Hammond Inmate Population and Jail Search
The Hammond inmate population is held at the Lake County Jail in Crown Point, which is the county seat and the location of the only county detention facility serving all of Lake County. Hammond Police Department handles arrests in the city, but after booking, all detainees go to the county jail. Hammond has no city jail of its own. This page covers how to search for someone currently in custody, how to reach the Lake County Sheriff's Office, and what resources are available to families and individuals navigating the Lake County jail system from Hammond.
Hammond Quick Facts
Hammond Police Department
Hammond Police Department serves the city on Indiana's northwestern border with Illinois, just southeast of Chicago. When officers make an arrest, the person is transferred to Lake County custody. Hammond Police do not maintain a detention facility for inmates. Once the initial arrest and paperwork are done, the Lake County Sheriff's Office takes over.
For non-emergency calls to Hammond Police, use (219) 853-6544. The administrative office is at (219) 853-6490. Once someone is booked at the county jail, contact the Lake County Sheriff's Office at (219) 755-3400 for information about their custody status, charges, and housing assignment. The Hammond Police Department does not hold those records after transfer.
| Address | 509 Douglas St, Hammond, IN 46320 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (219) 853-6544 (Non-Emergency) |
| Website | gohammond.com/departments/hammond-police-department |
Lake County Jail Inmate Population
The Lake County Jail is in Crown Point, the county seat. The facility is operated by the Lake County Sheriff's Office, led by Sheriff Oscar Martinez Jr. The address is 2293 N Main St, Crown Point, IN 46307. The main number is (219) 755-3400. All Lake County arrests, including those made in Hammond, Gary, East Chicago, and other Lake County cities, result in detention at this facility.
Lake County is the most densely populated county in Indiana and borders Chicago. The jail population reflects that density. Hammond, as one of the largest cities in the county, contributes a significant share of the facility's daily population. Because of the county's size and proximity to a major metro area, the Lake County Jail handles a high volume of bookings each day.
To get information about someone in Lake County custody, start by contacting the Sheriff's Office. You can also use VINE for automated alerts. The Indiana County Jail Public Portal may or may not include Lake County depending on that county's participation in the statewide system. If the portal doesn't return results, go directly to the Sheriff's Office or use VINE instead.
Search Hammond Inmate Population Records
Use the tools below to look up current inmates in Hammond and Lake County. Each one is free, and they cover different parts of the process from initial booking to state transfer.
- Lake County Sheriff's Office - primary contact for Hammond inmate information
- Indiana County Jail Public Portal - statewide jail search, check for Lake County availability
- VINE Indiana - free alerts for custody changes and releases
- Indiana SAVIN - Indiana's official victim and case notification system
- IDOC Offender Locator - search for people transferred to an Indiana state prison
VINE is worth registering for even if you are also checking the jail website. Once you set up a VINE alert, you receive notifications by phone, text, or email whenever the person's status changes. This covers releases, transfers, and new bookings. The service is free and runs 24 hours a day. Register at vinelink.vineapps.com. You do not need to provide your own name or address to use it.
Indiana's statewide SAVIN program works in coordination with VINE to provide notifications tied to both county jails and state correctional facilities. If you are tracking a case that moves from Hammond through the court system and into a prison sentence, SAVIN helps bridge the gap between the county and state systems.
Inmate Visits and Communication in Hammond
Since people arrested in Hammond are held at the Lake County Jail in Crown Point, that is where visits happen. The address is 2293 N Main St, Crown Point, IN 46307, about 22 miles south of Hammond. Call (219) 755-3400 before visiting to get current hours and any ID or registration requirements. Visit rules depend on housing classification and are subject to change.
Mail for Lake County inmates goes to the jail in Crown Point. Address letters with the inmate's full name and booking ID, sent to Lake County Jail, 2293 N Main St, Crown Point, IN 46307. The jail reviews all mail. Books must come from approved vendors. Do not include cash, drugs, or contraband in any piece of mail.
To put money in a commissary account, contact the Lake County Sheriff's Office for the current deposit vendor and instructions. Commissary funds pay for food, hygiene items, phone access, and postage. Phone calls from the Lake County Jail are recorded and go through the facility's contracted phone carrier. Setup details are available from the jail directly.
If a person held in Hammond on county charges is convicted and sentenced to more than a year in prison, they will be transferred to an Indiana Department of Correction facility. Once that transfer happens, use the IDOC Offender Locator to find their new location. The Lake County Jail record will show them as released at that point.
Indiana Code Title 11 covers the rights of inmates in state custody and the rules the Department of Correction must follow. That statute is at iga.in.gov. For county jail questions specific to Lake County, contact the Sheriff's Office directly or consult an attorney.
Nearby Cities
Hammond is in the far northwest corner of Indiana, part of the Chicago metro area. Several other Lake County cities also have inmate population pages that use the same county jail system.