Stinesville, Indiana Public Records

These courts handle all criminal cases (felonies and misdemeanors), civil matters, family law (divorce, custody, support), probate and estate cases, guardianships, and small claims disputes under $10,000. Monroe Circuit Court primarily handles felony criminal cases, while the Superior Courts divide jurisdiction over criminal misdemeanors, civil cases, family law, probate, juvenile matters, and small claims. Court records for Monroe County can be searched online through Indiana's statewide case management system, Odyssey, available at public.courts.in.gov/mycase. Users can search by party name, case number, or attorney to find case information, docket entries, and filed documents. Not all documents are available online; certified copies and complete case files may require in-person visits or written requests to the Clerk's Office. The Monroe County Clerk's Office, located at 301 North College Avenue, Room 106, Bloomington, IN 47404, phone (812) 349-2506, maintains all court records and charges fees for certified copies: typically $1.00 per page for copies and $7.00 for certification. These fees are set by Indiana statute.

The Indiana Bureau of Investigation offers additional resources for residents seeking information on criminal activity and public safety in Monroe County. The process for obtaining records typically involves submitting a request form and may require a fee.

The Assessor's website at www.co.monroe.in.us/department/division.php?structureid=5 provides access to an online parcel search where residents can look up properties by address, parcel number, or owner name. The database shows current and historical assessed values, property characteristics (square footage, year built, acreage), tax district codes, and aerial photography. The Monroe County Auditor's Office at the same address (phone 812-349-2510) handles property tax billing and payment records. For recorded documents such as deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, and plats, residents must access the Monroe County Recorder's Office, located at 100 West Kirkwood Avenue, Bloomington, IN 47404, phone (812) 349-2520, website www.co.monroe.in.us/department/division.php?structureid=18. The Recorder maintains an online search system at www.indianarecorders.com where users can search by grantor/grantee name, document type, or legal description. Viewing documents online typically requires payment or subscription, though searching indexes may be free. In-person searches and copies are available during business hours. Indiana law requires all instruments affecting real property title to be recorded with the County Recorder to provide public notice. Monroe County also provides a GIS mapping system through the County Surveyor and GIS office, accessible at gis.monroecounty.in.gov, showing parcel boundaries, ownership, zoning, and infrastructure.

(a medical device manufacturer), Baxter Healthcare, and Catalent Pharma Solutions. The Monroe County Community School Corporation and Richland-Bean Blossom Community School Corporation (which serves Stinesville) also provide significant employment. Stinesville's local economy consists primarily of small-scale agriculture, home-based businesses, and service providers. The community's rural character and proximity to Bloomington make it attractive for residents seeking affordable housing and a quieter lifestyle while maintaining access to the employment, educational, and cultural resources of a university town. Monroe County's median household income is approximately $47,000-$52,000 (varying by census estimates), though Stinesville's smaller population may differ. The broader county economy benefits from higher education, healthcare, advanced manufacturing (particularly medical devices), and technology sectors. Recent growth in Monroe County has centered on Bloomington's expansion, with some development pressure reaching outlying areas including Perry Township. Stinesville remains largely residential with limited commercial zoning.

Stinesville is an unincorporated community and does not have its own police department. Law enforcement services for Stinesville and Perry Township are provided by the Monroe County Sheriff's Office, located at 407 North College Avenue, Bloomington, IN 47404. The Sheriff's Office can be reached at (812) 349-2700, and their website is www.co.monroe.in.us/department/division.php?structureid=29. The Sheriff's Office handles patrol, criminal investigations, and emergency response for unincorporated areas of Monroe County. To request police reports, incident reports, or accident reports, residents must contact the Records Division at the Sheriff's Office. Requests can be made in person, by mail, or by phone. The Sheriff's Office maintains arrest records, crash reports, and incident logs that are generally available to the public under Indiana's Access to Public Records Act, codified at Indiana Code 5-14-3-1 et seq. This state law requires public agencies to provide access to public records within a reasonable time, though some law enforcement investigative records may be exempt while cases are active. For arrests and jail bookings, the Monroe County Jail maintains an online inmate roster accessible through the Sheriff's website. The inmate search tool shows current detainees' names, booking dates, charges, bond amounts, and booking photographs when available. The jail is located at 301 North College Avenue, Bloomington, IN 47404. Residents can search by name or booking date to find custody status and charge information. Indiana law requires that arrest records and booking information be publicly accessible unless sealed by court order.

Processing times are approximately 10-15 business days for mail requests, faster for online orders with expedited service. Birth records less than 72 years old and death records less than 25 years old are restricted to eligible applicants (family members, legal representatives) under Indiana Code 16-37-1. The Monroe County Health Department at 333 East Miller Drive, Bloomington, IN 47404, phone (812) 349-2543, also maintains birth and death records for events that occurred within Monroe County and can issue certified copies. Marriage licenses are issued by the Monroe County Clerk's Office, 301 North College Avenue, Room 106, Bloomington, IN 47404, phone (812) 349-2506. The marriage license fee in Indiana is $18 if both parties complete a premarital education program, or $60 without the program. Applicants must apply in person with valid identification. Marriage records are public and can be searched at the Clerk's Office. Divorce records are court records maintained by the Monroe County Clerk as part of dissolution case files in Monroe Circuit or Superior Courts; certified copies require payment of court record copy fees.

The Monroe County Health Department, 333 East Miller Drive, Bloomington, IN 47404, phone (812) 349-2543, issues food establishment permits and inspects restaurants and food vendors. Zoning and land use permits for businesses in unincorporated Perry Township are handled by the Monroe County Planning Department at 100 West Kirkwood Avenue, Bloomington, IN 47404, phone (812) 349-2580. For business entity registration (corporations, LLCs, partnerships), all Indiana businesses must register with the Indiana Secretary of State. The Secretary of State's Business Services Division maintains INBiz, the state's online business portal at www.inbiz.in.gov, where users can search existing business entities, file new registrations, update registered agents, and check business status. The database is free and searchable by business name, registered agent, or business ID number. Business entity filings and annual reports are also managed through INBiz. Assumed business names (DBAs or "doing business as" names) for sole proprietorships and partnerships are filed with the County Recorder; in Monroe County, these are registered at the Monroe County Recorder's Office, 100 West Kirkwood Avenue, Bloomington, IN 47404, phone (812) 349-2520. UCC (Uniform Commercial Code) financing statements and lien searches are filed with the Indiana Secretary of State and searchable through INBiz. Commercial property tax assessments are managed by the Monroe County Assessor and can be searched online through the county's parcel database at the Assessor's website.

Stinesville voters are served by the Monroe County Clerk's Office - Election Division, located at Monroe County Government Center, 100 West Kirkwood Avenue, Room 106, Bloomington, IN 47404. The office can be reached at (812) 349-2506, and election information is available at www.co.monroe.in.us/department/division.php?structureid=19. Indiana residents can register to vote online at www.indianavoters.in.gov, the state's official voter registration portal managed by the Indiana Secretary of State. The registration deadline is 29 days before any election. Voters must provide an Indiana driver's license or state ID number, or the last four digits of their Social Security number. Indiana requires photo ID to vote in person. Stinesville, as an unincorporated community, does not hold municipal elections for mayor or town council, as it has no incorporated government. Residents vote in Monroe County and Perry Township elections, state legislative races, and federal elections. Perry Township voters elect a three-member Township Board and a Township Trustee; these local offices typically appear on ballots in municipal election years (odd-numbered years in Indiana). To find their assigned polling place, Stinesville residents can use the polling place lookup tool at indianavoters.in.gov by entering their address. Indiana makes voter registration lists and election results publicly available. Voter registration data can be requested from the County Clerk; precinct-level election results are published by the Clerk after each election. Campaign finance reports for local and state candidates are filed with the Indiana Election Division and searchable at www.in.gov/sos/elections/. In the November 2024 general election, Monroe County reported approximately 60,000 registered voters with turnout exceeding 65% for the presidential race, reflecting the county's typically high civic engagement partly driven by the university community. For the November 3, 2026 general election, Stinesville and Monroe County voters will decide several key races: one U.S. Senate seat (Indiana Class I seat is not up in 2026; Class III is up, currently held by Todd Young, up for re-election in 2028, so no Senate race in 2026 unless special), but Monroe County voters will participate in elections for U.S. House of Representatives (Indiana's 9th Congressional District, which includes Monroe County), Indiana state offices including all 100 Indiana House seats (District 60 and 62 cover parts of Monroe County), half of the 50 Indiana Senate seats if those districts are up on rotation, and county offices such as County Council, County Commissioners, and various county departments depending on term cycles. Indiana does not have gubernatorial elections in 2026 (next is 2028). Absentee voting in Indiana is available by mail for voters who qualify under specific reasons listed in Indiana Code 3-11-10, including being 65 or older, absence from the county on election day, disability, working as a poll worker, or scheduled to work during all 12 hours polls are open. Absentee ballot applications are submitted to the Monroe County Clerk and must be received by the deadline (typically 11 days before the election for mail-in ballots). Indiana offers early in-person voting at designated locations in the weeks before Election Day; Monroe County typically operates early voting at the County Government Center and satellite locations.