East Chicago Busted Mugshots

East Chicago busted mugshots are processed through the Lake County Sheriff's Department, which runs the county jail in Crown Point. East Chicago has a population of about 26,000 and sits in the northwest corner of Indiana, close to the Illinois state line. When someone gets arrested in East Chicago, the booking goes through Lake County. You can search for busted mugshots online using the county's inmate search tool. This page covers every way to find arrest records and booking photos in East Chicago.

East Chicago Arrests and Lake County

All arrests in East Chicago are processed through Lake County. The Lake County Sheriff's Department is headquartered at 2293 N. Main Street in Crown Point, IN 46307. Sheriff Oscar Martinez Jr. leads the department. When the East Chicago Police Department or any other agency in Lake County makes an arrest, the person gets booked into the Lake County jail system. That is where the busted mugshot and arrest record get created.

The Lake County Sheriff's Department states that its mission is "to enhance the quality of life in Lake County by serving and protecting our community through excellent law enforcement services." The department changed its inmate search to be name-only because of scam concerns. The sheriff's office warns that scammers pretending to be bondsmen or sheriff's employees have been reaching out to families of inmates.

East Chicago Police Department

The East Chicago Police Department is the city's primary law enforcement agency. For non-emergency calls, dial 219-391-8300. For emergencies, call 911. The department patrols East Chicago and handles arrests within city limits. All bookings go through the Lake County Sheriff's Department. The police department does not run its own jail or post busted mugshots.

East Chicago is one of several cities in Lake County. Gary, Hammond, Schererville, Crown Point, and Portage also fall under the Lake County jail system for bookings. When an East Chicago officer arrests someone, the suspect is transported to the county jail in Crown Point for processing.

How to Search East Chicago Busted Mugshots

The Lake County inmate search is the main tool for finding busted mugshots in East Chicago. The search is by name only. The sheriff's office made this change because of scams. As they put it: "For this reason, the inmate feature of our website is now search-by-name only. Scammers pretending to be bondsmen or Sheriff's Office employees routinely reach out to families." Just enter the person's name and run the search. It is free and open to anyone.

The Lake County inmate search page above is where you can find people currently held in the county jail, including arrests from East Chicago.

Court records for East Chicago cases can be found on MyCase Indiana. This free tool covers all Indiana courts. Search by name or case number to see filings, charges, and hearing dates for Lake County cases.

Lake County Busted Mugshots Access

The Lake County Sheriff's Department website shown above is the central hub for jail services, inmate search, and law enforcement information in the county. It covers all cities in Lake County, including East Chicago.

Victims of crime in East Chicago can register with VINE for custody status alerts. VINE sends phone and email updates when an offender is released or transferred. Call 866-959-VINE to sign up for this free service.

East Chicago Public Records and Busted Mugshots

Indiana's Access to Public Records Act, IC 5-14-3, gives the public the right to inspect and copy government records. This includes busted mugshots and arrest records from the Lake County Sheriff's Department. All records not specifically exempted must be available. Verbal requests must get a response within 24 hours. Written requests have a 7-day window.

The Indiana State Police Criminal History Services division runs Limited Criminal History checks for $15. These cover felonies and Class A misdemeanor arrests in Indiana. For state prison inmates, the IDOC offender locator covers people in Indiana Department of Correction facilities. The Indiana Sheriffs Association keeps contact info for all 92 county sheriffs.

Note: Court records and jail booking records are different systems, so check both if you need a full picture on an East Chicago arrest.

Nearby Indiana Cities

East Chicago is in northwest Indiana near the Illinois border. Several other Lake County cities are nearby. If someone was arrested close to the East Chicago border, check these nearby cities for busted mugshots.