Search Hammond Criminal History
Hammond criminal history records are filed through the Lake County court system and held by the Lake County Clerk. Hammond is in northwestern Indiana near the Illinois border with a population of about 77,000. It is one of several large cities in Lake County, the second most populated county in the state. Criminal cases from Hammond go through Lake County Superior Court. You can search those records online, request a criminal history search from the Indiana State Police, or visit the clerk's office in Crown Point to pull case files.
Hammond Quick Facts
Lake County Handles Hammond Criminal Cases
Hammond criminal cases go through the Lake County court system. The county seat is Crown Point, which is where the main courthouse sits. This means Hammond residents may need to go to Crown Point for some court matters. The Lake County Clerk keeps records for felonies, misdemeanors, and infractions filed in the county.
The clerk handles new case filings, stores court documents, and gives out copies. If you need to check on a pending case or get a certified copy of a criminal record from Hammond, you contact the Lake County Clerk. The clerk also collects filing fees, court costs, and fines in criminal cases. Lake County has multiple court divisions that serve different parts of the county, and Hammond falls under the Lake County Superior Court system.
| Office | Lake County Clerk of Courts |
|---|---|
| Address | 2293 N Main St Crown Point, IN 46307 |
| Phone | (219) 755-3000 |
| Website | lakecountyclerk.org |
The drive from Hammond to Crown Point is about 25 miles south on I-65. Plan for travel time if you need to visit the clerk's office in person. Some Lake County court services may also be available at satellite locations closer to Hammond.
Hammond Police Department Records
The Hammond Police Department keeps local arrest records and incident reports. For copies of police reports or booking data, contact the department at its Douglas Street location.
| Department | Hammond Police Department |
|---|---|
| Address | 509 Douglas St Hammond, IN 46320 |
| Phone | (219) 853-6490 |
Police records cover arrests, incident reports, and booking info. Court case files and conviction data are held by the Lake County Clerk, not the police. If you want a full criminal history check for Hammond, you may need to pull records from both the police department and the county clerk.
Note: Closed reports are available upon request, but active investigation files are not released.
How to Search Criminal History in Hammond
Hammond residents have several ways to look up criminal history records. The right method depends on what you need.
MyCase at public.courts.in.gov/mycase is free. It covers all Indiana courts. You can search criminal cases filed in Lake County by name or case number. It shows case status, charges, hearings, and outcomes. This works well for Hammond cases since they all go through Lake County courts.
For a statewide search, use the ISP Limited Criminal History portal at in.gov/ai/appfiles/isp-lch. The cost is $15.70 per search. It covers felonies and Class A misdemeanors from all Indiana counties. Under IC 10-13-3, the ISP is the central repository for criminal history information in the state. Results come back as a PDF that expires after 14 days.
The Lake County Clerk also handles in-person record requests. You can visit the office in Crown Point to search cases and get copies. The clerk at lakecountyclerk.org has more details on fees and procedures. The Lake County Superior Court at lakecounty.in.gov provides court schedules and division info for criminal cases from Hammond.
The Lake County Clerk's website is shown below. This is where you start for in-person requests and fee info related to Hammond criminal records.
The site lists office hours, contact numbers, and links to court divisions that handle Hammond cases.
Hammond Criminal History Access Rules
Criminal court records in Hammond are public. Indiana's Access to Public Records Act, IC 5-14-3, gives anyone the right to request them. You do not need to state a reason.
Some records are sealed or restricted. If a case was expunged, it will not show up in a public search. IC 35-38-9 covers the expungement process. Hammond residents who want to petition for record sealing file in the Lake County court where the case was handled. The wait period depends on the crime type. Misdemeanors have shorter wait times than felonies. Not all convictions qualify.
IC 10-13-3-27 sets the fee rules for criminal history checks through the ISP system. Misuse of limited criminal history data is a Class A misdemeanor. This means you can face charges if you get records from the ISP and use them in a way the law does not allow. For public court records, the rules under IC 5-14-3 are less strict, but some investigatory records may still be withheld.
Hammond Criminal History Resources
Legal aid groups in northwest Indiana can help with criminal record issues. Indiana Legal Services has a regional office that covers Lake County. They provide free help with expungement cases for people who qualify based on income.
The Lake County Public Defender's Office handles cases for residents who had court-appointed lawyers. If you need old case documents from a Hammond criminal matter, they may be able to help you track them down. For lawyer referrals, contact the Lake County Bar Association. They can connect you with attorneys who handle criminal history and record sealing matters in Hammond.
Lake County Criminal History Records
Hammond is in Lake County, and all criminal filings go through the Lake County courts. The county handles felony, misdemeanor, and traffic cases for Hammond and several other cities. For more on the county court system, clerk details, and related records, visit the Lake County criminal history page.
Nearby Cities
Other cities near Hammond where you can search criminal history records: