East Chicago Felony Records Lookup
East Chicago felony records are filed through the Lake County court system and maintained by the East Chicago Police Department. East Chicago is in Lake County in northwest Indiana, just south of the Illinois state line. All felony cases for East Chicago residents go to the Lake County Superior and Circuit Courts in Crown Point. This page covers how to search East Chicago felony records, how to contact local police for reports, and what statewide resources are relevant.
East Chicago Quick Facts
East Chicago Felony Cases in Lake County Courts
East Chicago is in Lake County, and all felony charges for East Chicago residents are filed in the Lake County Superior or Circuit Court in Crown Point. Indiana uses a six-level felony system ranging from Level 6 (least severe) through Level 1 and Murder. Each filed charge creates a public court record that enters the Lake County case tracking system. These records are available to the public under Indiana's Access to Public Records Act.
The Indiana MyCase portal at public.courts.in.gov/mycase is the main free tool for looking up East Chicago felony records online. You can search by name or case number. Results show charges filed, court hearing dates, and outcomes once a case resolves. Lake County felony cases, including those from East Chicago, appear in this system. No login is needed for basic public searches.
| Court | Lake County Superior Court / Circuit Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 2293 N. Main St, Crown Point, IN 46307 |
| Felony Clerk | lakecountyin.gov/departments/clerk-felony |
| Sheriff Records | (219) 755-3421 |
| Online Search | public.courts.in.gov/mycase |
Note: East Chicago is one of the closest Indiana cities to the Illinois state line. If a felony incident crossed state lines, federal records may also be relevant in addition to Lake County court records.
East Chicago Police Department Records
The East Chicago Police Department is at 2301 E Columbus Dr, East Chicago, IN 46312. The main phone line is 219-391-8400. The non-emergency dispatch number is 219-660-0000. The anonymous tip line is 219-391-8500. The ECPD website is at eastchicago.com/Police. The department's motto is "Courage, Compassion, Professionalism," and officers serve under a mission to protect lives and property while acting professionally and ethically.
For records requests from the East Chicago Police Department, online reporting is available for certain types of crimes. For other requests, contact the department directly during business hours. The department's phone directory is at eastchicago.com/Phone-Directory. East Chicago has its own city police force, separate from the Lake County Sheriff, so city incident reports come from the ECPD while county-level records may come from the sheriff.
The Lake County Sheriff's records and services page (lakecountyin.gov/departments/sheriff) covers county-level felony records for East Chicago and the rest of Lake County.
Lake County Sheriff felony records at lakecountysheriff.com cover arrests and bookings for East Chicago cases handled through the county's jurisdiction.
For Lake County public records including those related to East Chicago felony arrests, the county's public records request system at lakecountyin.gov/departments/lc911/public-records-request handles requests for sheriff, dispatch, and related county agency records.
Lake County Sheriff Felony Records
The Lake County Sheriff's Office at 2293 N. Main St in Crown Point handles felony arrests and jail bookings for the entire county, including East Chicago. People arrested on felony charges in East Chicago may be booked into the Lake County Jail in Crown Point. Jail records and pretrial information can be requested through the sheriff at (219) 755-3421. Property management is at (219) 755-3408.
The Lake County Sheriff website at lakecountysheriff.com lists sheriff services, contact information, and how to reach the right division for different types of records. The Lake County government site at lakecountyin.gov/departments/sheriff also has information on sheriff services. For victim notification about inmates at the Lake County Jail, use SAVIN at indianasavin.in.gov or VINE at vinelink.com.
Indiana State Police Criminal History for East Chicago
The Indiana State Police Limited Criminal History search at in.gov/ai/appfiles/isp-lch covers felony convictions from all Indiana courts. Lake County cases tied to East Chicago residents appear in this database once the court enters a final conviction. This statewide tool gives a broader picture of someone's Indiana criminal history than local records alone. The ISP criminal history services page at in.gov/isp/criminal-history-services explains fees and report types.
For East Chicago residents who received state prison sentences after a Lake County felony conviction, use the Indiana Department of Correction offender locator at offenderlocator.idoc.in.gov. This shows current custody location, sentence information, and projected release dates for people in IDOC custody. The Indiana courts website at in.gov/courts has additional resources for navigating Indiana's criminal court system.
Note: The ISP LCH search shows final convictions only. Active East Chicago felony cases pending in Lake County court will not appear in the ISP database until the case closes with a conviction.
Expungement of East Chicago Felony Records
Indiana's expungement law at Indiana Code 35-38-9 lets people with certain felony convictions petition the Lake County court to restrict public access to those records. East Chicago residents who had a felony conviction in Lake County court may be eligible after meeting the required waiting period and having no new criminal activity. Expungement is not automatic. You must file a petition with the court, and a judge makes the decision.
Murder and Level 1 felonies cannot be expunged under Indiana law. Lower-level felony convictions may qualify, depending on the specific offense and how much time has passed. If granted, most background searches done by the public will no longer return the expunged record. Law enforcement agencies can still access it in specific situations. Legal aid organizations serving Lake County can help East Chicago residents understand their options. The Indiana Public Access Counselor at 317.233.9435 answers questions about public records rights in Indiana.
Sex Offender Registry in East Chicago
Indiana's public sex offender registry covers East Chicago and all Lake County communities. Some felony sex crime convictions require registration with local law enforcement. The Indiana State Police maintains the registry, which is searchable by name, city, or ZIP code. The IDOC offender locator at offenderlocator.idoc.in.gov also tracks people released from state custody who may now live in East Chicago. Custody status alerts are available through VINE at vinelink.com and SAVIN at indianasavin.in.gov.
Nearby Cities with Felony Records
Other Lake County cities near East Chicago also have felony records accessible through Lake County courts and state databases.
- Hammond - Lake County
- Gary - Lake County
- Crown Point - Lake County seat
Lake County Felony Records
East Chicago is in Lake County. Felony cases for East Chicago residents are filed at the Lake County courts in Crown Point, the county seat. The county page covers the full Lake County court system, clerk office details, the Lake County Sheriff, and all county-wide resources for finding felony records across the Lake County area.