What is a background check?
A background check is an investigation into an individual’s criminal record, employment history, driving record, education, finances, or other aspects of their personal history.
Background checks are often performed by an organization or company in order to screen a subject before a significant financial or legal agreement. However, individuals regularly perform background checks on themselves to make sure that the public information on them matches their personal records.
For more general information on background checks, consult our Background Checks FAQS page.
How do I run a criminal background check in Indiana?
The Indiana State Police allows individuals to perform a Limited Criminal History search online, which solely contains felonies and class A misdemeanor arrest records in the state. Records stored in the Indiana State Police database date back to the 1930s.
In order to perform a search, users must first register here. Each search costs $16.32 and may be paid for using a credit or debit card. Take note that users will be charged for a search even if it yields no results.
Click here to perform a search.
How can I request an Indiana Limited Criminal History by mail?
In addition to the online search, individuals may request a Limited Criminal History through the mail. The price is $7 which can be paid by money order made out to the State of Indiana. Simply print and complete a Request Form and submit it in-person or send it to the following address:
Indiana State Police, Criminal History Limited Check
P.O. Box 6188,
Indianapolis, IN, 46206-6188
If you have any questions regarding the request process, contact the Indiana State Police at 317-233-5424.
What can I do if my Indiana criminal history record has incomplete or inaccurate information?
The Indiana State Police Criminal Justice Services Section allows people to challenge incomplete or inaccurate information on an Indiana arrest record or another criminal history document, but you will need a fingerprint-based Full Criminal History report in order to do so.
To complete a Criminal Record Review Challenge, you must schedule an appointment to have an electronic fingerprint scanning at a designated service center. Follow the steps below to signup for a scan and complete the challenge:
- Visit this page and click “Request a Fingerprinting Appointment Online” at the bottom of the page.
- Click “Online Scheduling” on the IdentGO page.
- Select “Criminal Record Review/Challenge” from the dropbox and click “Go”
- Enter your zip code or choose your region of the state to find the nearest fingerprinting location.
- You will be presented with a list of fingerprint scan center options and a calendar. Schedule an appointment at a convenient time.
- Payment can be done online during scheduling with a credit or debit card or at the service center with a cashier’s check or money order.
- After completing the fingerprint scanning process, you will be given a Full Criminal History transcript or No Record Letter if you have no record in Indiana.
- With your Full Criminal History transcript, you may now challenge any part of your record by bringing it, along with any court documentation that supports your challenge, to this address:
Indiana State Police CJIS Section
Indiana Government Center North
Suite N-302
100 N. Senate Avenue
Indianapolis, IN 46204
How do I search Indiana court records?
Indiana court records can be searched online using the Case Search tool provided by the Indiana Judicial System.
Users can search court records with the following criteria:
- Case number
- Citation number
- Name or business
- Attorney
The following types of court records are searchable using Case Search:
- Criminal & citation records
- Civil case records
- Commercial records
- Appellate records
- Probate records
- Family court records
If a certain court record cannot be found using Case Search, you may able to access it by submitting a request to the clerk of court in the county where the case originated. Click here for the contact information of all Indiana courts.
Where can I find Indiana driving records online?
Indiana driving records (or driver records) can be accessed online through the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles.
A record will show an individual’s driving history, including citations, violations, suspensions fees owed, and more. You will need your driver’s license number in order to access a driver record.
The Indiana Driver Record page gives users two record options:
- Viewable Driver Record – Can be viewed online without paying a fee.
- Official Driver Record – This is a certified copy of a driving record that can be purchased, downloaded, and printing for a fee of $4.
Click here to view or order an Indiana driving record.
How do I look up Indiana vital records such as birth certificates and marriage licenses?
Vital records are records of important life events such as births, deaths, marriages, and divorces that are kept by government agencies and accessible upon request.
Vital records are not public records that can be viewed by anyone, but the subject(s) of the record and authorized family members can view them in-person or order copies through a number of means. Additionally, one or more vital records may be required to complete a background check.
The Indiana State Department of Health Division of Vital Records enlists the services of the third-party vendor Vital Chek to enable individuals to order copies of vital records online. The government-endorsed service offers vital records from 50 U.S. states and territories.
Available vital records include:
- birth certificates
- death certificates
Click here to place an order with Vital Chek.
For more information, contact the Indiana State Department of Health Division of Vital Records at 1-800-457-8283.
How do I search for a person’s sex offender status in Indiana?
Those convicted of sex-related crimes or certain crimes against children in Indiana are required by law to register as sex offenders. Additionally, offenders in the registry are required to notify law enforcement as soon as possible in the case of a physical address change or email address change, or they will be labeled “non-compliant”.
The Indiana Department of Correction makes the Indiana Sex and Violent Offender Registry available online to the general public in the interest of public safety. Users may search by name, city, area, or email address/internet name. However, certain low-risk offenders may not be viewable in the online database.
Click here to perform a search of the Indiana Sex and Violent Offender Registry. It’s important to stay informed about potential threats in your neighborhood in order to take the necessary precautions.
How do I perform a credit history background check in Indiana?
Performing a credit check in Indiana follows the same process as in other states. A federal law known as the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) grants every American one free annual credit report each from the three main U.S. credit bureaus:
In order to obtain your free credit report from one of these three bureaus, you must provide the following information:
- Full name
- Address
- Date of birth
- Social security number
