Martin County Police Blotter Records

Martin County police blotter records come from the Martin County Sheriff's Office and the Shoals Town Marshal's Office in Shoals, Indiana. Martin County is one of Indiana's smaller and more rural counties, located in the south-central part of the state. This page explains how to find police blotter entries, incident reports, and public records for Martin County through local agencies and the state resources available to all Indiana residents.

Shoals Town Marshal's Office

The Shoals Town Marshal's Office provides primary law enforcement within the town of Shoals. Marshal Matthew Copeland leads the office, which operates out of Shoals Town Hall at 221 Low Street, Shoals, IN 47581. The mailing address is PO Box 1078, Shoals, IN 47581. Call 812-504-0631 for non-emergency matters. For emergencies, call 911. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, with a brief closure for lunch from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM.

The Shoals Town Marshal is responsible for law enforcement, public safety, and maintaining records of incidents within the town's jurisdiction. Because Martin County is small and rural, the town marshal often works in coordination with the Martin County Sheriff's Department. When the marshal is unavailable, the sheriff's office typically provides backup. If you leave a voicemail at the marshal's office, include your name, a contact number, and the details of the incident you are asking about.

To request public records from the Shoals Town Marshal's Office, you can call 812-504-0631, mail a request to PO Box 1078, Shoals, IN 47581, or visit Town Hall during business hours. Include your name and contact information, a clear description of the records you want, and your preferred delivery method. Records are subject to Indiana's Access to Public Records Act. Some information may be redacted, and fees may apply. Staff will advise you on costs before processing your request.

Martin County Sheriff's Department

Sheriff Josh Greene leads the Martin County Sheriff's Department, which handles law enforcement for areas outside the town of Shoals. The county seat is also Shoals, which means the sheriff's office and town government share the same community. The sheriff's office can be reached at 812-247-3726. The mailing address is PO Box 180, Shoals, IN 47581. For any emergency in Martin County, call 911 regardless of which agency you expect to respond.

The Martin County Sheriff's Department handles a broad range of duties for a rural county, including patrol, arrests, civil process, and jail operations. Given the small size of Martin County, staff resources are limited compared to larger Indiana counties. Direct phone contact is the most reliable way to inquire about police blotter records or to start a records request. Be patient with response times, particularly for complex requests that require significant review or redaction work.

Martin County has a public records request form that can be submitted through the Martin County Courthouse. The form is available from the Martin County Auditor's Office at Martin County Courthouse, PO Box 600, Shoals, IN 47581. Submit completed forms to that address for county-level records. For town records specifically, submit your request to the Town Marshal's office instead. Knowing which office holds the record you need is important before you submit.

Martin County Crime Data and NIBRS Reporting

Indiana tracks crime data through the National Incident-Based Reporting System, known as NIBRS. The Indiana State Police manages NIBRS compliance for all Indiana counties and publishes reporting status on its website. As of the most recent data available, the Martin County Sheriff's Department is listed as non-compliant with NIBRS reporting requirements. This means the county is not currently contributing full incident data to the statewide and national crime reporting systems.

You can check the current NIBRS compliance status for Martin County and other Indiana counties at the ISP NIBRS initiative page for Martin County. Non-compliance does not mean records are unavailable. It means the county does not submit data to the NIBRS system. Local incident records still exist at the sheriff's office and can be requested through a standard APRA process. The NIBRS compliance issue reflects a data reporting gap, not a gap in local recordkeeping.

Note: NIBRS non-compliance means Martin County crime data may not appear in statewide or federal crime statistics summaries. For local incident data, contact the Martin County Sheriff's Department directly.

How to Request Martin County Police Blotter Records

Indiana's Access to Public Records Act applies to the Martin County Sheriff's Department and the Shoals Town Marshal's Office. The statute is codified at Indiana Code 5-14-3. Under APRA, agencies must acknowledge written requests within seven business days and respond to in-person requests within 24 hours. You do not need to state why you want a record. Anyone can request public records from any Indiana agency.

For Martin County police blotter records, start with a direct phone call to identify which agency holds the records you need. Use 812-247-3726 for the sheriff's office or 812-504-0631 for the town marshal. Once you identify the right office, submit a written request that clearly describes the records. Include the date, location, and type of incident, plus any names of people involved. Vague requests may be denied or delayed. A clear, specific request gets results faster in a small county like Martin County where staff resources are limited.

For court records tied to Martin County arrests and charges, use Indiana MyCase. This free statewide portal lets you search by name or case number across all 92 Indiana counties. Cases from Martin County appear in MyCase once they enter the court system. If you need to check whether someone is currently in the Martin County Jail, search the Indiana Jail Lookup system before calling the facility.

For crash reports involving state highways in Martin County, check BuyCrash first. If a state trooper investigated the crash, you will need to request records from the Indiana State Police through their APRA portal at in.accessgov.com/isp-apra. If your request from any Martin County agency is denied without a valid reason, contact the Indiana Public Access Counselor at (317) 233-9435.

State Resources for Martin County Records

The Indiana State Police operates in the region that covers Martin County. State troopers handle incidents on state highways and sometimes assist local agencies with major investigations. If a state trooper responded to the incident you are researching, the record is with the ISP rather than the county or town. Visit in.gov/isp to find the district contact information for the ISP troop that covers Martin County.

The Indiana Sheriffs' Association maintains a directory of all 92 county sheriffs in Indiana, including Martin County. If you have trouble reaching the local office or need a backup contact, check the association's directory. The association also tracks statewide policy changes that affect public records access. For residents seeking community resources in the Shoals area, Hoosier Uplands at hoosieruplands.org provides a community resource guide that covers Martin County and surrounding areas.

Nearby Counties

Martin County shares borders with five other Indiana counties. Each county manages its own police blotter and records separately. Confirm the location of the incident before deciding which county's records office to contact.