Criminal records in Lagrange County, Indiana, are available through several channels — online tools, official court systems, law enforcement agencies, and the clerk's office. LagrangeCourt.us allows you to quickly find publicly available information about criminal cases. Additionally, the state of Indiana maintains portals for searching court cases and checking criminal history, and the local clerk's office issues official copies of documents upon request.
How to Search Criminal Records in Lagrange
There are several ways to search for criminal records in this county. Each is suitable for different situations.
Online Search
- LagrangeCourt.us — start here if you need to find publicly available information about county criminal cases. Enter a last name or case number to search.
- MyCase — the official Indiana Supreme Court portal for searching court cases statewide. Allows searching by party name, case number, or attorney name. Official court proceeding records can only be obtained directly from the court handling the case.
- Indiana State Police Limited Criminal History Search — contains information about felony arrests and Class A misdemeanors in the state. The result is provided in PDF format, valid for 14 days.
- INjail Public Access — a portal for searching individuals in local county jails in Indiana. Search by last name, first name, or date of birth.
- Indiana Incarcerated Database Search — Indiana Department of Corrections database for searching inmates in state facilities.
In-Person Visit
The county court clerk serves requests directly at the courthouse. Public access terminals usually allow viewing the case registry on-site. Contact the office at:
Contact information and hours of operation can be clarified on the LaGrange County local court page or in the Indiana Court and Clerk Directory.
Mail or Written Request
A written request for criminal records can be sent to the county clerk's office. Include the person's full name, date of birth (if known), and case number. To obtain a state-level criminal history, submit a request to the Indiana State Police. More details about the public records request procedure are described on the How to Request Public Records page.
What You Need to Start a Search
- Full name of the person
- Date of birth (preferably)
- Case number (if known)
Search Lagrange Criminal Cases by Case Number
In Indiana, a case number has a standardized format that includes several key elements. Understanding this format speeds up the search.
Typical case number structure:
- County code — a two-digit number. For LaGrange County, it is 44.
- Court designation — a letter code indicating the specific court (e.g., C for Circuit Court, D for Superior Court).
- Case type code — a two-digit category code: F (felony), CM (criminal misdemeanor), IF (infraction), etc.
- Sequential number — a unique case number within the year.
- Filing year — the last two digits of the year the case was filed.
For example, the number 44C01-2401-F6-000012 means: county 44 (LaGrange), Circuit Court 01, case filed in 2024, level 6 felony, sequential number 12. This number can be entered into the MyCase portal for instant access to case information.
Charges, Case Status, Hearings, and Court Results in Lagrange
Each criminal case contains several key elements. Below are explanations of the main categories.
Charges
| Element | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Statute code | Reference to a specific article of the Indiana Code under which the charge is brought |
| Severity level | Felony (levels 1–6, where 1 is the most severe), Misdemeanor (classes A, B, C), Infraction |
| Amended charges | The prosecutor may change the initial charge to a lesser or more severe one during the proceedings |
Case Status
- Pending — the case is open, proceedings are ongoing
- Active — the case is actively being considered by the court
- Disposed — the court has rendered a decision, the case is closed on the merits
- Closed — all procedural actions are completed
Hearings
A criminal case goes through several stages:
- Initial hearing / Arraignment — the first appearance of the accused before the court, charges are announced
- Preliminary hearing — the court determines if there is enough evidence to continue the case
- Pre-trial conference — a meeting of the parties before the start of the trial
- Trial — the substantive court hearing
- Sentencing — sentencing after a guilty verdict
- Review hearing — checking compliance with the terms of the sentence (e.g., probation)
Court Results
| Result | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Guilty | Found guilty |
| Not guilty | Found not guilty after trial |
| Dismissed | Case closed without a verdict |
| Acquitted | Acquitted by the court or jury |
| Withheld judgment | The court postponed sentencing (often upon completion of a program) |
How to Request Certified Criminal Records in Lagrange
Certified copies of criminal records are official documents with the court's seal, accepted by other institutions and agencies.
Where to Apply
- County Court Clerk's Office — for certified copies of court documents (indictments, sentences, hearing records)
- Indiana State Police — to obtain a limited state-level criminal history through the online Limited Criminal History portal
Ways to Submit a Request
- In-person — visit the clerk's office with a valid photo ID. Provide the case number or the person's full name and date of birth.
- By mail — send a written request with case details, a copy of your ID, and payment. Check with the clerk for acceptable forms of payment.
- Online — a state-level criminal history can be ordered through the Indiana State Police portal. You need to provide the person's name and date of birth and pay the fee.
Required Documents
- Valid photo ID (for in-person requests)
- Full name of the person whose record is requested
- Date of birth or case number
- Payment of applicable fees
Fees, Copy Costs, and Processing Times for Criminal Records in Lagrange
Fees for criminal records depend on the type of request and the processing agency. Federal cases in LaGrange County are handled at the Fort Wayne Division of the Northern District of Indiana and have a separate fee schedule.
| Service | Approximate Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Copy of court document (per page) | $1.00 | Standard rate for Indiana courts according to IC 33-37-5-1 |
| Document certification | $5.00 and up | In addition to the copy cost; check with the clerk's office |
| Limited criminal history (Indiana State Police) | $16.32 | Online via ISP portal; result in PDF, valid for 14 days |
| Full criminal history check (fingerprints) | Depends on purpose | For licensing and employment; details on the PLA website |
Processing Times
- Online search (MyCase, ISP) — results are usually available within minutes
- In-person request at the clerk's office — typically the same day or within a few business days
- Mail request — may take one to three weeks depending on the clerk's office workload
Specific fee amounts and acceptable payment methods are recommended to be clarified directly with the clerk's office at 260-499-6371 before submitting a request, as rates may change.