(This page's most recent update is May 2025)
Another type of genealogy record that provides tremendous value is criminal records. Some of our ancestors unfortunately got in trouble with the law. Records were kept, from arrests through court cases to prison documents. Now, more and more of these records are being digitized or transcribed and are being made available online.
Types of Records
- Criminal court proceedings
- Police reports
- Prison and jail admission registers
- Arrest records
- Mug books
- Pardon and discharge information
- Hospital record books
- Workhouse records
Types of Information
- Name
- Age
- Birth date
- Height
- Weight
- Complexion
- Eye color
- Hair color
- Nationality
- Occupation
- Education
- Habits (alcohol use)
- Relations (parents living)
- Date incarcerated
- Court where charged
- Recommitments
- How and when discharged
Note: Some links listed take you to a FamilySearch Collection of digital images. Near the bottom of the page under Film/Digital Notes is the name of each sub-collection. If there is a camera icon at the right of the name (in the Format column) then the collections’ images are browsable. If there is a camera with a key icon, it is only available at a Family History Center or affiliated library. If there is a film reel icon, then it is only available in microfilm format, not digital. To take full advantage make sure that you are logged in to FamilySearch. The results may be different if you are signed in, rather than not.
Listed below are links to criminal records that are available for free online for the state; the first list is for multi-state collections:
Indiana Criminal Records
United States
- Before the Needles, Executions in America Database
- Death Penalty USA, Executions 1607-1976 (by state)
- Federal Bureau of Prisons, Inmate Search 1982-
- Freedmen’s Bureau Records Relating to Murders and Outrages
Indiana
- Allen County, Circuit Court Record General Index
- Allen County, Civil and Criminal Case Files, 1820-1940
- Allen County, Probate Records, Probate Case Files, 1821-1935
- Allen County, Superior Court Records, Civil, Criminal, and Adoption Case Files, 1923-1939
- Brown County, Circuit Court Records, Civil and Criminal, 1836 to 1945, Index
- Camp Morton, Indianapolis, Prison Camp, 1861-1865
- Clark County, Reformatory Cemetery AKA Jeffersonville Prison South Cemetery
- Executions in Indiana
- Hendricks County, Indiana Boys School Cemetery
- Index to Life Prisoner’s Statements: State Prison at Michigan City
- Indiana Archives, Department of Corrections, Index Records
- Indiana Department of Corrections
- Indiana, Department of Correction Records
- Indiana, Department of Corrections, Boys School
- Indiana, Department of Corrections, Girls School
- Indiana, Department of Corrections, Indiana State Farm
- Indiana, Department of Corrections, Indiana State Prison North
- Indiana, Department of Corrections, Indiana State Prison South
- Indiana, Department of Corrections, Indiana State Reformatory
- Indiana, Department of Corrections, Indiana Womens Prison
- Indiana, Descriptive List of Convicts in the State
- Indiana, Indiana Archives Digital Index Records
- Indiana, Prisoners Deaths
- Indiana, World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, Prisoners, Insane, In Hospitals, 1917-1918
- La Porte County, Indiana State Prison Cemetery
- La Porte County, Indiana State Prison Cemetery
- La Porte, Old Indiana State Prison North Cemetery
- LaPorte County, Index to Life Prisoner’s Statements
- Miami County, Order Books, Court of Common Pleas, 1853-
- Randolph County, Jail, 1909-1918
- Randolph County, Residents in the Indiana Boys School, the Indiana Industrial School for Girls, and the Indiana Reformatory for Women
- Sullivan County, Court Records, 1882-1894
- Wabash Valley, Indictments Circuit Court Criminal Records 1861-1865
Good Luck and Happy Hunting!