East Chicago Recent Arrests

East Chicago recent arrests are processed by the East Chicago Police Department and booked into the Lake County Jail in Crown Point. This page covers every free online tool and official contact you need to find inmate records, court cases, booking data, and police reports for anyone arrested in East Chicago, Indiana.

East Chicago Police Department

The East Chicago Police Department is at 2301 E Columbus Dr, East Chicago, IN 46312. The non-emergency number is 219-391-8300. Officers patrol the city and respond to calls around the clock. ECPD handles arrests, investigations, and traffic enforcement within city limits.

East Chicago is in Lake County in northwest Indiana, bordered by Hammond to the west and Gary to the east. It sits along Lake Michigan and near the Illinois state line. Most city arrests go through ECPD before booking at the Lake County Jail.

For police reports, contact ECPD records during business hours. Staff can direct you to the right form and explain the current fee for report copies.

Indiana's INjail portal is a quick way to check whether someone is currently in the Lake County Jail. Visit public.indianajail.gov and search by name.

The INjail statewide portal searches multiple county jail rosters at once. Lake County participates, so East Chicago bookings typically appear within a few hours of intake.

Lake County Jail

People arrested in East Chicago are transported to the Lake County Jail at 2293 N Main St, Crown Point, IN 46307. The Lake County Sheriff's Office operates the facility. It holds pre-trial detainees and sentenced inmates from East Chicago and across Lake County.

Inmate roster data is available through Indiana's INjail portal at public.indianajail.gov. Lake County participates in the system. You can also check with the Lake County Sheriff's Office website for any direct roster links they maintain.

For a broader view of Lake County arrest resources, see the Lake County arrests page.

Indiana INjail Inmate Search

The INjail portal at public.indianajail.gov lets you search active inmates across multiple Indiana counties. It is free and requires no account. Enter a first and last name to check Lake County and other participating jails at once.

Results show booking date, charges, and the holding facility. The data updates regularly. If you do not find someone, they may have already been released on bond or the booking may still be processing. Call the Lake County Jail directly for the most current information.

After finding someone in the jail roster, MyCase is the next step. It shows the court case that follows the arrest, including charges filed, hearing dates, and case status updates.

MyCase Court Records

After charges are filed following an East Chicago arrest, those cases appear in Lake Circuit Court or one of the Lake Superior Courts. All filings are searchable for free at public.courts.in.gov/mycase.

Search by name or case number. Results include charges, hearing dates, orders, and party information. No account is needed. MyCase covers all Indiana trial courts statewide. For certified copies, contact the Lake County Clerk at the courthouse in Crown Point.

What Arrest Records Include

Indiana Code IC 5-14-3-5 defines what arrest information must be public. Agencies must disclose name, address, charges, date and time of arrest, and the arresting agency or officer. Booking photos are typically public as well.

An arrest is not a conviction. Charges can be dropped, reduced, or result in acquittal. If a case ends without a guilty finding, the person may petition for expungement under Indiana law. Expunged records are removed from public access and do not appear in most searches.

ISP Limited Criminal History

The Indiana State Police maintains a statewide arrest and disposition database. Search it at in.gov/ai/appfiles/isp-lch2 for $16.32 per search, paid online. Results cover all Indiana counties, including Lake, with felony and misdemeanor records and dispositions where reported.

Very recent arrests may not yet appear since court reporting to the state takes time. For certified records, contact the Lake County Clerk instead of relying solely on the LCH database.

VINE Custody Notification

VINE provides free automatic alerts when an inmate at the Lake County Jail is released, transferred, or their status changes. Sign up at vinelink.com or call 1-866-959-VINE. Choose phone, email, or text alerts. Registration is anonymous and open to anyone with a safety concern.

Police and Crash Reports

For an East Chicago police report, call ECPD at 219-391-8300 during business hours. Records staff can help you request a copy of an incident report. A fee typically applies for printed documents.

Crash reports filed by East Chicago officers are available through BuyCrash at buycrash.com a few days after the crash. This service lets drivers, insurers, and attorneys order official reports online. For non-crash incidents, contact ECPD records directly with the incident number.

APRA Public Records Requests

Indiana's Access to Public Records Act at IC 5-14-3-3 gives the public the right to inspect most records held by ECPD. Submit a written request to the records division. The department must respond within seven days and explain any denial in writing citing the applicable exemption.

Exempt records include active criminal investigation files, juvenile records, and certain personnel documents. The Indiana Public Access Counselor provides free guidance for residents with APRA questions or disputes.

Nearby Cities

Search recent arrest records for other qualifying cities in Lake County and northwest Indiana.