Elkhart County, Indiana Inmate Search
An inmate search allows an individual to find out who is currently being held in a jail or correctional facility and to view details about their custody. This process is often used by family members, attorneys, employers, and others to locate individuals in custody, view recent bookings, and review aspects of their detention.
The Elkhart County Sheriff’s Office is primarily responsible for the county jail and also manages inmate searches within the county. The Elkhart County Sheriff’s Corrections Division oversees the Correctional Complex, which houses most individuals (adults) arrested within Elkhart County pending release, bail out, or transfer to another facility.
Notably, individuals arrested by city police departments in Elkhart County are processed and housed at the Elkhart County Correctional Complex. Nonetheless, local agencies, such as the Elkhart Police Department and the Goshen Police Department, may operate temporary holding cells where short-term detainees are held before transfer to the county facility.
How to Find an Inmate in Elkhart County Jail
To locate anyone currently held at the Elkhart County Jail operated by the Elkhart County Sheriff’s Office, researchers can use the county’s online inmate search tool or contact the facility directly:
Online Inmate Lookup
The Sheriff’s Office provides a link to the INjail Public Portal, an inmate roster that allows researchers to search by last name and view basic custody details remotely.
Direct Contact
Individuals unable to use the remote search tool can contact the Elkhart County Jail by phone or mail and provide the full name of the inmate they seek.
Elkhart County Sheriff’s Department and Jail
26861 County Road 26
Elkhart, IN 46517
How to Use the Elkhart County Jail Roster
Elkhart County’s jail roster is available on the Elkhart Sheriff’s Office website as follows.
- Access the Inmate Lookup Tool: Navigate to the Corrections section of the Sheriff’s website, and select "Inmate Lookup."
- Initiate a Search: On the query page, begin a search by entering a name. The roster is indexed by last and first names, making it possible to start with the last name if the spelling is uncertain.
- Refine Results (Optional): Use a known identifier, such as the date of birth, to help distinguish individuals with similar names.
- Specify Location: Use the county selector to ensure that only results from the Elkhart County Jail are displayed.
- Search for Recent Arrests (Optional): If the booking time frame is known, utilize the "Booked Between" filter.
- Verify Information: Review the results.
What Information is Included in the Elkhart County Inmate Roster
The Elkhart County inmate/jail roster provides detailed booking and identification information for individuals in custody. A typical Elkhart inmate search shows the following details:
Identification Details:
Each record typically displays the inmate’s full name and an internal INjail ID number, as well as physical descriptors such as race, ethnicity, skin tone, age, sex, eye color, height, and weight. A mugshot is also included in the results.
Booking and Arrest Information:
This section of the record confirms the current status of the individual, whether the individual has been released or is still in custody. The section includes the following:
- County of arrest
- Date booked
- Booking number
- Arrest date
- Arresting agency
- Arresting officer
- Release date (If applicable)
Case and Court Details
Details related to the court proceedings.
- Case number
- Assigned court
- Next scheduled hearing date
- General charge descriptions
- Total charge count
- Bond amount, if set
However, even though Indiana’s Access to Public Records Act (APRA) allows public access to the above information, there are exceptions, such as the following:
- Juvenile records
- Confidential victim information
- Medical or mental health information
- Active investigative details
- Sealed or expunged records.
Contact Details for Elkhart County Jail or Sheriff’s Office
The Elkhart County Sheriff’s Office and jail can be contacted for official updates, including custody verification, visitation questions, or record inquiries. Both the Sheriff’s administrative office and the jail facility are located at the same county address.
|
Office |
Address |
Phone |
Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Elkhart County Sheriff’s Office |
26861 County Road 26, Elkhart, Indiana 46517 |
(574) 891-2100 |
General inquiries, records, administration |
|
Elkhart County Jail (Correctional Complex) |
26861 County Road 26, Elkhart, Indiana 46517 |
(574) 891-2100 |
Booking, custody status, visitation information |
Jail Facility Overview in Elkhart County
The Elkhart County Sheriff’s Office operates one primary adult detention facility called the Elkhart County Correctional Complex. This facility houses adult male and female inmates, including individuals awaiting trial and those serving county-level sentences. Inmates are housed according to varying custody classifications; these classifications include minimum, medium, and higher security designations. Inmate housing is primarily based on the classification procedure conducted by jail staff.
The Elkhart County Correctional Complex houses 950 inmates, though capacity figures may fluctuate with operational adjustments.
Juvenile Detention
In Elkhart County, juveniles are not housed in the adult jail; they are housed in a separate Juvenile Detention Center, administered through the county’s Juvenile Services division. The juvenile facility primarily houses minors below 18 and youths under court supervision.
|
Agency |
Office and Mail Address |
Phone Number |
Office Hours |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Elkhart County Correctional Complex |
26861 County Road 26, Elkhart, Indiana 46517 |
(574) 891-2100 |
24 hours daily all through the week |
No public direct jail email listed |
|
Elkhart County Juvenile Detention Center |
Elkhart County Correctional Complex Building C 26861 County Road 26, Elkhart, Indiana 46517 |
(574) 891-2249 |
24 hours a day, full week |
How to Send Money to an Inmate in Elkhart County Correctional Complex
In Elkhart County, the jail administration allows friends/family to send money to an inmate by depositing funds into the inmate’s account at the correctional complex. These funds can be used for a range of commissary purchases, including barber services, medical expenses, court-imposed fines, restitution, and other approved costs.
Below are approved means through which funds can be sent to inmates housed in the Elkhart County Correctional Complex:
Lobby ATM (On-Site Deposits)
Individuals who prefer in-person deposits can use the ATMs in the corrections facility lobby. Through the partnership with commissary vendors, this machine allows visitors to deposit money via cash or credit/debit card:
Funds deposited are immediately available to the inmate. Each transaction attracts a convenience fee of $3.75, and there are no specified deposit limits.
Online Deposits through Approved Third-Parties
Funds can also be deposited remotely through approved third-party programs. Depositors must create an account using an email address and log in to that account for future deposits, which can be processed with either a credit or debit card.
Please note that money orders are no longer accepted for inmate accounts, and funds sent via the lobby ATM or through accepted third-party services are subject to a convenience fee.
Inmate Search by Jail Facility
All adult inmates and detainees are housed at the Elkhart County Correctional Complex, the central jail facility. To locate inmates at the facility, interested parties can use the Sheriff’s Office online inmate search tool (roster). Searches can typically be conducted using someone’s name or booking information.
Juvenile offenders, on the other hand, are housed separately through the Elkhart County Juvenile Detention Center. While this facility does not provide a public remote search database, inquiries about juvenile detainees can be directed to Juvenile Services or the appropriate court. However, juvenile records are generally confidential under Indiana law and released only to authorized individuals.
|
Facility |
Public Inmate Search Availability |
Where to Find Information |
|---|---|---|
|
Elkhart County Correctional Complex (Adult Jail) |
Yes |
Sheriff’s Office online jail roster |
|
Elkhart County Juvenile Detention Center |
No |
Contact Juvenile Services or the handling court |
Elkhart County Visitation Rules and Schedules
Elkhart County Correctional Complex offers both on-site and remote (video) visitation options. The county structures visits to ensure safety while maintaining relationships between inmates and their families. The following sets of individuals are typically allowed to visit inmates in the Elkhart adult facility:
- Approved family members and friends
- Attorneys may schedule confidential remote visits
- Visitors of any age, Minors, however, are required to be accompanied by a parent/guardian
All visitors are required to complete a registration and approval process before scheduling a visit.
Identification and Approval Requirements
Before visiting, visitors will need to
- Register remotely or in the facility lobby to create an account
- Receive login credentials
- Schedule the visit 24 hours in advance
Upon arrival at the facility (for on-site visits), visitors are required to show a valid government-issued photo ID, including a state-issued driver’s license or ID, United States government ID, Passport, Matricula Consular card, or religious identification without a photo.
Visitors should note that a mandatory search is required before entering the visitation area.
Visit Limits and Length
- Inmates are allowed one on-site visit per day; however, the frequency varies by classification.
- Only one adult and one child are permitted at a visitation booth at a time.
- Remote visits are available in 20- or 40-minute sessions and typically attract a fee.
On-Site Visitation Hours
- On-site visitation is available any day the lobby is open, typically between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
- Visitors are to arrive on time and report directly to the assigned booth at the scheduled start time.
Remote Visitation Hours
- Remote visitations are available Monday through Sunday and typically run from 9:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
- Remote visitations should be scheduled at least 24 hours beforehand and require a device with a camera and a microphone.
Dress Code and Behavior Expectations
Visitors are expected to dress appropriately. Spandex or overly tight clothing; shorts,; clothing with logos related to weapons, drugs, or gangs; and certain sports apparel associated with gang activities are not allowed. Head coverings are permitted only for medical or religious reasons.
During visits, no discussion or planning of criminal activity is allowed. Visitors must also conduct themselves adequately and not be under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Mailing and Commissary Information
Inmates at the Elkhart County Correctional Complex no longer receive personal mail directly at the jail; all non-legal mail is sent to the address below, where it is scanned before being delivered to inmates’ tablets. The correct address format is provided on the Sheriff’s website.
For each personal mail, the inmate’s full name and ID number must be clearly written on the envelope. Mail is scanned by a vendor, delivered electronically to the inmate, and the original is destroyed. Prohibited items include pornographic images, violent or threatening content, depictions of illegal activity, or contaminated materials.
Legal mail, on the other hand, is sent directly to
Elkhart County Corrections Center
26861 County Road 26
Elkhart, Indiana 46517
Privileged legal mail is opened in the presence of the receiving inmate.
Commissary Deposits
Funds can be deposited in person at the lobby, either in cash or by card (credit or debit), or remotely through approved third-party services, as explained under the "How to Send Money to an Inmate in Elkhart County Correctional Complex" heading.