Lafayette Criminal History Records
Lafayette criminal history records are held by the Tippecanoe County Clerk and the Lafayette Police Department. The city has about 71,000 residents and serves as the county seat of Tippecanoe County. Purdue University in neighboring West Lafayette adds to the area's population. All criminal cases from Lafayette go through the Tippecanoe County court system. You can search records online through Indiana's court portal, request a statewide check from the ISP, or visit the clerk's office in person to pull court files.
Lafayette Quick Facts
Tippecanoe County Handles Lafayette Cases
Lafayette is the county seat. The Tippecanoe County courthouse is in the city. All criminal cases from Lafayette are filed here. The clerk keeps records for felonies, misdemeanors, and infractions. Tippecanoe County has about 187,000 residents, making it one of the more active court systems in central Indiana.
The clerk's office stores court documents, issues warrants, and processes subpoenas. You can get copies of criminal case files here. Staff can search by name or case number. The clerk also collects court costs, fines, and bond money in criminal cases. If you need a certified copy of a court record from a Lafayette case, this is the place to go.
| Office | Tippecanoe County Clerk of Courts |
|---|---|
| Address | 301 Main St Lafayette, IN 47901 |
| Phone | (765) 423-9323 |
The courthouse is on Main Street in downtown Lafayette. Parking is available on nearby streets and in public lots. The office is open during regular business hours on weekdays. Bring a valid photo ID if you plan to request criminal history records in Lafayette.
Lafayette Police Department Records
The Lafayette Police Department keeps arrest records and incident reports for the city. Contact the department for copies of police reports.
| Department | Lafayette Police Department |
|---|---|
| Address | 20 N 6th St Lafayette, IN 47901 |
| Phone | (765) 807-1200 |
The police department is on North 6th Street, close to the downtown area. Officers handle arrests, write reports, and keep booking data for Lafayette. Police records are separate from court case files. The Tippecanoe County Clerk holds the court records with charges, pleas, and outcomes. For the full criminal history picture in Lafayette, you may need data from both sources.
The Tippecanoe County Sheriff's Office at 2649 Duncan Road also handles law enforcement for the county. Their phone number is (765) 423-9388. If a case came from the sheriff's department rather than city police, the arrest records would be there instead.
How to Search Criminal History in Lafayette
You have several options for searching criminal history records in Lafayette.
MyCase at public.courts.in.gov/mycase is the free court records search tool for all Indiana courts. Search criminal cases filed in Tippecanoe County by name or case number. The system shows charges, case status, hearing dates, and dispositions. No cost to search. This covers all cases in Lafayette and the rest of the county.
The Indiana State Police Limited Criminal History portal at in.gov/ai/appfiles/isp-lch searches the statewide database. It costs $15.70 per search. Under IC 10-13-3, the ISP keeps the central repository for criminal history records. This search covers felonies and Class A misdemeanors from every county in Indiana. Results come back as a PDF that expires in 14 days.
The ISP FAQ page at in.gov/ai/appfiles/isp-lch2/faq.html explains what the limited criminal history covers and what it does not. It is worth reading before you pay for a search. A result of "No Records Found" still counts as a completed search and you pay the fee.
Below is the MyCase public access portal that Lafayette residents use to search court records online.
MyCase gives free access to case data from all Indiana courts including Tippecanoe County.
You can also go to the Tippecanoe County Clerk's office in person. Staff will help you look up criminal cases and make copies. A case number makes things faster, but name searches work too. Call (765) 423-9323 to ask about fees before you visit.
Lafayette Criminal History Access Laws
Court records in Lafayette are public under IC 5-14-3, the Access to Public Records Act. Anyone can ask for them. You do not need a reason.
If you have a conviction in Lafayette, IC 35-38-9 covers the expungement process. You file a petition in the Tippecanoe County court where the case was handled. The wait period varies by crime type. For misdemeanors, five years from the date of conviction. For lower-level felonies, eight years. Some serious felonies need ten or more years. The court looks at each case on its own. Not every record qualifies for sealing.
The ISP system runs under IC 10-13-3. This law defines criminal history record information and who can access it. IC 10-13-3-27 sets fees and access rules. Misuse of limited criminal history data is a Class A misdemeanor. The law applies to anyone who gets records from the ISP portal and uses them in a way not allowed by statute.
Note: Sealed records do not show up in public searches through MyCase or the ISP portal.
Lafayette Criminal History Resources
Indiana Legal Services covers Tippecanoe County and can help low-income residents with expungement petitions and criminal record questions. They offer free legal assistance to people who qualify based on income.
The Tippecanoe County Public Defender's Office can help people who had court-appointed lawyers in Lafayette. They can track down old case files and documents. The Tippecanoe County Bar Association has a lawyer referral program if you need to hire a private attorney. For general questions about court records, the clerk's office at (765) 423-9323 is a good starting point. West Lafayette, the neighboring city across the Wabash River, has its own police department at (765) 775-8500. Cases from West Lafayette also go through the Tippecanoe County courts.
Tippecanoe County Criminal History Records
Lafayette is the county seat of Tippecanoe County. All criminal court filings for the city go through the Tippecanoe County system. For more about the county court, clerk details, fees, and related records, visit the Tippecanoe County criminal history page.
Nearby Cities
Other cities near Lafayette where you can search criminal history records: