Washington County, IN Courts and Public Records
- Arrest Records
- Judgments
- Bankruptcies
- DUIs & DWIs
- Felonies
- Warrants
- Jail Records
- Lien Records
- Sex Offenses
- Misdemeanors
- Criminal Records
- Federal Dockets
The Washington County circuit and superior courts handle most trial-level cases filed in Washington County, and the Clerk of the Circuit Court keeps the court records.
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Court Name | Washington County Circuit Court and Superior Courts |
| Main Address | 801 S. Jackson Street, Suite 102, Salem, IN 47167 |
| Main Phone | 812-883-5748 |
| Clerk | Stephanie Rockey, Clerk of the Circuit Court |
| Courthouse Locations | 1 (Salem) |
| Handles | Criminal, civil, domestic relations, juvenile and probate cases, depending on the division |
| Does NOT Handle | Federal cases (U.S. District Court for Indiana), appeals to the Indiana Court of Appeals or Supreme Court, and parking tickets (the issuing agency) |
| Online Case Search | MyCase (statewide, mycase.in.gov) |
| Criminal Records Requests | Clerk of the Circuit Court, 812-883-5748 |
| Pay Traffic Tickets | Clerk of the Circuit Court, 812-883-5748; city and town court tickets may go through the local court |
How to Search Washington County Court Records
Have the full name, the case number if you know it, and approximate dates ready before you search. The Clerk of the Circuit Court keeps court records for Washington County.
Online
Go to mycase.in.gov and search by name or case number.
Use the statewide MyCase system for Indiana court case information.
Ask the clerk for any document that is not online.
Best for: Quick case status lookups
In Person
Go to the Clerk of the Circuit Court at 801 S. Jackson Street, Suite 102, Salem, IN 47167.
Bring the case number and party names if you have them.
Ask which office keeps the case type you need.
Best for: Records not available online
By Phone
Call the Clerk of the Circuit Court at 812-883-5748.
Ask which office holds your case and how to request copies.
Confirm the request steps before you send any paperwork.
Best for: Questions about where a case is kept
Search by Name on INCourts.org
Go to INCourts.org and enter a full name.
Search across record types without a case number.
Confirm results with the court, since they are not official court records.
Best for: Finding leads without a case number
Washington County Court Statistics (2024)
All trial courts in Washington County recorded 3,299 new filings in 2024, according to the Indiana Judicial Service Report. Totals include circuit, superior, county, city and town courts, and ordinance violations.
3,299
Total new filings in 2024 (+6.3% vs 2023)
862
Criminal filings in 2024
1,320
Civil filings in 2024 (incl. small claims)
116.4
Filings per 1,000 residents (population 28,345)
| Category | 2024 | 2023 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Criminal | 862 | 880 | -2.0% |
| Civil violations | 743 | 722 | +2.9% |
| Juvenile | 182 | 159 | +14.5% |
| Civil | 1,320 | 1,113 | +18.6% |
| Probate and adoption | 192 | 229 | -16.2% |
| Total | 3,299 | 3,103 | +6.3% |
How Have Court Filings Changed in Washington County?
New filings in Washington County rose 6.3% from 2023 to 2024, according to the Indiana Judicial Service Report. County figures are available for two years, so the county trend covers 2023 and 2024 only. Figures marked with ~ are estimates based on the other years shown for this county.
| Category | 2024 | 2023 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Criminal | 862 | 880 | -2.0% |
| Civil violations | 743 | 722 | +2.9% |
| Juvenile | 182 | 159 | +14.5% |
| Civil | 1,320 | 1,113 | +18.6% |
| Probate and adoption | 192 | 229 | -16.2% |
| Total | 3,299 | 3,103 | +6.3% |
Indiana statewide context
| Year | Indiana statewide new filings | Change vs prior year |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 950,557 | ~+4.8% |
| 2021 | 1,027,497 | +8.1% |
| 2022 | 1,017,793 | -0.9% |
| 2023 | 1,092,150 | +7.3% |
| 2024 | 1,144,342 | +4.8% |
Total new filings in Washington County rose from 3,103 in 2023 to 3,299 in 2024. Civil had the largest increase at +18.6%, and probate and adoption had the largest decrease at -16.2%. Statewide, new filings rose 20.4% from 2020 to 2024, with a dip in 2022.
What Types of Cases Are Filed in Washington County?
Civil is the largest category of Washington County filings in 2024, at 40.0% of the 3,299 total. The table shows each category with the county's 2024 filings and its share of the county total.
| Case Type | Filings 2024 | Share of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Civil (small claims, evictions, collections, domestic relations, protective orders, mental health, tax and other civil matters) | 1,320 | 40.0% |
| Criminal (felonies, misdemeanors, post-conviction and other criminal matters) | 862 | 26.1% |
| Civil violations (infractions and ordinance violations) | 743 | 22.5% |
| Probate and adoption (probate and adoption matters) | 192 | 5.8% |
| Juvenile (delinquency, CHINS, status, paternity, protection orders and other juvenile matters) | 182 | 5.5% |
| Total | 3,299 | 100.0% |
Civil grew fastest at +18.6%, and Probate and adoption fell fastest at -16.2%, in 2024 compared with 2023.
How Does Washington County Compare With Indiana Overall?
Washington County had 3,299 new filings in 2024, or 0.3% of the 1,144,342 filed statewide. The county holds 0.4% of Indiana's population, so its filing rate is 30% below the statewide rate.
| Metric | Washington County | Indiana statewide | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) | 28,383 | 6,973,333 | 0.4% of the state population |
| Total new filings (2024) | 3,299 | 1,144,342 | 0.3% of statewide filings |
| Criminal filings | 862 | 268,772 | 0.3% of statewide criminal filings |
| Civil violations filings | 743 | 354,393 | 0.2% of statewide civil violations |
| Juvenile filings | 182 | 55,264 | 0.3% of statewide juvenile filings |
| Civil filings | 1,320 | 437,989 | 0.3% of statewide civil filings |
| Probate and adoption filings | 192 | 27,924 | 0.7% of statewide probate and adoption filings |
| Filings per 1,000 residents | 116.4 | 165.3 | 30% below the statewide rate |
The county's share of statewide filings is smaller than its share of the population, so its courts carry fewer filings per resident than the state average. Totals include city and town courts and ordinance violations, so infraction counts shape the comparison.
Washington County Crime Statistics (2025)
These figures are Indiana statewide totals as reported to the FBI, not counts for Washington County. Agency reporting may be incomplete, and county crime counts are not available here. Statewide violent and property crimes combined fell 15.1% from 2024 to 2025. In 2025, reporting agencies covered about 87.8% of Indiana's population, so year-over-year changes can partly reflect which agencies reported.
18,415
Violent crimes, Indiana statewide, 2025
76,771
Property crimes, Indiana statewide, 2025 (includes arson)
264.1
Violent crime rate per 100K, Indiana statewide, 2025 (population 6,973,333)
-15.1%
Change in total violent plus property crimes, Indiana statewide, 2025 vs 2024 (95,186 vs 112,089)
| Offense | 2025 | Rate per 100K | 2024 | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Murder | 304 | 4.4 | 396 | -23.2% |
| Rape | 2,111 | 30.3 | 2,261 | -6.6% |
| Robbery | 1,948 | 27.9 | 2,371 | -17.8% |
| Aggravated assault | 14,052 | 201.5 | 16,069 | -12.6% |
| Violent crimes total | 18,415 | 264.1 | 21,097 | -12.7% |
| Burglary | 9,580 | 137.4 | 11,511 | -16.8% |
| Larceny-theft | 55,827 | 800.6 | 64,944 | -14.0% |
| Motor vehicle theft | 10,842 | 155.5 | 13,937 | -22.2% |
| Property crimes total | 76,771 | 1100.9 | 90,992 | -15.6% |
Rates use the Indiana 2025 population of 6,973,333. County-level rates are not published, so this section does not compare Washington County with the state. The property crimes total includes arson, so it is larger than the sum of the property offenses listed above.
Washington County Courthouse Locations
Washington County has 1 listed Clerk of the Circuit Court location in Salem. Check your notice or ticket for the division or courtroom before you go, and call ahead to confirm.
| Courthouse | Address | Phone | Verified Services |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clerk of the Circuit Court, Salem | 801 S. Jackson Street, Suite 102, Salem, IN 47167 | 812-883-5748 | Clerk of the Circuit Court office; other services are not verified here |
Which Court Handles Your Case in Washington County?
Most Washington County cases are heard by the circuit and superior courts, while some traffic, parking and ordinance matters go to local courts or the issuing agency.
| Your Situation | Go To | Key Details |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic ticket | Circuit or superior court, or the city or town court that issued the ticket | Check the citation for the court named on it, or call the clerk. |
| Parking ticket | The city, town or agency that issued the ticket | Parking tickets are generally not handled by the circuit or superior court. |
| Misdemeanor | Circuit or superior court, criminal division | Confirm the division with the Clerk of the Circuit Court, 812-883-5748. |
| Felony | Circuit or superior court, criminal division | Felony cases are filed in the circuit or superior courts. |
| DUI | Circuit or superior court | Check the charge on your paperwork and confirm the court with the clerk. |
| Domestic violence | Circuit or superior court | Protection orders and related criminal charges are handled by the circuit or superior courts. |
| Civil lawsuit | Circuit or superior court, civil division | Confirm the division with the Clerk of the Circuit Court, 812-883-5748. |
| Small claims | Circuit or superior court, small claims docket | Small claims are heard by the circuit or superior court, depending on the county. |
| Eviction | Circuit or superior court that serves the county | Eviction cases are filed with the trial court; confirm the division with the clerk. |
| Divorce | Circuit or superior court, domestic relations division | Confirm the division with the Clerk of the Circuit Court, 812-883-5748. |
| Child custody or support | Circuit or superior court, domestic relations or juvenile division | The division depends on the case and how the county assigns it. |
| Probate or estate | Circuit or superior court, probate matters | Confirm where the file is kept with the Clerk of the Circuit Court, 812-883-5748. |
| Juvenile case | Circuit or superior court, juvenile division | Juvenile proceedings are confidential under Indiana law. |
| Appeal | Indiana Court of Appeals or Indiana Supreme Court | Appeals from trial courts go to the state appellate courts, not the county clerk. |
Are Washington County Court Records Public?
Yes, most Washington County court records are public, with exceptions set by Indiana court rules and law.
Public records
Indiana Supreme Court Administrative Rule 9 governs public access to court records, with exceptions. Most case files in the circuit and superior courts are open, including dockets, filings and orders. The Indiana Access to Public Records Act covers executive-branch records and does not itself govern court files.
Restricted or confidential records
Juvenile, sealed, expunged, adoption, mental health and protective-order-restricted records are not publicly available.
Online access
MyCase is the statewide public case search for Indiana courts. Online results show case information, not every document, and confidential records are not shown.
In-person access
Visit the Clerk of the Circuit Court at 801 S. Jackson Street, Suite 102, Salem, IN 47167 to view or request records. Call 812-883-5748 to confirm which office holds your case.
Fees
This page does not list fee amounts. Ask the Clerk of the Circuit Court about copy fees before you visit.
How to Search Washington County Court Records Online
Use MyCase to search Washington County court cases online, and ask the Clerk of the Circuit Court for documents that are not online.
- Identify the case type, such as criminal, traffic, civil, small claims, family law, probate or juvenile.
- Open MyCase at mycase.in.gov to search Indiana public court cases.
- Search by party name or case number and note the case number from the results.
- Review the case details for status, parties and scheduled dates.
- Contact the Clerk of the Circuit Court at 812-883-5748 to request documents that are not online.
| Case Type | Where to Search | What You'll Find | Limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Criminal | MyCase | Case information for criminal cases | Documents may require the clerk |
| Traffic | MyCase | Case information for traffic cases | Payment is handled separately from record search |
| Civil | MyCase | Case information for civil cases | Sealed or restricted filings are not shown |
| Small claims | MyCase | Case information for small claims | Documents may require the clerk |
| Family law | MyCase | Case information for domestic relations cases | Confidential details are restricted |
| Probate | Clerk of the Circuit Court, 812-883-5748 | Probate file information, as the clerk confirms | Not a general MyCase search; call the clerk |
| Juvenile | Clerk of the Circuit Court, 812-883-5748 | Limited case information through the clerk | Juvenile proceedings are confidential and not public online |
How to Pay Fines & Citations in Washington County
Contact the Clerk of the Circuit Court to confirm how to pay a fine or citation in Washington County before you pay.
- Phone: Call the Clerk of the Circuit Court at 812-883-5748 to confirm payment options for your traffic citation or criminal fine. Have the case number ready.
- In person: Visit the Clerk of the Circuit Court at 801 S. Jackson Street, Suite 102, Salem, IN 47167 to ask about payment. Confirm the payment methods and office hours before you go.
- City or town court: If the ticket came from a city or town court, ask that court how to pay, since those tickets may go through the local court.
Parking tickets are generally paid to the city, town or agency that issued them, not to the circuit or superior court.
Washington County Court Records FAQ
How do I search Washington County court records?
Search Indiana public court cases on MyCase by name or case number, or call the Clerk of the Circuit Court at 812-883-5748.
Are Washington County court records public?
Most are, under Indiana Supreme Court Administrative Rule 9, but juvenile, sealed, expunged and other confidential records are not public.
How do I find a criminal case?
Search by name in MyCase, or call the Clerk of the Circuit Court at 812-883-5748 with the defendant's name.
How do I find a court date?
Check your ticket or notice, search the case in MyCase, or call the Clerk of the Circuit Court at 812-883-5748.
How do I pay a traffic ticket?
Call the Clerk of the Circuit Court at 812-883-5748 to confirm payment options, or ask the city or town court that issued the ticket.
How many cases are filed in Washington County each year?
All trial courts in Washington County recorded 3,299 new filings in 2024, 6.3% more than the 3,103 in 2023, according to the Indiana Judicial Service Report.
What is the most common type of case?
Civil was the largest category in 2024, with 1,320 filings or 40.0% of the 3,299 total.
Is crime in Indiana rising or falling?
County crime counts are not available here. Statewide, reported violent crimes fell 12.7% to 18,415 in 2025 from 21,097 in 2024, and property crimes fell 15.6% to 76,771 from 90,992, as reported to the FBI. These are Indiana statewide figures, and reporting coverage changed between years.
Courts in the County
Washington County Circuit CourtMore Info
| Address: | 801 S. Jackson St., Salem, IN, 47167 |
| Phone Number: | 812-883-5302 |
| Fax: | 812-896-0827 |
| Website: | http://washingtoncounty.in.gov/government/laws_courts_and_justice/circuit_court.php |
Useful Links
- MyCase: Indiana's Case Management System - This is Indiana's statewide case management system where you can search for court cases and filings.
- Washington County Courts: Official Government Website - Official resource for Washington County's court system offering insights into courts, services, and contact information.
- Indiana Judiciary: Self-Service Legal Center - Offers tools and resources for self-representation and understanding legal proceedings in Indiana.
- MyCase Search: Indiana Court Records Public Access - Online platform for accessing public court records and various case details across Indiana.
- Indiana Courts: Court Forms and Rules - Access to court forms and rules essential for legal proceedings and court filings in Indiana.
- Washington County Judicial Listings - Comprehensive listing of Washington County judicial offices and individuals, including courts and clerk details.
- Indiana Courts: Parenting Time Guidelines - Provides guidelines for parenting time and custody arrangements in the state of Indiana, valuable for family law cases.
- Indiana Legal Services: Non-Profit Legal Support - Non-profit organization offering legal aid and services to eligible low-income individuals in Indiana.
- Indiana State Bar Association: Legal Community and Resources - Principal professional organization for legal professionals in Indiana, offering resources and member support.
- Indiana Legal Help: Resource for Self-Help - Website offering legal resources and assistance tools for individuals representing themselves in legal matters.
- Washington County Clerk's Office - Official website for the Washington County Clerk's Office providing resources on vital records and court services.
- Indiana Public Media: Insights on Court Cost Solutions - Discusses the state's efforts to address challenges related to court costs and public access solutions in Indiana.
- Historic Indiana Courthouses: Washington County - Details on the historic courthouses within Washington County, including architectural and historical significance.
- Indiana Courts: Jury Duty Information - Essential information for individuals called for jury duty in Indiana, explaining responsibilities and procedures.
- Washington County Public Records Directory - Resource for accessing various public records within Washington County, including criminal, court, and vital records.
- Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence - Organization providing support and legal resources for victims of domestic violence across Indiana.
- Indiana Courts: Information and Updates - Central hub for updates, news, and information related to the judicial system across Indiana.
- Indiana Public Retirement System - Information on retirement benefits for individuals working within Indiana's public sector, including court employees.
- Doxpop: Accessing Indiana Court Records - Service providing online access to various court records across Indiana, useful for legal professionals and the public.
- Washington County Board: Public Notices - Public notices and meeting information related to governance and public affairs within Washington County.
Table of Contents
- Washington County, Courts and Public Records
- How to Search Washington County Court Records
- Washington County Court Statistics (2024)
- How Have Court Filings Changed in Washington County?
- What Types of Cases Are Filed in Washington County?
- How Does Washington County Compare With Indiana Overall?
- Washington County Crime Statistics (2025)
- Washington County Courthouse Locations
- Which Court Handles Your Case in Washington County?
- Are Washington County Court Records Public?
- How to Search Washington County Court Records Online
- How to Pay Fines & Citations in Washington County
- Washington County Court Records FAQ
- Courts in the County
- Useful Links