Martin County Booking Reports

Martin County booking reports come from the Sheriff's Office in Shoals, Indiana. This small county sits in the southern part of the state and has a population of roughly 10,000 people. If you need to look up arrest records or jail booking data in Martin County, several options exist. You can reach out to the sheriff directly, search state databases, or file a written request under Indiana's public records law. The process is not hard, but knowing where to start saves time. This page covers the main ways to find booking reports and related arrest records in Martin County.

Martin County Sheriff's Office Booking Records

The Martin County Sheriff's Office is the main source for booking reports in this area. Sheriff Josh Greene runs the office out of Shoals. When someone gets arrested in Martin County, the sheriff's staff creates a booking report. That report goes into the county jail system. It lists the person's name, age, address, what they were charged with, and the date and time of the arrest. Under IC 5-14-3-5, this type of information must be made available to the public.

You can call the Martin County jail at (812) 247-3726 to ask about recent bookings. The office sits at 202 N. Main St. in Shoals, IN 47581. Staff can look up records for you over the phone in some cases. For a formal copy, you may need to visit in person or send a written request. The fax line is (812) 247-2042. You can also email the sheriff at sheriff@martincounty.in.gov to ask about booking reports or start an APRA request.

Note: Martin County does not currently have an online inmate search portal on its website.

Requesting Booking Reports in Martin County

Indiana law gives everyone the right to see and copy public records. Booking reports fall under this right. Under IC 5-14-3-3, any person can ask for these records during regular business hours. You do not need to give a reason. The agency cannot turn you away just because you will not say why you want the records. That rule is clear in the statute.

To get Martin County booking reports, you have a few paths. Walk into the sheriff's office in Shoals and ask at the front desk. Bring your ID. Tell them the name or date you are looking for. They can pull it up and give you a copy. If you prefer, write a letter to the sheriff's office. Include the name of the person and the approximate date of arrest. Mail it to 202 N. Main St., Shoals, IN 47581. You can also send the same details by email or fax.

The agency has to respond within seven days. That is the rule under IC 5-14-3-9. If they need more time, they must tell you. Copy fees are capped at ten cents per page for standard copies. Color copies can cost up to twenty-five cents per page. These fees cover paper and printing costs only, not labor.

Martin County Arrest Records Online

Even though Martin County lacks its own online booking search, you can still find arrest records through state tools. The Indiana State Police Limited Criminal History check lets you search for felonies and Class A misdemeanors. It costs $15 per search. Results come back as a PDF that stays active for 14 days.

The Indiana State Police Limited Criminal History tool shown below provides access to arrest data from across the state, including Martin County records when they have been reported to the state system.

This tool pulls from a statewide database. Keep in mind that not every arrest shows up right away. County participation varies. Martin County is a small jurisdiction, so some records may take longer to appear in the state system. For the most current booking data, call the sheriff's office directly.

The Indiana MyCase portal is another useful tool. It covers court cases across the state. Once someone is booked and charged in Martin County, the case goes to circuit court. You can search by name to find case details, hearing dates, and outcomes. This is free to use and does not need an account.

Note: Court records on MyCase show case filings and outcomes but may not include the original booking report itself.

Tracking Martin County Jail Inmates

VINELink is a free tool for checking custody status in Indiana. It covers Martin County. You can search by name to see if someone is in jail. The system also lets you sign up for alerts. If the person gets released or transferred, you get a call or email. This is set up mainly for crime victims, but anyone can use it. The toll-free number is 1-866-959-8463.

The Martin County jail is not large. It sits inside the same building as the sheriff's office on Main Street in Shoals. Booking reports at this facility include the standard information required by Indiana law: the person's name, age, home address, charges, arresting officer, and the time and place of arrest. When someone posts bail or gets released, that information also goes into the record. Under IC 5-14-3-5, the bond amount must be disclosed if it has been set.

Public Records Law and Martin County Bookings

Indiana's Access to Public Records Act covers all booking reports in Martin County. The law at IC 5-14-3-5 spells out exactly what must be shared with the public after an arrest. This includes the person's name, age, and address. It also includes the charges, the time and place of arrest, and the arresting agency. Jail records must show when someone was received, when they were released or moved, and their bail amount.

The sheriff's office must also keep a daily log of suspected crimes, accidents, and complaints. That log has to be created within 24 hours of the report. It includes the time, location, and nature of each incident. This daily log is public. You can ask to see it at the Martin County Sheriff's Office during business hours. Some people use this log to stay informed about local crime activity. It is a simple and direct way to see what is going on in the county.

If the sheriff denies your request, you have options. Under IC 5-14-3-9, the agency must explain in writing why the records were withheld. Certain investigatory records can be kept from the public, but basic booking data cannot. The law puts the burden on the agency to prove why something should stay private. If you think the denial was wrong, you can file a complaint with the Indiana Public Access Counselor.

Note: Expunged records under IC 35-38-8 will not appear in booking report searches regardless of the request method.

State Corrections Records for Martin County

If someone from Martin County ends up in state prison, the Indiana Department of Correction keeps their records. The IDOC Offender Locator lets you search for anyone currently in a state facility. You search by last name, first name, or DOC number. This tool is free.

For older records or more detailed files, use the IDOC APRA Portal to submit a formal request. The portal is straightforward. You fill out a form, describe what you need, and submit it. Your request becomes a public record itself. Response times vary based on how complex the request is.

The IDOC runs 18 adult facilities across Indiana. If a Martin County resident was sentenced to state prison, their record is in this system. The locator shows the facility, projected release date, and basic offense info. It does not replace local booking reports from the Martin County jail, but it fills in the picture for more serious cases.

Nearby Counties

Martin County is bordered by several other southern Indiana counties. If you are not sure where an arrest took place, check the neighboring jurisdictions. Each county keeps its own booking reports.