Search Free Tippecanoe County Public Records (Peoples’ Public Information)

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Free Tippecanoe County Public Records Search

Access Tippecanoe County Records: marriage, divorce, warrants, arrests, probation, criminal, court, background checks, and all public records.

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Track down free Tippecanoe County public records through official channels and online search tools to find information on anyone.

The federal FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) and Indiana’s Access to Public Records Act allow citizens to access a wide range of information in Tippecanoe County, the state of Indiana, and nationwide.

This resource will show you how to find an array of public records in Tippecanoe County, including–but not limited to–criminal history information such as active warrants, arrest details, and probationer or prisoner insights. Searchers can also find guidance on acquiring vital records like marriage, divorce, birth, and death documents below.

Residents will be equipped to conduct a background check to uncover property ownership details, court cases, and more; they’ll be provided with contact information for local record custodians, links to searchable online databases, and streamlined instructions to find any records needed or desired.

The Availability of Public Information in Tippecanoe County

Indiana’s Access to Public Records Act (APRA) provides that a person has the right to access information regarding public agencies in Indiana unless the records are deemed non-disclosable. Many public records, including arrest records, are covered under the Act.

Inmate records, arrest information, warrant information, property ownership and taxes, and many court records can be searched to help people who are interested in finding out if someone is in jail and why.

The Indiana Code 5-14-3 policy statement is made available for free at every courthouse, and it details the inspection rules, time and place for viewing records, and the fees for copying.¹

Non-Disclosable Records in Indiana include, but are not limited to:

• Records protected by federal or state law, such as adoption or patient medical records
• Juvenile records
• Trade secrets
• Confidential financial information about a person or company

To request public records, fill out an Access to Public Records Request. On the form, be as specific as possible in describing what type of information you want to review. When this form is completed, return it to:

Public Information Officer
Tippecanoe County Commissioners
20 North 3rd Street
Lafayette, IN 47901

By either Fax: 765-423-9196 or Email: [email protected].

Online requests for public record access can also be made online at the Indiana Judicial Branches’ Public Record Request Page.

Public information can be located as described in this article, and citizens also have the right to submit a “FOIA” (Freedom of Information Act) request on a federal level. The physical location of the agency and its email is provided for written or electronic correspondence.

Office of Information Policy (OIP)
U.S. Department of Justice
441 G St, NW, 6th Floor
Washington, DC 20530

E-mail: [email protected]

You can send a request for information to the OIP online for free. Decide what agency is the custodian of the record(s) that you want access to, and submit a request for the information.³

How To See Who Was Arrested in Tippecanoe County via the Jail Tracker Database

Searching Tippecanoe County arrests and other public records can be done through various agencies such as county and city law enforcement agencies, the judicial system, and vital records requests.

Many of these public records can be searched online using the government-authorized search tools and websites in this resource.

Information that will help to narrow down a search for someone who was arrested or in jail includes knowing the person’s full name, knowing an approximate arrest date, and knowing the location (what city or county) of the person who was arrested.

The Tippecanoe County Jail Division is overseen by the Tippecanoe Sheriff’s Office. Both the jail and sheriff’s office are located at:⁴

Tippecanoe County Jail and Sheriff’s Office
2640 Duncan Road
Lafayette, IN 47907

To contact these agencies, refer to the information below:

Sheriff’s Office
Non-Emergency Phone: 765-423-9388
Administrative Services Phone: 765-423-9388 (Use this number to purchase permits or order vehicular crash reports.)
Fax: 765-423-9388
Email: [email protected]

Jail
Phone: 765-423-9388
Email: [email protected] for the Jail Commander.

To search arrests via the Tippecanoe County Sheriff’s Division, use Jail Tracker, which is an official third-party site endorsed by the Sheriff’s Office. For no cost, enter a person’s name, or scroll through the list to see the last few years of booking dates. Click on the blue View More tab to the left of a name to see additional information about an inmate, including:

• Charges
• Arrest Date
• Arresting Agency
• Bond Type
• Bond Amount
• Name
• Height
• Weight
• Hair Color
• Eye Color
• Sex
• Weight

To send an inmate mail from a non-legal (non-attorney) friend or family member, the mail must be addressed to the address with the inmate’s name and ID information:

Tippecanoe County Jail
PO Box 76550
Highland Heights, KY 41076

To visit an inmate, visitor(s) can either register in person at the Tippecanoe County Sheriff’s Office in Lafayette–where registration kiosks are provided in the lobby–or, visitors can register for visitation times online. Online access requires a new account set-up at no charge. Accurate visitor information and identification is always strictly required.

Regularly requested documentation can be accessed through the county public record request page for a small fee using the Records Division online.⁶

The request page provides links for each type of record listed and states the corresponding fee. Forms can be mailed or faxed to the address and fax number provided in the forms. If mailed, always include a stamped envelope with your address on it for the agency clerk to use to return the requested records to you.

To request records in person, bring the request form to the Tippecanoe County Law Enforcement Building, which is at the same address as the county sheriff’s department.

Review Arrest Details via Police Departments Within Tippecanoe County Indiana

Contact information for each specific city police department within Tippecanoe County is below and helpful when a city law enforcement agency makes the arrest as they can provide police reports or arrest details before the county reports it or if it occurred within the last 24 hours.

It’s important to note that not every city or town in Indiana has its own police department, and also, the information maintained and services provided by each department will vary.

Individual police departments can also answer questions regarding their procedure for the public to view and receive copies of records within their city as well as how to obtain copies or certified copies. Use the designated contact information for inquiries. Where available, links to specific forms are included for each department.

Police Department	Address	Contact Information
Battle Ground Police Department7	100 College Street Battleground, Indiana 47920	Phone: 765-567-2223 Email: [email protected]
Dayton Police Department	6531 State Road 38 East, Dayton, Indiana 47941	Phone: 765-423-9321 Fax: 765-449-4828 Email: [email protected]
Otterbein Police Department	111 South Main St. Otterbein, IN 47970​	Phone: 765-583-2200
Lafayette Police Department	601 Columbia Street Lafayette, IN 47901	Phone: 765-807-1200 Booking Desk: 765-423-1655 Fax: 765-807-1201
West Lafayette Police Department8	711 W Navajo St. West Lafayette, IN 47906	Phone: 765-775-5200 Fax: 765-775-5228

Note: The city of Otterbein is located between the two counties of Benton and Tippecanoe. Police & Crash Reports prepared by the Otterbein Police Department can be obtained by phone request. The department will not release any reports prepared by other agencies.

To search for records from the Lafayette Police Department, fill out a Request for Production of Documents form and bring it to the station or send it to the email address provided.

For a fee, citizens may search for documents in West Lafayette using the Public Records Request Form.⁹

How To Execute a Free Public Criminal History Check in Tippecanoe County

Criminal records contain information about the people convicted of a crime as well as the details of their charges or offenses that are in possession of their official custodians. Record custodians of criminal records maintain the information based on the type of agency they are and the type of records held.

Some of the first places to search these files include the various state, county and municipal courts, as well as the sheriff’s department, police agencies, prisons, jails, and probation offices.

Civil matters (such as lawsuits for money damages or breach of contract) can be researched independently of criminal searches. Records can include, but aren’t limited to:

• Arrest records
• The charges against the defendant
• The terms of any probation sentence
• Warrants
• Background check reports
• Inmate rosters for jails and prisons
• Sex and violent offender registries

The Tippecanoe County Clerk’s Office uses the Odyssey case management system, provided by the Indiana Judicial Branch’s Office of Judicial Administration to record public information online and is where the searchers may conduct free criminal record searches.

Locate Criminal Records in Tippecanoe County Indiana via the Court Clerk

Indiana’s non-confidential (disclosable) information laws allow anyone to access records from various courts, including civil, criminal, and family law matters efficiently by using online tools. Search by case number, name, and booking date to start.

Tippecanoe County public records include criminal case details that are available through the Indiana Courts search tool. Enter the person’s name, case number, or their attorney’s name. Click on “Criminal and Citation” to narrow the search to criminal only.

The result will show the case summary of an individual including the information of the parties involved, charges, the chronological court summary events that took place, as well as the financial balances of the defendant that must be paid with its transaction details. The results provided in this tool are not official records.

If the searchers need official criminal records, they will have to request them from the Tippecanoe County Clerk’s Office.¹¹

For online processing, the requesters go to the Internet Service Request portal and then choose the appropriate form to use like the Case Filings form if the case number is available or if unknown, the Records Request form. For other processes, the following information from the Tippecanoe County Clerk’s Office can be used:

Tippecanoe County Clerk
301 Main St., 2nd Fl.
Lafayette, Indiana 47901

Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 1665
Lafayette, IN 47902

Phone: 765.423.9326
Fax: 765.423.9194
County Clerk’s Office Email: [email protected]
Records Clerk Email: [email protected]

How To Perform a Warrant Search in Tippecanoe County Indiana

A warrant is a document issued by a court or a judge giving law enforcement the authority or right to detain or take someone into custody.

Bench Warrants instruct police to apprehend someone for violating a court order or failing to appear for their trial, sentencing, or some other court hearing.

Warrant information is available on the MyCase website, at the Lafayette Police Department (in person only), and at the Tippecanoe County Courts website. To save time, use the MyCase portal and go directly to the case search page.

Unless a court indicates that a warrant is confidential, if a defendant in a criminal case that is included on the site has a warrant issued against them, this will appear in the case summary. However, the site does not offer a general warrant search, nor is there a public website for searching all open arrest warrants throughout the state.

How To See Who Is on Probation in Tippecanoe County Indiana

Search for information on someone on probation (a supervised release from jail or an administered period of restrictions related to a defendant’s criminal sentence) with these resources. For details related to individuals, check with the Adult Division of Probation Department. Contact options for the agency include:

Tippecanoe County Courthouse
301 Main Street Second Floor
Lafayette, IN 47901

Phone: 765-423-9290
Fax: 765-423-9380

Questions can be asked in-person Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Inquiries can also be sent by email to [email protected].

Stipulations of supervised probation are detailed in the agency’s conditions of Supervised Probation official publication.¹³

How To Run a Background Check or Screening in Tippecanoe County

Background checks are done for various personal or professional reasons. These searches can be helpful for the purpose of safety alone in either setting.

With so many people meeting others via dating and other apps, it can be helpful to determine if someone on an app is who they say they are.

Similarly, people might feel more comfortable looking into a person’s history if they want to hire them as a babysitter, for example, or to provide a service where access to a home is required. Employers often want to or are required to ensure that they are hiring someone without a criminal history.

Personal background checks are conducted for many reasons, but it is important that the information gathered must not be used for illegal purposes such as to stalk, intimidate or harass others.

Searching for public records can be done via the agencies listed in this resource or by utilizing third-party providers if endorsed by the government or as the last option. When records are open to the public, consent by the person you are searching is not necessary.

Official or professional background checks are done for employment, professional licensing, firearm sales, housing applications, and child and elder care jobs, for example. There may be laws in place that require a background check on someone. There are also laws that require consent by the person being checked.

Tippecanoe County criminal background record checks can be ordered at the sheriff’s office Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and cost $2.00 each. To request a criminal background check, you can download a Permission to Obtain Criminal Background Record Check Form and bring it to:

Tippecanoe County Jail and Sheriff’s Office
2640 Duncan Rd
Lafayette, IN 47904

For questions regarding Tippecanoe background checks, call 765-423-9388 ext. #3216 or email the Records Clerk at [email protected].

If ink fingerprints are required for a background check or for employment or identification purposes (e.g., obtaining a passport), this service is available in the Tippecanoe County Jail and Sheriff’s Office lobby from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. No appointment is necessary.

Fingerprinting is done on cards for $5.00. A valid picture ID is required. No digital fingerprint service is available at this time.

The State of Indiana’s background check process for name-based background checks is handled by the Indiana State Police (ISP), which is located at:¹⁴

Indiana State Police
100 N. Senate Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana

Phone: 317-232-8260

How To Look Up Criminal Records in All of Indiana Using State & Federal Resources

Criminal records taken within Tippecanoe might be limited to someone’s record within the local area only. If the searchers require more information about someone’s criminal records, they may use the official resources provided by the federal or state instead.

The Indiana Judicial Branch offers several tools that could help searchers locate Tippecanoe County public records including criminal history information on anyone in the state. 

MyCase Search tool is where anyone may search for criminal court documents and fillings for free. If the searchers need to request arrests, criminal history, and other police records, they may check out the website’s public records request form, Indiana State Police’s Criminal History Services, or the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Identity History Summary Checks.

A statewide search for inmates in state (versus county) custody can be performed online at the Indiana Department of Corrections (DOC) Incarcerated Database. This search can be done by anyone, and no prior authorization is required.

The state has a Sex Offender Registry portal that lists all sex offenders and predators within the state and can be searched by county which is maintained by each county’s sheriff’s department.

For those wanting to look up older or historic criminal case records, they may look up the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA).

These are also the federal resources available to search for criminal records:

The Federal Bureau of Prisons — has an inmate search tool available where the searchers may find the location of federal inmates who were imprisoned from 1982 up to the present.

The National Sex Offender Public Website — is where anyone may look up listed sex offenders within the U.S., either by name or location.

How To Find Tippecanoe County Court Records & Cases

Indiana’s state judicial system is made up of three main types of “trial courts” — the Circuit, Superior, and local (city/town) courts.

The type of cases these courts hear varies from county to county. Trial courts are where cases are first filed and decided. If a person (“a party”) disagrees with the decision made at the trial court, the next step would be to appeal the court’s decision.

Appeals are handled by one of the “appellate courts” based on what type of case it is.

The Indiana appellate courts are:

• The Supreme Court
• The Court of Appeals
• The Indiana Tax Court 

In Tippecanoe County, there are 7 county courts, all of which are located in the Courthouse building.

Tippecanoe Courthouse
301 Main Street
Lafayette, IN 47901

Phone: 765-423-9343

For in-person record requests, the public can visit the Courthouse during regular business hours: Mon. – Fri. 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. but note that most courts close from 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m. for lunch. To call, fax or email the Clerk or a court within the Tippecanoe Courthouse, use the information provided below:

Offices	Phone Numbers	Fax Numbers
Clerk’s Office	Phone: 765-423-9326	Fax: 765-423-9194
Circuit Court	Phone: 765-423-9343	Fax: 765-423-9116
Superior Court #1	Phone: 765-423-9217	Fax: 765-423-9133
Superior Court #2	Phone: 765-423-9293	Fax: 765-423-9142
Superior Court #3	Phone: 765-423-9295	Fax: 765-423-9155
Superior Court #4	Phone: 765-423-9266	Fax: 765-423-9764
Superior Court #5	Phone: 765-423-9280	Fax: 765-423-9375
Superior Court #6	Phone: 765-423-9750	Fax: 765-423-9760
Superior Court #7	Phone: 765-269-4030	Fax: 765-269-4039

There is one city-level courthouse in Tippecanoe County:

West Lafayette City Court
222 N. Chauncey Ave
West Lafayette, IN 47906

Phone: 765-775-5155
Fax: 765-775-5159
Email: [email protected]

Specific case information is available for all courts in the state that use the state’s Odyssey case management system.

Search for people by name using Indiana’s County Court Records online search tool Odyssey Case Management system. Refer to the list of all the courts using Odyssey to see if the court you are researching takes part.

The website includes basic civil and criminal case information, including warrants, from the state’s county courts that use the Odyssey system (including Tippecanoe).

Remember that certain cases are confidential, e.g., juvenile, and these records are not available to the general public. To search in Tippecanoe, use the case number, name, or attorney’s name and pick “Tippecanoe County”, then “Tippecanoe County – West Lafayette City Court” on the case search page, and narrow the search by type of case using the drop-down list below the court selection.

How To Check Vital Records About Marriages, Divorces, Births & Deaths in Tippecanoe County

Vital records are records of life events, particularly birth, marriage, divorce, death, domestic partnerships and civil unions.

Generally, these Tippecanoe County public records can be viewed in person at a state or county office of vital statistics, a health department, or ordered online for a fee. Some of these records will require that the person requesting them has some connection to the person whose record(s) they want to view.

These records can be used for finding out if someone is married or divorced or to be used for genealogy research.

Certified copies must be ordered for certain legal proceedings like legal name changes, adoption proceedings, or to serve as evidence in a probate estate.

There are two types of copies: certified and uncertified. Certified copies are official copies authenticated by the agency that keeps them. Certified copies of vital records are required for use in legal proceedings or if the record is going to be used as identification. Uncertified copies do not contain the governmental authority’s seal and often are marked that they should not be used for identification.

The record custodian of marriage and divorce documents is the Tippecanoe County Clerk’s Office. Certified records can be requested in person, online or through mail. Uncertified marriage and divorce court case records are made available online by the clerk’s office. As for marriage records searches with unknown locations, it can be searched through several state resources.

Birth and death records, on the other hand, are kept by the Tippecanoe County Health Department – Vital Records Division and can be requested by phone or online through VitalChek.

Access Marriage & Divorce Records via the Tippecanoe County Clerk’s Office

The Tippecanoe County Clerk’s Office is the official record custodian of marriage and divorce records.

Marriage licenses for both residents for $29 and nonresidents for $65 can both be obtained at Tippecanoe County through the Clerk’s Office with requirements proving the residency and age of the applicants. The applicants must be 18 years of age or older to be married without special consent. However, a marriage with a 16 or 17-year-old to someone who is no more than 4 years older can be approved only by the juvenile court judge.

Marriage license will be applied in person with both parties present at this address:

Tippecanoe County Clerk’s Office
Courthouse, 2nd Fl.
301 Main St.
Lafayette, Indiana 47901

Phone: 765.423.9326
Email: [email protected]

For a faster process of about 5 minutes, the applicants may complete this online application for marriage records before going to the office. However, the application can still be done at the office, but it will take a longer time to finish.

To search online for a copy of a certified marriage record or a divorce decree, use the County Clerk’s Portal. Click on the type of record that is being searched and fill out the request form as accurately as possible. The record provider will contact you after locating your request to determine delivery preference and payment.

There is a small fee, depending on the need:

• Certified Record: $3.00/document
• Faxed/Emailed Document: $1.00/page
• Court Record: $1.00/page
• To mail a document $2.00 plus other page charges

Uncertified or non-confidential marriage and divorce cases can be searched through the Indiana Courts’ Odyssey case management system.

When searching for marriage or divorce cases, they have to enter the last name and first name and then choose the court type – “Tippecanoe County” and the record type – “Family” – which will show list results that start with “In Re: the Marriage of…” If the searchers look at the case summary, they will find the date the petition of dissolution of marriage with or without children took place.

The Indiana Department of Health also provides helpful links that could help interested parties in looking for marriage licenses if the county where the event took place is unknown.¹⁹

These include the Marriage License Public Lookup of Indiana Courts, and the Indiana Marriages Database through 1850 and marriage records from 1958 to 2018 made available by the Indiana State Library.

Search Births & Deaths or Obtain Certificates via the Tippecanoe County Health Department’s Vital Records Division

Birth and death records are available at the Vital Records Division of Tippecanoe County, Indiana from 1882 to the present. To apply for a copy of a birth certificate, the public can request one in person, by mail, or online.

For in-person birth certificate application, the requesters will need to visit:

Tippecanoe County Health Department
Att: Vital Records Staff
1950 South 18th St.
Lafayette, Indiana 47905

Phone: 765.423.9221 ext. 4
Fax: 765.423.9797
Email: [email protected]

Office hours are Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:15 p.m., except on holidays. They do not close for lunch. If you go in person, you can receive the birth certificate at that time if you have all of the required documentation and pay the required fees.

Cash, cashier’s check, or credit card (credit cards include a processing fee) are accepted for Birth Certificates, which are $15.00 per copy.

Death certificates are also $15 per copy. Privacy laws restrict who may order these records and strict proof of relationship is required.

For the mail requests process, the requesters will need to fill out the following forms based on the request type and then submit it together with the photocopies of documents listed in the forms and fees to the Tippecanoe County Health Department provided above:

• Application for certificate of birth form
• Application for certificate of death form
• Paternity affidavit application form
• Genealogy application (requires the photocopy of the requester’s ID and costs $15.00)

Most of the requests sent through mail are processed on the same day the requests were received.

Birth and death certificates can also be ordered online through VitalChek or by phone at 888.276.9006.

The Tippecanoe County Health Department also offers other services but requires to schedule an appointment by calling 765.423.9221 Ext. 4:

• Changing a Birth Record
• Affidavit Requesting Amendment
• Certified Copy of Paternity Affidavit on File
• Birth Notification
• Home Birth Registration
• Paternity Affidavit
• Paternity Affidavit Upon Marriage
• Court Ordered Legal Name Change

Note: The Tippecanoe County Health Department only provides records for those events that took place within the county only.

The requesters will need to contact or visit the local health department where the event took place or contact the Indiana State Department of Health Vital Records to get the certificate needed for events that occurred outside Tippecanoe County.²¹

How To Figure Out Who Owns a Tippecanoe County Property & if There Are Unpaid Taxes

Property records can be found in Tippecanoe County using Indiana’s search tool allowing access to state property records. Click on the picture with the “Beacon” logo to find the search page where you can enter a name.

If they own property (titled in their name), the property address and other public information about the property is shown.

Search using someone’s name, or enter any of the following information to locate a property:

• Address
• Street Address in GIS Data
• Parcel ID
• Alternate ID
•  Legal Description
•  Sec/Twp/Rng Search
•  Neighborhood
•  Class Code

To find out if someone has unpaid taxes, there are a few options. Property owners must pay taxes on their homes and mobile homes. If they become delinquent, the county treasurer sends a demand letter for payment.

Taxpayers have 60 days to become current, and if they do not, the treasurer certifies that those owners are delinquent and notifies the Clerk of Tippecanoe County. Once certified, a credit services company will begin to attempt to collect the past due taxes, plus interest and collection fees.

For detailed property tax information, inquiries can be made to:

Tippecanoe County Office Building
20 N 3rd St., 2nd Fl.
Lafayette, Indiana 47901

Auditor’s Office: 765-423-9207
Email: [email protected]
Treasurer’s Office: 765-423-9273
Email: [email protected]

Questions can also be directed to the collection company at +1(888)317-2327.

Citizens’ Rights & Responsibilities Pertaining to Tippecanoe County Public Records

Anyone can make the searches outlined in this resource for any reason so long as they do not use the information for illegal purposes. Information can never be used for illegal purposes such as to stalk, intimidate or harass someone. Additionally, there are legal limits to what information can be collected and how it is shared depending on how these records will be used.

For personal use, anyone may look up public records without the consent of the subject being checked. However, the information collected must not be used to commit any criminal acts and can’t be used for any professional purposes.

Getting public records for professional purposes has more restrictions and the state and federal provide several protections for people being subject to these searches.

The FCRA (Fair Credit Reporting Act) regulates issues of consumer protection, privacy and security credit reporting.²³ Under the FCRA, legally obtained private information has restrictions on how it may be used. For example, a credit report on a person can be ordered by a consumer reporting agency like a credit bureau, but they cannot share it with anyone who does not have a legal right to use it.

Some public records such as criminal records are not allowed to be used for discriminatory purposes pursuant to federal law under the EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission) in connection with employment.²⁴ For example, potential employers cannot refuse to hire someone just because they have been arrested. The fact that a person was arrested is not proof they committed any crime.

In some situations, an employer can look into the person’s conduct leading to the arrest and ask them to explain the circumstances. Then the employer can decide whether the conduct is a reason not to hire them or to make another employment decision.

Anyone who experiences employment discrimination in Tippecanoe County may file a complaint with the Human Relations Commission (HRC).

The Federal Trade Commission is where anyone may file a complaint if a background check was conducted about them without their consent.²⁵

Before checking Tippecanoe County public records, it is important to understand how to do so responsibility and to use these records ethically for everyone’s benefit.