Lake County Criminal Records Search: Cases & Public Records
United States · Lake County criminal court records
Lake County Criminal Records Search: Court Cases, Arrests, Dockets & Public Records
To search Lake County criminal records, first identify the state where the case was filed. There are 12 U.S. states with a county named Lake, including Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, California and Michigan. Each has its own court system, record-search website and rules for obtaining criminal case documents.
For example, Lake County, Florida uses the Clerk’s ShowCase court search. Illinois uses the Lake County Circuit Clerk’s online portal, Indiana uses MyCase, Ohio has a separate Clerk of Courts search, and California uses the Lake County Superior Court public portal.
This guide gives you the correct official link for each state, explains how to search by name or case number, and shows where to request court dispositions, certified records, arrest information and criminal-history checks.
Find the Official Lake County Criminal Records Search for Your State
Select the state where the criminal case was filed. The correct court is usually determined by the location of the prosecution, not where the defendant currently lives.
Lake County, FL
County seat: Tavares
Court system: Fifth Judicial Circuit
Online search: ShowCase
Florida court records →Lake County, IL
County seat: Waukegan
Court system: Nineteenth Judicial Circuit
Online search: Circuit Clerk Portal
Illinois court records →Lake County, IN
County seat: Crown Point
Court system: Lake Circuit and Superior Courts
Online search: Indiana MyCase
Indiana court records →Lake County, OH
County seat: Painesville
Court system: Common Pleas and Municipal Courts
Online search: Clerk of Courts
Ohio court records →Lake County, CA
County seat: Lakeport
Court system: California Superior Court
Online search: Superior Court Portal
California court records →Lake County, MI
County seat: Baldwin
Online search: MiCOURT
Local records: District and Circuit Courts
Michigan court records →Lake County, MN
County seat: Two Harbors
Court system: Sixth Judicial District
Online search: MCRO
Minnesota court records →Lake County, CO
County seat: Leadville
Court system: Fifth Judicial District
Search: Colorado Court Dockets
Colorado court records →Lake County, OR
County seat: Lakeview
Court system: 26th Judicial District
Search: Oregon Courts / OJCIN
Oregon court records →Lake County, MT
County seat: Polson
Records custodian: Clerk of District Court
Montana court records →Lake County, SD
County seat: Madison
Court system: Third Judicial Circuit
Online search: PARS
South Dakota court records →Lake County, TN
County seat: Tiptonville
Courts: Circuit and General Sessions
Tennessee court records →Lake County Criminal Court Records: Detailed Search Instructions
The following procedures cover the principal Lake County court systems, including their actual search tools, document limitations, local courthouse contacts and certified-record options.
Lake County, Florida · Tavares
Florida Lake County Criminal Records — ShowCase Search
The Lake County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller maintains criminal court records for Lake County, Florida. Its public search uses ShowCase, a web-based case management portal.
Official Lake County Florida Online Court Records Search →
How to Search
- Open the Clerk’s Search Online Court Records page.
- Read the disclaimer and select Accept and Search Court Records.
- In ShowCase, open Case Search.
- Enter the case number or the person’s name using the search fields.
- Use the court type, case status, date or other available filters to narrow results.
- Open the case number and examine the Charges tab for criminal disposition information.
ShowCase also provides search modes such as Exact, SoundEx and Starts With. These can help when an initial name search does not identify the correct case.
How Much Does a Florida Lake County Search Cost?
Public ShowCase searches are free. The Clerk lists $1 per printed court-record page, an additional $2 to certify a document, and $2 per name per year for staff-performed court-record searches.
These charges are not fees for browsing the public ShowCase search yourself.
550 W. Main Street
Tavares, FL 32778
General case assistance: (352) 742-4100
Circuit Criminal (felony): (352) 742-4126
County Criminal (misdemeanor): (352) 742-4128.
Florida Court Records Requests, Fees and Historical Coverage →
Lake County, Illinois · Waukegan
Illinois Lake County Criminal Records — Circuit Clerk Portal
The Lake County Circuit Clerk maintains public case records for the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit. Its online portal provides access to available criminal, traffic and civil case information.
Official Illinois Lake County Circuit Clerk Portal →
How to Search
- Open the Circuit Clerk’s public portal.
- Create a portal account or sign in under the site’s current registration requirements.
- Choose Search Cases.
- Search for the criminal case using the available name or case-number fields.
- Open the matching public case summary and review the court events.
- If you need additional document access, follow the Clerk’s account or case-access procedures.
Unlike some state court portals, the official Illinois Lake County site states that users must register to access case information. Attorneys and parties of record may qualify for additional document access.
Official Lake County Illinois Records Search Fee
For a Clerk-performed background record search, the Circuit Clerk’s Records Division lists a charge of $6 per name per year searched.
This is a county court-record search, not the same as a fingerprint-based Illinois State Police criminal-history check.
Waukegan, IL 60085
Main office: (847) 377-3380
Records Division: (847) 377-3211
Certified Copies: (847) 377-3236.
The Clerk’s main office is in the lower level of the court complex. The Criminal Court Tower has an entrance at 301 Washington Street.
Lake County, Indiana · Crown Point
Indiana Lake County Criminal Records — MyCase
The Indiana Judicial Branch provides a statewide public case search at mycase.in.gov. It includes public case information for Lake County Circuit and Superior Courts.
Official Indiana MyCase Search →
How to Search
- Open Indiana MyCase.
- Choose Search by Case if you know the court case number or citation number.
- Otherwise select Search by Party and enter the person’s last and first name.
- Choose Lake County in the available court or county filters.
- Limit to criminal case categories when appropriate.
- Review the court events, charges, disposition and available documents.
Indiana’s MyCase search also supports searches by attorney. The official search guide states that results are limited to 1,000 matches, so broad name searches may need additional filters.
What if the Document Is Missing?
MyCase provides selected public case documents, but not every filing can be viewed remotely. For certified records or nonavailable documents, contact the Lake County Clerk.
Crown Point, IN 46307
Phone: (219) 755-3460
The Clerk also lists court-service locations in Hammond, East Chicago and Gary. Contact the appropriate office before requesting a document in person.
Lake County, Ohio · Painesville
Ohio Lake County Criminal Records — Clerk of Courts Search
The Lake County Clerk of Courts maintains felony criminal case records for the Lake County Court of Common Pleas. Its online search provides public case records and available document images.
Official Lake County Ohio Clerk of Courts →
Search Steps
- Open the Clerk of Courts website.
- Select Court Record Search.
- Choose the criminal case category or the applicable search filters.
- Search using the case number or available party-name fields.
- Open the result to review docket activity, case status and document images.
- Contact the Clerk for records that are unavailable online.
Ohio Record Coverage and Fees
The Clerk states that its online case-search system covers cases from 1990 to the present, with document images available from 2017 onward for supported case types.
Publicly available online images can be printed without charge. The Clerk lists $0.10 per page for physical or certified-copy requests, plus $1 per certification and applicable postage.
Painesville, OH 44077
Phone: (440) 350-2657
Published hours: Monday–Friday, 8 AM–4:30 PM.
Lake County, California · Lakeport
California Lake County Criminal Records — Superior Court Portal
The Superior Court of California, County of Lake operates a public case-search portal for criminal and other case types.
Official Lake County California Public Portal →
How to Search
- Open the Superior Court public portal.
- Read and accept its disclaimer.
- Choose Search for a Case.
- Search using the case number, surname and first name, or other permitted fields.
- Review the matching criminal case category and docket information.
- Use the calendar search if you need an upcoming criminal court date.
The court’s case search includes classifications for felony and misdemeanor cases. Its search interface limits results to 200 cases per search; narrow the name or other fields if the results are too broad.
Requesting Certified California Court Records
The online case search provides basic case information. The court requires an in-person or written request for official certified copies.
Its records-request instructions direct applicants to complete a Research and Copy Request Form and submit it to the Clerk as instructed.
Criminal Division phone: (707) 263-2374
Criminal courthouse: 675 Lakeport Boulevard, Lakeport, CA 95453.
Records-request address listed by the court: 255 N. Forbes Street, Lakeport, CA 95453.
Confirm the correct counter and location before visiting; the court’s published locations and records-request instructions distinguish the criminal courthouse from the office receiving research and copy requests.
Lake County, Michigan · Baldwin
Michigan Lake County Criminal Records — MiCOURT
Michigan’s statewide MiCOURT Case Search provides online public case information for participating Michigan courts. Lake County’s district-level criminal records and related court information can be accessed or requested through its local court system.
Official Michigan MiCOURT Search →
How to Search
- Open the MiCOURT Case Search website.
- Read and accept its terms of service.
- Select the court or applicable county court from the available list.
- Search using the name or case number.
- Review the available criminal case and disposition information.
- Contact the court when the record is unavailable or the online result is incomplete.
Baldwin, MI 49304
Phone: (231) 745-4614
Published hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM–5 PM.
For felony case records or a court document that cannot be found through district court, identify the assigned circuit court from the case record or contact the county court offices for the correct custodian.
Lake County Criminal Records in Minnesota, Colorado, Oregon, Montana, South Dakota and Tennessee
These six additional Lake counties have different search and filing procedures. Some permit free public lookup, while others require a paid request or courthouse visit.
Minnesota · Two Harbors
Lake County, Minnesota — MCRO Criminal Case Search
Use Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) for public criminal case information from Lake County District Court.
Open Minnesota MCRO Case Search →
MCRO provides searches by name, case number, citation number and attorney. Select the Criminal category and Lake County under court locations to narrow results.
You can also search for eligible public documents using a known case number. However, the Judicial Branch cautions that MCRO provides unofficial online copies, not certified court documents.
Two Harbors, MN 55616
Phone: (218) 595-5001
Colorado · Leadville
Lake County, Colorado — Judicial Branch Docket Search
Lake County belongs to Colorado’s Fifth Judicial District. Its court website provides links to local dockets, courthouse contacts and other court services.
Official Colorado Lake County Courts →
To find an upcoming case, use the Lake County Docket Search and enter the relevant court, date or case information.
The court’s public docket search is primarily a scheduling tool, not a complete statewide criminal-history database. Older case records or certified documents may require a separate court-record request.
Oregon · Lakeview
Lake County, Oregon — Free Case Search and OJCIN
The Lake County Circuit Court belongs to Oregon’s 26th Judicial District.
Oregon provides two main public search routes:
- Free Records Search: Basic public case information and court calendars.
- OJCIN Online: A subscription service for more detailed Registers of Actions and court case information.
Official Oregon Free Court Records Search →
The courthouse also provides public access computers for eligible case information and filed documents.
Lakeview, OR 97630
Phone: (541) 947-6051
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8 AM–5 PM, excluding legal holidays.
Montana · Polson
Lake County, Montana — Clerk of District Court Records
The Lake County Clerk of District Court maintains the county’s district court records, including criminal cases.
The Clerk provides public record searches, ordinary copies and certified copies upon request, subject to statutory fees and disclosure restrictions.
Official Montana Lake County Clerk of District Court →
Polson, MT 59860
Phone: (406) 883-7256
Email: Lakedistcourt@mt.gov
Contact the Clerk with the defendant’s name, known filing year and case number to learn whether the information is publicly accessible and how to request the document.
South Dakota · Madison
Lake County, South Dakota — PARS Criminal Records Search
South Dakota’s Unified Judicial System operates the Public Access Record Search (PARS) for public criminal case information.
PARS is a paid search system. The court publishes a $20 fee per search, even if the search finds no matching record.
Official South Dakota PARS Search Instructions →
The statewide criminal-case summary generally covers public criminal cases from 1989 onward. For earlier criminal cases, contact the Clerk of Courts where the case was filed.
Public-access computers at South Dakota courthouses allow eligible court records to be inspected.
Madison, SD 57042
Phone: (605) 256-5645
Tennessee · Tiptonville
Lake County, Tennessee — Circuit and General Sessions Court Records
Lake County, Tennessee has separate Circuit and General Sessions courts.
The Circuit Court Clerk maintains records involving felony criminal proceedings and other circuit matters. The General Sessions Court handles misdemeanor matters and preliminary felony proceedings, within its statutory jurisdiction.
Official Lake County Tennessee Courts Directory →
To obtain a criminal case record, contact the appropriate Clerk. Provide the case number if known, the defendant’s name and the approximate filing year.
Tiptonville, TN 38079
Circuit and General Sessions: (731) 253-7137
Court Clerk: (731) 253-7582
Lake County’s official Circuit Court webpage also publishes selected public case documents in particular proceedings. These selected document collections are not a searchable database of all county criminal records.
How to Search Lake County Criminal Records by Name or Case Number
Regardless of which state you choose, a reliable criminal court records search follows a similar sequence.
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1
Identify the Lake County state
Use the filing court, arresting jurisdiction, citation, court notice or approximate location of prosecution to choose the correct Lake County.
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2
Choose the official public court portal
Use the state-specific government link above. Avoid paying a third-party background-check site before checking whether the court provides direct public access.
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3
Search by case number when available
Enter the full criminal case number. This is usually more precise than searching a person’s name, especially for common names.
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4
Use name filters carefully
If the case number is unknown, search the legal name and narrow by county, filing year, case type or other available criteria. A name match alone does not establish identity.
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5
Open the criminal case details
Look for charges, court events, hearing history, case status, judgments and any publicly available documents.
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6
Check the outcome of each charge
Determine whether the case resulted in conviction, dismissal, acquittal or another disposition. Different counts within one case can have different outcomes.
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7
Save the court and case information
Record the filing county, court division, case number and relevant disposition. These details help the clerk identify the correct file.
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8
Request official documents when necessary
If you need legal proof of a conviction, dismissal, sentence or other outcome, request an official or certified document from the actual court custodian.
What Criminal Records Can You Find in Lake County?
The phrase “criminal records” can refer to several different types of information. Each is maintained by a different authority.
| Record | Responsible source | What it may show |
|---|---|---|
| Felony court case | Circuit, Superior, District or Common Pleas court, depending on state | Charges, filings, hearings, disposition and judgment information |
| Misdemeanor court case | County, Municipal, District or General Sessions court, depending on state | Misdemeanor filings, court events and case outcomes |
| Arrest or booking record | County sheriff, jail or arresting police agency | Available custody or booking information, not proof of conviction |
| Certified disposition | Court clerk maintaining the case | Officially certified record of the outcome or judgment |
| State criminal history | State police or state criminal-history repository | Available reportable criminal-history information under state access rules |
| Federal criminal case | PACER / federal court clerk | Federal criminal prosecutions and available federal court filings |
Felony vs. Misdemeanor Jurisdiction Is Not Uniform
In Florida, felony cases are generally associated with Circuit Criminal and misdemeanors with County Criminal. Ohio often divides felony records in Common Pleas Court from misdemeanor cases in municipal courts. California uses its Superior Court system, and Indiana uses different Circuit and Superior Court case assignments.
Use the court designation shown on the actual record rather than assuming every state uses the same court names.
How to Get Certified Lake County Criminal Court Records
A certified court record is different from a screenshot of an online case-search result. Certified documents are issued through the court or authorized custodian that maintains the original record.
Documents You May Need
For Legal or Official Use
- Certified judgment of conviction
- Certified final disposition
- Sentencing order
- Dismissal or acquittal order
- Certified docket or register of actions
For Case Research
- Criminal complaint
- Charging instrument
- Case event history
- Hearing notice
- Publicly available filed orders
Request Procedure
- Locate the case through the appropriate Lake County public search.
- Write down the complete case number and filing court.
- Check whether the court provides online document images.
- Contact the clerk if the document is unavailable online or must be certified.
- Specify the exact document and certification requirements.
- Confirm copy fees, payment methods, identification requirements and delivery options.
- Keep the certified record securely for future use.
Lake County Arrest Records, Jail Bookings and Inmate Information
Recent arrests and jail bookings are generally maintained by the sheriff, detention center or arresting law-enforcement agency. They are not the same as the criminal case docket maintained by a court clerk.
Use the sheriff’s official website for the correct Lake County state. If the sheriff does not publish a public online jail inquiry, contact its records or jail administration office for lawful access options.
What a Jail Search May Tell You
- Booking or inmate identifier
- Custody status
- Arrest date or booking date
- Listed charges or holds
- Available bond information
What It Does Not Necessarily Tell You
- Whether the accused was convicted
- Whether prosecutors filed every listed charge
- Whether a charge was later dismissed
- Whether a case is sealed
- Whether the person has records in another state
Lake County Court Records vs. State Criminal Background Checks
A county court search is designed to find cases filed in that court system. It is not automatically a complete criminal-history report.
For a state criminal-history check, use the responsible agency for the correct state. Examples include:
| State | Criminal-history route |
|---|---|
| Florida | Florida Department of Law Enforcement |
| Illinois | Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification |
| Indiana | Indiana State Police Criminal History Services |
| Ohio | Ohio Attorney General / BCI WebCheck |
| California | California DOJ Record Review |
| Michigan | Michigan State Police Criminal History |
| Minnesota | Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension |
| South Dakota | South Dakota Judicial Criminal Records Search |
For other states, consult the appropriate state police, bureau of criminal investigation, department of justice or court records service. Fees, authorization and fingerprint requirements vary.
Federal Criminal Records
Federal criminal cases are maintained in the U.S. federal courts. Use PACER when the case was prosecuted under federal jurisdiction rather than a Lake County state court.
Why Lake County Criminal Records May Not Appear Online
Before assuming there is no criminal record, check whether the search has a location, access or court-type problem.
| Problem | Possible reason | What to do next |
|---|---|---|
| No results by name | Wrong state, name variation, incorrect court or overly narrow filters | Verify the state and try the known case number or adjusted name filters |
| Illinois portal requires login | Lake County Illinois applies portal registration requirements | Follow the Circuit Clerk’s account registration procedure |
| Older Ohio documents unavailable | Online case indexes and document images have different coverage dates | Contact the Clerk for records before the online image period |
| California search returns too many cases | Public portal limits results to 200 matches | Narrow using the case number or more specific name details |
| Indiana search returns too many matches | MyCase has a 1,000-result limit | Add county, first name, case type or date criteria |
| Michigan older conviction does not appear | A court may apply MiCOURT’s seven-year sentencing filter | Contact the court of record |
| Oregon search asks for a subscription | Detailed OJCIN access is different from Oregon’s free basic search | Use the free search or courthouse public-access computer first |
| Record is confidential or sealed | Court rules, statute, expungement or judicial order restrict public access | Ask the court about authorized records procedures |
| Only an arrest appears | A court case may not yet have been filed or may use another identifier | Check the prosecution’s filing court and later docket activity |
| Federal case missing | State court systems do not search federal criminal dockets | Search PACER |
Sealed, Expunged and Juvenile Records
Each Lake County state has its own rules regarding sealing, expungement, set-aside procedures, juvenile confidentiality and public access to criminal court records.
A sealed or expunged record may be unavailable to ordinary public users even when certain authorized agencies retain access. A missing online entry is not proof that a record has been legally destroyed or cleared.
If you are searching your own record, contact the appropriate court or qualified attorney about the legal relief available in that state.
Are Lake County Criminal Records Free to Search?
Some Lake County court systems offer free public case lookups. Others charge for formal record searches or more detailed access.
| Lake County | Public court lookup | Verified fee or important limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Florida | Free ShowCase search | Clerk-performed search $2 per name per year; copies and certification additional |
| Illinois | Portal registration required | Clerk-performed records search $6 per name per year |
| Indiana | Free MyCase public search | Copies or certified records may cost extra |
| Ohio | Free public case search | Physical/certified copies generally $0.10 per page plus $1 certification |
| California | Public case search | Official certified copies require separate request and applicable fees |
| Minnesota | Free public MCRO search | Certified copies require local court administration |
| Oregon | Free basic court search | OJCIN detailed access uses a paid subscription |
| South Dakota | PARS public criminal search | $20 per submitted search, including no-result searches |
Fees are based on the cited government search and records-request instructions. They may change. Check the official payment or fee page before submitting a request.
Using Lake County Criminal Records Responsibly
Public case records can contain sensitive information and may affect employment, housing, licensing, legal proceedings or a person’s reputation.
Before relying on a record, verify identity, the exact court case and the final disposition. A matching name is not enough to establish that the record belongs to the person you intend to research.
- An arrest does not establish conviction.
- A filed charge does not establish guilt.
- Different charges within one case may have different outcomes.
- Online case information may be delayed, incomplete or restricted.
- Some older and confidential records are not publicly searchable.
- A county search is not a complete nationwide criminal-history check.
Lake County Criminal Records Search FAQs
1. How do I search Lake County criminal records online?
Identify the state where the case was filed. Then use that state’s official court system, such as Florida ShowCase, Illinois Circuit Clerk Portal, Indiana MyCase, Ohio Clerk of Courts, California Superior Court Portal, Michigan MiCOURT or Minnesota MCRO.
2. Which states have a Lake County?
There are Lake counties in California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Ohio, Oregon, South Dakota and Tennessee. Each maintains records through a separate court system.
3. Is Lake County criminal records search free?
It depends on the state. Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Minnesota offer free public court-case lookup. Illinois requires portal registration, Oregon has free basic access and a paid detailed service, and South Dakota charges $20 for public criminal-record searches through PARS.
4. How can I find Lake County Florida criminal cases?
Use the Florida Lake County Clerk’s online ShowCase portal. Accept the disclaimer, open Case Search, search by name or case number, then view the Charges tab for disposition information.
5. Where can I search Lake County Illinois criminal records?
Use the Lake County Circuit Clerk’s Online Portal for cases filed in the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit. Account registration is required under the portal’s published policy. The Clerk’s Waukegan office provides additional record searches and certified copies.
6. How do I search Lake County Indiana criminal cases?
Visit Indiana MyCase at mycase.in.gov, search by party or case number, and narrow the results to Lake County. Contact the Lake Circuit and Superior Court Clerk for documents that cannot be accessed online.
7. How do I obtain a certified Lake County criminal record?
Find the complete case number through the appropriate public court system, then contact the court clerk maintaining the file. Specify the judgment, disposition, sentencing order or other document and ask for certification and applicable fees.
8. Can I search Lake County arrest and jail records by name?
Some county sheriff and detention agencies provide public inmate or booking searches. Availability varies by state and county. Arrest and jail information should be checked separately from court records because an arrest is not a conviction.
9. Why can’t I find a Lake County criminal case online?
Common reasons include selecting the wrong state, searching the wrong court, name variations, archived records, online-display limits, sealed or expunged cases, confidential information, or a case filed in federal rather than state court.
10. Does a Lake County criminal case record prove someone was convicted?
No. A case may contain charges that were dismissed, acquitted, amended or otherwise resolved. Read each charge’s final disposition and verify important outcomes through the official court record.
Official Lake County Criminal Court Records Websites
The following government sources provide official search access, local court information and document-request instructions.
- Florida: Lake County Clerk — Online Court Records
- Florida: Court Records Requests and Historical Coverage
- Illinois: Lake County Circuit Clerk Public Portal
- Illinois: Circuit Clerk Record Search Fees and Requests
- Indiana: Indiana MyCase
- Indiana: Lake County Courts — Indiana Judicial Branch
- Ohio: Lake County Ohio Clerk of Courts
- Ohio: Public Court Records and Copy Requests
- California: Lake County Superior Court Portal
- California: Public Records and Certified Copy Requests
- Michigan: Michigan MiCOURT Search
- Michigan: Lake County District Court
- Minnesota: Minnesota Court Records Online
- Minnesota: Lake County District Court
- Colorado: Colorado Lake County Courts
- Oregon: Lake County Circuit Court Records
- Oregon: Oregon Free Court Search and OJCIN
- Montana: Lake County Clerk of District Court
- South Dakota: South Dakota PARS Court Records
- Tennessee: Lake County Courts Directory
- Federal: PACER Federal Court Search