West Lafayette Felony Records
West Lafayette felony records are maintained through Tippecanoe County courts and the Indiana statewide court system. Residents and researchers can search felony records for West Lafayette cases using the Indiana MyCase portal, visit the Tippecanoe County Clerk in person, or request records from the West Lafayette Police Department. This guide covers every major way to find and access felony case information for West Lafayette, Indiana.
West Lafayette Quick Facts
West Lafayette Felony Cases and Tippecanoe County Courts
All felony cases in West Lafayette go through the Tippecanoe County court system. The courts are in Lafayette, the county seat, just across the Wabash River from West Lafayette. Tippecanoe County has several courts that hear criminal matters, and felony charges filed in West Lafayette will appear in one of these courts depending on the nature of the offense and the judge assigned.
The Tippecanoe County Clerk of Courts keeps all official felony case records for West Lafayette. The Clerk's office is in Lafayette at the Tippecanoe County Courthouse. You can search case indexes online or visit in person to get copies of felony case documents. Tippecanoe County provides online court record access at tippecanoe.in.gov, and the statewide MyCase system at public.courts.in.gov/mycase covers West Lafayette felony cases as well.
West Lafayette shares the Tippecanoe County court system with its much larger neighbor Lafayette. Both cities are served by the same circuit and superior courts. Felony case filings in West Lafayette carry the same case format as any other Tippecanoe County case. If you know the case number or a party name, you can pull up the full docket online without needing to visit the courthouse.
Note: Tippecanoe County Superior Court handles the majority of felony criminal matters for West Lafayette under Indiana's unified trial court system.
How to Find West Lafayette Felony Records Online
The Indiana MyCase portal is the fastest free way to search West Lafayette felony records online. You can look up cases by name, case number, or attorney. MyCase shows current case status, party names, filed charges, hearing dates, and docket entries. Most felony cases in West Lafayette from the past decade are in the system. Go to public.courts.in.gov/mycase and select Tippecanoe County to begin your search.
Tippecanoe County also runs its own online records portal. The county court records page at tippecanoe.in.gov/854/Tippecanoe-Court-Records links to search tools and explains what records are available for public access. If you find a case but need actual documents, you must contact the Tippecanoe County Clerk directly to get certified copies or plain copies of filed papers.
For older felony cases in West Lafayette, you may need to request records in person at the Tippecanoe County Courthouse in Lafayette. Some older case files are not digitized and can only be viewed in the clerk's office. Staff can help you locate a case by name or case number even if it predates the online systems.
The Tippecanoe County public records request page at tippecanoe.in.gov/524/Public-Record-Requests explains how to request records that are not available through the online portal. Under Indiana Code 5-14-3, government agencies must respond to written public records requests within 7 days. In-person requests must be answered within 24 hours.
West Lafayette Police Department Records
The Tippecanoe County court records portal at tippecanoe.in.gov provides access to felony case information filed through the West Lafayette and Tippecanoe County court system.
The portal shown above covers all public court records in Tippecanoe County, including felony cases originating in West Lafayette.
The West Lafayette Police Department handles local law enforcement for the city. You can reach the department at 711 W. Navajo St, West Lafayette, IN 47906. The main office number is 765-775-5200. The department's records section is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., for in-person record requests. Their website is at westlafayette.in.gov.
To request records from West Lafayette police, you can email records@wl.in.gov or submit a public records request form. The form is available at westlafayette.in.gov/government/police-department/services/records-request. Police records include incident reports, arrest reports, and calls for service. Note that not all police records are public under Indiana law. Some may be withheld if the investigation is still open or if the records involve minors.
West Lafayette is home to Purdue University, which has its own police department. Crimes that occur on the Purdue campus may be handled by Purdue Police rather than West Lafayette PD. If you are looking for felony records tied to a campus incident, you may need to check with both agencies. The West Lafayette Police Department covers the broader city area outside the main campus.
Note: You can also submit a general public records request through the West Lafayette city portal at westlafayette.in.gov/services/public-records-request.
Indiana State Police Criminal History for West Lafayette
The Indiana State Police (ISP) offers Limited Criminal History (LCH) searches that cover the entire state, including West Lafayette. An LCH search checks the ISP's statewide database and shows felony convictions and other criminal matters on record. This is different from a court record search. The ISP LCH covers records from all Indiana counties, so results for a West Lafayette person would pull everything from Tippecanoe County and elsewhere in the state.
You can run an LCH search online through the ISP's system at in.gov/ai/appfiles/isp-lch. There is a small fee for each search. The search is name-based and requires you to know the full name and date of birth of the subject. Results typically come back within minutes. For more details on the LCH program, visit in.gov/isp/criminal-history-services.
ISP criminal history results may differ from court records in some cases. Court records show what was charged and the outcome of each case. The ISP LCH shows convictions reported to the state. If you need the most complete picture of a felony record in West Lafayette, check both sources. The MyCase portal covers current and recent cases while the ISP LCH may include older matters not yet reflected in online court databases.
Felony Expungement in West Lafayette
Indiana law allows some people with felony records to petition for expungement. Under Indiana Code 35-38-9, a person convicted of a felony may file a petition after a waiting period. The wait depends on the level of the felony. Level 6 felonies have the shortest wait, while higher-level felonies require more time. Some convictions, including serious violent crimes, are not eligible for expungement at all.
To file for expungement of a West Lafayette felony case, you file the petition in Tippecanoe County courts. The same courts that handled your original case will review the expungement request. If granted, the court orders the records sealed. After expungement, the conviction is not visible to most public record searches, but law enforcement can still access the sealed record in certain situations.
People in West Lafayette who want to pursue expungement often benefit from speaking with a criminal defense attorney familiar with Tippecanoe County courts. The Indiana State Bar Association's lawyer referral service can help you find someone. You can also check with local legal aid groups if cost is a concern. Expungement does not erase the record entirely but can make a real difference in how it affects your life going forward.
West Lafayette Sex Offender Registry
The Indiana Sex Offender Registry covers all registered offenders in West Lafayette. You can search the registry by name, address, or zip code at in.gov/sor. The registry is run by the Indiana Department of Correction and is updated regularly. Many registered offenders in West Lafayette are tied to felony sex offense convictions in Tippecanoe County courts.
The registry shows each offender's current registered address, photo, conviction details, and registration status. West Lafayette, as a college town, takes sex offender compliance seriously. Local law enforcement monitors registered offenders and reports non-compliance to state authorities. If you suspect someone is not complying with registration requirements, you can contact the Indiana State Police or the West Lafayette Police Department.
The Indiana Department of Correction inmate and offender locator at offenderlocator.idoc.in.gov also lets you search for people currently in state custody or on parole or probation in Indiana, including those with ties to West Lafayette.
Crime Victim Resources in West Lafayette
Victims of felony crimes in West Lafayette can use the Indiana SAVIN system to track case status. SAVIN stands for Statewide Automated Victim Information and Notification. It sends alerts when an offender's custody status changes, such as when they are released from jail or prison. Register at indianasavin.in.gov. The service is free for victims and their supporters.
Indiana's Public Access Counselor assists people who are denied access to public records they are entitled to see. If you request West Lafayette felony records and the request is denied without a clear legal reason, you can contact the PAC at in.gov/pac. The PAC can issue advisory opinions and help resolve records disputes. This office can be especially helpful when dealing with local agencies that are slow to respond or unclear about what they will release.
Note: The SAVIN system covers Tippecanoe County Jail and state corrections facilities but may not cover all local detention situations in West Lafayette.
Nearby Indiana Cities
Look up felony records in other cities near West Lafayette.
Tippecanoe County Felony Records
West Lafayette is in Tippecanoe County. All felony case filings for West Lafayette go through Tippecanoe County courts in Lafayette. For complete county court resources and felony records information, visit the Tippecanoe County page.