Start with the Cook County court file, then check statewide Illinois records separately
Cook County criminal information is split among several government systems. The Clerk of the Circuit Court maintains local criminal court files; the Cook County Sheriff’s Office maintains county-jail and Sheriff’s records; Illinois State Police maintains the statewide criminal-history repository; and the Illinois Department of Corrections maintains state-prison information. Knowing which agency created the record is the quickest way to avoid incomplete or misleading searches.
Cook County does not keep every criminal record in one database
“Criminal records” can refer to a court docket, conviction history, arrest report, booking record, jail status, warrant, prison record or appellate case. Each is maintained by a different agency.
Criminal case file
Charges filed in court, case activity, court orders, motions, disposition and other public court documents.
Jail / custody record
Current Cook County jail custody, booking identification and related corrections information.
Arrest / incident report
Maintained by the police agency or Sheriff’s Police unit that investigated or made the arrest.
State criminal history
Statewide criminal-history information maintained by the ISP Bureau of Identification.
State prison record
Information about individuals in Illinois Department of Corrections custody or related status.
Federal prosecution
Federal criminal matters in Chicago are separate from Cook County Circuit Court and use PACER.
How to search Cook County criminal court cases
The official source is the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County. The Clerk’s website lists Case Lookup as its public online service for checking the status of historic and active court cases.
Open Cook County Online Case Search Case Lookup informationStart with the official Clerk website
Avoid assuming a commercial “Cook County background check” site is the county’s official court system.
Search the person’s name or known case number
A case number is the most reliable identifier. When searching by name, use the legal name and known aliases where the system or clerk allows them.
Identify the correct municipal district
Cook County is divided into Chicago and suburban court districts. The physical case file or certified disposition may need to be obtained from the district that handled the case.
Review the case status and events
Look for charges, hearing dates, orders and the final disposition rather than stopping at the initial allegation.
Order the court document when verification matters
Use the Clerk’s record-search or certified-copy process for formal proof of the disposition.
Cook County criminal records are split between Chicago and suburban districts
One of the most important local details is that Cook County is not a single-courthouse system. Felony, misdemeanor and other criminal matters are handled in different divisions and municipal districts.
| District / division | Main location | Typical record relevance |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago felony Criminal Division | Leighton Criminal Courthouse 2650 S. California Ave., Chicago |
Felony trial cases arising in Chicago. |
| First Municipal District | Richard J. Daley Center 50 W. Washington St., Chicago |
Chicago misdemeanor and quasi-criminal records handled by the Criminal Department. |
| Second District | 5600 Old Orchard Rd., Skokie | North suburban Cook County cases. |
| Third District | 2121 Euclid Ave., Rolling Meadows | Northwest suburban cases. |
| Fourth District | 1500 Maybrook Ave., Maywood | Western suburban cases. |
| Fifth District | 10220 S. 76th Ave., Bridgeview | Southwest suburban cases. |
| Sixth District | 16501 Kedzie Ave., Markham | South suburban cases. |
How to read a Cook County criminal case without misinterpreting it
Court files can contain appearances, court orders, affidavits, certificates, motions, petitions, notices and other documents. Some records may be impounded or available only after a specific court order.
| Record item | What it tells you | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Charge | The offense alleged by prosecutors. | Do not treat the allegation as the final outcome. |
| Case status | Whether the case is active, closed or otherwise categorized. | Read the later docket events and disposition. |
| Court order | A direction or ruling issued by the judge. | Read the actual order if its effect matters. |
| Disposition | How a charge or case was resolved. | Review each count separately. |
| Sentence | Penalty or conditions imposed after an applicable disposition. | Check whether later orders modified the sentence. |
How to obtain a certified Cook County criminal disposition
A certified disposition is useful when you need official proof of how a criminal case ended.
For Chicago Criminal Department cases, the Clerk says it needs the defendant’s:
- full name
- date of birth
- date of arrest
- case number when known
Richard J. Daley Center
50 W. Washington St.Room 1006
Chicago, IL 60602
Phone: 312-603-4641
If you need a felony record arising in Chicago, the Criminal Division at the Leighton Criminal Courthouse maintains the felony trial records for the City of Chicago.
You can review many Cook County criminal case files in person
The Clerk’s Criminal Department explains that a person who wants to review a Criminal Department file can go to the Court File Request Counter in Room 1006 at the Daley Center.
For cases filed within the previous four years, the file is normally kept on-site and may be reviewed on the date of the request unless the file is currently pending in court.
For felony cases handled through the Leighton Criminal Courthouse, contact the Criminal Division for the relevant file-access process.
Older Cook County criminal records can require an archive search
Cook County maintains historical court records through its Archives function. Archive staff require specific identifying information and cannot conduct extremely broad genealogical-style searches with no case details.
If you do not know the case number, staff may need to search historical indexes using:
- correct spelling of the person’s name
- approximate year
- case type
- other identifying details
The Clerk says archived case files are generally stored off-site and typically arrive within about a week after being ordered.
| Archive service | Current guidance |
|---|---|
| Index search | $6 per year searched, payable in advance. |
| Certified document | $6 per certified document plus photocopy charges. |
| Self-search | The Clerk’s record-request form states the search fee is not charged when you perform the search yourself using court terminals or case files. |
Cook County Jail and current custody records
The Cook County Sheriff’s Office operates the Cook County Department of Corrections and provides an Individual in Custody Locator through its official website.
Open Cook County Sheriff LocatorThe jail’s automated information line can also be used to locate a person:
Automated Help Line: 773-674-5245
Main jail address
2700 South California AvenueChicago, IL 60608
Customer service: 773-674-1945
How to find a Cook County booking photograph
The Sheriff’s Office says booking photos may appear through the Individual in Custody Locator after the person has been booked and processed.
The Sheriff’s communications office notes that locator information typically appears approximately 4–6 hours after booking and processing.
If no image appears, the Sheriff advises contacting the arresting agency. Archived digital Cook County jail booking photographs from approximately 2009 forward are the readily available archive described by the Sheriff’s Office.
Request Cook County Sheriff’s records through FOIA
The Cook County Sheriff’s Office accepts requests under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act. Its electronic records-request portal can be used for responsive Sheriff’s records that are subject to public disclosure.
Cook County Sheriff FOIA RequestMailing address for Sheriff’s FOIA requests
Cook County Sheriff’s OfficeAttn: Freedom of Information Officer
Richard J. Daley Center
50 West Washington, Room 704
Chicago, IL 60602
Chicago Police records are separate from Cook County Sheriff records
This distinction matters because a large share of Cook County criminal cases arise in Chicago. The Cook County Sheriff’s Office and the Chicago Police Department are separate government agencies.
If CPD created the arrest or incident report, request the record from Chicago Police Department, not the Sheriff.
Chicago Police Department — Records / FOIA
3510 South Michigan AvenueChicago, IL 60653
FOIA email: foia@chicagopolice.org
Chicago police report → CPD.
Sheriff’s Police record → Cook County Sheriff.
County-jail custody → Cook County Department of Corrections.
Cook County warrant information requires extra care
The Cook County Sheriff’s Office maintains warrant-related systems, but the Sheriff’s current CLEARNET warrant interface is credential-restricted rather than a simple unrestricted public name search.
If you are researching a warrant connected with a known criminal case, start with the court case and contact the appropriate Clerk division or law-enforcement agency when current warrant status needs verification.
The Sheriff’s Civil Division separately handles civil and certain criminal body attachments. Those are not the same thing as every criminal arrest warrant issued by a Cook County judge.
Illinois State Police provides statewide conviction-history information
Illinois State Police’s Bureau of Identification is the state’s central criminal-history repository.
Illinois’ Uniform Conviction Information Act (UCIA) requires conviction information maintained by ISP to be available to the public.
How to request Illinois conviction information under UCIA
A UCIA name-based request can be used by an individual or agency to obtain qualifying Illinois conviction information about a person.
For a name-based paper request, ISP uses Form ISP6-405B. Each original form has a unique document control number, so photocopies of another person’s original form should not be substituted for a new request.
Obtain an official UCIA request form
Illinois State Police can provide the applicable original name-based or fingerprint request form.
Enter the person’s identifying information
Complete the mandatory fields carefully. Maiden or former names may require additional searches.
Choose name-based or fingerprint-based conviction search
Fingerprints provide stronger identity matching than a name-only inquiry.
Submit the applicable current fee
Illinois State Police updated several Bureau of Identification fees effective October 1, 2026.
Compare the result with the court case
When a conviction matters, use the Cook County court file to verify the exact case and disposition.
People outside Illinois can request that ISP mail the appropriate UCIA forms through the Bureau of Identification’s official Out-of-State Request Form page.
Request UCIA formsTo see your own full Illinois record, use Access and Review
Illinois has a different process for someone who wants to inspect and challenge their own criminal-history transcript.
Under ISP’s Access and Review procedure, an individual may visit an Illinois law-enforcement agency, correctional facility or licensed fingerprint vendor that provides the service. Fingerprints and identifying information are submitted to Illinois State Police.
ISP then sends either:
- the person’s criminal-history transcript plus a Record Challenge form, or
- a statement that no Illinois criminal history was located.
Current Illinois State Police criminal-history fees
The following ISP Bureau of Identification fees became effective October 1, 2026.
| Request | Manual / paper | Electronic / Live Scan |
|---|---|---|
| UCIA name-based conviction inquiry | $16 | $10 |
| UCIA fingerprint-card inquiry | $20 | $15 |
| Fee applicant — Illinois only | $20 | $15 |
| Fee applicant — FBI only | $15 | $15 |
| Fee applicant — Illinois + FBI | $35 | $30 |
| Access and Review / Record Challenge | No ISP processing fee listed; fingerprint vendor charges may still apply. | |
Fees can change. Confirm the live Illinois State Police Fee Schedule before sending payment or visiting a fingerprint vendor.
Illinois prison records are searched through IDOC
If the person was sentenced to the Illinois state prison system, use the Illinois Department of Corrections Offender Search.
IDOC provides official tools for:
- individuals in state custody
- wanted fugitives
- Illinois sex-offender information
- parolee sex-registrant searches
- certain early-release notifications
Cook County criminal appeals go to Illinois’ First Appellate District
Cook County is within the Illinois Appellate Court, First District. An appeal from a Cook County criminal case therefore becomes a separate appellate record.
If a criminal trial record appears complete but you need to know whether the judgment was challenged, search the Illinois appellate system or contact the First District.
Illinois Appellate CourtsFederal criminal cases in Chicago are not Cook County cases
Federal prosecutions in Chicago are generally filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. They do not appear as Cook County Circuit Court prosecutions.
Use PACER to search federal criminal cases.
The Northern District also maintains a Federal Records Center lookup for older archived cases when the case number and filing year are known.
Search federal court cases Northern District archived lookupCook County expungement and sealing records
Illinois permits qualifying criminal records to be expunged or sealed. Which remedy is available depends on the arrest, charge, disposition, conviction history and other statutory factors.
The Illinois Courts maintain statewide approved forms for:
- adult expungement and sealing
- additional arrests and cases
- orders to expunge or seal
- juvenile expungement
- cannabis-record relief
Cook County’s Criminal Division also handles petitions to expunge and seal qualifying felony trial records for Chicago cases.
Illinois Expungement & Sealing FormsJuvenile criminal records have different access rules
Juvenile court and law-enforcement records are subject to stronger confidentiality rules than ordinary adult criminal cases.
Illinois Courts publishes a separate set of approved juvenile expungement forms, updated in 2026.
Public criminal records and employment background checks are different
A Cook County court search or Illinois UCIA conviction request can help locate public records, but regulated employment, licensing, volunteer and tenant screening may require a different process.
Illinois State Police fingerprint checks for regulated purposes must be submitted through a licensed Live Scan vendor. When an agency requires a fingerprint-based check, applicants should get the correct purpose and agency information before visiting the vendor.
Leighton Criminal Courthouse map
Chicago felony Criminal Division records are associated with the George N. Leighton Criminal Courthouse.
2650 South California Avenue
Chicago, IL 60608
Criminal Division: 773-674-3140
Cook County criminal-record search tips that save time
Find the district first
Cook County has six municipal districts. The correct suburban district can be more important than the downtown courthouse.
Save the case number
Once located, a case number makes copy requests and archive searches much easier.
Chicago misdemeanor vs felony
The Daley Center Criminal Department and Leighton Criminal Division handle different categories of Chicago criminal records.
Recent custody?
Use the Sheriff’s Individual in Custody Locator before assuming the state DOC will have the person.
CPD arrest?
Request the police report from Chicago Police rather than Cook County Sheriff.
Need statewide conviction info?
Use Illinois State Police UCIA rather than trying to search every Cook County court district individually.
Your own full record?
Use fingerprint-based ISP Access and Review instead of a public conviction inquiry.
Older file?
Cook County Archives may require a year-by-year index search if the case number is unknown.
Verify the outcome
A certified disposition is stronger evidence than a booking page, arrest report or initial charge.
Common questions about Cook County criminal records
1. Can I search Cook County criminal cases online?
Yes. The Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County provides an Online Case Search for public information concerning historic and active cases. Some records or documents may still require an in-person, district-specific or archive request.
2. Where do I get a certified Cook County criminal disposition?
Request it from the Clerk division or municipal district that handled the case. The Daley Center Criminal Department provides dispositions for Chicago cases handled by that department; suburban cases should be requested from the appropriate suburban district.
3. Can I inspect a Cook County criminal case file in person?
Yes, where the record is public. The Criminal Department states that qualifying files can be reviewed at its Court File Request Counter. Recent files may be available on-site, while older records can require retrieval or archive procedures.
4. How do I find someone in Cook County Jail?
Use the Cook County Sheriff’s Individual in Custody Locator or call the automated jail information line at 773-674-5245.
5. Does the Cook County Sheriff’s FOIA system give me a full criminal background check?
No. The Sheriff’s Office specifically explains that FOIA is not the correct route for a complete criminal background history. Statewide conviction-history requests are handled through Illinois State Police under the UCIA process.
6. Can anyone request Illinois conviction information?
Illinois’ Uniform Conviction Information Act makes conviction information maintained by Illinois State Police publicly available. Name-based and fingerprint-based UCIA request options are available, subject to the current form and fee requirements.
7. How much is an Illinois State Police name-based conviction check?
Effective October 1, 2026, ISP lists a UCIA name-based inquiry at $16 for a manual/paper request and $10 for qualifying electronic processing.
8. How do I get my own complete Illinois criminal-history transcript?
Use the Illinois State Police Access and Review process. Your fingerprints and identifying information are submitted to ISP, which sends your transcript and a Record Challenge form, or a statement that no record was located.
9. Are Cook County Jail records the same as Illinois prison records?
No. Cook County Jail is operated by the Cook County Sheriff’s Department of Corrections. Illinois state-prison records are maintained by the Illinois Department of Corrections.
10. What should I do if an old Cook County case is not online?
Contact the Clerk and determine which district or archive holds the case. Cook County Archives can search historical indexes when enough identifying information and an approximate year are supplied.
Official sources for verifying Cook County and Illinois records
- Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County
- Cook County Online Case Search
- Cook County Clerk — Criminal Department
- Cook County Clerk — Criminal Division
- Cook County Clerk — Public Records
- Cook County Court Archives
- Cook County Sheriff’s Office
- Cook County Department of Corrections
- Cook County Sheriff — FOIA Requests
- Illinois State Police — Criminal History
- Illinois State Police — Access and Review
- Illinois State Police — Current Fee Schedule
- Illinois State Police — Fingerprint Background Checks
- Illinois Department of Corrections — Offender Search
- Illinois Courts — Expungement and Sealing Forms
- Illinois Courts — Appellate Court Districts
- PACER — Federal Court Records