Owen County Public Records Request

Owen County is committed to transparency and to providing access to public records in accordance with the Indiana Access to Public Records Act (APRA). You may submit a request using the online form below, or by mail, in person, or by phone.

Submit a Request Online

The fastest way to make a request is to use the form below. When you select a department or office, your request is routed directly to the staff who can help, and you will receive an email confirmation with a submission number for your records.

Please keep each request focused on a single department, property, project, or case, and submit a separate request for each unrelated subject.

Public Records Request

Owen County is committed to providing access to public records in accordance with Indiana’s Access to Public Records Act.

Use this form to request an existing record maintained by an Owen County department or office. Describe the records as specifically as possible and include names, addresses, parcel numbers, case numbers, and relevant dates when available.

Please keep each request focused on a single department, property, project, or case. Submit a separate request for each unrelated subject or department.

Please do not include sensitive information.
Do not enter Social Security numbers, financial account information, medical information, passwords, or other confidential information.

Sheriff’s Office records:
Requests for Sheriff’s Office records and accident reports must currently be submitted in person at the Owen County Security Center, 291 Vandalia Avenue, Spencer, Indiana.

1 Where should we send your request?

County department or office Required

Choose “I am not sure” and the request will be routed for review.

Online submission is not available for Sheriff’s Office records.
Please submit the request in writing at the Owen County Security Center, 291 Vandalia Avenue, Spencer, IN 47460.

2 Tell us how to contact you

Full name Required

Email address Required

Telephone number Optional

Physical address Required

City Required

State, province, or region Required

ZIP or postal code Required

Are you an Indiana resident? Required

I am making this request on behalf of Required

Purpose of the request Optional

You are not required to explain why you want a public record. This information may help with request prioritization and annual reporting.

3 Describe the records you are requesting

Records requested Required

Request existing records with reasonable particularity (up to 1,000 characters). Keep this focused on one subject. A request that only asks a general question may not identify a public record.

Beginning date Optional

Ending date Optional

Helpful identifying information Optional

Up to 500 characters. Brief identifying details help staff locate the records faster.

Is this request connected to pending or ongoing litigation? Optional

No attachments or links:
For security reasons, this form does not accept file uploads. County staff may contact you if additional information is needed.

4 How would you like to access the records?

I would like to Required
Inspect the recordsReceive copiesBoth inspect and receive copies

Preferred delivery method Required
Email, when available electronicallyIn-person pickupU.S. Mail

Preferred format Optional

Fees:
There is no fee to inspect public records. Fees may apply for copies, scanning, postage, and other charges permitted by law. Owen County may require payment before providing copies.

5 Review and submit

I understand that this request is for existing public records and does not require Owen County to create a new record.

I understand that some records may be withheld or redacted as permitted by law and that fees may apply.

I understand that information submitted through this form may itself be considered a public record unless protected by law.

Electronic signature Required

Select the button only once. A confirmation message will appear after submission.

Other Ways to Submit a Request

You are not required to use the online form. You may also submit a request in writing by mail or in person, or contact the appropriate office by phone. If you prefer to submit on paper, you may download the request form below.

Owen County, Indiana: Public Records Request Form and Guidelines Download

A completed paper form may be delivered or mailed to the specific Owen County office from which the records are being requested, or to the Owen County Auditor’s office, which serves as a central point of contact for public records requests.

Sheriff’s Office records: To request public records or accident reports from the Owen County Sheriff’s Office, you must visit the Security Center in person at 291 Vandalia Avenue, Spencer, IN 47460. Requests must be submitted in writing and accompanied by all applicable fees. Online submissions cannot be accepted for Sheriff’s Office records.

Guidelines for Your Request

To help your request be processed efficiently, please follow these guidelines:

Be specific: Your request must identify the records you are seeking with “reasonable particularity.”
Provide details: Include relevant information such as names, addresses, parcel or case numbers, and date ranges that will help staff locate the records. A request must be for a specific record or document; a request that simply poses a question may be denied.
Existing records only: Public agencies are only required to disclose existing records. An agency is not required to create a new record in response to a request.
Do not include sensitive information: Please do not enter Social Security numbers, financial account information, medical information, or passwords in your request.

What to Expect After You Submit

The Access to Public Records Act (APRA) specifies how agencies must respond to requests.

Acknowledgement: The county will acknowledge receipt of your request. This initial response does not mean the records are immediately available.
Fulfillment: If the records are disclosable, they will be produced for inspection or copying within a reasonable time after the request is received.

Fees for Public Records

Inspection: There is no fee to inspect public records.
Copies: Public agencies may charge fees for providing copies of records, including scanning records to an electronic format, and for any postage costs.
Advance payment: Owen County requires payment of all fees in advance of providing copies.

The fee schedule is pursuant to Indiana Code § 5-14-3-8. Please contact the office from which you are requesting records for its current fee schedule.