Elkhart County Booking Lookup: Find Custody, Bond, Visits and Court Dates
If someone was arrested in Elkhart County, the first question is usually simple—“Are they in jail?”—but the next steps are not. You may need the inmate ID for mail, the correct bond method, a video-visit appointment, the court date, or confirmation that the person was transferred.
This guide puts the important Elkhart County rules in one place. Use the live Indiana jail portal only when you need current custody data; the rest of the page explains what to do after the search, including bonds, visits, calls, voicemail, mail scanning, commissary deposits, court records, public-record requests, victim notifications, release checks and safety concerns.
Indiana County Jail Public Portal; select Elkhart County.
26861 County Road 26, Elkhart, IN 46517.
9:30 a.m.–9:30 p.m. daily; schedule 24 hours ahead.
Checked August 17, 2026 against official county/state information.
Choose the fastest route based on what you already know
Open the Indiana county-jail portal, select Elkhart County and begin with the last name. Verify the identity before taking another action.
Save the exact name, inmate ID, booking information, charge, bond information and case number before closing the search.
Move to Indiana MyCase. The jail roster answers custody questions; MyCase answers court, hearing and disposition questions.
How to run an Elkhart County Jail inmate search
The Elkhart County Sheriff’s Office directs the public to Indiana’s statewide county-jail public portal. The county provides its inmate information to that system but does not administer the statewide lookup website itself.
What to save after you find the correct inmate
A useful inmate search should lead directly to the next action. Before closing the live result, save the identifiers you may need for mail, money, court or bond questions.
| Information | Why it matters | Where you use it |
|---|---|---|
| Exact inmate name | Prevents mail, deposit and account mistakes. | Mail, JailATM, visitation and jail calls. |
| Inmate ID | Required on Elkhart County non-legal inmate mail. | Mailing address and inmate-service identification. |
| Booking information | Helps distinguish current custody from an older case. | Jail calls, bonds and public-record requests. |
| Charge | Shows the allegation associated with the booking. | Court search and attorney discussion. |
| Bond | Shows whether a court has set a release amount. | Cash-bond or surety-bond planning. |
| Case number | More precise than a name for court research. | Indiana MyCase and court questions. |
No Elkhart County inmate record found? Follow this order
If the person left the county-jail system
The Indiana Department of Correction inmate search can be used when a person has moved to state custody after sentencing or transfer.
Search Indiana DOCThe Federal Bureau of Prisons locator searches federal inmate records from 1982 to the present.
Search federal custodyElkhart County Correctional Complex address, phone and map
Elkhart, IN 46517
Sheriff / Jail: 574-891-2100
Non-emergency: 574-533-4151
Goshen, IN 46526
Directory: 574-538-3000
Hours: Monday 8 a.m.–5 p.m.; Tuesday–Friday 8 a.m.–4 p.m.
Before driving to the jail
Elkhart County cash bond vs surety bond: costs, ID and wait-time rules
Elkhart County publishes specific local bond procedures. First determine whether the court ordered a cash bond or a surety bond.
| Bond type | How it works | Local rule |
|---|---|---|
| Cash bond | The full court-imposed amount is paid. | Post it at the jail lobby without an appointment; first come, first served. |
| Cash payment | Bring the required amount and valid government identification. | The inmate and person paying sign a receipt. |
| Credit-card cash bond | Credit card may be used for the cash bond. | A 10% fee is added to the bond payment. |
| Surety bond | A bondsman facilitates release for 10% of the court-imposed bond amount. | Corrections staff will not recommend a bondsman. |
Cash-bond steps
Elkhart County Jail visitation: schedule, ID, limits and remote fees
Elkhart County uses video visitation for both on-site and remote visits. Registration, approval and advance scheduling are required.
| Visit type | Availability | Limit / price | What you need |
|---|---|---|---|
| On-site | Can be scheduled on days the lobby is open, 8 a.m.–4 p.m. | One on-site visit per inmate per day; weekly eligibility depends on classification. | Approved visitor account, prescheduled appointment and accepted ID. |
| Remote 20 minutes | Monday–Sunday, 9:30 a.m.–9:30 p.m. | $6.95. | Approved account and compatible camera/microphone device. |
| Remote 40 minutes | Monday–Sunday, 9:30 a.m.–9:30 p.m. | $13.90. | Approved account and advance appointment. |
Visitor eligibility and identification
A parent or guardian must accompany a visitor under 18. Children cannot be left unsupervised.
Accepted examples include government photo identification, passports and matricula consular identification. Non-photo identification may be accepted for religious reasons.
One adult and one child at a time may use a visitation booth. Visitors can share the inmate’s allotted visit time.
On-site visit workflow
Rules that can prevent or end a visit
Elkhart County Jail phone calls and voicemail
Inmates have access to make outgoing calls. A recorded announcement tells the recipient that the call originates from the jail.
You cannot directly call an inmate. The communication system provides a voicemail option.
When an inmate calls
- The recipient may accept or refuse the call.
- The system offers an option to stop receiving future inmate calls.
- Ordinary inmate calls are monitored and recorded.
- Statements made during recorded calls may become relevant to an investigation.
How to send money to an Elkhart County Jail inmate
Inmate funds may be used for permitted expenses such as commissary, barber services, medical expenses, court fines or restitution. Verify the correct inmate before depositing.
| Method | Payment type | Fee / rule | Practical detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail lobby kiosk | Cash, credit or debit card | $3.75 convenience fee per transaction. | Receipt provided; funds are made available immediately. |
| Large lobby deposit | Cash/card | The Sheriff says the fee is imposed for every $100 deposited. | Review the transaction before confirming a large deposit. |
| JailATM online | Credit/debit card | Confirm the vendor’s current transaction charge before submitting. | Create an account using an email address. |
| Money order | Not accepted | Not applicable. | Do not mail a money order for an inmate account. |
Elkhart County inmate mail address, legal mail, photos and books
Personal mail and legal mail use completely different addresses. Ordinary non-legal mail is not delivered directly to the Elkhart jail building.
Inmate Name / Inmate ID
PO Box 16367
Jonesboro, AR 72401
Inmate Name / Jail ID
26861 C.R. 26
Elkhart, IN 46517
Rules for ordinary inmate mail
Content that may be rejected
- Racy, pornographic or nude images.
- Pictures or descriptions of illegal activity.
- Firearm, explosive or other weapon material.
- Drug- or biohazard-related material.
- Threatening or violent content.
- Security-related or criminal-planning information.
Legal mail
Legal correspondence goes directly to the Elkhart County Corrections Center. Letters are the accepted item. Attorney-client mail should be clearly marked and is opened in the inmate’s presence.
Magazines, newspapers and books
| Item | How it must arrive | Important Elkhart rule |
|---|---|---|
| Magazine / newspaper | Directly from the publisher through USPS. | Still subject to facility content screening. |
| Books | Directly from an approved source. | Maximum five books per shipment. |
| Amazon, Target or Walmart book shipment | Do not use these retailers. | The Sheriff’s rules state these packages are returned to sender. |
Approved book sources currently listed
HarperCollins Publishers, Hamilton Books, Book Outlet, Simon & Schuster, ChristianBook, Sureshot Books, Artscroll and Nolo are among the sources currently identified by the Sheriff’s Office. Confirm custody before ordering because a transferred or released person cannot receive the shipment at Elkhart County.
Find the criminal court date, case status and public defender
Elkhart County uses Indiana’s statewide Odyssey Case Management System. Public MyCase results can include criminal case information, defendant details, hearings, chronological events and dispositions.
Goshen, IN 46526
Monday 8 a.m.–5 p.m.; Tuesday–Friday 8 a.m.–4 p.m.
3rd floor, Judicial Center
4th floor, Judicial Center
Elkhart, IN 46516
City court or county court? Check the paperwork first
Elkhart County also has city courts. If the paperwork specifically names Elkhart City Court, Goshen City Court or Nappanee City Court, use that court rather than assuming the county Judicial Center handles the immediate question.
| Court | Address | Phone | Published hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elkhart City Court | 229 S. Second St., Elkhart, IN 46516 | 574-522-5272 | Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. |
| Goshen City Court | 111 E. Jefferson St., Suite 2, Goshen, IN 46528 | 574-533-9365 | Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–4 p.m. |
| Nappanee City Court | 300 W. Lincoln St., Nappanee, IN 46550 | 574-773-2112 | Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–4 p.m. |
Request Elkhart County booking, arrest, incident or criminal-history records
A live inmate lookup is designed for current custody. The Sheriff’s Records Division has separate procedures when you need historical booking information, arrest circumstances, a transfer date, bond information, an incident report or a limited criminal history.
Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–4 p.m.
26861 C.R. 26, Elkhart, IN 46517.
Cash, checks, money orders and credit/debit cards. Checks and money orders should be payable to the Elkhart County Sheriff’s Office.
Criminal incident report $3; limited criminal history $3; crash report $12; fingerprint card $10.
Information the public-record form can request
How to make a useful records request
Limited criminal history request
The Sheriff’s current limited-history form asks for requester information and subject details such as name, address, date of birth, sex and race, plus the legal purpose for the request. Unless an applicable no-fee rule applies, the form instructs the requester to include a $3 payment and submit the request to the Records Division at 26861 C.R. 26, Elkhart, IN 46517.
Indiana SAVIN, Elkhart County Victim Assistance and protective orders
Custody-change notifications
Indiana SAVIN allows users to search for an offender and register for available notifications. Search may be performed with a complete or partial last name, offender identification number or case number.
Use for available offender information and custody notification registration.
Victim services are provided without a fee and can include case information, referrals and justice-system guidance.
Protective orders
Elkhart County Victim Assistance provides protective-order assistance for qualifying victims of domestic or family violence, stalking or sex offenses. The Prosecutor’s Office states that there is no filing fee. Call 574-523-2237 for paperwork and advocate assistance with electronic filing.
PREA: report sexual abuse or sexual misconduct in custody
Use for reports involving an Elkhart County Correctional Complex inmate.
The Sheriff’s PREA information states that inmates may call this 24-hour crisis line free from a jail phone.
Information that helps a PREA report
Medical, mental-health or inmate welfare concerns
The public inmate-service materials reviewed for this guide do not publish a dedicated family medical hotline, a detailed inmate medical fee schedule or a general grievance deadline. Rather than inventing a process, use the Sheriff’s main jail number and ask staff how to route the current concern.
Veterans in Elkhart County custody
The Sheriff’s Office states that it works with U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Justice Outreach and Health Care for Re-Entry Veterans programs for veterans housed in the correctional facility.
Release and transfer: what families should realistically expect
Work release and home detention are different from jail custody
Elkhart County Community Corrections operates alternatives such as work release and home detention for qualifying participants. Work release can permit approved employment, school or treatment while the participant resides in a controlled setting. Home detention uses electronic monitoring while the participant resides at home.
Eligibility is determined through the justice system. Ask the court, attorney or Community Corrections whether a particular case may qualify.
Elkhart County local tips that prevent common mistakes
The ID is required on ordinary inmate mail and helps prevent mistakes in other jail services.
Ordinary mail goes to the Arkansas scanning center. C.R. 26 is used for jail operations and legal mail.
The Sheriff’s current publication rules say Amazon, Target and Walmart book packages are returned.
A drive to the jail without a scheduled on-site visit can be wasted.
The Sheriff identifies this as a period when longer waits can occur.
A cash bond paid by credit card carries a 10% added fee.
The inmate-account lobby kiosk lists a $3.75 transaction fee; the credit-card cash-bond fee is 10%.
The jail portal shows custody; MyCase shows the criminal case chronology and court dates.
The public-record form can request received, discharged or transferred dates, bond amount and arrest circumstances.
Final actions that must happen on an outside system
The article above contains the practical rules and procedures. These links remain because the live transaction itself—searching current custody, scheduling, depositing, checking a live case, registering an alert or submitting a records request—must happen on the responsible system.
Select Elkhart County and search the live Indiana county-jail database.
Open inmate lookupUse the jail communication provider to register and reserve an on-site or remote visit.
Open SecurusUse JailATM when you do not want to use the lobby kiosk.
Open JailATMUse MyCase for current case events, hearings and dispositions.
Open MyCaseUse Indiana SAVIN when you need notification rather than manual checking.
Open Indiana SAVINUse the Sheriff’s official form when the live roster does not provide the historical information you need.
Open records formOfficial information reviewed for this guide
The substantive information above was incorporated from Elkhart County Sheriff’s Office inmate-service, visitation, bond, mail, deposit, PREA and Records materials; Elkhart County court and prosecutor information; Indiana MyCase; Indiana SAVIN; Indiana Department of Correction resources; and the Sheriff’s downloadable public-record forms.
Elkhart County Jail inmate search FAQs
How do I search for an inmate in Elkhart County Jail?
Use the Indiana County Jail Public Portal, select Elkhart County and search by last name. Verify the correct person and save the inmate ID before taking another action.
What is the Elkhart County Jail phone number?
The Sheriff’s Office and Jail number is 574-891-2100. The non-emergency number is 574-533-4151.
Where is the Elkhart County Correctional Complex?
26861 County Road 26, Elkhart, IN 46517.
How far ahead must I schedule a visit?
Both on-site and remote visits require registration, approval and scheduling at least 24 hours in advance.
How much does remote video visitation cost?
Remote visits are currently listed at $6.95 for 20 minutes and $13.90 for 40 minutes. Remote visitation is available Monday through Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
How do cash bonds work?
A cash bond requires the full court-set amount and is posted at the jail lobby without an appointment on a first-come, first-served basis. Cash or credit card may be used, but a credit-card cash bond has a 10% added fee.
How do I send money to an inmate?
Use the jail lobby kiosk with cash, credit or debit card, or make an online deposit through JailATM. The lobby kiosk has a published $3.75 convenience fee per transaction. Money orders are no longer accepted for inmate accounts.
What is the inmate mailing address?
Non-legal mail goes to Elkhart County Jail, Inmate Name/Inmate ID, PO Box 16367, Jonesboro, AR 72401. Legal mail goes directly to Elkhart County Corrections Center, 26861 C.R. 26, Elkhart, IN 46517.
Can I call an inmate directly?
No. Inmates make outgoing calls and may receive voicemail through the communication provider. Ordinary inmate calls are monitored and recorded.
How do I find an inmate’s next court date?
Use Indiana MyCase. It provides public Elkhart County case information, court dates, chronological case events and dispositions.