Crime Number
Old crime statistics for Lake County are unavailable because Indiana did not have a statewide unified crime reporting (UCR) system until 2017. Available historical and current crime data come from the FBI UCR program. The FBI’s figures for Lake County are not county totals but data submitted by participating law enforcement agencies.
These figures indicate there were 61 violent crimes and 654 property crimes in Lake County in 2017. A breakdown of these totals show that there were 2 murders, 4 rapes, 29 robberies, 26 aggravated assaults, 75 burglaries, 505 larceny thefts, 74 motor vehicle thefts, and 1 arson.
In contrast, the FBI’s limited crime data show that the county recorded 38 violent crimes and 945 property crimes in 2013. Out of these, there was 1 murder, 7 rapes, 10 robberies, 20 aggravated assaults, 252 burglaries, 614 larceny thefts, and 79 motor vehicle thefts.
Lake County Criminal Records
The Bureau of Identification (BoI) of the Lake County Sheriff’s Department provides background checks to residents of the county. To request one, visit the BoI office located on the 2nd floor of the Sheriff's Department at 2293 N. Main Street, Crown Point, IN. This service is available from Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. The fee for each background check is $7 payable in check or money order.
The Bureau of Identification also provides offense and accident reports for incidents that occurred in Lake County. Follow the same procedure as you do for criminal background checks to request for these reports in person. The fee for an accident report is $15 while an offense report costs $4.
Lake County Sex Offender Information
While the Indiana Department of Correction maintains a statewide Sex and Violent Offender Registry, the Lake County Sheriff’s Department provides a handy online resource for locating registered sex offenders in the county. Use the Offender Search tool from the Sheriff’s Office to search for offenders living, working, and attending school in Lake County. You can search by name, street address, zip code, email address, phone number, and city.
Lake County Inmate Records
The Lake County Sheriff’s Department operates the county jail. It is located at 2293 N. Main Street, Crown Point. To ask for jail booking information, call (219) 648-6300 or Dial (219) 755-3421 for jail records. A Lake County Inmate Search will require the inquirer to provide information with which to facilitate the search; this may be the inmate's name, DOC number or arrest date. Deposit funds in an inmate’s account at the kiosk in the jail lobby. The kiosk is available 24 hours a day. Cash and credit cards are accepted there.
Court Records
The addresses, names of presiding judges, and contact information for all the courts in Lake County are below:
Clerk’s Office
Lorenzo Arredondo, Clerk
2293 N. Main Street
Crown Point, IN 46307
Pho: (219) 755-3461
Circuit Court
Hon. Marissa McDermott, Judge
Lisa Berdine, Magistrate
Sam Scheele, Magistrate
Jewell Harris, Jr., Commissioner
Samatha Wuletich, Referee
2293 N. Main Street
Crown Point, IN 46307
Pho: (219) 755-3488
Fax: (219) 755-3484
Superior Court - Civil Division 1
Hon. John M. Sedia, Judge
232 Russell Street
Hammond, IN 46320
Pho: (219) 933-2800
Fax: (219) 933-0213
Superior Court - Civil Division 2
Hon. Calvin D. Hawkins, Judge
3711 East Main Street
East Chicago, IN 46312
Pho: (219) 398-2443
Fax: (219) 392-0047
Superior Court - Civil Division 3
Hon. Thomas P Hallett, Judge
Magistrate (TBA)
15 West Fourth Avenue
Gary, IN 46402
Pho: (219) 881 - 6157
Fax: (219) 881 - 6153
Superior Court - Civil Division 4
Hon. Thomas Webber, Judge Pro Tem
15 West Fourth Avenue
Gary, IN 46402
Pho: (219) 881-6146
Fax: (219) 881-6168
Superior Court - Civil Division 5
Hon. William E. Davis, Judge
Nanette Raduenz, Magaistrate
232 Russell Street
Hammond, IN 46320
Pho: (219) 933-2880
Fax: (219) 933-2985
Superior Court - Civil Division 6
Hon. John R. Pera, Judge
2293 N. Main Street
Crown Point, IN 46307
Pho: (219) 755-3199
Fax: (219) 755-3217
Superior Court - Civil Division 7
Hon. Bruce D. Parent, Judge
America McAlppin, Commissioner
2293 N. Main Street
Crown Point, IN 46307
Pho: (219) 648-6150
Fax: (219) 648-6155
Superior Court - Criminal Division 1
Hon. Salvador Vasquez, Judge
Natalie Bokota, Magistrate
Kathleen Ann Sullivan, Magistrate
2293 N. Main Street
Crown Point, IN 46307
Pho: (219) 755-3500
Fax: (219) 755-3509
Superior Court - Criminal Division 2
Hon. Clarence D. Murray, Judge
Natalie Bokota, Magistrate
Kathleen Ann Sullivan, Magistrate
2293 N. Main Street
Crown Point, IN 46307
Pho: (219) 755-3515
Fax: (219) 755-3068
Superior Court - Criminal Division 3
Hon. Diane Ross Boswell, Judge
Natalie Bokota, Magistrate
Kathleen Ann Sullivan, Magistrate
2293 N. Main Street
Crown Point, IN 46307
Pho: (219) 755-3501
Fax: (219) 755-3688
Superior Court - Criminal Division 4
Hon. Samuel L. Cappas, Judge
Natalie Bokota, Magistrate
Kathleen Ann Sullivan, Magistrate
2293 N. Main Street
Crown Point, IN 46307
Pho: (219) 755-3500
Fax: (219) 755-3523
Superior Court – County Division 1
Hon. Nicholas J. Schiralli, Judge
Catheron Paras, Magistrate
2293 N. Main Street
Crown Point, IN 46307
Pho: (219) 755-3570
Fax: (219) 755-3006
Superior Court – County Division 2
Hon. Sheila M. Moss, Judge
Kathleen Belzeski, Magistrate
2293 N. Main Street
Crown Point, IN 46307
Pho: (219) 755-3580
Fax: (219) 755-3588
Superior Court – County Division 3
Hon. Julie N. Cantrell, Judge
Michael Pagano, Magistrate
2293 N. Main Street
Crown Point, IN 46307
Pho: (219) 755-3601
Fax: (219) 755-3606
Superior Court – County Division 4
Hon.StephenA Tyler, Judge
232 Russell Street
Hammond, IN 46320
Pho: (219) 933-2843
Fax: (219) 933-2877
Superior Court - Juvenile Division
Hon. Thomas P. Stefaniak, Jr.
Katherine J. Garza, Magistrate
Matthew Gruett, Magistrate
Jeffrey Miller, Magistrate
Timothy Ormes, Magistrate
Aimee Talian, Magistrate
Robert Vann, Magistrate
Alexis V. Dedelow, Referee
3000 W. 93rd Avenue
Crown Point, IN 46307
Pho: (219) 660-6900
Fax: (219) 736-6209
Crown Point City Court
Hon. Kent A. Jeffirs, Judge
P.O. Box 594
Courthouse Square
Crown Point, IN 46307
Pho: (219) 662-3243
Fax: (219) 662-3261
Whiting City Court
Hon. Ann "Pat" Likens, Judge
1443 119th Street
Whiting, IN 46394
Pho: (219) 659-4688
Fax: (219) 473-4644
East Chicago City Court
Hon. Sonya A. Morris, Judge
2301 E. Columbus Drive
East Chicago, IN 46312
Pho: (219) 391-8489
Fax: (219) 391-0076
Hammond City Court
Hon.Amy Jorgensen, Judge
5925 Calumet Avenue
Hammond, IN 46320
Pho: (219) 853-6388
Fax: (219) 853-6495
Lake Station City Court
Hon. Joshua M. Matejczyk, Judge
3701 Fairview Avenue
Lake Station, IN 46405
Pho: (219) 962-2145
Fax: (219) 963-9275
Hobart City Court
Hon. William J. Longer, Judge
705 E. Fourth Street, Suite C
Hobart, IN 46342
Pho: (219) 942-8218
Fax: (219) 942-2697
Gary City Court
Hon. Deidre L. Monroe, Judge
555 Polk Street
Gary, IN 46402
Pho: (219) 881-1271
Fax: (219) 881-1278
Merrillville Town Court
Hon.Gina L. Jones, Judge
7820 Broadway
Merrillville, IN 46410
Pho: (219) 756-6185
Fax: (219) 756-1775
Schererville Town Court
Hon. Kenneth L. Anderson, Judge
25 East Joliet Street
Schererville, IN 46375
Pho: (219) 865-5579
Fax: (219) 865-5525
Lowell Town Court
Hon. Christopher A. Buckley, Judge
501 E. Main Street
Lowell, IN 46356
Pho: (219) 696-7794
Fax: (219) 696-5047
The website of the Judicial Branch of Lake County Government provides online access to the records of all of the courts in the county. To access online dockets, visit the Case Search portal of Indiana Courts. Make sure to select one of the four options for Lake County from the Court drop-down menu.
Contact the Clerk of the Lake County Circuit/Superior Court to obtain copies of court documents. The Clerk’s Office is on the 1st floor of the Courts Building located at 2293 N. Main Street, Crown Point. The office is open to the public during weekday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Its phone number is (219) 755-3460.
Vital Records
The Clerk of the County/Superior Court also provides copies of divorce records for the county. To obtain these, visit the Clerk’s Office at the address listed above or call to ask about the requirements for obtaining divorce records
The Lake County Clerk issues marriage licenses and keeps marriage records for the county. Contact the County Clerk’s Office about obtaining copies of a marriage certificate by calling (219) 648-6996 or (219) 755-3465. You can also come to the Clerk’s office located in the Government Complex at 2293 N. Main Street, Crown Point.
Other vital records, such as birth and death certificates, are available from the Lake County Health Department. Visit or send a mail request to the Health Department to obtain these records. Send your mail request to:
Lake County Health Department
2900 W. 93rd Avenue
Crown Point, Indiana 46307
Include a photocopy of a government-issued photo ID and a self-addressed envelope as well as payment in cash or money order. The fee for a copy of a birth certificate is $10 while each copy of a death certificate costs $11. Note that this office does not have records for individuals born in the cities of Gary and East Chicago. To obtain birth records for these municipalities, contact or visit:
East Chicago Health Department
100 West Chicago Ave.
East Chicago, IN 46312
(219) 391-8467
Gary Health Department
1145 West 5th Ave.
Gary, IN 46402
Are Property Records Open to the Public in Lake County?
According to the Indiana Access to Public Records Act, property records in Lake County are considered public. Indiana law allows interested persons to request and obtain Lake County public records. However, some records may be exempt from public disclosure. In compliance with IC 36-1-8.5, access to names and addresses of "covered persons" is restricted. Such persons include the following:
- A judge
- A domestic violence victim
- A law enforcement officer
Where and How to Find Property Records in Lake County
The Lake County Assessor's Office provides public access to county property records. Anyone interested in copies of Lake County property records should contact the Assessor's Office by mail, phone, fax, e-mail, or in person. Requestors must provide all known details of the desired record sent to the:
Lake County Assessor's Office
Building 'A', 2nd Floor
2293 N. Main Street
Crown Point, IN 46307
Phone: (219) 755-3100
Fax: (219) 755-3022
How to Look Up Lake County Property Records
The Lake County Assessor's Office provides public access to online property records. Interested persons can look up Lake County property records by performing a simple or advanced search. To perform a simple search, parties may provide names, addresses, and parcel numbers in the search box. The advanced search allows residents to enter additional details, such as a sale price and date, assessed value, property class, district name, year built, and building style.
Online information includes a summary tab with the owner’s name and address, as well as photos of the property. There is also a transfer history, annual valuation list with total values and valuation dates, improvement information, tax details, and a view of the street.
Location of Lake County Property Assessors
Lake County Assessor's Office
Building 'A', 2nd Floor
2293 N. Main Street
Crown Point, IN 46307
Phone: (219) 755-3100
Fax: (219) 755-3022
Calumet Township
501 E. 5th Avenue
Gary, IN 46402
Phone: (219) 885-0555
Fax: (219) 881-2625
Hobart Township
1461 S. Park Avenue
Hobart, IN 46342
Phone: (219) 942-7878
Fax: (219) 942-7490
St. John Township
9157 Wicker Avenue
St. John, in 46373
Phone: (219) 365-2777
Fax: (219) 365-1075
Center Township
213 S. Court Street
Crown Point, IN 46307
Phone: (219) 663-0841
Fax: (219) 663-3656
Ross Township
7870 Broadway
Suite C
Merrillville, IN 46410
Phone: (219) 769-7667
Fax: (219) 769-2643
