South Bend Police Blotter Database
South Bend police blotter records are maintained by the South Bend Police Department's Records Bureau, which serves St. Joseph County's largest city in northern Indiana. As of June 2024, SBPD requires all public records requests to be submitted electronically through the city's online APRA portal. This page explains the request process, fees, available resources, and how to find related records for South Bend incidents.
South Bend Quick Facts
South Bend Police Department Records Bureau
The South Bend Police Department Records Bureau is located at 701 W. Sample St., South Bend, IN 46601. The main records phone is (574) 235-9212 and the report request line is (574) 235-9201. Alma Bueno, Records Specialist, is the APRA Coordinator and can be reached at (574) 235-7588 or by email at apra@southbendin.gov. The Legal Department is at (574) 235-9241.
The Records Bureau is staffed by civilian employees who handle six divisions: Records Management, Alarm Billing, APRA Coordination, Data Entry, Statistical Reporting, and Evidence and Property Management. This is a larger operation than you see in most Indiana cities of similar size, which reflects the volume of work that comes through SBPD. The bureau processes incident reports, accident reports, background requests, and blotter inquiries for the South Bend area.
In-person hours for records access are Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. On holidays, the bureau is open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. It's closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas. Saturday hours are limited to impound releases only from 8 a.m. to noon. Sunday: closed. If you have a specific request type, calling ahead at (574) 235-9212 will confirm what you need to bring and what to expect. SBPD's website is at police.southbendin.gov.
| Agency | South Bend Police Department |
|---|---|
| Address | 701 W. Sample St., South Bend, IN 46601 |
| Records Phone | (574) 235-9212 |
| APRA Coordinator | Alma Bueno - (574) 235-7588 |
| APRA Email | apra@southbendin.gov |
How to Request South Bend Police Blotter Records
After June 1, 2024, the City of South Bend only accepts APRA records requests submitted electronically through the online portal at southbendin.gov/apra. This is not optional. In-person, mail, fax, and email submissions are no longer accepted for new requests. You must use the online form to submit. If you submitted your request in person before that date, those requests were handled under the old process. Going forward, everything goes through the portal.
To request an incident or accident report in person at the Records Bureau, you'll still need to visit 701 W. Sample St. during bureau hours. For accident reports, bring your report number, the report date, and the driver's or owner's last name. For incident and offense reports, bring the victim's last name, the report date, or your report number. These in-person visits are for picking up reports after they've been processed, not for bypassing the APRA electronic submission requirement for new requests.
Fees for South Bend police records are clearly set. Accident reports cost $8.00. Audio tape or CD recordings are $10.00. Background checks are $7.00. Fingerprint cards are $15.00 per card. Handgun permits are no charge. Simple requests may be as little as $0.60 total. Audio and video requests can take significantly longer to process than standard reports because they require review before release, and they may carry additional fees depending on the length and content of the files.
Suspects in a case cannot get copies of their own case file from the Records Bureau. If you are a suspect in an ongoing case, your request gets reviewed by the City Attorney instead. This applies only to suspects. Victims and third parties follow the standard APRA process. Note: The seven-day APRA acknowledgment window begins when SBPD receives your electronic submission through the city portal.
South Bend Police Department's Records Bureau at 701 W. Sample St. handles a wide range of public safety records for the city. The department's online APRA portal at southbendin.gov/apra is the required submission method for all new public records requests as of June 2024.
Online Portals and Resources
The main APRA portal for South Bend police blotter requests is at southbendin.gov/apra. This is where you submit all formal records requests to the city. The SBPD website at police.southbendin.gov has department information, crime data, and links to the report request process. A 311 knowledge center article at 311.southbendin.gov also walks through the APRA process for records requests.
The South Bend APRA portal accepts online submissions at any time. After you submit, the city sends an electronic acknowledgment. The portal tracks your request status so you know where things stand. If the city needs more information from you, they'll contact you through the email address you provided when submitting.
SBPD also offers an online citizen reporting portal for certain types of incidents at secure.coplogic.com/dors/startreport. This lets you file a report directly for minor incidents without calling in or visiting in person. It's a separate tool from the records request portal, designed for people who need to file a report, not retrieve one.
St. Joseph County Sheriff for This Area
South Bend is the county seat of St. Joseph County. The St. Joseph County Sheriff's Office handles incidents in parts of the county outside South Bend city limits, including unincorporated areas and smaller municipalities. If the incident you're researching happened in a rural area of St. Joseph County or involved the county jail, the Sheriff's Office is the right contact. Visit the St. Joseph County page for sheriff details and records request information.
South Bend Court Records
Arrests from South Bend police blotter entries lead to cases filed in St. Joseph County courts. You can search those records for free through MyCase at public.courts.in.gov. This covers St. Joseph Superior Court and St. Joseph Circuit Court in South Bend. Search by name or case number to find criminal filings, hearing schedules, and outcomes. MyCase is regularly updated and typically reflects recent filings within a few days.
If you need certified copies or records not shown in MyCase, visit the St. Joseph County Clerk's office in the County-City Building in South Bend. Court records and police blotter records are two separate things held by two different offices. SBPD holds the incident report. The County Clerk holds the court file. Both are public, but they're accessed through different systems.
Accident Reports in South Bend
Crash reports from South Bend are available through BuyCrash at buycrash.com. SBPD accident reports cost $8.00. BuyCrash may charge slightly differently from the in-person fee depending on the access method. ISP reports for state highways around South Bend are also in the BuyCrash system. Search by report number, date, or names of parties involved. Reports are usually available within ten days of the crash.
For accidents on US 20, US 31, or other state routes in St. Joseph County where ISP responded, the ISP APRA portal at in.accessgov.com/isp-apra is the direct route to request the report. If you're unsure which agency responded, call SBPD's report request line at (574) 235-9201 and ask.
Indiana State Police Resources
Indiana State Police cover state highways in the South Bend and St. Joseph County area, including US 31 and toll roads. ISP holds the primary report for crashes and incidents on those roads. The Indiana State Police website links to their APRA portal and crime data resources.
Submit ISP records requests through the online portal at in.accessgov.com/isp-apra. This covers incidents where ISP troopers responded in St. Joseph County. The ISP NIBRS data for the South Bend area is also published through the ISP NIBRS initiative, which shows aggregate crime trends from local agencies including those in St. Joseph County.
Indiana Public Records Law
Indiana Code § 5-14-3 gives everyone the right to request South Bend police blotter records under the Access to Public Records Act. You don't need a reason. APRA makes blotter data public as a general rule. This includes the date, time, location, type of incident, and names of parties involved in police-documented events. Records related to open investigations may be withheld if release would harm the investigation. Sensitive personal data is always redacted before release.
SBPD must acknowledge your online submission within seven days. Production of records follows within a reasonable time based on scope and volume. Audio and video files take longer because they require review and potential redaction before release. If SBPD denies your request, they must cite the specific legal basis. You can seek a free informal opinion from the Indiana Public Access Counselor at 317-233-9435 or 1-800-228-6013 if you think the denial is wrong. The PAC has authority to review agency decisions and issue advisory opinions that often resolve disputes without litigation.
Nearby Qualifying Cities
These cities in northern Indiana have police blotter pages on this site.