Search Tippecanoe County Felony Records
Tippecanoe County felony records are maintained by the Tippecanoe County Clerk's Office and the Circuit and Superior Courts in Lafayette, the county seat. You can search Tippecanoe County felony records through the county's own court records portal or through Indiana's statewide MyCase system. Both tools draw from the Odyssey case management system used by Indiana courts. Lafayette and West Lafayette are the two main cities in the county, and felony cases from across Tippecanoe County are filed at the courts in Lafayette.
Tippecanoe County Felony Records Quick Facts
Tippecanoe County Court Records Portal
Tippecanoe County provides a dedicated court records search portal at tippecanoe.in.gov/854/Tippecanoe-Court-Records. This is the county's own access point for court records including felony cases filed in Tippecanoe County courts. The online court records page is at tippecanoe.in.gov/847/Online-Court-Records. Both pages are part of the county's main website at tippecanoe.in.gov. For questions about court records access, you can call the Clerk's Office at 765-423-9326.
When using the Tippecanoe County court records search, enter last name and first initial for the best results. The county's own instructions recommend this approach because date of birth and Social Security number are not included on most records, and searching those fields tends to produce poor results. You can access official court documents from the Odyssey case management system, which covers civil, criminal, and family law matters filed in Tippecanoe County. This gives you a broad range of case types in a single search interface.
There is an important disclaimer on the Tippecanoe County court records system that all users should read: "Do not assume that a person has been convicted of a crime based only on the listing of the case. The case is added when criminal charges or a civil case is filed. Read the docket text to determine if the defendant was found guilty in a criminal case or if a civil case was found in their favor." This means a felony case record in Tippecanoe County does not by itself indicate a conviction. Always read the full docket to understand the outcome.
Note: For Tippecanoe County felony records, search by last name and first initial. Do not search by date of birth or SSN, as those fields are typically not included in the online records system.
Tippecanoe County Public Records Requests
The Tippecanoe County Sheriff's Office handles public records requests for law enforcement records. The public record request page is at tippecanoe.in.gov/524/Public-Record-Requests. This covers requesting copies of records from the Sheriff's Records Division, including incident reports and birth and death records. The process for submitting a public records request is outlined on the county website and can be done online or in person at the Sheriff's Office.
Tippecanoe County is home to multiple police departments with their own jurisdictions. Lafayette Police Department is at 20 N 6th St and can be reached at 765-807-1200. West Lafayette Police is at 711 W Navajo St, reachable at 765-775-5200. Purdue University Police, covering the Purdue University campus in West Lafayette, is at 205 S Martin Jischke Dr at 765-494-8221. Felony arrests made by any of these agencies in Tippecanoe County are filed in the Tippecanoe County courts and become part of the county's public felony records.
For a statewide Indiana criminal history covering Tippecanoe County and all other counties, use the Indiana State Police Limited Criminal History at in.gov/isp/criminal-history-services. The fee is $15.70 per search. This is the best option when you need a complete picture of someone's criminal history across multiple Indiana counties rather than just Tippecanoe County.
The screenshot below is from the Tippecanoe County court records portal, the primary online tool for searching felony cases in the county.
The Tippecanoe County court records portal gives you direct access to Odyssey case data for civil, criminal, and family law matters filed in the county.
Tippecanoe County Felony Case Process
Felony cases in Tippecanoe County begin with an arrest by the Sheriff, Lafayette Police, West Lafayette Police, or Purdue University Police. The Tippecanoe County Prosecutor then decides whether to file formal felony charges. Once charges are filed, the case goes to the Circuit or Superior Court in Lafayette, and all documents from first appearance through sentencing become part of the public felony record. Under IC 5-14-3-5, basic arrest information and case data are public records that anyone can request without a stated reason.
Tippecanoe County is one of Indiana's larger counties, with a significant court caseload driven in part by the presence of Purdue University in West Lafayette and the combined population of Lafayette and surrounding communities. The county's court system handles a full range of felony cases annually. The Indiana Judicial Branch at in.gov/courts provides information on how the court system operates statewide, including how cases move from arrest through conviction and sentencing in counties like Tippecanoe.
IDOC Records and Expungement in Tippecanoe County
Tippecanoe County felony convictions resulting in state prison sentences go through the Indiana Department of Correction. Search for IDOC inmates at offenderlocator.idoc.in.gov. The search is free. Victims can sign up for custody alerts through Indiana SAVIN, which covers both county jail and IDOC facilities at no cost. The Indiana Sex and Violent Offender Registry at in.gov/sor lets you search for registered offenders in Tippecanoe County by name or location.
Under IC 35-38-9, qualifying Tippecanoe County residents may petition the court to seal certain felony records. Waiting periods range from one year for non-conviction arrests to ten years for serious felony convictions. Prosecutor consent is required for more serious cases. Filing fees are waived by Indiana law. Once sealed, records are removed from MyCase and the ISP Limited Criminal History database. Contact the Indiana Public Access Counselor at in.gov/pac for guidance on whether your Tippecanoe County felony record qualifies.
Tippecanoe County Cities with Felony Records Pages
Lafayette and West Lafayette are the two largest cities in Tippecanoe County. Both cities have their own felony records pages with local courthouse and law enforcement resources. All Tippecanoe County felony cases are filed at the courts in Lafayette.