Lake County Criminal History Records
Lake County criminal history records are available through the Clerk's Office, Sheriff, and Superior Court in Crown Point. As Indiana's second largest county with roughly 500,000 residents, Lake County handles a very high volume of criminal cases each year. The county sits in northwest Indiana along the Illinois border. You can search for criminal history at the courthouse, through the Clerk's online resources, or via the state's court and police databases. The Indiana State Police central repository also contains Lake County felony and Class A misdemeanor data reported under IC 10-13-3.
Lake County Quick Facts
Lake County Clerk Criminal Records
The Lake County Clerk's Office is at 2293 N Main St in Crown Point. Phone (219) 755-3000 for information. The Lake County Clerk website lists services and contact details for the office.
The Clerk keeps all official court records for Lake County. Criminal case files include charging documents, plea records, sentencing orders, motions, and final dispositions. If you need certified copies of a criminal case from Lake County, the Clerk's Office is where you go. Walk in during business hours with the person's name and case number. Staff can also search by name alone, though case numbers speed up the process. Lake County is a busy jurisdiction, so expect more wait time than smaller counties. Plan your visit ahead of time.
Under IC 5-14-3, court records in Lake County are public unless sealed by a judge. You have the right to see criminal case files and get copies. Certified copies cost a fee, which varies. Ask the Clerk about current rates.
The Lake County Clerk's website shown above provides contact details and information about record services.
| Address | 2293 N Main St, Crown Point, IN 46307 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (219) 755-3000 |
| Website | lakecountyclerk.org |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
Lake County Sheriff and Superior Court
The Lake County Sheriff's Office is also at 2293 N Main St in Crown Point. Call (219) 755-3348 for records and general questions. The Sheriff handles arrests, jail operations, and law enforcement records for Lake County.
The Lake County Superior Court manages criminal cases through multiple divisions. Lake County is large enough to have several court locations and judges handling criminal matters. Cases can be assigned to different divisions based on the type of crime and where in the county it happened. The Superior Court at 2293 N. Main Street in Crown Point is the main location. All arrest data from Lake County gets reported to the Indiana State Police under IC 10-13-3 for inclusion in the statewide criminal history database.
For public court records, the Sheriff's records reference page suggests checking mycase.in.gov for online case searches. For a statewide criminal history check, the Indiana State Police Limited Criminal History search is the recommended route.
The Lake County courts page above provides details on the Superior Court divisions that handle criminal cases.
| Sheriff Address | 2293 N Main St, Crown Point, IN 46307 |
|---|---|
| Sheriff Phone | (219) 755-3348 |
| Superior Court | lakecounty.in.gov/departments/superior-court |
Note: Lake County's high case volume means recent cases may take longer to appear in online databases.
Search Lake County Criminal History Online
Online searches are a practical way to check Lake County criminal history given the county's size and busy courthouse.
MyCase at public.courts.in.gov/mycase is free. It covers Lake County and all 92 Indiana counties through the Odyssey Case Management System. Search by name or case number. You can see charges, hearing schedules, case status, and outcomes. MyCase is not an official court record. For certified copies, go to the Lake County Clerk's Office. But for research purposes, it is the best free tool available.
The ISP Limited Criminal History at in.gov/ai/appfiles/isp-lch costs $15.70 by credit card. This covers felonies and Class A misdemeanor arrests statewide. Lake County data in the system depends on local reporting speed. Given the high volume of arrests in Lake County, there may be a slight lag for recent cases. Results come as a PDF that expires in 14 days. "No Records Found" is still a completed search and costs the fee.
Criminal History Laws in Lake County
IC 5-14-3 gives you the right to request criminal records from Lake County offices. The Access to Public Records Act covers court files and most other government records. Some investigatory files may be exempt, but the default is open access.
IC 10-13-3 is the main Indiana statute on criminal history information. It spells out what counts as criminal history data and how agencies must handle it. Under IC 10-13-3-27, only certain people and organizations can access criminal histories for specific purposes. Misusing limited criminal history information is a Class A misdemeanor. Lake County law enforcement reports arrest data to the state repository as required by this statute. Records stay in the ISP database until the person dies or reaches 99 years old with no criminal activity for 15 years.
Expungement in Lake County follows IC 35-38-9. You petition the court that handled your case. The judge considers the type of crime, time elapsed, and your behavior. If the petition is granted, the record is sealed. Given Lake County's large population, the courts here process a significant number of expungement petitions each year.
State Resources for Lake County
The Indiana State Police criminal history page covers all options for searching Lake County records in the state database. Call 317-232-8262 or email CriminalHistory@isp.IN.gov. The ISP CJIS Section is at 100 N. Senate Avenue, Suite N340, Indianapolis.
The Odyssey system connects Lake County courts with every other trial court in Indiana. Over 2 million cases flow through this system each year, and Lake County contributes a substantial share. The ISP FAQ page answers questions about search fees, data retention, and what a limited criminal history check shows.
Cities in Lake County
Lake County has several large cities. All criminal cases go through the Lake County court system in Crown Point.
Other cities in Lake County include Griffith, Highland, Schererville, Munster, Dyer, St. John, Cedar Lake, and Lowell. All use the Lake County courts for criminal matters.
Nearby Counties
These counties are next to Lake County. Cases must be filed in the county where the offense took place.