Griffin, Indiana Public Records

The bond and bail process in Indiana allows for the release of detainees through cash bonds or surety bonds, and information on recently arrested individuals can be obtained from the jail's administrative office.

Indiana operates the Mycase.in.gov online portal, where the public can search court records statewide for free, including all Posey County cases. Users can search by party name, case number, or attorney to view dockets, filed documents (though some may be sealed in family or juvenile cases), judgments, and case dispositions. Physical records and certified copies must be obtained from the Clerk's Office at the courthouse. Filing fees for certified copies of court documents are typically $1.00 per page plus a $1.00 certification fee per document, though fees are subject to change. Criminal background checks through the courts require identification and may involve additional search fees. Traffic violations and infractions are also processed through these courts. The Indiana Supreme Court maintains the Indiana Courts website at www.in.gov/courts, which provides additional resources, court rules, and access to appellate decisions.

The Assessor's website at www.poseycountyassessor.com provides an online property search database where residents can search by address, parcel number, or owner name to view assessed values, property characteristics (square footage, year built, lot size), tax district information, and assessment history. The online system includes both residential and commercial properties throughout Griffin and all of Posey County. The Posey County Recorder's Office, located in the Posey County Courthouse at 300 Main Street, Room 107, Mount Vernon, IN 47620, phone (812) 838-1328, maintains all recorded documents affecting real property, including warranty deeds, quit claim deeds, mortgages and releases, liens (mechanics liens, tax liens, judgment liens), easements, rights-of-way, and other instruments. Indiana is a race-notice state, meaning recorded documents establish priority and provide constructive notice. The Recorder's office provides online access to recorded documents through a subscription service on the county website at www.poseycountyindiana.us, though free basic searching may be available. Document copies typically cost $1.00 per page for uncertified copies and $5.00 for certified copies. Posey County also maintains a GIS mapping system accessible through the county website, allowing users to view parcel boundaries, ownership, zoning information, and aerial imagery for properties in Griffin and throughout the county.

Employment for Griffin residents often comes from larger employers in Mount Vernon (10 miles north) or Evansville (approximately 25 miles northeast), the major economic hub for southwestern Indiana. Alcoa's Warrick Operations, one of the largest aluminum smelting facilities in the United States, is located approximately 15 miles northeast of Griffin near Newburgh and employs thousands in manufacturing jobs. Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indiana (TMMI) in Princeton, about 30 miles north, is another major regional employer. Posey County's median household income is approximately $62,000-$65,000, though Griffin's specific income data is not separately tracked due to its unincorporated status. The area has seen minimal commercial development, with retail and service businesses concentrated in Mount Vernon, Poseyville, and New Harmony. Griffin functions primarily as a residential and agricultural community with residents commuting to employment centers. Recent years have seen some growth in residential construction as families seek rural properties with reasonable access to Evansville's employment market, though Griffin remains predominantly agricultural in character.

Griffin, as an unincorporated community, does not maintain its own police department. Law enforcement services for Griffin and surrounding areas of Center and Marrs townships are provided by the Posey County Sheriff's Office, located at 610 Cale Street, Mount Vernon, IN 47620, phone (812) 838-4812. The Sheriff's Office website at www.poseycountysheriff.com provides information on services, though online record requests are limited. Residents seeking police reports, incident records, or crash reports involving Griffin locations must contact the Sheriff's Office directly, either in person at the Cale Street location or by written request citing the specific date and nature of the incident. Under Indiana's Access to Public Records Act (Indiana Code 5-14-3-3), law enforcement agencies must respond to public records requests within a reasonable time, typically within 24 hours of the request, though certain investigative records and ongoing case files may be exempt from disclosure under IC 5-14-3-4(b)(1). The Posey County Jail, also operated by the Sheriff's Office at the same Cale Street location, maintains an inmate roster that can be accessed by calling the jail directly at (812) 838-4820. The roster typically includes current inmates' names, booking dates, charges filed, bond amounts, and projected release dates. Mugshots may be available upon specific request. For arrests made by Indiana State Police on highways passing through Griffin (such as State Road 69), records requests should be directed to ISP Post 50 in Evansville. All record requests should include as much identifying information as possible, including names, dates, and case numbers if known.

Records can be ordered online through www.vitalchek.com (Indiana's authorized vendor, which charges additional processing fees) or by mail with a completed application, valid photo ID copy, proof of relationship, and appropriate fee. Processing time is typically 4-6 weeks by mail, faster for online orders. Birth records less than 72 years old are restricted to the individual, parents, legal guardians, or legal representatives; death records are generally public after becoming final. Marriage licenses for Griffin residents must be obtained from the Posey County Clerk's Office at 300 Main Street, Room 104, Mount Vernon, IN 47620, phone (812) 838-1306. Marriage license fees in Indiana are $18.00, and there is no waiting period or blood test requirement. Both parties must appear in person with valid photo identification and Social Security numbers. Marriage records are public and maintained permanently by the Clerk's office. Divorce records are judicial records maintained by the Posey Circuit or Superior Court where the divorce was filed; certified copies can be obtained from the Clerk's office at the courthouse. Vital records older than 100 years are often available through the Indiana State Archives.

Businesses using a name other than the owner's legal name must file a Certificate of Assumed Business Name (DBA) with the Posey County Recorder's Office at 300 Main Street, Room 107, Mount Vernon, IN 47620, phone (812) 838-1328. DBA registration costs approximately $30.00 and must be renewed periodically. All Indiana corporations, limited liability companies, limited partnerships, and other formal business entities must register with the Indiana Secretary of State's Business Services Division. The Indiana Secretary of State maintains a free online business entity search at www.in.gov/sos/business, where anyone can search for registered businesses by name or registered agent, view entity status (active, dissolved, administratively dissolved), officers and directors, registered agent information, and formation dates. New business registrations can be completed online through INBiz (www.inbiz.in.gov), Indiana's one-stop business portal. Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) financing statements and lien searches are also filed with and searchable through the Indiana Secretary of State's UCC Division. Businesses owning real property in Griffin can look up their property tax assessments through the Posey County Assessor's online database, and personal property tax returns for business equipment must be filed annually with the Assessor's office by May 15.

Griffin voters are served by the Posey County Clerk's Office, which administers elections from the Posey County Courthouse, 300 Main Street, Room 104, Mount Vernon, IN 47620, phone (812) 838-1306. The Clerk's office handles voter registration, absentee ballots, precinct management, and ballot preparation for all Griffin residents. Indiana residents can register to vote online through the Indiana Secretary of State's website at www.indianavoters.com, which also allows voters to check registration status, view sample ballots, and find polling locations. Registration deadline is 29 days before any election. Voters must provide their Indiana driver's license or state ID number; first-time voters who register by mail must provide identification when voting. Griffin, being unincorporated, has no municipal government or city elections; residents vote in county, state, and federal elections only. Posey County voters elect three County Commissioners, three County Council members, Sheriff, Clerk, Treasurer, Recorder, Assessor, Auditor, Coroner, and Surveyor in various cycles. Griffin voters are assigned to polling places based on their township precinct; residents can look up their specific polling location at www.indianavoters.com using their address. In the November 2024 presidential election, Posey County reported approximately 63% voter turnout, with about 12,800 votes cast out of roughly 20,400 registered voters. The county has historically voted strongly Republican in federal and state elections. For the November 3, 2026 general election, Griffin and Posey County voters will decide several key races: one of Indiana's U.S. Senate seats (Senator Todd Young's seat is up for election in 2026), various Indiana state legislative seats including the 76th House District which covers Posey County, and potentially Posey County offices depending on the election cycle. Indiana does not hold gubernatorial elections in 2026 (next in 2024 and 2028). Absentee voting in Indiana requires an application to the County Clerk; eligible reasons include being absent from the county on election day, having a disability, being age 65 or older, serving as an election officer, or scheduled work during poll hours. Applications can be submitted online through the state portal up to 12 days before the election. Campaign finance reports, candidate filings, and precinct-level election results are public records available through the County Clerk's office and the Indiana Election Division website at www.in.gov/sos/elections. Voter registration lists are available to candidates and political parties under Indiana Code 3-7-26.