Hobart Background Check
Hobart background check records are handled by the Hobart Police Department Records Division on East 4th Street. The city is in Lake County in northwest Indiana and has about 29,000 residents. A limited criminal history from the Hobart police costs $20 and takes three full business days to process. You pay with cash or check. The Records Division has some of the longest hours in the area, staying open until 7 PM on weekdays and from 7 AM to 2 PM on Saturdays. For court records and cases beyond what Hobart police handle, the Lake County court system covers all filings from this city. Getting a background check in Hobart means working with both local police and county-level resources.
Hobart Quick Facts
Hobart Police Background Check
The Hobart Police Department is led by Chief Garrett Ciszewski and operates from 705 E 4th Street. The Records Division at this same address is where you go for a background check. The fee is $20, and you can pay with cash or check. Three full business days are needed to process the request, so you will not get the results on the same day you ask for them.
The limited criminal history from Hobart police includes all Hobart Police Department cases that have a disposition. It also includes cases without a disposition if the case is less than one year old. Cases older than one year without a disposition are not included in the background check. This is a limit set by state law. The Hobart police only show arrests made by their own department. For charges in other cities, you need to contact the police agency where the arrest happened.
Criminal histories at the Hobart police are checked by name and date of birth. The department notes that when checks are made this way, they cannot guarantee that the record they provide is actually the record of the person you asked about. This is a common disclaimer across Indiana police departments. The Hobart background check page has full details about the process and what to expect.
The screenshot below shows the Hobart Police Department main page where you can find links to records and other services.
From this page you can reach the records division, incident report forms, and background check details for the Hobart police.
| Department | Hobart Police Department |
|---|---|
| Chief | Garrett Ciszewski |
| Address | 705 E 4th St Hobart, IN 46342 |
| Phone | (219) 942-1125 (Option 1) |
| Hours | Monday - Friday, 7 AM - 7 PM Saturday, 7 AM - 2 PM |
Hobart Records Division
The Hobart Police Department Records Division receives, reviews, and files a wide range of documents. These include criminal offense reports, accident reports, arrest reports, traffic citations, and firearm permit applications. All of these records can play a role in a background check depending on what information you need. The division operates out of the same building at 705 E 4th Street.
The Records Division is open Monday through Friday from 7 AM to 7 PM and on Saturdays from 7 AM to 2 PM. The office is closed on holidays. These extended hours make it easier to visit in person compared to many other police departments in Indiana that close at 4 or 5 PM. Call (219) 942-1125 and press option 1 to reach the records desk directly.
The Hobart Records Division page on the city website describes the types of documents on file and how to request them. Below is a screenshot of that page.
The records page covers everything from how to submit a request to what forms of payment the division accepts for background checks in Hobart.
Hobart Background Check Fees
The Hobart Police Department has a straightforward fee list. Costs are set by the city and may change, so calling ahead to confirm is a good idea. Cash payments must be the exact amount. The department does not make change. Here is what you will pay for records at the Hobart police station:
- Background check / limited criminal history: $20 (cash or check)
- Incident report: $6 (exact cash only)
- Accident report: $20 (exact cash only)
Incident reports from Hobart police are available to people who were involved in the incident. You need to provide the date, time, location, type of incident, names of people involved, and the case number if you have it. The more details you give, the easier it is for the records staff to find what you need. You can request these at the Records Division counter during business hours.
The Hobart incident reports page explains the process for getting copies of police case reports. The screenshot below shows that page.
This page details what information you need to bring when requesting incident report copies in Hobart.
Note: The Hobart Police Department limited criminal history only includes arrests made by Hobart police, not cases from other agencies.
Lake County Court Records for Hobart
Hobart is in Lake County. All criminal and civil cases from Hobart are filed through the Lake County courts in Crown Point, the county seat. The Lake County Clerk maintains court records that cover criminal charges, lawsuits, family court matters, and more. These court records are often the most detailed part of a background check because they show case outcomes, plea deals, and sentencing.
You can search Lake County court records online for free through MyCase, Indiana's court records portal. A name search pulls up case data from any county in the state. This is the quickest way to check if someone connected to Hobart has court records in Lake County or anywhere else in Indiana. The Hobart City Court also handles minor local cases. You can reach the city court at (219) 942-8218.
Indiana court records are public under the Access to Public Records Act (Indiana Code 5-14-3). Records that have been expunged under Indiana Code 35-38-9 will not show up. Juvenile cases and sealed files are also restricted. But most adult criminal cases from Lake County courts remain visible and are an important part of any background check in Hobart.
Statewide Background Check Tools
A background check from Hobart police gives you local data only. For a broader picture, the state has resources that pull from every jurisdiction in Indiana. The Indiana State Police Limited Criminal History search costs $15 and covers the full state. It shows arrests and charges from all police agencies, not just Hobart.
Other free tools include the Sex and Violent Offender Registry, the Indiana DOC Offender Locator, and the Protection Order Registry. Combined with Hobart police records and Lake County court data, these tools give you the most complete background check possible for someone in Hobart.
Below is a screenshot of the Hobart background and criminal history checks page on the city website.
This page has the full details on fees, processing time, and what the limited criminal history from Hobart includes and does not include.
Lake County Background Check
Hobart is part of Lake County. All court filings, criminal cases, and civil matters from Hobart go through the Lake County court system in Crown Point. For full county court records, the sheriff's department, and more background check resources, visit the Lake County page.
Nearby Cities
These cities near Hobart also have background check records. Make sure you are searching the right city based on where the person lived or where the case was filed.