are currently limited to $300 per money order. County jails can use different vendors.
How do Indiana DOC visits work?
Visitors register through ViaPath, submit the required application and receive approval before scheduling. IDOC says visitation scheduling is displayed in Eastern Time, even for facilities located in Indiana’s Central Time areas.
Can MyCase be used as a criminal background check?
No. MyCase is a court-case search and does not replace a complete criminal-history check. Indiana State Police provides separate criminal-history services.
What should I do if the person may be in federal custody?
Use the Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator for applicable federal prison custody. If the person is in immigration detention, use the separate ICE Online Detainee Locator rather than an Indiana county or IDOC search.
Official Sources Reviewed
- Indiana Department of Correction — Incarcerated Individual Locator
- Indiana Department of Correction
- Indiana Judicial Branch — MyCase Help
- Indiana MyCase
- Indiana Office of Court Services — Pretrial Release
- Indiana SAVIN
- IDOC — Mail and Packages
- IDOC — Visitation
- IDOC — Money Accounts
- IDOC — Phone Calls
- IDOC — Digital Correspondence
- Indiana State Police — Limited Criminal History
- Indianapolis / Marion County — Inmate Lookup
- Hamilton County Government — Inmate Lookup Route
- DeKalb County Sheriff — Inmate Search
- Federal Bureau of Prisons — Inmate Locator
- ICE Online Detainee Locator