Commissary

The jail commissary has a wide variety of items available for purchase by inmates, including board games, snack foods and pharmacy items. To make a deposit to an inmate's commissary account, (1) use the Kiosk located in the Jail Lobby (cash, debit card or credit card), (2) call 1-877-998-5678 or (3) online by clicking on this one of these links below:

Inmate Sales

Jail ATM

Inmate Mail

Letters mailed to inmates must contain the inmate's full name. The jail will not accept certain items through the mail. Restricted items include packages, homemade greeting cards, Polaroid photographs, obscene or pornographic materials, personal checks, postage stamps or stamped envelopes, any type of food, and books or periodicals not directly sent from the publisher. Mail should be addressed in the following manner:

Mailing Address:

(INMATE'S NAME & BOOKING NUMBER)
Vigo County Jail
600 W. Honey Creek Dr.
Terre Haute, Indiana 47807

Mail Policy:

Only mail of normal size. The Post Office will not deliver large or bulky objects.
No Pornographic Material.
No Polaroid Photographs.

Former Sheriffs of Vigo County

1818-1822       Truman Blackman
1823-1824       Thomas H. Clark
1825-1827       Robert Sturgis
1828-1830       H. Allen
1831-1834       Charles G. Taylor
1835-1838       E.M. Jones
1839-1842       J. Strain
1843-1846       William Ray
1847-1848       M.M. Hickcox
1849-1852       Andrew Wilkins
1853-1854       James H. Nelson
1855-1856       S.H. Taylor
1857-1857       L.A. Burnett
1857-1858       William H. Stewart
1859-1862       Samuel Conner
1863-1864       Charles Kern
1865-1868       John Kizer
1869-1872       William H. Steward
1873-1874       J.M. Hull
1875-1878       George W. Carico
1879-1880       Louis Hay
1881-1882       Jackson Stepp
1883-1886       John M. Cleary (Died in 1892 from wounds
                        received while in line of duty)
1887-1890       A.D. Weeks
1891-1894       J.W. Stout
1895-1896       John Butler
1897-1900       Louis P. Seeburger
1901-1901       Daniel E. Fasig
1902-1908       William Horsley
1909-1912       John B. Walsh
1913-1916       Dennis Shea
1917-1919       Joseph Dreher
1920-1921       Wesley Mitchell (Died while in office)
1921-1921       Anderson A. Wolfle
1922-1923       Ray Foncannon
1924-1924       Fred Armstrong
1925-1928       Ray Foncannon
1929-1933       Joseph Dreher
1934-1935       William Baker
1936-1941       Joseph E. Dreher
1942-1943       James Trierweiler
1944-1947       Ira E. Hall
1948-1957       John J. Trierweiler
1958-1965       Herbert O. Beasley
1966-1969       Clyde Lovellette
1970-1974       George Albright
1975-1978       Ted Melvin
1979-1986       Andrew Atelski
1987-1994       James R. Jenkins
1995-2002       William R. Harris
2003-2010       Jon R. Marvel
2011-2018 Greg T. Ewing

2019-2024 John A. Plasse (Died while in office)

History of the Office of Sheriff

The Office of Sheriff is one of antiquity. It is the oldest law enforcement office known within the common-law system and it has always been accorded great dignity and high trust. For the most part, the Office of Sheriff evolved of necessity. Were it not for laws which require enforcing, there would have been no necessity for the Sheriff. There would have been no need for the development of police administration, criminology, criminologists, etc. This is not the case, however. Man learned quite early that all is not orderly in the universe. All times and all places have generated those who covet the property of their neighbors and who are willing to expropriate this property by any means. As such, man's quest for equity and order gave birth to the Office of Sheriff, the history of which begins in the Old Testament and continues through the annals of Judeo-Christian tradition. Indeed, there is no honorable law enforcement authority in Anglo-American law so ancient as that of the County Sheriff. And today, as in the past, the County Sheriff is a peace officer entrusted with the maintenance of law and order and the preservation of domestic tranquility.

Sheriffs have served and protected the English-speaking peoples for a thousand years. The Office of Sheriff and the law enforcement, judicial and correctional functions he performs are more than 1000 years old. The Office of Sheriff dates back at least to the reign of Alfred the Great of England, and some scholars even argue that the Office of Sheriff was first created during the Roman occupation of England.

Around 500 AD, Germanic tribes from Europe (called the Anglo-Saxons) began an invasion of Celtic England which eventually led over the centuries to the consolidation of Anglo-Saxon England as a unified kingdom under Alfred the Great late in the 9th Century. Alfred divided England into geographic units called "shires", or counties.

In 1066, William the Conqueror defeated the Anglo-Saxons and instituted his own Norman government in England. Both under the Anglo-Saxons and under the Normans, the King of England appointed a representative called a "reeve" to act on behalf of the king in each shire or county. The "shire-reeve" or King's representative in each county became the "Sheriff" as the English language changed over the years. The shire-reeve or Sheriff was the chief law enforcement officer of each county in the year 1000 AD. He still will have the same function in Florida in the year 2000 AD.

The concepts of "county" and "Sheriff" were essentially the same as they had been during the previous 900 years of English legal history. Because of the English heritage of the American colonies, the new United States adopted the English law and legal institutions as its own.

Clearly, the Sheriff is the only viable office remaining of the ancient offices, and his contemporary responsibility as conservator of the peace has been influenced greatly by modern society. As the crossbow gave way to the primitive flintlock the Sheriff is not unaccustomed to change. But now, perhaps more than ever before in history, law enforcement if faced with complex, moving, rapid changes in methodology, technology, and social attitudes. As Thomas Jefferson wrote in his The Value of Constitutions, "the Office of Sheriff is the most important of all the executive offices of the county."

Telephone Calls

Most inmates have daily access to telephones in their housing units. Inmates cannot receive incoming telephone calls, and no messages for inmates will be taken by Corrections staff unless it is a verifiable emergency. To set up a Friends & Family calling account, call Combine Public Communications at 1-877-998-5678, visit the Kiosk in our lobby, or online by clicking the link below:

Friends and Family Account

Inmate Visitation

The Vigo County Jail currently allows only Video Visitation which may be scheduled by selecting the link below:

Video Visitation

Inmate Locator

Chief's in Memoriam

Need Information

If You Get Pulled Over by a Deputy Sheriff

When you see the red/blue emergency lights and it appears that the Deputy is attempting to stop you, and not pass you on an emergency call, remain calm, slow down and pull over in a safe location on the shoulder or nearby parking lot.

Do not exit your vehicle unless instructed to do so. This is for safety reasons. (Each year officers and pedestrians are struck by passing vehicles.)
At night, turn on your interior dome lights.
Keep your hands in a position where the Deputy can see them, preferably on the steering wheel.
Inform the Deputy of any weapons in your vehicle and their location. Do not reach or point to the location. Avoid any sudden movements, for any reason!
Comply with the Deputy’s request to see your driver’s license and registration. If the documents are out of reach, tell the Deputy where they are before you reach for them.
If there are passengers present in the vehicle, encourage them to remain quiet and cooperate with instructions. You, as the operator, are responsible for your vehicle and occupants.
Avoid becoming argumentative. Arguing will not change the Deputy’s mind. If you wish to contest the violation, you will have an opportunity to address the matter in court.
Answer all questions truthfully.
The Deputy may issue a summons for the violation. If the reason is vague or unclear, politely ask the Deputy for details.
If asked to sign the summons, it is not an admission of guilt.
Understand that each situation is unique and the Deputy must alter his or her response to fit the circumstances of the traffic stop. Generally; however, a Deputy will provide his or her name upon request, will inform you of the reason you’re being stopped, and will only arrest a person for a violation of law committed in the officer’s presence, or when the officer has probable cause to believe the person has already committed the crime.

Why Would A Deputy Sheriff Stop You?

There are many different reasons why you may be stopped by a law enforcement officer. Whatever the reason, your cooperation is requested and appreciated. A few of the possible reasons for being stopped:

The Deputy may want to warn you about a potentially dangerous situation.
You may have committed a traffic violation.
Your vehicle may match the description of one used in a criminal act.
The Deputy might think you are in trouble and need help.
You may have knowingly or unknowingly witnessed a crime.
If you are stopped by a Deputy while driving, you may be confused, anxious, or even angry. These are natural feelings, but remember, traffic stops can also be stressful and dangerous for the Deputy.

Each year, a number of law enforcement officers are killed or injured while making a “routine” traffic stop. Officers are especially vulnerable during the hours of darkness. With this in mind, there are things you, as a law abiding citizen, can do to lessen the uneasiness of the experience.

Crime Scene Investigations & Evidence Unit

The primary responsibility of this unit is to respond to a full range of crimes and process each crime scene in order to locate and preserve evidence using their special knowledge and skills to complete a detailed report in an effort to assist law enforcement in obtaining probable cause for the arrest of suspects, and assist prosecutors in presenting evidence that could aid in obtaining a conviction at trial. The deputies in this unit have advanced training in the most current scientific and practical crime scene applications of evidence collection and crime scene techniques. Unmanned aerial systems are also utilized and maintained by this Unit.

Forensic Services Unit

The Forensic Services Unit consists of two crime scene specialists that also serve as property room/evidence clerks. The Forensic Services Unit is utilized for crime scene and evidence services on cases that require technical processing.

High Tech Crime Unit

The Vigo County Prosecutors Office and Indiana State University School of Criminology and Security Studies were awarded 1 of 10 High-Tech Cybercrime Units (HTCU) in the state of Indiana by the Indiana Prosecutors Attorney Council (IPAC) in November 2021. The project is the result of collaboration between the Vigo County Prosecutor’s Office, the ISU School of Criminology and Security Studies, the Terre Haute Police Department, and the Vigo County Sheriff’s Office. The HTCU is a digital forensics unit under the supervision of the Vigo County Prosecutor’s Office. The overall purpose of the HTCU is the location, preservation and analysis of digital evidence related to investigations in West Central Indiana. The HTCU conducts unlocking, extraction, processing, and analysis on all digital devices, including mobile devices (phones and tablets), DVRs, computers, hard drives, thumb drives, etc.

Mental Illness Commitment

Emergency Detention Orders & Psychiatric Emergencies

Definitions:

In Indiana mental illness includes: mental retardation, alcoholism, addiction, to narcotics or dangerous drugs and psychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia.

“Mental illness” is defined as a “psychiatric disorder that substantially disturbs an individual’s thinking, feeling, or behavior and impairs the individual’s ability to function.” IC 16-14-9.1-1(a)
“Dangerous” means that, as a result of being mentally ill, there is a substantial risk that the individual will harm himself/herself or others.
“Gravely disabled” means that the individual is in danger of coming to harm because he or she is unable to provide for food, clothing, shelter or other essential needs, or, cannot function independently due to a deterioration of reasoning or behavior.

County Ordinaces Enforcement

An ordinance is a law enacted by a local government. It establishes the rules for the operation of the local government or provides rules and regulations governing public activity in the community. Some ordinances are intended to be permanent and are assembled in an indexed book called a "code of ordinances" or a "municipal code". Other ordinances may be temporary in nature, and therefore do not need to be codified. To be valid, an ordinance cannot conflict with state or federal law, and it must be properly enacted. An ordinance applies only in the municipality in which it is adopted. The Vigo County Sheriff’s Office is the enforcing agency of all county ordinances.

Vigo County has several ordinances however those that require enforcement are the responsibility of our agency ordinance officer and all deputies of the department. The sheriff’s office is the only agency that can enforce county ordinances and cannot enforce other ordinances that are adopted by other government entities such as the City of Terre Haute.

Court Orders

Pursuant to Indiana Code, the sheriff must serve all process directed to him from a court or the county executive. Many of these orders are classified as Civil Filings.

Below, are many types of civil filings, which are all, began at the county clerk’s office. Please review the information below from our county clerk’s office on how to begin a civil filing in Vigo County.

Civil Filings

New filings are filed in the Main Clerk’s Office in the County Courthouse. We have the following forms available:

Evictions - $125.00 for one Defendant if more than one $10.00 extra per defendant. This includes $28.00 for Sheriff Service.
Emergency Evictions - $125.00 for one Defendant if more than one $10.00 extra per defendant. This includes Sheriff Service.
Small Claims -$97.00 for one Defendant if more than one $10.00 extra per defendant. Sheriff fees would be $28.00.
Dissolution of Marriage with and without children - $177.00
Replacement Titles - $157.00
Name Change for Adults and Minors - $157.00
Guardianships with DCS involvement - $177.00
Juvenile Paternity - $196.00

We accept cash, debit/credit, money orders and cashier checks. No personal checks
The forms are located as you walk into the Courthouse to your left or in the Main Clerk’s Office.
The Clerk’s Office does not give out legal advice. If you have legal questions please contact Indiana Legal Services at 812-330-7668/800-822-4774

The telephone number to the Clerk’s Office is 812-462-3211.

Two common civil filings are eviction and writs of assistance orders.

An eviction is the court-ordered removal of a tenant from the property where they reside. A landlord may decide to evict a tenant for nonpayment of rent, damages, illegal activity, violating the terms of a lease, or if the landlord wishes to take possession of the property.

A writ of assistance is a written order (a writ) issued by a court instructing a law enforcement official, such as a sheriff to perform a certain task. Historically, several types of writs have been called "writs of assistance".^[1] Most often, a writ of assistance is "used to enforce an order for the possession of lands".^[2]

The sheriff’s office has officers who provide enforcement of these orders once issued by a court. If the courts have issued either order to you as a plaintiff and you need assistance in the enforcement of these orders please contact call our office at 812-462-3226 Ext. 7339 or by email at evictions@vigosheriff.in.gov to schedule an appointment for an officer to meet you at the location, officers will attempt to accommodate the orders time and date set if possible.

Court & Government Building Security

In order to meet the obligations set forth in the Indiana Code the sheriff’s office has established our Court and County Building Security Division.

This Division consists of Civilian Special Deputies assigned to provide protection at county buildings such as the annex, courthouse, juvenile center, and community corrections center.

Upon entering any of our county buildings you may be required to pass through a security checkpoint. No weapons of any kind are allowed in any county buildings. The county offices are open from 8 am to 4 pm excluding holidays.

IC 36-2-13-5: The Sheriff has the following specific powers and duties:

The Sheriff must arrest without process persons who commit an offense within his view, take them before a court of the county having jurisdiction, and detain them in custody until the cause of the arrest has been investigated.
The Sheriff must suppress the breaches of peace, calling the power of the county to his aid if necessary.
The Sheriff must pursue and jail all felons.
The Sheriff must execute all process directed to him by legal authority.
The Sheriff must serve all process directed to him from a court or the county executive.
The Sheriff must attend and preserve order in all courts of the county.
The Sheriff must take care of the county jail and the prisoners there.

Inmate Lookup

City Court Bonds

Online:

At www.TerreHauteCityCourtPayments.com then click on BOND PAYMENT

By telephone:

Call 812-517-8035

M-F 8am to 8pm and Sat-Sun 10am to 2pm (some holidays they are closed)

In order to pay by credit card, they must have the following information:

Defendant Name

Defendant Case Number

There is a $5.00 fee that must be collected on top of the bond amount. It is for the Special Death Benefit Fee (SDBF).

County Court Bonds

Bonds can be posted at the courthouse between the hours of 8:00 am and 4:00 pm during open for business days. Payment can be made with cash, cashier’s check or by card. You will need to add an extra $5.00 fee to know the total payment amount on criminal bonds. There will be an additional processing fee of 3 percent on payments made with a credit or debit card. We highly suggest paying with a cashier’s check for any large bonds. They would need to be made out to the Vigo County Clerk (and include that extra $5.00 fee).

Location:

The second floor of the courthouse to get paperwork for the bond. You will then be informed of the steps needed to complete the transaction. A copy of the bond and the receipt will be given to you for your records. You will also be given a copy to take to the jail to have the defendant released.

Paying a Bond at the Jail

The Vigo County Jail only accepts bonds when the City and County Clerk’s Offices are closed. The Vigo County Jail is only able to accept cash that is the exact amount as we are unable to provide change. The individual paying the bond must have a valid photo ID.

Locate My Towed Vehicle

It is the policy of the Vigo County Sheriff’s Office to conduct motor vehicle tows, inventories and/or impounds by making a determination with respect to the impounding of motor vehicles operated by persons who are injured, ill, subject to arrest, or arrested, or presents a hazard.

When a vehicle should be towed because it presents a hazard, the owner or operator should arrange for the towing. Sheriff's Office members may assist by communicating requests through the Dispatch Center to expedite the process.
If the owner or operator is unable to arrange for towing and the vehicle presents a hazard, the vehicle may be towed at the direction of the Sheriff's office member (I.C. § 9-21-16-3; I.C. § 9-21-16-4).
A deputy who discovers a vehicle in the possession of an individual who cannot establish the right to possession of the vehicle shall take and store the vehicle in a suitable place (I.C. § 9-22-1-5).

The sheriff’s office utilizes a wrecker rotation to select the agency who impounds vehicle at the request of the sheriff’s office. Vehicles impounded by the sheriff’s office usually are taken to the storage lot of the towing company for safekeeping. On occasion the vehicle can be towed to the sheriff’s office for further processing.

Once an officer chooses to tow a motor vehicle a wrecker service is notified by Vigo County Central Dispatch.

Central dispatch maintains the tow records of the sheriff’s office therefore anyone who is attempting to locate a towed vehicle by the sheriff’s office should contact Vigo County Central Dispatch at 812-232-3802.

Please ensure you can provide a description of the towed vehicle including Color, Make, Model, along with the time, date and location the vehicle was towed from.

Within 72 hours, excluding weekends and holidays, of a vehicle being towed, it shall be the responsibility of the tow company to send a notice of tow to all registered owners and others having a recorded interest in the vehicle. Notice shall be sent to all such individuals by certified mail or by means of electronic service if approved by the Bureau of Motor Vehicles. The notice shall include (I.C. § 9-22-1-19):

The name, address and telephone number of the Vigo County Sheriff's Office.
The location where the vehicle is stored.
A description of the vehicle, including the following:

Color
Manufacturer year
Make and model
License plate number and/or Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
Mileage

The authority and purpose for the removal of the vehicle.
An explanation of the procedure for release of the vehicle and for obtaining a vehicle tow hearing.
Other information as may be required by I.C. § 9-22-1-19 in cases of abandoned vehicles or vehicles towed after a collision.

If a vehicle is in such a condition that the vehicle identification number or other means of identification are not available to determine the registered owner or others having a registered interest in the vehicle, the vehicle may be disposed of without notice (I.C. § 9-22-1-21).

Property and Evidence

Property received by the Vigo County Sheriff’s Office may be evidence, found property, property for safe keeping, or contraband and is maintained by the property room/evidence clerk.

The property room is open Monday through Friday from 08:00 a.m. to 04:00 p.m.

Persons wishing to retrieve property from the property room should call to confirm eligibility and schedule an appointment at 812-462-3226.

Det. F/Sgt. Clayton White ext. 7312

Det. Chase St. John ext. 7318

Drug Task Force

DTF

Mission Statement

The mission of the members of this Unit is to contribute 100% of their time to the investigations of narcotics within Vigo County. These investigators work closely with other divisions of the Vigo County Sheriff’s Office and surrounding jurisdictions to maintain the latest intelligence information in order to prevent, control, and reduce the manufacturing, importation, and distribution of controlled substance within Vigo County.

Individuals who have information regarding criminal activity should call Central Dispatch at (812) 232-3802 or Crimestoppers at (812) 238-STOP.

The Vigo County Drug Task Force is a narcotics unit composed of Detectives from the Vigo County Sheriff’s Office, Terre Haute Police Department, Indiana State Police, with assistance from the Vigo County Prosecutor's Office. The Vigo County Drug Task Force is responsible for narcotics investigations within the City of Terre Haute and throughout Vigo County, including investigations involving clandestine methamphetamine labs, marijuana grow operations, prescription drug diversion and street level narcotics. The Drug Task Force also assists other community agencies by providing informational programs such as Meth Lab Recognition seminars.

Our Goals

To identify, investigate, and disrupt or dismantle drug trafficking organizations working in the Wabash Valley.
To initiate and conduct investigations of mid and upper-level drug dealers and drug manufacturers.
To facilitate investigation and problem solving efforts relating to neighborhood drug problems and determine possible connections to drug trafficking organizations.
To promote inter-agency cooperation relating to drug investigations.
To promote interdisciplinary cooperation fighting drugs in our community.
To collect, analyze and disseminate intelligence information relating to illegal drug activities in Vigo County and the surrounding areas.
To participate in establishing and maintaining a communications network between law enforcement agencies in our area.
To be an educational and information resource for our community partners and other agencies regarding illegal drugs, their use and the drug subculture.

If you have tips or information that you would like to pass along to the Vigo County Drug Task Force, please contact us at the phone numbers or email listed below. All tips are considered confidential and you may remain anonymous when providing information. If you would like to have a detective contact you, please include a telephone number or email address where you may be reached.

General Information: 812-244-2758

Fax: 812-244-2591

Email: dtf@vigosheriff.in.gov

ALL TIPS WILL REMAIN ANONYMOUS!

Vigo County Prosecutors Office Phone Number: (812) 462-3305
Terre Haute Police Department Phone Number: (812) 238-1661
Vigo County Sheriff's Department Phone Number: (812) 462-3226
Wabash Valley CRIME STOPPERS (812) 238-STOP (238-7867)

Deal With A Summons/Subpoena Not for Me

What do I do with a summons that has been left in my door that is not for me or anyone that lives with me?

Contact the sheriff’s business office at 812-462-3226 option 5.