West Lafayette Criminal History
Criminal history records for West Lafayette are kept by the Tippecanoe County Clerk and the West Lafayette Police Department. West Lafayette has about 51,000 residents, many of them connected to Purdue University. The city sits across the Wabash River from Lafayette and falls under the Tippecanoe County court system. All criminal cases from West Lafayette get filed at the Tippecanoe County Courthouse in Lafayette. You can search court records online for free or visit the clerk in person to get copies of case files.
West Lafayette Quick Facts
West Lafayette Criminal History at the Clerk
The Tippecanoe County Clerk of the Circuit Court maintains all criminal court files for West Lafayette. The clerk's office is at the courthouse in Lafayette, just across the river from West Lafayette. Every felony, misdemeanor, and infraction from West Lafayette goes through this office. You can search records, request copies, and check case status there.
| Office | Tippecanoe County Clerk of the Circuit Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 301 Main St Lafayette, IN 47901 |
| Phone | (765) 423-9323 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM |
The drive from West Lafayette to the courthouse in Lafayette takes just a few minutes. Bring a valid photo ID. Staff can search by name or case number. Copies are available for a fee. Certified copies cost more than plain ones. Most criminal records are public under IC 5-14-3. Sealed or expunged cases will not show up. Call (765) 423-9323 to check fees before you visit.
Search West Lafayette Criminal Records Online
The Indiana MyCase system gives you free online access to Tippecanoe County criminal records. This includes all cases from West Lafayette. Search by name, case number, or attorney. Results show charges, filing dates, case status, and some court documents. You can run a search from home without going to the courthouse.
MyCase covers all West Lafayette criminal cases filed in Tippecanoe County courts, including circuit, superior, and city courts.
The system does not always show every document in a case. Older West Lafayette cases may not be in the electronic database. For the complete file, visit the clerk in Lafayette. MyCase gets updated regularly but there can be a short lag between filing and online appearance.
For a statewide search, the Indiana State Police offer the Limited Criminal History check. This pulls records from all 92 Indiana counties. The fee is $15. Submit the request online at ISP Limited Criminal History and get results by email. This is a good option if you need to check for records outside Tippecanoe County. The search is governed by IC 10-13-3 and includes arrests and convictions from across the state.
West Lafayette Police Department Records
The West Lafayette Police Department handles arrests and law enforcement in the city. Police reports are kept by the department and are separate from court records. For arrest reports or incident reports from West Lafayette, contact the department.
| Department | West Lafayette Police Department |
|---|---|
| Address | 711 W Navajo St West Lafayette, IN 47906 |
| Phone | (765) 775-8500 |
Police reports are public under IC 5-14-3 in most cases. Active investigations may limit what is available. Once a case closes, the full report can typically be released. Call (765) 775-8500 to ask about a specific report. Because of the large student population at Purdue University, the West Lafayette police handle a mix of cases that range from minor offenses to more serious crimes. The Purdue University Police Department covers incidents on campus, so if the case happened on university property, you may need to contact them instead.
Criminal Record Expungement in West Lafayette
Under IC 35-38-9, Indiana allows certain criminal records to be expunged. West Lafayette residents file a petition with the Tippecanoe County court in Lafayette. The clerk's office provides the forms. Whether you qualify depends on the type of offense and the time since the case ended.
Misdemeanor convictions generally have shorter waiting periods. Felonies require more time. Arrests that did not lead to conviction are also eligible under certain conditions. Once a record is expunged in West Lafayette, it drops out of MyCase and ISP checks. The process takes several weeks after the petition is filed, and there is a filing fee. For help with expungement, contact Indiana Legal Services or a criminal defense attorney in the Tippecanoe County area.
West Lafayette Criminal History Resources
Indiana Legal Services helps low-income residents in Tippecanoe County with legal issues, including criminal record matters. The Tippecanoe County Public Defender's Office serves people who face criminal charges and cannot afford a lawyer. The Indiana State Bar Association has a lawyer referral service for finding attorneys in the West Lafayette area.
Purdue University's pre-law programs sometimes offer legal clinics that can help with basic questions about criminal records. The Tippecanoe County Law Library at the courthouse in Lafayette has self-help forms and materials. Staff there can help you find the right resources for expungement filings or other court procedures related to criminal history in West Lafayette.
Tippecanoe County Criminal History Records
West Lafayette is in Tippecanoe County. All criminal cases from West Lafayette go through the Tippecanoe County court in Lafayette. For more on the county court, fee schedules, and related records, visit the Tippecanoe County page.
Nearby Cities
These Indiana cities also have criminal history pages on this site: