Start with the right Illinois criminal-record source
Illinois does not currently offer one simple statewide public trial-court name search that replaces all 102 county Circuit Clerk systems. Trial-level criminal cases are maintained by Circuit Clerks, Illinois State Police maintains the state’s central criminal-history repository, Illinois Department of Corrections provides custody information, and appellate records use the Illinois reviewing-court system. The right starting point depends on the exact record you need.
Which Illinois criminal record are you actually looking for?
One of the easiest ways to waste time is to use a criminal-history database when you actually need a court docket—or to search a courthouse when you actually need a police arrest report.
Trial-court criminal case
Search the Circuit Clerk in the county where the case was filed for charges, docket activity, dispositions, sentencing and available case documents.
State criminal history
ISP’s Bureau of Identification is Illinois’s central repository for criminal-history information. Public UCIA dissemination is limited to conviction information.
Arrest or incident record
Arrest reports, incident reports and investigative records are held by the law-enforcement agency that created the record and can involve Illinois FOIA rules.
State prison custody
Use the Illinois Department of Corrections when the person is or was under state correctional jurisdiction.
County jail custody
County jails are operated locally. A person in a county jail may not appear in the IDOC state-prison search.
Appeals
Illinois Supreme Court and Appellate Court records use re:SearchIL for public remote access to qualifying reviewing-court documents.
Illinois criminal court records are primarily county-based
Illinois Circuit Courts are the state’s trial courts of original jurisdiction. Illinois currently has 25 judicial circuits, and each county has a Circuit Clerk responsible for preserving court files and maintaining case records.
That means there is no single public trial-court search page that should be assumed to replace every county Circuit Clerk system.
Official statewide directory: Illinois Circuit Court Clerks .
How to find the right Illinois county court
Identify where the criminal case was filed
Start with the county where the arrest, prosecution or court proceeding occurred. A Chicago case will not use the same clerk website as a case filed in Lake, DuPage, Sangamon or Madison County.
Open the Illinois Courts Directory
Illinois Courts provides an official directory that can be filtered by county, judicial circuit and court level.
Open that county’s Circuit Clerk website
Look for headings such as Case Search, Public Access, Court Records, Criminal Records or Online Case Information.
Search using the strongest identifier available
A case number is usually stronger than a common name. When only a name is available, check middle names, initials, date information and aliases carefully.
Move to the clerk when online access is limited
Public courthouse access can be broader than remote access. Contact the Circuit Clerk for older files, certified copies, restricted remote documents or search assistance.
What an Illinois Circuit Clerk criminal search can show
The exact interface varies by county, but publicly accessible criminal case systems commonly provide some combination of:
- case number
- defendant or participant name
- filing date
- criminal charge
- court events
- judge or courtroom
- disposition
- sentence information
- future court dates
- publicly available documents
How to read an Illinois criminal court record correctly
| Case item | What it generally means | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Case number | The unique identifier assigned by the trial court. | Keep it for copies, hearings and appellate research. |
| Charge | The allegation filed against the defendant. | Do not treat the charge itself as a conviction. |
| Docket event | A chronological court event or filing. | Read later events before drawing a conclusion. |
| Disposition | How a charge or case ended. | Conviction, dismissal, acquittal, supervision or another result. |
| Sentence | Court-ordered consequences following a qualifying disposition. | Custody, probation, fines, conditions or other terms. |
| Access status | Whether the case or document is publicly available. | Sealed, expunged, impounded and confidential records can be unavailable. |
What re:SearchIL does—and does not—cover
Illinois’s statewide electronic repository is called re:SearchIL, but it is important not to overstate its current public trial-court coverage.
Since May 1, 2025, the Illinois Supreme Court has allowed free public remote access to qualifying non-confidential documents from the Illinois Supreme Court and five Appellate Court districts when filed on or after April 1, 2025.
Open re:SearchILNon-public case types and documents remain restricted. Confidential documents, sealed records and other protected materials are not made public merely because the court uses an electronic system.
Illinois arrest reports and police records
A police arrest report is separate from both the court docket and the ISP criminal-history response. For an arrest report or incident record, begin with the law-enforcement agency that created the record.
The Illinois Attorney General’s law-enforcement FOIA guidance explains that Illinois FOIA requires specified arrest-report information to be made public no later than 72 hours after an arrest, subject to applicable law and exemptions.
Public arrest information can include specified identifying and arrest-related information, but the full investigative file may contain material that is exempt, confidential or temporarily withheld.
county sheriff arrest → county sheriff public-record office.
ISP investigation → Illinois State Police FOIA process.
How to request Illinois law-enforcement records under FOIA
Illinois’s Freedom of Information Act allows the public to request qualifying records held by public bodies. Law-enforcement agencies can still redact or withhold information when a statutory exemption applies.
Identify the agency that created the report
Do not send a police report request to a Circuit Clerk unless you actually want a court file.
Describe the requested record precisely
Include names, approximate date, location, incident number, report number and date range when known.
Avoid “any and all records” when possible
ISP specifically recommends narrowly describing the records because overly broad requests can delay processing.
Expect legal review and possible redaction
Active investigations and confidential information can be withheld or redacted when Illinois law permits.
For Illinois State Police records: Illinois State Police FOIA .
How to search Illinois warrant information
Illinois does not provide one unrestricted statewide public warrant name-search portal that should be treated as complete for every county.
Warrant information can be maintained by:
- county sheriff offices
- local police departments
- circuit courts
- criminal-justice databases not open to the general public
Illinois State Police criminal-history records
The Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification is the state’s central repository for criminal-history information.
Under Illinois’s Uniform Conviction Information Act (UCIA), conviction information collected and maintained by ISP is available to the public. ISP explains that UCIA public dissemination is limited to conviction information.
CHIRP / UCIA inquiry
ISP provides name-based criminal-history inquiries through its Criminal History Information Response Process.
UCIA fingerprint inquiry
Fingerprints provide a stronger identity match than name-only searching and carry a different ISP fee.
Access and Review
If you want to review your own Illinois criminal-history transcript, use the fingerprint-based Access and Review process rather than an ordinary public conviction search.
Official ISP criminal-history information: Illinois State Police Criminal History .
Illinois State Police criminal-history fees
The following ISP fee schedule was reviewed on September 25, 2026.
| Request type | Electronic / Live Scan | Manual / paper |
|---|---|---|
| UCIA name-based inquiry | $10 | $16 |
| UCIA fingerprint-card inquiry | $15 | $20 |
| Access and Review / Record Challenge | No ISP fee | Fingerprint provider may charge separately. |
| Court order to expunge or seal criminal history | $60 ISP processing fee | |
Verify current fees: ISP Bureau of Identification Fee Schedule .
How to see your own complete Illinois criminal-history record
An ordinary public UCIA request is limited to public conviction information. If you need your own fuller Illinois criminal-history transcript, use the ISP Access and Review process.
Visit an approved fingerprint source
ISP says an individual may use an Illinois law-enforcement or correctional facility or a licensed fingerprint vendor for Access and Review.
Have fingerprints and identification information collected
The fingerprinting entity forwards the fingerprints and identifying data to Illinois State Police.
Receive your Illinois criminal-history transcript
ISP returns the transcript or a written statement that no Illinois criminal history was found.
Use the included Record Challenge form if needed
The Access and Review packet includes a process for disputing information that you believe is inaccurate.
Official instructions: ISP — What’s on My Record? .
What to do if your Illinois criminal-history record is wrong
If your own ISP criminal-history transcript appears inaccurate or incomplete, use the Record Challenge form provided through the Access and Review process.
ISP states that it will review the challenge and provide a written response explaining whether corrections were made.
ISP Bureau of Identification Customer Support: ISP.BOI.Customer.Support@illinois.gov
Illinois Department of Corrections offender search
For people under Illinois state correctional jurisdiction, use the Illinois Department of Corrections Offender Search .
IDOC’s official search area currently includes:
- Individual in Custody Search
- Wanted Fugitives
- Illinois Sex Offender Information
- Parolee Sex Registrant Search
- early-release community notification
Illinois county jail records
County jails are managed locally. Illinois does not have one public county-jail database that should be assumed to cover all 102 counties.
Identify the county of arrest or detention
Start with where the person was arrested or where the criminal case is pending.
Find the official county sheriff
Search the official county government or sheriff site rather than a scraped inmate-list website.
Look for inmate, jail or custody search
Some counties provide real-time public rosters while others require telephone or records-office contact.
Return to the Circuit Clerk for the case outcome
Jail custody tells you where someone is held, not how the criminal case was finally resolved.
Illinois juvenile criminal records are different
Illinois juvenile arrest and court records are generally confidential and are not publicly accessible in the same way as ordinary adult criminal cases.
Illinois Courts’ official juvenile-expungement instructions state that juvenile arrest and court records are automatically sealed from public access, although specified government entities or authorized users can have access under law.
Illinois Courts also provides separate statewide forms for juvenile expungement.
Illinois Appellate Court and Supreme Court criminal records
Illinois has five Appellate Court districts. With limited exceptions, Circuit Court decisions are reviewed first by the Appellate Court, and a party can then petition the Illinois Supreme Court for further review.
Chicago
Serves appeals from Cook County.
Elgin
Handles appeals from circuits assigned to the Second District.
Ottawa
Handles appeals from circuits assigned to the Third District.
Springfield
Handles appeals from circuits assigned to the Fourth District.
Mount Vernon
Handles appeals from circuits assigned to the Fifth District.
Illinois Supreme Court
Reviews qualifying appellate matters and certain direct appeals.
Since May 1, 2025, public users can remotely access qualifying non-confidential reviewing-court documents through re:SearchIL for documents filed on or after April 1, 2025.
Find the Correct Appellate DistrictFederal criminal cases in Illinois
Federal prosecutions are separate from Illinois state criminal court cases. Illinois has three federal judicial districts:
Northern District of Illinois
Covers Chicago and many counties in northern Illinois.
Central District of Illinois
Covers central portions of the state and maintains federal criminal dockets through PACER.
Southern District of Illinois
Covers southern Illinois federal cases.
Use PACER for federal district and appellate court dockets and documents.
Illinois expungement and sealing
Illinois distinguishes between expungement and sealing. The available remedy depends on the arrest, charge, disposition, conviction history and other eligibility rules.
The Illinois Supreme Court has statewide approved forms that every Illinois Circuit Court must accept.
Illinois Expungement & Sealing FormsCollect every Illinois arrest and case you plan to address
Use Circuit Clerk records and your ISP Access and Review transcript when necessary to identify the cases accurately.
Determine whether expungement or sealing applies
Illinois eligibility differs by outcome and offense. Some cases may be expungeable, some sealable and others may remain public.
Use the statewide court forms
Illinois Courts currently provides updated adult expungement and sealing forms approved in 2026.
File in the appropriate Circuit Court
A criminal record involving more than one county can require separate county filings or case listings.
Wait for the court process and agency implementation
A petition is not itself an expungement. The court must enter the appropriate order, and agencies then process the order under Illinois law.
Getting certified Illinois criminal court records
Certified copies of trial-court records are generally obtained from the Circuit Clerk in the county where the case was filed.
Case information
Useful for checking status, docket activity and public case details.
Reference copy
Appropriate when you simply need to read or retain an eligible public document.
Official court document
Request from the Circuit Clerk when an agency, attorney or formal process requires certification.
Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification contact
Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification
260 North Chicago StreetJoliet, IL 60432-4075
Customer Support:
815-740-5160
Email:
ISP.BOI.Customer.Support@illinois.gov
Restricted-access facility
ISP states that the Bureau of Identification is a restricted-access facility. Appointments are required to enter.
Current appointment hours are listed as Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification map
The Bureau of Identification in Joliet is Illinois State Police’s central criminal-history repository. The facility is restricted access, so contact BOI Customer Support before planning an in-person visit.
Address: 260 North Chicago Street, Joliet, IL 60432-4075.
Illinois criminal-record search tips that save time
Start with the county
Trial-level criminal records are primarily Circuit Clerk records, so identify the county before searching.
Don’t confuse re:SearchIL with a universal trial search
re:SearchIL public reviewing-court access is useful for appeals, but county Circuit Clerks remain the practical starting point for trial cases.
Public UCIA means conviction information
ISP says public UCIA dissemination is limited to conviction information, which is different from the full criminal-history transcript available to the subject through Access and Review.
Need your own record? Use fingerprints
Access and Review is a much stronger identity match than relying on a name-only criminal-history inquiry.
County jail is not IDOC
Pretrial county custody can require a sheriff search even when the person does not appear in IDOC.
Police report? Use the agency
A Circuit Clerk cannot replace the arresting agency’s incident or arrest report.
Keep the case number
Once you find a docket number, save it. It makes copy requests and appeal searches much easier.
Missing case may be restricted
Expunged, sealed, impounded or confidential cases and documents can be absent from public remote access.
Federal cases belong in PACER
Northern, Central and Southern District federal criminal cases are not ordinary Illinois Circuit Court records.
Using Illinois criminal records for employment or tenant screening
A public court-record search or UCIA conviction inquiry is not automatically the same thing as a legally compliant consumer background report.
Illinois criminal records: frequently asked questions
1. Is there one statewide Illinois criminal court case search?
Illinois trial-court records are primarily maintained by county Circuit Clerks. Illinois Courts provides statewide court and clerk directories, but users should not assume there is one universal public trial-court name search covering all 102 counties identically.
2. Where should I search an Illinois criminal court case?
Identify the county where the case was filed and use the official Circuit Clerk for that county. Illinois Courts maintains a statewide directory of Circuit Clerks.
3. What does re:SearchIL provide?
re:SearchIL provides remote access to qualifying Illinois court records. Since May 1, 2025, public users have free remote access to qualifying non-confidential Supreme Court and Appellate Court documents filed on or after April 1, 2025.
4. Can I search Illinois criminal history by name?
Illinois State Police provides name-based criminal-history inquiries through its CHIRP/UCIA process. Public UCIA information is limited to conviction information.
5. How much does an Illinois UCIA name-based criminal-history search cost?
As of September 25, 2026, ISP lists a $10 electronic fee and $16 manual/paper fee for a UCIA name-based inquiry.
6. How can I see my own complete Illinois criminal-history record?
Use Illinois State Police Access and Review. The process is fingerprint-based and ISP does not charge an Access and Review processing fee, although the fingerprint provider may charge a service fee.
7. Where can I search Illinois state prison records?
Use the Illinois Department of Corrections Individual in Custody Search. County jail custody must usually be checked with the appropriate county sheriff.
8. Are Illinois juvenile criminal records public?
Juvenile arrest and court records are generally confidential and are not publicly accessible like adult criminal cases. Illinois provides separate juvenile expungement procedures.
9. Can an expunged or sealed Illinois case disappear from public searches?
Yes. Expunged, sealed, impounded and confidential records can be excluded from public electronic access under Illinois law and court rules.
10. Where do I search federal criminal cases in Illinois?
Illinois has Northern, Central and Southern federal judicial districts. Federal criminal dockets and documents are searched through PACER rather than an Illinois Circuit Clerk.
Official Illinois and federal sources
- Illinois Courts — Circuit Court
- Illinois Circuit Court Clerks Directory
- Illinois Courts Directory
- re:SearchIL
- Illinois Appellate Court
- Illinois State Police — Criminal History
- ISP Name-Based Background Checks
- ISP Access and Review — What’s on My Record?
- ISP Criminal-History Fee Schedule
- Illinois State Police FOIA
- Illinois Department of Corrections Offender Search
- Illinois Courts Expungement and Sealing Forms
- PACER Federal Court Records