Frequently Asked Questions

• Are courtrooms open to the public?
• Does the U.S. Attorney's Office offer legal help?
• How can I find out about some of the cases your office has handled?
• How can I locate a prison, inmate or sex offender?
• How can I report a Federal crime?


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courtroom information

Courtrooms and hearings are largely open to the public. Observers must go through security and follow all courtroom rules.

Legal assistance

The U.S. Attorney’s Office represents the United States in criminal, civil and other proceedings but does not represent private individuals and cannot give legal help to individuals. A person seeking legal advice is advised to seek their own legal help, which may include Legal Aid, Bar Association and other entities across Northern Indiana which can assist an individual in finding appropriate help in their legal situation.

Press releases

You can locate recent cases on this website in the “News” section. A number of cases each week are highlighted and described in detail in the press releases, which are sent out to dozens of media outlets in Northern Indiana. Citizens can often find out details about large scale cases, and other cases which directly affect the community.

locate a prison, inmate or sex offender

Federal prison facility locator
Search by facility name, state, region, type, and security level.

Maps of federal facilities
Select a region of the map to view facilities in that area.

Federal inmate locator
Federal inmates incarcerated from 1982 to the present are listed in this searchable database.

Dru Sjodin National Sex Offender Public Website
This search tool allows a user to submit a single national query to obtain information about a sex offender listed by name. Users can also search for offenders living in their geographical area.

Report a Crime