Lake County Sheriff Office (IN): Jail, Records & Services
The Lake County Sheriff’s Department serves one of Indiana’s largest and most complex counties, covering a mix of urban, suburban and unincorporated communities in Northwest Indiana. Sheriff Oscar Martinez leads the department from the Lake County Government Center in Crown Point.
The Sheriff’s responsibilities extend well beyond patrol and arrests. The department operates the county jail, executes warrants, serves civil court documents, maintains arrest and accident records through the Bureau of Identification, manages evidence and property, registers sex and violent offenders, conducts Sheriff foreclosure sales and provides court security across Lake County.
Which Lake County Sheriff Service Should You Use?
Lake County has several Sheriff divisions in the same government complex, but they do different jobs. Calling the correct number first can save a trip to Crown Point.
If you need… |
Start here |
Phone / useful detail |
Avoid this mistake |
|---|---|---|---|
Police help, non-emergency |
Lake County Police / Dispatch |
219-660-0001 |
Using 911 for a routine past incident |
Current booking information |
Jail Booking Information |
219-648-6300 |
Calling Bureau of Identification for live jail status |
Jail record / pretrial question |
Jail Records & Pretrial |
219-755-3421 |
Treating a jail record as the final court disposition |
Accident or offense report |
Bureau of Identification |
219-755-3316 |
Going to the Clerk for a Sheriff’s accident report |
Active-warrant information |
Sheriff Warrant Division |
219-755-3057 |
Trying to arrest or confront a wanted person yourself |
Civil Sheriff service |
Correct Civil Division office |
Crown Point, Gary or East Chicago office based on service address |
Sending documents to the wrong satellite office |
Court case / hearing |
Indiana MyCase / Lake County Clerk |
Clerk: 219-755-3460 |
Using a booking allegation as the final case result |
Sheriff foreclosure sale |
Lake County Sheriff sale listings |
Civil Division |
Confusing Sheriff foreclosure sales with Auditor tax sales |
Lake County Sheriff’s Department Contact Information
Lake County government’s current Sheriff page identifies Oscar Martinez as Sheriff.
Division / service |
Current contact |
Best use |
|---|---|---|
Police Emergency |
911 |
Crime in progress, immediate threat, serious emergency |
Police Non-Emergency |
219-660-0001 |
Past incident or request for a deputy when no immediate emergency exists |
Sheriff Administration |
219-755-3400 |
General Sheriff’s Department questions |
Jail Booking Information |
219-648-6300 |
Recent booking and custody questions |
Jail Records & Pretrial |
219-755-3421 |
Jail-record and pretrial questions |
Property Management |
219-755-3408 |
Recovered, confiscated or evidentiary property questions |
Bureau of Identification |
219-755-3316 |
Reports, local record checks and tow releases |
Warrant Division |
219-755-3057 |
Official warrant information and tips |
- Choose the number for your exact task.
- Use Booking Information for a newly arrested person.
- Use Jail Records & Pretrial for record or pretrial questions.
- Use the Bureau of Identification for report and local-record services.
- Use the Warrant Division when the question concerns an outstanding warrant.
- Call 911 only for an actual emergency.
How to Check a Lake County Jail Booking
If someone was just arrested in Gary, Hammond, Crown Point, Merrillville, East Chicago or elsewhere in Lake County, save the person’s complete legal name, date of birth when known and approximate arrest time before you start calling.
The Sheriff’s public contact page currently gives two particularly useful numbers: 219-648-6300 for Jail Booking Information and 219-755-3421 for Jail Records & Pretrial.
- Search using the inmate’s verified legal name.
- Confirm the correct Lake County custody record.
- Compare identity details before relying on a match.
- Register for available release or transfer notifications if you need ongoing updates.
- Call Lake County Booking Information when a same-day arrest is not yet clear online.
Check the Official Visit Schedule Before Driving to Crown Point
The Sheriff’s visitation page publishes the current visitation schedule and directs users to GettingOut for additional visitation information.
The Sheriff currently requires:
- A valid government identification document such as a driver’s license, state ID, passport or military ID.
- The visitor to be included on the inmate’s approved visitor list.
- Visitors to check in early enough to be processed; the Sheriff says visitors should be checked in 30 minutes before the end of the relevant visiting period.
- Review the current schedule before choosing a day.
- Confirm that you are on the inmate’s visitor list.
- Bring an accepted photo ID.
- Plan to arrive before the final check-in cutoff.
- Use the GettingOut link on the Sheriff page for provider-specific visitation information.
Lake County Inmate Phone and Commissary Services
The Lake County Sheriff’s Department uses Telmate / GettingOut for inmate telephone services.
The Sheriff’s phone page says friends and family can fund prepaid accounts through GettingOut or call the provider at 1-866-516-0115.
- Create or sign in to your own account.
- Select the correct Lake County, Indiana facility.
- Choose the specific service you need.
- Match the inmate carefully.
- Review the provider fee before paying.
- Save the transaction confirmation.
Commissary money
The Sheriff’s visitation page currently says the department accepts money orders only for commissary Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and on Saturdays during visiting hours.
A jail-lobby kiosk is available 24 hours a day and accepts cash and credit cards for commissary deposits.
Books, magazines and newspapers
The current Sheriff page says softback books are accepted only when ordered through the approved retailer named by the jail, and magazines and newspapers must come through publishers.
Use Indiana MyCase for the Court Record
Lake County Jail information does not replace the official court case. Indiana MyCase provides public, non-confidential case information for Indiana courts.
- Search the exact case number when possible.
- If searching by name, verify the full identity and Lake County.
- Open the chronological case summary.
- Review the newest hearing and order entries.
- Contact the Lake County Clerk when a public document is not available online.
Accident Reports, Offense Reports and Sheriff Records
Lake County Sheriff’s Bureau of Identification—often called the B of I—is the records office for criminal records, accident reports, offense reports, tow releases and several registration services.
Service |
Current listed fee |
Practical detail |
|---|---|---|
Accident report |
$15 |
Cash or money order; Sheriff says allow up to 72 hours for completion |
Offense report |
$4 |
Available through Bureau of Identification |
Local record check |
$7 |
In-person record checks available during specific weekday hours |
Vehicle tow release |
$75 |
Cash or money order plus ownership and identification requirements |
- Choose the record or service you need.
- Check the current office hours for that specific service.
- Review the current fee and accepted payment type.
- Bring the required identification.
- For a mailed record request, follow the notarized-release and identification instructions exactly.
Mailed local record requests require more documentation
The Sheriff’s current instructions say mailed record requests must include a copy of valid driver’s license or state ID, a copy of the Social Security card and a notarized signed release from the individual named in the record request.
The request must be typed, and the current fee is $7 per record request. The Sheriff says personal checks are not accepted; use the approved money-order or company-check process and include a self-addressed stamped envelope.
Lake County Sheriff Background / Record Checks
The Bureau of Identification currently charges $7 for a local record check.
For someone requesting their own record check in person, the Sheriff requires a valid driver’s license or state-issued identification card. Current record-check hours are Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., excluding holidays.
How to Recover a Sheriff-Towed Vehicle or Other Property
Vehicle tow release
The Bureau of Identification says vehicles towed by the Lake County Sheriff’s Department must be released to the registered owner.
The current requirements include:
- You must be the registered owner.
- Bring a valid driver’s license or state ID.
- Bring current registration or title showing your name on the front.
- Open titles are not accepted under the Sheriff’s published instructions.
- The tow-release fee is currently $75 in cash or money order.
Property and evidence
Lake County Sheriff’s Property / Evidence Management Division is staffed Monday through Friday, excluding holidays, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m..
People claiming property must provide proof of ownership and photo identification.
Property Management can be reached at 219-755-3408.
Use the Lake County Sheriff Warrant Search Carefully
The Lake County Sheriff’s Warrant Division maintains misdemeanor and felony warrant information, processes warrant entries and clearances, conducts warrant investigations and handles extradition work when authorized.
The Sheriff’s public warrant database carries an important warning: a person’s appearance in the database does not establish guilt, and data can change because of court action or technical transfer delays.
- Read the Sheriff’s disclaimer before entering the search.
- Search the person’s identity carefully.
- Do not assume a same-name result belongs to the person you are checking.
- Do not try to detain, confront or follow a wanted person.
- Call the Warrant Division at 219-755-3057 when official clarification is required.
Lake County Civil Sheriff Has Three Service Offices
Lake County’s Civil Division handles summonses, protection orders, subpoenas, eviction and possession orders, claims, replevin orders, Sheriff-sale notices, orders to appear or pay, mortgage foreclosure documents and other court-directed process.
A useful local detail is that Lake County does not route every civil-service question through one counter. The Civil Sheriff maintains offices in Crown Point, Gary and East Chicago.
Office |
Contact |
Areas currently listed by Sheriff |
|---|---|---|
Crown Point Main Office |
2293 N. Main St., Room A117 · 219-755-3190 |
Crown Point / Winfield, Merrillville, Hobart, Dyer, Schererville, St. John, Cedar Lake, Lowell, Schneider, Shelby and unincorporated south Lake County |
Gary Satellite Office |
400 Broadway · 219-881-6091 |
Gary, Lake Station, Griffith, unincorporated Hobart and Calumet Township |
East Chicago Satellite Office |
3711 Main St. · 219-392-2476 |
East Chicago, Hammond, Highland, Munster and Whiting |
All three Civil Sheriff offices currently list public hours of Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m., excluding holidays.
Indiana Sheriff service
The Sheriff’s current instructions require three copies of each document plus proof of payment for the $28 Sheriff service fee. Packets must be properly secured before submission.
Out-of-state / foreign writ
For foreign writ service, the Civil Division currently lists a $60 service fee per defendant, per address. Approved payment methods include business check from a law firm, cashier’s check or money order payable to Lake County Sheriff’s Department. Personal checks are not accepted.
- Find the defendant’s service address.
- Use the office serving that city or township.
- Determine whether the process is Indiana service or a foreign writ.
- Prepare the required number of document copies.
- Verify the current Sheriff fee.
- Clearly mark documents when personal service is legally required.
Lake County Forced-Eviction Process Has a Separate Sheriff Fee
The Sheriff’s Civil Division outlines the local sequence for evictions:
The Sheriff’s page also notes that officers cannot remove occupants until at least 48 hours after the eviction order was served under the cited Indiana statute.
A Lake County Tax Warrant Is Not the Same as an Arrest Warrant
The Civil Division also collects delinquent Indiana income-tax warrants on behalf of the state.
If you receive a tax-warrant notice, follow the payment information on that notice rather than treating it like a criminal arrest warrant.
- Compare the warrant number on your notice.
- Review the approved payment methods.
- Include the warrant number on a cashier’s check or money order.
- Call the Sheriff’s bookkeeper if you need to discuss a payment arrangement.
- Contact Indiana Department of Revenue when disputing the amount itself.
Lake County Sheriff Sales Are Different From Tax Sales
The Lake County Sheriff conducts court-ordered sales of properties involved in mortgage foreclosure judgments.
This is not the same as Lake County’s tax-sale process. The Sheriff’s Civil Division explicitly distinguishes a Sheriff foreclosure sale from a tax sale, which is administered through the Lake County Auditor for delinquent property taxes and assessments.
- Check the current, future and final sale lists.
- Identify the case and property carefully.
- Read the Sheriff sale instructions before preparing a bid.
- Confirm that the sale has not been canceled or moved.
- Research the title, liens, taxes and property independently before bidding.
Lake County Offender Registration Is Handled Through the Bureau of Identification
The Sheriff’s Bureau of Identification handles local sex and violent offender registration and links the public to the registered-offender search.
Item |
Current Sheriff information |
|---|---|
Annual registration fee |
$50 per calendar year |
Address-change fee |
$5 per occurrence |
Registration location |
Bureau of Identification, 2293 N. Main Street, Building J-2, Crown Point |
Registration phone |
219-755-3321 |
General registration hours |
Mon–Fri 8:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m., excluding holidays |
New registrant hours |
Mon–Fri 8:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m., excluding holidays |
The Sheriff states that people required to register must appear in person within the applicable 72-hour Lake County reporting period for covered residence, vehicle, employment or education changes.
- Review the registration hours.
- Call 219-755-3321 if you need registration-specific instructions.
- Bring the required identity and registration documents.
- Do not delay a legally required registration while waiting for an online public-registry update.
Handgun Licenses: Local Sheriff Processing Still Exists
Indiana has allowed permitless handgun carry for qualifying people since July 1, 2022, but Indiana still issues licenses to carry handguns. A license may remain useful, including for reciprocity when travelling to another state.
The Indiana State Police process starts online. The applicant then schedules electronic fingerprints and completes local law-enforcement processing.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Bureau of Identification says it handles local licensing for residents of unincorporated Lake County and certain areas where the Sheriff is the appropriate local law-enforcement agency. People who live in a city or town served by its own police department may need to complete the local step through that department instead.
- Complete the online handgun-license application.
- Schedule electronic fingerprinting.
- Determine which local law-enforcement agency handles your address.
- Complete the local processing step within the state’s required period.
- Use ISP—not a private licensing article—for current statewide eligibility rules.
Claiming Property Held by the Sheriff’s Department
The Property / Evidence Management Division controls property held as evidence as well as recovered or confiscated items.
Current published hours are Monday through Friday, excluding holidays, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m..
A person claiming property should be prepared to show:
- Proof of ownership.
- Valid photo identification.
- Any release documentation required by the case or property status.
Call 219-755-3408 before travelling when the property is evidence, connected with a pending case or subject to another release restriction.
Lake County Sheriff Police, Corrections and Civilian Careers
The Sheriff’s Human Resources office is located within the Crown Point government complex and can be reached at 219-755-3047.
As of this September 2026 review, the Sheriff’s website shows active recruitment information for probationary correctional officers and several civilian positions. The police-careers page currently states that applications for police officer are not being accepted.
- Open Police, Corrections or Civilian Careers.
- Check whether applications are currently open.
- Download the application for the correct position.
- Read the current document and eligibility requirements.
- Follow the current J-2 building or email submission instructions.
Lake County Details That Save the Most Time
- Use the booking line for a recent arrest. Sheriff Administration is not the most direct number for a same-day custody question.
- Use B of I for accident and offense reports. The Clerk maintains court records, not Sheriff’s incident reports.
- Wait for an accident report to be completed. The Sheriff says it can take up to 72 hours.
- Record checks have shorter counter hours. B of I is generally open until 4:30 p.m., but record checks are currently offered only until 3:30 p.m.
- Tow release belongs to the agency that towed the vehicle. Do not assume a municipal-police tow can be released through the Sheriff.
- Use the correct Civil Sheriff satellite office. Service routing depends on the city or township where the defendant is located.
- Foreign writs cost differently. The Sheriff currently lists $60 per defendant/per address rather than the regular Indiana $28 Sheriff service fee.
- Forced eviction has a separate $100 fee. Paying ordinary service fees does not schedule the physical eviction.
- Sheriff sale and tax sale are different. The Civil Sheriff handles mortgage foreclosure Sheriff sales; the Auditor handles tax sales.
- Active-warrant search is informational. Do not confront a listed person.
- Lake County covers many municipal jurisdictions. Reports made by Gary, Hammond, East Chicago, Crown Point or another city police department are normally requested from that department rather than the County Sheriff.
Lake County Sheriff’s Department Address and Civil Offices
Building C / Door J-2
Crown Point, IN 46307
Administration: 219-755-3400
Non-emergency: 219-660-0001
Building C / Door J-2
Crown Point, IN 46307
Phone: 219-755-3316
Fax: 219-755-3323
400 Broadway
Gary, IN 46402
Phone: 219-881-6091
3711 Main Street
East Chicago, IN 46312
Phone: 219-392-2476
Before You Call, Pay or Drive to a Lake County Office
Lake County Sheriff’s Office FAQs
What is the Lake County Sheriff’s Department phone number in Indiana?
Sheriff Administration is 219-755-3400. Police non-emergency is 219-660-0001. Jail Booking Information is 219-648-6300, and Jail Records & Pretrial is 219-755-3421. Call 911 for emergencies.
Where is the Lake County Sheriff’s Department located?
The Sheriff’s Department is in the Lake County Government Center complex at 2293 N. Main Street, Building C / Door J-2, Crown Point, Indiana 46307.
How do I find out whether someone was booked into Lake County Jail?
Use the official county or Indiana custody resources and call Lake County Jail Booking Information at 219-648-6300 when a recent arrest needs live confirmation. Jail Records & Pretrial can be reached at 219-755-3421.
How much does a Lake County Sheriff accident report cost?
The Bureau of Identification currently lists accident reports at $15, payable by cash or money order. The Sheriff says to allow up to 72 hours for a report to be completed.
How much does a Lake County local record check cost?
The Bureau of Identification currently lists local record checks at $7. In-person record checks are offered Monday through Friday, excluding holidays, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and valid government photo identification is required for someone requesting their own check.
How do I check an active warrant in Lake County Indiana?
Use the official Lake County Sheriff’s Warrant Search and read the disclaimer before searching. For additional information, the Sheriff’s Warrant Division currently lists 219-755-3057. Do not attempt to arrest or confront anyone based on an online result.
How much is Lake County Sheriff civil service?
The Sheriff’s current Civil Division instructions list a $28 Sheriff service fee for regular Indiana process. Foreign or out-of-state writ service is currently $60 per defendant per address. Confirm the current fee before sending documents.
How much is the Lake County Sheriff forced-eviction fee?
The Civil Division currently lists a non-refundable forced-eviction fee of $100 after the court has entered the required possession order and the Sheriff-service requirements have been completed.
What do I need for a Lake County Sheriff tow release?
For a vehicle actually towed by the Lake County Sheriff’s Department, the registered owner should bring valid identification plus current registration or title showing the owner’s name. The current tow-release fee is $75 in cash or money order.
Who handles handgun licenses in Lake County Indiana?
Indiana handgun-license applications begin through the Indiana State Police online licensing process. Applicants then complete electronic fingerprints and the local-law-enforcement step. Lake County Sheriff’s Bureau of Identification handles the local step for appropriate unincorporated-area residents; residents served by a municipal police department may need to use that agency instead.
Lake County and Indiana Official Resources
Main Sheriff website for police divisions, corrections, warrants, Civil Sheriff, programs and careers.
Open official Sheriff websiteCurrent elected Sheriff, government contact information and county employment links.
Open Lake County Sheriff government pageAccident reports, offense reports, local record checks, tow releases and offender registration.
Open Bureau of IdentificationCivil-service offices, fees, evictions, tax warrants and foreclosure Sheriff sales.
Open Civil DivisionPublic warrant-information system maintained by the Sheriff’s Warrant Division.
Open official warrant searchPublic Indiana court case and hearing information.
Open Indiana MyCaseStatewide custody information and available release / transfer notifications covering Indiana counties.
Open Indiana SAVINCurrent statewide handgun-license application, fingerprint and local-processing instructions.
Open Indiana handgun licensingEditorial review: this Lake County, Indiana guide was rebuilt from current Lake County government, Lake County Sheriff’s Department, Indiana courts and Indiana State Police resources reviewed September 27, 2026.
Freshness: jail custody, warrant status, fees, counter hours, Sheriff-sale listings, career openings, provider procedures and court settings can change. Recheck the responsible official page immediately before making a payment, mailing documents or travelling to an office.
Legal and privacy notice: an arrest, warrant or jail record does not establish guilt. Juvenile, sealed, confidential and otherwise protected information may not be publicly available. This guide is informational and is not legal advice.
Emergency: call 911 for a crime in progress, immediate danger or another emergency. Use the Sheriff’s published non-emergency number for routine incidents that are not actively occurring.
Find Jail Info, Inmate Search Steps, Visitation Rules, Bond Help, Warrants and Official Sheriff Links
Use this free tool before calling a sheriff office, searching a jail roster, checking arrest records, visiting an inmate, asking about bond, requesting a report, or looking for official county sheriff resources. It does not collect names, case numbers, booking numbers, or personal information.
What sheriff office task do you need help with?
Choose your situation. The tool will suggest the safest next step, what to prepare, and which official resource to check first.
Start with the official sheriff or jail roster, confirm custody by phone only when needed, then check court records for hearings or case details.
Do not pay anyone who calls demanding gift cards, crypto, wire transfers, or urgent warrant payment. Verify through official sheriff channels.
Inmate Search Step Helper
Use this before searching a jail roster or inmate lookup portal. It helps you choose the best search method and avoid wrong-person matches.
Bond, Release and Custody Status Helper
Use this to organize what to check before asking about bond, release timing, facility location or court status.
Visitation, Phone and Mail Checklist
Use this before planning a jail visit, video visit, inmate phone setup, commissary deposit, or mail delivery.
Warrant Information Safety Helper
Use this if you are trying to understand warrant information safely. This tool does not confirm warrants and does not provide legal advice.
Sheriff Report and Arrest Record Request Helper
Use this before requesting accident reports, incident reports, arrest records, jail records, public records or background-related information.
Sheriff Call / Warrant Payment Scam Checker
Use this if someone called, texted, emailed or messaged you claiming to be from a sheriff office, court, jail, deputy or warrant unit.
Official Sheriff Office Resource Finder
Enter county and state to create safe searches for official sheriff websites, jail rosters, inmate lookup, warrants, visitation, records requests, court records and this site’s guide.
Sheriff Office vs Court vs Jail
- Sheriff/Jail: custody, booking, jail roster, visitation, inmate mail, some warrants.
- Court/Clerk: case status, hearings, court records, fines, court dates.
- Attorney: legal advice, warrant risk, criminal charges, bond strategy.
Best sitewide placement
Add this tool after the first inmate-search or contact section, or before FAQs. It turns a normal guide into a practical action page.
Important safety note
This tool is educational only. It is not a sheriff office, jail, court, legal service, emergency service, or official records portal. For emergencies, call 911.