Illinois criminal cases are searched through the court that keeps the file
Illinois does not currently operate one simple public name-search page containing every criminal trial-court case from all 102 counties. Criminal prosecutions begin in the state’s circuit courts, and the elected circuit clerk in each county preserves the official case files and records. Illinois State Police maintains a separate statewide conviction-history system, while appellate records, prison information and other criminal-justice records use their own government databases.
Illinois criminal trial records begin in the circuit courts
Illinois circuit courts are the state’s courts of original jurisdiction. The state currently has 25 judicial circuits. Seven are single-county circuits—Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, St. Clair and Will—and the remaining circuits cover multiple counties.
Each of Illinois’ 102 counties elects a circuit clerk. The circuit clerk preserves court files, maintains the complete record of cases and is the key office for obtaining the official criminal trial-court record.
Trial court file
Criminal case docket, filings, judgments, dispositions, sentencing documents and certified copies.
State criminal history
Public conviction information and fingerprint-based criminal-history services under Illinois law.
Appeals
Illinois Supreme Court and five Appellate Court districts use separate reviewing-court access.
Corrections records
Current individual-in-custody, wanted-fugitive and other correctional searches.
Local custody
Recent booking and county jail information generally remains at the county level.
Federal cases
Federal prosecutions are outside the Illinois state court system and use PACER.
How to find the right Illinois court
If you know the county where the prosecution occurred, start with the Illinois Courts Find Your Court directory.
The directory can be searched by court level, district, circuit and county and provides courthouse addresses, telephone numbers and links to local court websites.
Find an Illinois courtIf you do not know the county
Work backward from whatever you know:
- city where the arrest occurred
- county named on a police or jail record
- prosecutor or state’s attorney office
- courthouse named on a citation or bond document
- known residence at the time of the alleged offense
- county shown in an ISP conviction-history response
Step-by-step Illinois criminal court case search
Identify the likely county
Criminal trial cases are kept in the circuit court serving the county where the prosecution was filed.
Open the Illinois Courts directory
Find the county courthouse and follow its official link to the circuit court or circuit clerk.
Look for the local public case search
Common labels include Case Search, Court Records, Public Access, Online Case Information, Court Docket or Records Search.
Search by case number when possible
A case number is usually more precise than a name. If you only know the name, add DOB, filing year or other filters when the local portal offers them.
Read the complete docket
Check charges, court events and the final disposition rather than assuming a filed charge automatically became a conviction.
Contact the circuit clerk when online access stops
Older files, restricted remote documents, certified records and records unavailable online may require direct clerk assistance or an in-person courthouse search.
Illinois does not yet have one uniform public trial-court name search for all 102 counties
Illinois has statewide e-filing infrastructure, but public trial-court searching still varies by county. Some circuit clerks operate robust online case portals, while other jurisdictions provide more limited remote access and require direct clerk contact for certain records.
The Illinois Courts website maintains Circuit Court E-Business Links organized by judicial circuit and county.
Browse county court servicesOnline court information and the official court record are not always identical
Illinois’ electronic-access policy distinguishes between remotely accessible electronic records and the official court record maintained by the clerk.
Some information that may lawfully exist in the courthouse file can be restricted from broad remote Internet access because of privacy, safety or criminal-justice concerns.
| Access method | Best use | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|
| County online case search | Finding cases, docket events and basic dispositions. | Coverage and document availability vary by county. |
| Courthouse public terminal | Accessing qualifying electronic court records locally. | Requires courthouse visit. |
| Circuit clerk request | Copies, certified documents and older records. | Local fees and procedures vary. |
| ISP UCIA search | Statewide Illinois conviction-history information. | Not the complete court file and not federal history. |
How to obtain an official or certified Illinois criminal court record
Once you identify the case, contact the circuit clerk in the county where it was filed. The clerk can explain current local copy, certification, payment and delivery procedures.
Have these details ready:
- full defendant name
- case number
- county
- approximate filing year
- specific document needed
- whether certification is required
- your delivery or mailing details
Common documents to request
Charging document
Complaint, information, indictment or other publicly accessible charging document, depending on the case.
Disposition / judgment
Useful when you need evidence of how the case or particular charge ended.
Certified copy
An authenticated copy from the circuit clerk for purposes that require official documentation.
What to do when an older Illinois criminal case is not online
Older Illinois cases may have limited electronic availability depending on when the county converted records, local retention practices and the type of case.
Illinois State Police criminal-history records are a separate statewide search
The Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification maintains Illinois criminal-history record information.
Under the Uniform Conviction Information Act (UCIA), conviction information collected and maintained by ISP must be available to the public. ISP states that UCIA public dissemination is limited to conviction information.
Illinois State Police criminal-history informationIllinois name-based criminal-history checks use CHIRP
Illinois State Police provides name-based inquiries through the Criminal History Information Response Process (CHIRP).
ISP’s public information explains that CHIRP processes name-based criminal-history inquiries. A Transaction Control Number (TCN) is generated for the request and can later be used to retrieve or track the response.
ISP name-based background checksInformation quality matters
A name-based search is less certain than fingerprint identification. Accurate identifying data helps reduce the risk of matching the wrong person.
- complete legal name
- middle name or initial when available
- date of birth
- sex
- race where required by the official process
- separate maiden-name search when needed
Current Illinois State Police criminal-history fees
ISP updated several background-check fees effective October 1, 2026.
| Submission | Manual / paper | Electronic / Live Scan |
|---|---|---|
| UCIA name-based inquiry | $16 | $10 |
| UCIA fingerprint card | $20 | $15 |
| State-only fee applicant | $20 | $15 |
| FBI-only fee applicant | $15 | $15 |
| State + FBI fee applicant | $35 | $30 |
| Illinois Access & Review / Record Challenge | ISP processing fee: $0 | |
Fingerprint-based Illinois checks are more reliable than a name search
ISP requires electronic fingerprint submissions through a licensed Live Scan fingerprint vendor for fingerprint-based criminal-history background checks.
For licensing, statutory employment or other regulated checks, ISP instructs applicants to obtain the correct purpose information from the requesting agency before visiting the fingerprint vendor.
ISP fingerprint-based background checksHow to obtain and review your own Illinois criminal history
Illinois provides an Access and Review process for individuals who want to see the criminal-history information ISP has associated with their fingerprints.
Visit an approved fingerprint source
ISP says an individual may use an Illinois law-enforcement agency, correctional facility or licensed fingerprint vendor that provides the service.
Request Access & Review
The provider captures fingerprints and required identifying information and sends them to ISP.
Receive your criminal-history transcript
ISP mails the transcript—or a written statement that no criminal history was found—to the address specified through the process.
Review every arrest and disposition
Compare the information with your own court records and identify anything inaccurate or incomplete.
Use the included Record Challenge form if needed
ISP includes a challenge form so the individual can dispute information believed to be incorrect.
How to challenge an incorrect Illinois criminal-history record
If your Access & Review transcript contains information you believe is inaccurate, Illinois State Police provides a formal Record Challenge process.
ISP states that after receiving a Record Challenge it will provide a written response explaining any correction made. If ISP determines that no correction is warranted, the individual receives written notice of that determination.
Search Illinois criminal appeals through re:SearchIL
Illinois now provides remote public access to qualifying documents from its reviewing courts— the Illinois Supreme Court and five Appellate Court districts—through re:SearchIL.
Beginning May 1, 2025, the Supreme Court authorized free public remote access to qualifying non-confidential reviewing-court documents filed on or after April 1, 2025.
Open re:SearchILWhat may not appear remotely
- confidential cases
- juvenile matters that are not publicly accessible
- documents marked confidential under applicable rules
- the circuit-court record on appeal itself
- some documents filed before April 1, 2025
Illinois prison and corrections records use IDOC, not the circuit clerk
The Illinois Department of Corrections operates an Individual in Custody Search.
Search IDOC custody recordsIDOC’s public offender resources also include wanted fugitives, sex-offender information, parolee sex-registrant search and certain early-release notifications.
Use the Illinois sex-offender registry only for that specific question
Illinois State Police maintains the state’s public sex-offender information system. This registry is separate from both circuit-court case records and the general ISP conviction-history process.
A registry search can help answer whether a person is publicly listed under Illinois sex-offender registration law, but it is not a complete Illinois criminal-history search.
Illinois State Police sex-offender informationJuvenile criminal records have different access rules
Juvenile records are not handled like ordinary adult criminal court cases. Illinois court-access rules restrict public and remote access to confidential or protected juvenile matters.
Sealing or expungement can change what appears in an Illinois search
Illinois provides separate legal procedures for expungement and sealing. The effect depends on the offense, case outcome, eligibility rules and the specific relief ordered by the court.
ISP’s current fee schedule lists:
Petition to expunge or seal
ISP currently lists no Bureau of Identification fee for filing the petition itself, although separate court or local costs may apply.
Processing an order
ISP’s current Bureau fee schedule lists a $60 fee for a court order to expunge or seal criminal history.
Federal criminal cases in Illinois are searched separately
Illinois state court and ISP searches do not replace federal criminal court research. Federal prosecutions are filed in the U.S. District Courts and are searched through PACER.
Illinois has federal judicial districts including the Northern, Central and Southern Districts. If you know where the federal case was filed, search that court directly through PACER. If you do not know the district, use the PACER Case Locator.
Search federal court recordsRead the disposition before calling something a criminal conviction
A criminal docket can contain arrests, charges and hearings that never result in a conviction. Different counts within the same case can also end differently.
| Entry | What it generally indicates | What to check next |
|---|---|---|
| Charge filed | A criminal allegation was formally brought. | Do not stop here; locate the disposition. |
| Pending | The case or charge has not reached a final resolution. | Review the latest docket event and hearing date. |
| Dismissed | The particular charge was terminated without a conviction on that count. | Check whether other counts remained. |
| Not guilty / acquitted | No conviction on the adjudicated charge. | Do not describe it as a conviction. |
| Guilty / conviction | A conviction was entered. | Review sentence and any later appellate history. |
| Sealed / expunged | Public access may be restricted under Illinois law or court order. | Do not infer absence of historical proceedings. |
What to do when an Illinois criminal court search returns nothing
A blank online search result does not necessarily prove that no Illinois criminal case exists.
Check these possibilities
- wrong county
- name spelling or former name
- older case unavailable online
- local court uses a different portal
- sealed or expunged case
- juvenile or otherwise confidential matter
- case exists only in federal court
- ISP conviction search and court search are answering different questions
Illinois public court searches are not automatically compliant employment background checks
Public court records and ISP conviction-history records can be researched for lawful purposes, but employment, licensing, housing and other screening decisions may involve additional federal, state and local requirements.
ISP’s UCIA guidance specifically states that for UCIA requests processed for employment purposes, the applicant’s signature is required and must be retained by the employer for two years, and the employer must provide the applicant with a copy of the response.
Illinois criminal court search tips that save time
Start with county, not ISP
If you need the actual docket or court documents, go to the circuit clerk first.
Use ISP for statewide convictions
UCIA is useful when your question is statewide Illinois conviction-history information.
Save the TCN
CHIRP and UCIA requests use a Transaction Control Number to retrieve or track the response.
Search maiden names separately
ISP’s name-based UCIA instructions require a separate request for a maiden name.
Old case? Call the clerk
Local courthouse access can be broader than what is visible on the Internet.
Appeal? Switch systems
Use re:SearchIL for qualifying Illinois Supreme Court and Appellate Court documents.
Need your own full record?
Use fingerprint Access & Review instead of relying only on a public name-based check.
State prison question?
Use IDOC; court and ISP systems are not inmate locators.
Verify each count
Multi-count cases can contain a mix of dismissed charges and convictions.
Illinois criminal court records: common questions
1. Is there one statewide Illinois criminal court case search?
Illinois does not currently provide one simple public trial-court name search covering every criminal case in all 102 counties. Trial-court records are maintained by county circuit clerks, and remote-access systems vary by jurisdiction.
2. Where should I start searching for an Illinois criminal case?
Start with the Illinois Courts Find Your Court directory, identify the county where the case was filed and follow the official circuit clerk or court link for that county.
3. What does the Illinois State Police public criminal-history search contain?
Under the Uniform Conviction Information Act, ISP makes conviction information maintained by its Bureau of Identification available to the public. The public UCIA process is not a complete federal or nationwide criminal-history search.
4. How much does an Illinois ISP name-based criminal-history search cost?
Effective October 1, 2026, ISP lists the UCIA name-based inquiry fee at $16 for a manual/paper request and $10 for an electronic request.
5. How can I obtain my own Illinois criminal-history record?
Use the Illinois Access and Review process. Your fingerprints and identifying information are submitted to ISP, which sends your criminal-history transcript or a written statement that no criminal history was found.
6. Can I challenge incorrect information on my Illinois criminal history?
Yes. ISP provides a Record Challenge form with the Access and Review packet. ISP currently charges no processing fee for Access and Review or Record Challenge submissions, although fingerprint providers may charge their own fee.
7. Where do I search Illinois criminal appeals?
Qualifying Illinois Supreme Court and Appellate Court documents can be searched through re:SearchIL. Free remote public access began May 1, 2025 for qualifying non-confidential reviewing-court documents filed on or after April 1, 2025.
8. How do I find someone in an Illinois state prison?
Use the Illinois Department of Corrections Individual in Custody Search. County jail detainees should instead be searched through the relevant county sheriff or jail system.
9. Why might an Illinois criminal case not appear online?
The case may be older, filed in another county, sealed or expunged, juvenile or otherwise confidential, available only through the clerk, or part of the federal court system rather than Illinois state court.
10. Does an Illinois criminal charge mean the person was convicted?
No. A filed charge is an allegation. Review the final disposition of each count to determine whether it resulted in dismissal, acquittal, conviction or another outcome.
Official Illinois resources used for this guide
- Illinois Courts — Circuit Court System
- Illinois Courts — Find Your Court
- Illinois Courts — Circuit Court E-Business Links
- re:SearchIL — Reviewing Court Records
- Illinois Courts — eFileIL
- Illinois State Police — Criminal History
- Illinois State Police — Name-Based Background Checks
- Illinois State Police — Fingerprint Background Checks
- Illinois State Police — Access & Review / What’s on My Record
- Illinois State Police — Current Fee Schedule
- Illinois Department of Corrections — Individual in Custody Search
- PACER — Federal Court Records