Search Adams County Jail Mugshots
Adams County jail mugshots and inmate records are maintained by the Adams County Sheriff's Department in Decatur, Indiana. If you need to find booking photos, check who is currently held in the county jail, or look up arrest details for someone in Adams County, this page covers the main ways to get that information. The county does not run a public online inmate roster, so your options include contacting the sheriff's office directly or using statewide tools like VINE.
Adams County Quick Facts
Adams County Jail Mugshots and Booking Records
When someone is arrested in Adams County, the booking process begins at the Adams County Jail in Decatur. Deputies take a booking photo, also called a mugshot, along with fingerprints. Indiana Code IC 36-2-13-5 lays out the sheriff's duty to photograph and fingerprint people taken into custody for felonies or misdemeanors. That booking photo becomes part of the arrest record.
Adams County does not post a live inmate roster online at this time. That means you can't just visit a web page and browse current inmates the way you can in some larger Indiana counties. Your best options are to call the sheriff's office at 260-724-5345 or use the VINE notification system. VINE lets you search by name and set up alerts if someone is released.
The sheriff's office is located at 911 W Peacekeepers Way, Decatur, IN 46733. Office hours run Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. If you call after hours for an urgent matter, dispatch can help direct you.
The Adams County Sheriff's Department homepage provides contact details and department information for those seeking Adams County jail mugshots.
Staff can confirm whether a specific person is currently booked at the facility.
What Adams County Arrest Records Contain
Indiana law is clear about what must be released when someone is arrested. Under IC 5-14-3-5, agencies must make public the arrested person's name, age, and address. The date, time, and location of the arrest must also be disclosed. The law requires release of the arresting officer's name, the charges filed, and the bail or bond amount set.
So when you request Adams County jail mugshots or booking records, you should get that core set of facts. The booking photo itself is generally considered a public record under Indiana's Access to Public Records Act. However, some records can be withheld. IC 5-14-3-4 carves out exceptions for investigatory records and other confidential information. If an arrest is part of an active investigation, some details may not be released right away.
Using VINE to Find Adams County Inmates
VINE stands for Victim Information and Notification Everyday. It's a free statewide service that lets anyone look up an inmate in an Indiana county jail or state prison. You can search by name at VineLink.com or call the VINE hotline at 1-866-959-8463 (1-866-959-VINE) any time, day or night.
For Adams County residents or anyone trying to track a person in custody there, VINE is often the fastest path. The system shows current custody status and location. You can also sign up for alerts. VINE will call or text you when the person's status changes, such as when they post bond or are transferred.
Indiana SAVIN is a related tool. Visit Indiana SAVIN to search for offenders in the state system. This is more useful for people who have moved from county jail to a state facility, but it's worth knowing about.
Adams County Inmate Search Through the Courts
Court records are a second route. Indiana Courts runs a free public portal called MyCase. At MyCase, you can search by name and pull up case filings, charges, and hearing dates. This won't show a mugshot, but it will show you the criminal charges and the court docket for someone arrested in Adams County.
MyCase is useful when you want more than just custody status. It shows the full history of a case: initial charges, any amended charges, bond amounts, future court dates, and dispositions. It's free and open to the public with no login required.
The Adams County Circuit Court handles most felony and serious misdemeanor cases. The county's courts also handle civil matters, but criminal filings related to arrests are what you'll find most useful when looking up arrest-related details.
Adams County Sheriff's Department Contact and Jail Details
Sheriff Dan Mawhorr leads the Adams County Sheriff's Department. The office covers the full county, which sits in the northeast corner of Indiana near the Ohio border. The jail processes arrests from city police in Decatur and from county deputies working the rural parts of Adams County.
To contact the sheriff's office:
- Address: 911 W Peacekeepers Way, Decatur, IN 46733
- Phone: 260-724-5345
- Fax: 260-724-5346
- Hours: Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Staff can confirm holds, bond amounts, and scheduled release dates. For records requests, the office follows Indiana's public records law. You may submit a written request for booking records or arrest reports.
Expungement and Adams County Arrest Records
Not every arrest leads to a conviction. And in Indiana, people who were arrested but not convicted, or who completed their sentence, may be able to have their records restricted. Under IC 35-38-5-5, expungement can limit public access to criminal history records. An expunged record doesn't automatically disappear from all databases, but it does restrict what government agencies can share.
If you find someone in Adams County arrest records who believes they qualify for expungement, they should speak with an attorney. The Indiana State Bar can provide referrals. Legal aid organizations also operate in northeast Indiana and may be able to help people with lower incomes navigate the expungement process.
Indiana's Public Access Counselor also handles questions about what records must be released and what can be withheld. The Indiana Public Access Counselor's office publishes guidance, including a specific opinion on mugshots and warrants, at this PDF from the PAC.
Indiana State Police and Criminal History for Adams County
The Indiana State Police maintains a statewide criminal history database. Law enforcement agencies can share limited criminal history with the public under IC 10-13-3-27. The ISP Criminal History Services page explains how to request a background check and what information is available through official channels.
This is separate from jail records. Criminal history includes convictions, not just arrests. It's useful if you need a broader picture of someone's record beyond just a recent Adams County arrest.
Cities in Adams County
Arrests made in Adams County cities are processed through the Adams County Jail in Decatur. There are no major cities with individual pages in Adams County. All arrests in Adams County are processed through the Adams County Sheriff's Office.
Nearby Counties
Adams County borders several northeast Indiana counties, each with their own jail and booking records.