Find Howard County Arrest Records
Howard County arrest records are kept by the Howard County Sheriff's Office in Kokomo. The county has about 83,000 residents and is centered on Kokomo, a mid-sized city in north-central Indiana. The sheriff handles jail operations and county-level law enforcement, while the Kokomo Police Department covers the city. Both agencies generate arrest records that flow through the county jail and court system.
Howard County Quick Facts
Howard County Sheriff and Jail
The Howard County Sheriff's Office is the main county-level law enforcement agency. It runs the Howard County Jail, patrols the county, and manages records. The Kokomo Police Department handles arrests within city limits, but all bookings go through the county jail. Each booking record contains the person's name, date of birth, charges, bond amount, and booking date.
The Howard County Sheriff's Office website is a key resource for arrest records.
The sheriff's website has links to jail information, inmate search, and records requests.
Howard County provides an online inmate search tool. This lets you look up people currently held in the jail without calling or visiting.
Use the inmate search page to find current inmates by name.
These booking records are public under Indiana Code 5-14-3, Indiana's Access to Public Records Act. Anyone can request them. For records not available online, contact the sheriff's office by phone, in person, or in writing. Provide the person's full name and date of birth for the fastest results.
The state also provides information about Howard County services through its county pages.
The county services page links to local government offices including the sheriff and courts.
Note: Howard County has seen significant issues with drug-related crime, particularly methamphetamine and opioids. This has affected both arrest rates and jail populations in the Kokomo area.
Howard County Court Records Search
Criminal cases from Howard County arrests are filed in the Howard Circuit Court and Howard Superior Courts in Kokomo. The county has multiple court divisions to handle its caseload. The clerk's office manages all filings and maintains the official case records.
Search Howard County court records for free on the MyCase portal.
Enter a name or case number to find charges, hearing dates, and outcomes for Howard County.
Court records tell you what happened after the arrest. The booking log shows the initial arrest and charges. The court record reveals whether the prosecutor filed those charges, whether they were reduced, what plea was entered, and what sentence was imposed. If someone was arrested in Howard County and the case was later dismissed, the court record documents that.
Howard County also runs specialty courts including drug court, which handles many cases given the area's substance abuse challenges. Cases in drug court follow a different path than regular criminal cases, but records are still searchable through MyCase.
The Howard County Clerk's Office provides copies of court documents for a fee. Visit the courthouse in Kokomo or call ahead to check on specific records.
Statewide Records Tools
The Indiana State Police criminal history check covers Howard County and all other Indiana counties. It costs $15 per name. Results include felony and Class A misdemeanor arrests reported to the state repository. Given Kokomo's size, Howard County generally reports well to the state system.
The ISP Criminal History Services page is where you run a statewide check.
Create an account, submit the person's name, and pay $15.70 by credit card.
State tools for Howard County arrest records:
- MyCase for court records across Indiana
- INjail for current jail inmates by county
- Indiana DOC offender locator for people in state prison
- ISP Criminal History for paid background checks
Howard County is surrounded by smaller counties in north-central Indiana. People who live in the Kokomo area may also have records in Tipton, Clinton, or Grant counties. The ISP statewide search covers all of them at once.
Note: The ISP check is not instant. Allow a few days for processing, depending on volume.
Howard County Expungement
Under Indiana Code 35-38-9, people with certain arrest or conviction records in Howard County can petition for expungement. Arrests without charges can be sealed after one year. Misdemeanor convictions generally qualify after five years. Some felony convictions may be eligible after longer waiting periods depending on the offense.
File the petition in the Howard County court where the original case was heard. The petition must include case details, your criminal history since the incident, and a statement of eligibility. The prosecutor can respond, and the judge decides. Filing fees apply, with waivers available for those who cannot pay.
Howard County has legal resources to help with expungement. The Kokomo area has private attorneys who handle these cases, and Indiana Legal Services covers the region. The Kokomo Bar Association may also be able to connect you with an attorney. Once records are sealed, they no longer appear on MyCase or in ISP background checks.
Cities in Howard County
Howard County includes the city of Kokomo, which has a population above 25,000 and has its own dedicated page. Kokomo is the county seat and the main population center. The Kokomo Police Department handles arrests within city limits, while the sheriff covers the rest of the county. Other communities include Greentown and Russiaville.