Running a free Illinois arrest and criminal records check for every IL county can be done right now and has never been easier. Search public record databases today with their full name and uncover details about any person’s past.
Illinois criminal records can be cumbersome to access since there are so many record-keeping agencies, so this resource streamlines the process of accessing public information on anyone in Illinois, where to look for those records, and how they can be used.
This resource empowers readers with the knowledge, skills, and tools necessary to know how to:
- Find Illinois recent arrests, mugshots, the reason for arrests, bail details
- Review criminal records, obtain copies, and begin the expunge or sealing process
- Check for warrants in Illinois
- Find Illinois state prisoners and federal prisoners, too
- Locate sex offenders in Illinois neighborhoods
- Perform an Illinois background check
- Interpret laws surrounding Illinois state records, public records and antidiscrimination
Which Illinois Criminal & Arrest Records Are Open to the Public?
When searching records in Illinois, it’s important to know which ones are considered public records, and what restrictions are placed on disclosure. Not all records can be viewed by the general public, and how records are released to the public, and which ones can be released, is outlined in state law.
Under the state’s Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140, Illinois criminal records are considered public records and can be viewed by anyone. The act provides the public with guidance on what records can be accessed and how to make a request.
Arrest records in Illinois are also included under the state’s Freedom of Information Act guidance, making them public records accessible to anyone upon request and allowing law enforcement agencies to publish certain details about arrests if the agency wishes to do so.
The state FOIA law further requires that arrest records be made available to the media when an arrest is made and must include the following data:
- Identify the person arrested (name, age, description, address and a photo when available)
- Charges filed against the person
- Date, time and location of the arrest
- Law enforcement agency that made the arrest
- The jail where the person is being held pending trial1
Certain criminal or arrest records are not considered public including juvenile delinquency records, matters that have been sealed or expunged, or those that are otherwise restricted by the courts or state law (such as investigative reports while a case is still be adjudicated or information that identifies witnesses, victims or confidential informants).2
These records will not appear on daily arrest reports. In addition, per 20 ILCS 2635, certified or official background checks can only reveal convictions, not non-convictions, on any records requested by the public for adult criminal history.
Understanding the difference between an arrest record and a criminal history helps hiring managers, landlords or licensing boards make decisions on candidate applications.
Illinois Criminal Records vs Arrest Records: Differences Between Each Type
Arrest records in Illinois reveal that a person was taken into custody by law enforcement, housed in a detention facility until bonded out or until trial and that the person was accused of committing a criminal offense. Arrest records do not show anything beyond the initial law enforcement contact with the suspect.
It is not a record of disposition, so an arrest record is only a portion of an overall criminal history. Because Illinois law prohibits background checks from placing non-conviction information on a report, an arrest may not even show up until there is a disposition against the defendant.3
Arrest records are public records and can be requested by anyone, but they are only one part of the total Illinois criminal history. Illinois criminal records show all the data included in an arrest record plus what happened with the case in court, and if there is a non-conviction, such as a dismissal or acquittal, the matter will not appear on an official criminal history report.
Only convictions for misdemeanor or felony offenses become part of the public criminal record report.
This distinction between the two types of records is why agencies or businesses are advised against using just arrest records to make hiring decisions and are provided guidance from state and federal sources, such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, on the use of criminal history when onboarding new staff.
An arrest record may be how to find out what someone was arrested for, but it may not show what they were convicted of. More about the laws surrounding background checks in Illinois can be found further below.
How To Search Recent Arrests & Learn Why Someone Is in Jail in Illinois (Free)
When a person is taken into custody, people will wonder why they were arrested, or someone may want to know if a person they know has been arrested and where they are being held. Others may just be curious to see who’s in jail in their area and why someone is in jail.
Doing a jail inmate search is also how to find out someone’s charges in jail. Searching arrest records in Illinois should start with the local sheriff’s office, which usually maintains the county jail.
Even when the county agency is not the arresting agency, it is best practice to start with the county sheriff’s department for an inmate search instead of the local police department. For the searcher’s convenience, we have included a table below that lists the county sheriff’s offices, links to pages (where available), and information on whether the page has an inmate search tool and shows a mugshot.
Review County Arrest Records in Illinois (IL Mugshots & Inmate Search Methods)
Using the table we’ve provided here, searchers can try to find out if a person in their area is in jail or how to find recent arrests. Each listing provides a non-emergency contact number to make jail inquiries.
Individuals can also search using VINELink, which is the only approved third-party vendor for maintaining jail records for Illinois jails and can help someone find recent arrests.
The table below lists all Illinois county sheriff’s offices with contact information:
*County does not public inmate list
**The agency does not have a working website at this time
*** The agency uses a mobile app to display the inmate roster/list
+Agency uses VINELink for inmate inquiries
++Sheriff’s Office uses neighboring county to house inmates
+++Inmate Roster is for internal use only/requires pre-authorization to access
In addition to the table above, searchers can do the steps below are how to find out if someone was arrested and see where someone in Illinois is being held as an inmate:
- Open a search engine on the computer, such as Google or Bing.
- Type Illinois [city or county of arrest] jail search.
- Review the list of search returns for the official agency website. While most government websites end in .gov or .us, local law enforcement agencies may have websites that have a different URL ending to the web address, such as .org, .net or .com.
- Click the link for the official website and look for a link titled inmate search, inmate lookup, or inmate roster (or a similar title).
- Follow the on-screen prompts to view the inmate listing. For example, if a name search must be conducted, enter the first and last name. If there is a full roster, review the roster to find the subject.
- If there is no link to search or view detainees, call the non-emergency number listed on the website to make an inquiry.
For example, if someone wanted to search inmates at the Tazewell County Sheriff’s Office would do the following:
- Google Illinois Tazewell County jail search.
- In the search returns, find and click the link for the Tazewell County Sheriff’s Office inmate lookup page.
- Review the inmate roster to see if the subject of the search is listed.
Another clarifying example of what a county-level search may be like can be found in the St. Clair County arrest information lookup tutorial.
County sheriff’s departments are not the only agency that makes arrests, but they are usually the departments tasked with housing inmates even when taken into custody by city police. Learn more below about how to find inmates when arrested by city law enforcement.
How To Look Up Recent Arrests in Illinois’ City Jails
While county lockup is the first place to look when searching for arrest records, city law enforcement sometimes releases recent arrest records or maintains a city jail. This is usually in larger metropolitan areas with higher populations and higher crime.
For example, the Chicago Police Department maintains an online portal for individuals to search for recent arrests. The information provided includes the person’s name, when and where the arrest was made, bond information, charges and a mugshot.
There is also a section that lists the release date or where the person is being housed if they have not made a bond or had a hearing. This arrest report can be used to see why someone was taken into custody by Chicago PD.4
Aurora Police Department, however, does not list current arrests online, so to learn about where someone was taken after an arrest by Aurora PD, the searcher would need to call the police department’s non-emergency line at 630-256-5000 or search the jail in one of the four counties Aurora spans: DuPage, Kane, Kendall or Will Counties.5
Joliet, the third largest city in Illinois, also does not publish a list of arrestees by the Joliet Police Department, so searchers would need to check the county lockup in Will County to see if a Joliet PD arrestee is housed in that location.6
How To Run a Statewide Public Arrest Record Search in Illinois
While there is no statewide arrest records database, searchers can use the Illinois Court search engine to search all court filings and see if the filings show an arrest warrant has been issued in a case. This requires clicking each individual case filing for the subject to review details, which can take some time to complete.
The online database does require registration to access court records, but searchers are only charged when requesting official copies, not per search.7
The court search portal is one way to look up criminal records in the state since the courts are the official compilers of the overall criminal record, and searching these records is discussed further below. One of the primary reasons most people look for someone in jail is to find out how to get the person released or how to make contact.
How To Contact an IL Inmate & Post Bail
Finding out where a person is housed is key to making contact with the inmate and in finding out how much the person’s bond is and how to post bond/bail.
Using the search steps and table above for city and county law enforcement agencies, a person can locate where someone is being housed and learn about visitation, contact and bond from the agency website or by calling the non-emergency number listed in the table or on the agency’s homepage.
Each jail can set its own visitation schedules and the method of visitation (in person or via video), so it’s important to read all the information on visitation and contact the department’s website. If there is no working website, individuals can call the non-emergency number to learn more about visitation and contact.
For example, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office only accepts cash or cashier’s checks to post bail per the agency website, and the website informs family and friends posting bonds they must complete a bail bond form supplied by the circuit court for bonds under $10,000 and a source of bond information form for bonds over $10,000 as outlined on the agency website.8
Using the table of county sheriff’s offices above, searchers can reach out via the website or non-emergency number to learn about contacting inmates or posting bail at a particular facility.
Arrest records in Illinois are only one part of a person’s overall criminal history and occur at the beginning of building the individual’s court or criminal record. Below is more about how to use court records to build a more comprehensive criminal history on someone.
Find Out How To Look Up Criminal Records in Illinois
The Illinois Courts branch of government is responsible for receiving all criminal complaints filed in the circuit or jurisdiction where the arrest or charge was filed, scheduling a hearing or hearings, and maintaining a record of what happens in each case in that circuit. Each county has a circuit clerk of court that manages the court staff in that area.24
Victims, witnesses or the public in general want to know what happens when someone they know or someone who lives in their area is charged with a crime. To search criminal records through the court system, do the following steps:
- Open the Illinois Courts page.
- Hover the mouse over the services tab to see the drop-down menu.
- Click the link for the online state court record repository titled re:SearchIL. Take note that this is a .net site, not a .gov, but it is still the official state public records repository for court records.9
- Searchers must register to access the website. Registration is free and can be done as either the defendant seeing what shows up on his or her record or as the general public for those just seeking data in their area.
- Log into the registered account.
- Click the advanced search button on the page.
- Click the first search category section and select a party from the drop-down menu to do a name-based search.
- Enter the person’s first and last name and click the search button.
- A list of all cases with that party’s name will appear. Clicking the name at the top of each box will show details about the case.
While this will give information on cases statewide, sometimes searchers just need information from the local jurisdiction or courthouse. This can be done by going directly to the court and using a public terminal at the clerk’s office.
How To Run an Illinois Criminal Record Search Using the County Circuit Court Case Access
Here, we have included a list of each county’s circuit clerk of court. Information on court cases that are heard in that particular county can be found at the clerk’s office using one of the public terminals.
Requests for copies of court documents can also be made in person at the clerk’s office. Find the address and phone number for the local court in the table below:
| Illinois County Circuit Clerk’s Office | Address | Phone Number |
| Adams County Circuit Clerk | 521 Vermont St Quincy, IL 62301-2934 |
217-277-2100 |
| Alexander County Circuit Clerk | 2000 Washington Cairo, IL 62914-1717 |
618-734-0107 |
| Bond County Circuit Clerk | 200 W College Greenville, IL 62246-1057 |
618-664-3208 |
| Boone County Circuit Clerk | 601 N Main Number 303 Belvidere, IL 61008-2644 |
815-544-0371 |
| Brown County Circuit Clerk | 200 Court St Rm 5 Mt. Sterling, IL 62353 |
217-773-2713, extension 2 |
| Bureau County Circuit Clerk | 700 S Main St Princeton, IL 61356-2037 |
815-872-2001 |
| Calhoun County Circuit Clerk | POB 486 Hardin, IL 62047-0486 |
618-576-2451 |
| Carroll County Circuit Clerk | 301 N Main St Mt. Carroll, IL 61053-0032 |
815-244-0230 |
| Cass County Circuit Clerk | POB 203 Virginia, IL 62691-0203 |
217-452-7225 |
| Champaign County Circuit Clerk | 101 E Main St Urbana, IL 61801-2736 |
217-384-3725 |
| Christian County Circuit Clerk | 101 S Main Taylorville, IL 62568-0617 |
217-824-4966 |
| Clark County Circuit Clerk | POB 187 Marshall, IL 62441-0187 |
217-826-2811 |
| Clay County Circuit Clerk | 111 Chestnut Louisville, IL 62858-0100 |
618-665-3523 |
| Clinton County Circuit Clerk | 850 Fairfax Street Carlyle, IL 62231 |
618-594-6615 |
| Coles County Circuit Clerk | 651 Jackson Ave Rm 128 Charleston, IL 61920-0048 |
217-348-0516 |
| Cook County Circuit Clerk | 50 West Washington Ste 1001 Chicago, IL 60602-1305 |
312-603-5030 |
| Crawford County Circuit Clerk | POB 655 Robinson, IL 62454-0655 |
618-544-3512 |
| Cumberland County Circuit Clerk | 1 Courthouse Sq Rm 107 Toledo, IL 62468-0145 |
217-849-3601 |
| DeKalb County Circuit Clerk | 133 W State St Sycamore, IL 60178-1416 |
815-895-7131 |
| DeWitt County Circuit Clerk | 201 West Washington Street Clinton,IL 61727-0439 |
217-935-7750 |
| Douglas County Circuit Clerk | 401 S Center Tuscola, IL 61953-0050 |
217-253-2352 |
| DuPage County Circuit Clerk | POB 707 Wheaton, IL 60187-0707 |
630-407-8700 |
| Edgar County Circuit Clerk | 115 W Court St Paris, IL 61944-1739 |
217-466-7447 |
| Edwards County Circuit Clerk | 50 E Main St Ste 7 Albion, IL 62806-1262 |
618-445-2016 |
| Effingham County Circuit Clerk | 120 West Jefferson, Ste 101 Effingham, IL 62401-0586 |
217-342-4065 |
| Fayette County Circuit Clerk | 221 S 7th St Vandalia, IL 62471-2755 |
618-283-5009 |
| Ford County Circuit Clerk | 200 W State Paxton, IL 60957-0080 |
217-379-9420 |
| Franklin County Circuit Clerk | POB 485 Benton, IL 62812-2264 |
618-439-2011 |
| Fulton County Circuit Clerk | POB 152 Lewistown, IL 61542-0152 |
309-547-3041 |
| Gallatin County Circuit Clerk | POB 249 Shawneetown, IL 62984-0249 |
618-269-3140 |
| Greene County Circuit Clerk | 519 N Main St Carrollton, IL 62016-1093 |
217-942-3421 |
| Grundy County Circuit Clerk | POB 707 Morris, IL 60450-0707 |
815-941-3256 |
| Hamilton County Circuit Clerk | 100 S Jackson St McLeansboro, IL 62859-1490 |
618-643-3224 |
| Hancock County Circuit Clerk | POB 189 Carthage, IL 62321-0189 |
217-357-2616 |
| Hardin County Circuit Clerk | POB 308 Elizabethtown, IL 62931-0308 |
618-287-2735 |
| Henderson County Circuit Clerk | POB 546 Oquawka, IL 61469-0546 |
309-867-3121 |
| Henry County Circuit Clerk | 307 W Center St Cambridge, IL 61238 |
309-937-3752 |
| Iroquois County Circuit Clerk | 550 S 10th St Watseka, IL 60970-1810 |
815-432-6950 |
| Jackson County Circuit Clerk | POB 730 Murphysboro, IL 62966-0730 |
618-687-7300 |
| Jasper County Circuit Clerk | 100 W Jourdan St Newton, IL 62448-1973 |
618-783-2524 |
| Jefferson County Circuit Clerk | POB 1266 Mt. Vernon, IL 62864-1266 |
618-244-8008 |
| Jersey County Circuit Clerk | 201 W Pearl St Jerseyville, IL 62052-1852 |
618-498-5571 |
| Jo Daviess County Circuit Clerk | 330 N Bench St Galena, IL 61036-1828 |
815-777-0037 |
| Johnson County Circuit Clerk | 401 Court St Ste A Vienna, IL 62995-0517 |
618-658-4751 |
| Kane County Circuit Clerk | 540 South Randall Road St. Charles, IL 60174 |
630-232-3413 |
| Kankakee County Circuit Clerk | 450 E Court St Kankakee, IL 60901-3917 |
815-936-5700 |
| Kendall County Circuit Clerk | 807 W John St Yorkville, IL 60560-0259 |
630-553-4183 |
| Knox County Circuit Clerk | 200 S Cherry St Galesburg, IL 61401-4912 |
309-345-6719 |
| Lake County Circuit Clerk | 18 N County St Waukegan, IL 60085-4340 |
847-377-3380 |
| LaSalle County Circuit Clerk | 119 West Madison St Rm 201 Ottawa, IL 61350-0617 |
815-434-8671 |
| Lawrence County Circuit Clerk | 1100 State St Lawrenceville, IL 62439-2390 |
618-943-2815 |
| Lee County Circuit Clerk | 309 South Galena Ste 320 Dixon, IL 61021-0325 |
815-284-5234 |
| Livingston County Circuit Clerk | 110 North Main Street Pontiac, IL 61764-0320 |
815-844-2602 |
| Logan County Circuit Clerk | POB 158 Lincoln, IL 62656-0158 |
217-735-2376 |
| Macon County Circuit Clerk | 253 E Wood St Decatur, IL 62523-1489 |
217-424-1454 |
| Macoupin County Circuit Clerk | POB 197 Carlinville, IL 62626-1824 |
217-854-3211 |
| Madison County Circuit Clerk | 155 N Main St Edwardsville, IL 62025-1955 |
618-692-6240 |
| Marion County Circuit Clerk | 100 E Main St Salem, IL 62881-0130 |
618-548-3856 |
| Marshall County Circuit Clerk | 122 North Prairie Lacon, IL 61540-0328 |
309-246-6435 |
| Mason County Circuit Clerk | 125 N Plum Havana, IL 62644-0377 |
309-543-6619 |
| Massac County Circuit Clerk | 1 Superman Sq Rm 2-D Metropolis, IL 62960 |
618-524-5011 |
| McDonough County Circuit Clerk | Number 1 Courthouse Sq Macomb, IL 61455-0348 |
309-837-4889 |
| McHenry County Circuit Clerk | 2200 N Seminary Ave Rm 352 Woodstock, IL 60098-2837 |
815-334-4310 |
| McLean County Circuit Clerk | 104 W Front St Rm 404 Bloomington, IL 61701-5005 |
309-888-5301 |
| Menard County Circuit Clerk | 102 South 7th Street Petersburg, IL 62675 |
217-632-2615 |
| Mercer County Circuit Clerk | 100 SE 3rd St Aledo, IL 61231-0175 |
309-582-7122 |
| Monroe County Circuit Clerk | 100 S Main St Rm 115 Waterloo, IL 62298-1322 |
618-939-8681 |
| Montgomery County Circuit Clerk | 120 North Main St Rm 125 Hillsboro, IL 62049-0210 |
217-532-9546 |
| Morgan County Circuit Clerk | POB 1120 Jacksonville, IL 62650-1165 |
217-243-5419 |
| Moultrie County Circuit Clerk | 10 S Main St Ste 7 Sullivan, IL 61951-1969 |
217-728-4622 |
| Ogle County Circuit Clerk | 106 S 5th St Ste 300 Oregon, IL 61061-0337 |
815-732-3201 |
| Peoria County Circuit Clerk | 324 Main St Rm G-22 Peoria, IL 61602-1319 |
309-672-6989 |
| Perry County Circuit Clerk | POB 219 Pinckneyville, IL 62274-0219 |
618-357-6726 |
| Piatt County Circuit Clerk | 101 W Washington Street Monticello, IL 61856-0288 |
217-762-4966 |
| Pike County Circuit Clerk | 100 E Washington Pittsfield, IL 62363-1497 |
217-285-6612 |
| Pope County Circuit Clerk | 310 E Main St Golconda, IL 62938-0502 |
618-683-3941 |
| Pulaski County Circuit Clerk | 500 Illinois Avenue Mound City, IL 62963 |
618-748-9300 |
| Putnam County Circuit Clerk | 120 N 4th St Hennepin, IL 61327-0207 |
815-925-7016 |
| Randolph County Circuit Clerk | Number 1 Taylor St Rm 302 Chester, IL 62233-0329 |
618-826-5000 |
| Richland County Circuit Clerk | 103 West Main St Number 21 Olney, IL 62450-2170 |
618-392-2151 |
| Rock Island County Circuit Clerk | POB 5230 Rock Island, IL 61201-5230 |
309-558-3538 |
| Saline County Circuit Clerk | 10 E Poplar St Harrisburg, IL 62946-1553 |
618-253-5096 |
| Sangamon County Circuit Clerk | 200 S 9th St Rm 405 Springfield, IL 62701-1299 |
217-753-6674 |
| Schuyler County Circuit Clerk | 102 South Congress Ste 103 Rushville, IL 62681 |
217-322-4633 |
| Scott County Circuit Clerk | 35 E Market St Winchester, IL 62694-1216 |
217-742-5217 |
| Shelby County Circuit Clerk | POB 469 Shelbyville, IL 62565-0469 |
217-774-4212 |
| St Clair County Circuit Clerk | 10 Public Sq Belleville, IL 62220-1623 |
618-277-6832 |
| Stark County Circuit Clerk | 130 W Main St Toulon, IL 61483-0426 |
309-286-5941 |
| Stephenson County Circuit Clerk | 15 N Galena Ave Freeport, IL 61032-0785 |
815-235-8266 |
| Tazewell County Circuit Clerk | 342 Court St Pekin, IL 61554 |
309-477-2214 |
| Union County Circuit Clerk | 309 W Market St, Room 101 Jonesboro, IL 62952 |
618-833-5913 |
| Vermillion County Circuit Clerk | 7 N Vermilion Street Danville, IL 61832-5806 |
217-554-7700 |
| Wabash County Circuit Clerk | 401 Market St Mount Carmel, IL 62863 |
618-262-5362 |
| Warren County Circuit Clerk | 100 W Broadway Monmouth, IL 61462-1795 |
309-734-5179 |
| Washington County Circuit Clerk | 125 East Elm St Nashville, IL 62263-1100 |
618-327-4800 |
| Wayne County Circuit Clerk | 301 E Main St Ste 204 Fairfield, IL 62837-0096 |
618-842-7684 |
| White County Circuit Clerk | POB 310 Carmi, IL 62821-0310 |
618-382-2321 |
| Whiteside County Circuit Clerk | 200 E Knox St Morrison, IL 61270-2819 |
815-772-5188 |
| Will County Circuit Clerk | 14 W Jefferson St Joliet, IL 60432-4399 |
815-727-8592 |
| Williamson County Circuit Clerk | 200 WJefferson Ste 100 Marion, IL 62959-2494 |
618-997-1301 |
| Winnebago County Circuit Clerk | 400 W State St Rm 100 Rockford, IL 61101-1221 |
815-319-4500 |
| Woodford County Circuit Clerk | POB 284 Eureka, IL 61530-0284 |
309-467-3312 |
Court records are considered public records and are one way to search a person’s criminal history, but official copies must be obtained through another state resource, the Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification and the process for accessing those records appears below.
Learn How To Get a Copy of Criminal Records in IL
The Illinois State Police is the official provider of certified employment or housing background checks in the state. Agencies or businesses must register with the state’s Division of Innovation and Technology for a digital ID to access records online.
To request a copy of a person’s criminal record through the Illinois State Police, do the following:
- Open the Illinois State Police (ISP) website.
- Click the link for CHIRP (Criminal History Information Response Process), which is the official online request portal.
- Register for a digital ID through the state. Once a digital ID has been issued, the searcher can request criminal records online.
- Once registered, log into the account and do a name-based search for criminal records.
The ISP prefers requests for background checks to be submitted through CHIRP or through the online Uniform Conviction Information Form.
There is a slight fee per record for an official background check.
The subject must also be informed of the screening and give consent to the background check before the ISP will run this person’s history.
Individuals wishing to see their own Illinois criminal record can request a copy of it from any local state police department, correctional facility, or licensed vendor that can take the person’s fingerprints to run the record.10
How to check if someone has a criminal record helps with making decisions for housing, employment or personal reasons. Obtaining a person’s criminal record can show if the person was convicted of any misdemeanor or felony charges in the state and was placed in prison or received a sentence of probation (either supervised or unsupervised). Read below for more information about probation and parole.
How To Determine if Someone Is on Probation or Parole in Illinois
Probation and parole are forms of court-ordered supervision that occurs in the community rather than in a prison setting.
For reference, the following image displays the total number of probationers and parolees in Illinois and compares it with other states across the United States. Additionally, it showcases the ethnicities of individuals on community supervision in Illinois, including probation and parole.
To see who is on probation in Illinois, do the following steps:
- Open the Illinois Courts Probation Services Division website.
- Searchers will note there is no online link for probationer searches on the website. To learn someone’s probation status, a person will need to search a person’s court records through the Illinois Court System Services statewide records repository link, which requires registration.
There are 24 circuit court districts in Illinois, plus Cook County, which is a separate district; further information on how to look up Cook County probationers can be reviewed through our Cook County public records resource, along with instructions on retrieving various other record types through official county agencies.
The table below lists the phone number for each county office within each district for adult probation information:
| Judicial District | Counties Serviced with Contact Number |
| First Circuit |
|
| Second Circuit |
|
| Third Circuit |
|
| Fourth Circuit |
|
| Fifth Circuit |
|
| Sixth Circuit |
|
| Seventh Circuit |
|
| Eighth Circuit |
|
| Ninth Circuit |
|
| Tenth Circuit |
|
| Eleventh Circuit |
|
| Twelfth Circuit |
|
| Thirteenth Circuit |
|
| Fourteenth Circuit |
|
| Fifteenth Circuit |
|
| Sixteenth Circuit |
|
| Seventeenth Circuit |
|
| Eighteenth Circuit |
|
| Nineteenth Circuit |
|
| Twentieth Circuit |
|
| Twenty-first Circuit |
|
| Twenty-second Circuit |
|
| Twenty-third Circuit |
|
| Twenty-fourth Circuit |
|
| Cook County Circuit |
Parole records are different from probation. Parole is a form of community supervision afforded to inmates in state prisons who are released early for a variety of reasons, most of which are showing signs of rehabilitation. Parole supervision falls under the control of the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC).
To search parolee databases in Illinois, complete the following steps:
- Open the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) website search portal at the top of the list.
- Click the circle to do a search by last name.
- Key in the subject’s last name and click the find button.
- Review the list of search returns to find the record for the subject. Click on that record to view details.
- In the section that shows offender status, if the person is on parole, the record will note parole. Further down, the date the person was released from prison on parole will be listed along with the date the person will be released from community supervision.
Parole records also show where the person was previously incarcerated, the charges that resulted in a prison sentence, and a physical description of the person, along with a mugshot.11
Even though parole is early release from prison, it doesn’t automatically drop off a person’s record just because they were released before the end of their active sentence. These records are not how to find out if someone is in jail. Matters that have not been sealed or expunged will continue to appear on a record, as discussed next.
How To Seal or Expunge a Criminal Record in Illinois
Sealing or expunging a record removes it from public view, meaning it cannot and should not appear on a criminal background check. The process to seal or expunge a record in Illinois is listed below:
- Open a search engine online, such as Google.
- Type steps to seal or expunge cases in Illinois.
- Look for the official state agency website that handles sealing and expunging cases. In this search, it is the Illinois Office of the State Appellate Defender website.
- On the website, find the correct expungement form and click the link for that form. Available forms include juvenile, adult, and cannabis forms.
- Clicking the link will provide details on how to complete and file the form. Download and complete the correct form or forms.
- File the forms in the circuit court where the disposition was entered in the charges on the record in person at the courthouse or via e-file online at the Illinois Courts website.
- The circuit clerk will submit notice of the petition to expunge to the district attorney and city or town counsel/attorney where the arrest occurred, the agency that made the arrest or filed the charges, and the Illinois State Police in the event one of these agents wishes to file a counter to the petition.
- If there is no objection, the court can enter the expungement without a hearing. If there is an objection, a hearing will be scheduled.
- The court will make the final decision on the petition. If expungement is granted, the agencies involved will be notified of the decision, and the record will be disposed of as outlined in the court’s order.12
Sealing or expunging cases is dependent on whether the offense meets the necessary criteria or not.28 The following cases can be expunged in Illinois:
- Individuals arrested and then released with charges never formally filed,
- Cases that have been dismissed,
- Situations where the defendant was acquitted,
- In cases where the courts find no probable cause to proceed,
- Any convictions where the disposition was reversed or vacated,
- Most misdemeanor or felony convictions.13
Convictions that are not eligible for expungement or sealing include:
- DUI
- Reckless driving, driver over 25 years old at the time of offense
- Traffic infractions or minor offenses
- Domestic battery
- Battery of an unborn child
- Violation of a protective order
- Any sex offenses or matters that require sex offender registry
- Public indecency charges
- Dog fighting convictions
- Animal neglect13
Sealing or expunging a record gives the subject a better chance at securing employment or housing where a criminal record may have been a barrier.29 Even if the person served a term in prison, if all conditions have been met, the individual can petition the court to seal or expunge the record, and how to find out if someone is in prison in Illinois is outlined below.
Finding Illinois State Prisoners & Federal Offenders
Citizens in Illinois may be curious about who is in prison in their state or want to find out if a person they testified against or the person who committed a crime against them is still in prison.
There are five federal prisons in Illinois and 43 state institutions. To search federal inmates in Illinois, do the following:
- Open the Federal Bureau of Prison BOP search portal.
- Enter the subject’s name. Race, sex and age can also be added when available and click search at the bottom.
- Review the list of search results to find the records that match the subject. If the person is still in federal custody, the search results will show the location beside the section labeled: Located At.
Federal prisoners only make up a small portion of overall prisoners in Illinois. Most people placed in custody are convicted of violating state laws and placed in a state-maintained correctional facility.
To search for a state correctional inmate, do the following:
- Open the Illinois Department of Corrections website.
- Hover the mouse over the section titled Individuals in Custody, and choose the individual in custody link from the drop-down menu.
- Check the circle to conduct the search by last name.
- Enter the subject’s last name in the search box and click the find button.
- Scroll through the list of search returns to find the records that match the search subject.
- Highlight the records to be reviewed and click the button at the bottom labeled Query a Highlighted Inmate to see details.
Details will show a mugshot of the inmate, a physical description, convictions, where the inmate is located, projected parole date, projected release date, and the total length of the sentence imposed.14
Prison is usually the last part of a person’s sentencing unless the individual is released on parole. For those who serve out their term, once released, they are no longer under any type of condition unless they are required to register as a sex offender, which will be discussed later in the article.
Cases typically start with the issuance of a warrant, which will be discussed in detail below.
Run an Illinois Warrant Search To See if You or Someone Else Is Wanted
People want to check if there is a warrant out for their arrest in Illinois or verify if friends or family are wanted by the police. Warrants are generally considered public records in the state, but there is no centralized state warrant database that can be reviewed.
Instead, individuals need to check with the local law enforcement agency where they live or work to see if warrants have been issued.
Many agencies will publish a list online of active warrants and encourage those with a warrant to turn themselves in and resolve the matter. To search for warrants in a specific area, do the following:
Using the steps and table above on how to locate an inmate is also how to find out about posting bail or visitation/contact with an inmate at the facility where the person is housed. The agency may publish a most wanted list or a warrant roster, or the agency may not include warrant data on the webpage at all.
For example, someone in Lake County, when searching for warrants in that area, the searcher will type Illinois Lake County warrants, and the official site would be the Lake County Sheriff’s Office website. From this website, searchers can review a PDF file of all the active warrants in that county.
The warrant list has the individual’s name, last known address, age, sex, race, date of birth, height, weight, hair and eye color, and when the warrant was issued.15
The Chicago Police Department also publishes a list of active warrants on the agency’s website. In addition to the information listed in the Lake County list, Chicago PD also includes the crime the person is accused of committing and a mugshot of the alleged offender; however, a search of CPD’s website shows that many warrant lists have not been updated in a few years.16
If someone suspects they have a warrant out for their arrest, they can hire an attorney to help them find out if a warrant has been issued. The attorney can also help the person surrender to the police and work toward getting bail issued quickly while working on the person’s defense in court.
Warrants may or may not appear on a background screening, depending on what kind of check is being performed and who is conducting the screening.
A Brief Summary of Illinois Background Check Agencies
Here we have compiled information on the various agencies in Illinois that conduct background checks or require one for employment or licensure.
The table below breaks down the agencies and what the screenings cover for each agency or state department:
| Official Illinois Background Check Agency | Screenings Covered |
| Illinois State Police |
|
| Illinois Department of Human Services |
|
| Illinois Department of Child and Family Services |
|
| Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation |
|
| Illinois State Board of Education |
|
The primary purpose of a background check by one of the agencies listed above is to see if a person has any disqualifying offenses in their background. Disqualifying offenses include items found on felony registry lists such as sex offender registries or FBI rap sheet reports, as discussed below.
Searching the Illinois Sex Offender Registry for Nearby Sexual Predators
Due to the nature of the crime, individuals convicted of a sex offense are required to register with the local sheriff’s office in the county they reside. Citizens have the right to view this registry to see who in their neighborhood has been convicted of a sex offense to increase public safety and awareness.
Reasons for searching the registry can range from curiosity to a need-to-know for employment, licensure or housing applications. An individual with a sex offense can be denied housing if it would place the person in violation of the registry or denied employment if the conviction would place the public in danger or endanger vulnerable populations.
To search the registry, do the following:
- Open the Illinois State Police website.
- Click the link for the sex offender registry.
- Read the disclaimer and click the agree button at the bottom to proceed.
- Enter the subject’s first and last name and click the find button.
- Review the list of search returns for the record that matches the subject.
Information provided through the registry includes offender name, aliases, address, mugshot, physical description, crimes convicted of, county of conviction and whether or not the person is in compliance with the registry requirements.17
Utilization of the sex offender registry information for housing or employment purposes is subject to the same laws as other criminal history data but must comply with state and federal statutes.
Rundown of Criminal & Arrest Record Laws in Illinois
Ultimately, any use of Illinois criminal records is subject to state and federal laws that limit what can be released and how it can be used.
In 2021, the state passed the Employment Background Fairness Act (HB 3056), which made it unlawful to refuse employment to a person based solely on a criminal conviction in the past. Employers must weigh the conviction with how it will directly impact the person’s ability to perform the job.
For example, a person convicted of child abuse would automatically be denied employment in a childcare center but cannot be automatically denied employment in a fast food restaurant based on a past conviction per this statute.18
This bill mirrors the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission guidelines on using criminal or arrest records in making hiring decisions, and the EEOC enforces anti-discrimination laws on the local level that unlawfully use background checks in a discriminatory manner. The state law is an added reinforcement to already existing federal laws.
The Uniform Conviction Information Act of 1991 (20 ILCS 2635) designated the Illinois State Police as the official criminal record repository. The act also limits the release of records to conviction information for the state of Illinois only. Nationwide checks must go through the FBI for a rap sheet if an agency needs a national screening.
The UCIA also requires agencies to maintain a file for 2 years including the subject’s written consent to a background screening, the subject must be provided a copy of the screening report, and give a 7 day window for the subject to notify the Illinois State Police if the information on the report is incorrect. Finally, the UCIA establishes fees for the background check service.19
Background screenings for certain positions such as working with children or vulnerable adults (elderly/disabled) are also subject to the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act and the National Child Protection Act which states certain offenses are automatic disqualifiers for positions working with vulnerable persons.
Illinois also has the Job Opportunities for Qualified Applicants Act, which is the state’s ban-the-box law prohibiting employers from inquiring about a person’s criminal history until the person has been referred for an interview after an initial determination the person meets the job qualifications.
Finally, the Fair Credit Reporting Act prohibits looking back more than 7 years for most positions and applies to non-convictions as well, meaning there is an added level of protection against non-convictions appearing on an Illinois background check. FCRA guidelines pertain to commercial people finder sites as well as government agencies.
All of these laws also govern arrest records, outlining what can and cannot be released to the public and the responsibilities of agencies that have these records when presented with a record request.
By using this guide, individuals conducting background checks can quickly and easily find arrest records in Illinois and learn who is in custody. This resource also tells how to check Illinois criminal records to learn if someone has a criminal history when making decisions on hiring, licensure or housing applications.
References
150 ILCS 205/ Local Records Act. (n.d.). Illinois General Assembly. Retrieved January 23, 2023, from <https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs3.asp?ActID=699&ChapterID=11>
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