State of Illinois Criminal Records: Criminal Records Guide
Illinois · Official criminal history and court records guide
State of Illinois Criminal Records: Search Court Cases, Convictions and Public Records
To search State of Illinois criminal records, choose the official source that matches your purpose. For felony or misdemeanor court cases, start with the Circuit Clerk in the county where the case was filed. For publicly releasable statewide criminal conviction information, use the Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification and its Criminal History Information Response Process (CHIRP).
If you want to review your own complete Illinois criminal-history transcript, use the Illinois State Police Access & Review fingerprint procedure instead. County court records, statewide conviction-history searches and your personal rap sheet contain different types of information.
Where to Search Illinois Criminal Records: Choose the Correct Official Source
Illinois does not maintain one free public portal that searches every criminal court case, arrest, prison record and criminal-history report. The record type determines the correct agency.
Illinois Circuit Court Clerks
Search felony and misdemeanor prosecutions, court dockets, filing dates, criminal charges and case dispositions.
Best for: Finding a particular criminal court case or judgment.
Illinois State Police CHIRP
Request publicly releasable Illinois conviction-history information through the authorized UCIA process.
Best for: A statewide conviction-information inquiry, not a county court docket.
ISP Access & Review
Use fingerprints to obtain your Illinois criminal-history transcript and challenge an incorrect entry.
Best for: Reviewing your own rap sheet, including available nonpublic information about your record.
Illinois Department of Corrections
Search publicly available information about people currently in IDOC custody or supervision.
Best for: State prison and correctional status, not county jail bookings.
Illinois Sex Offender Registry
Use the Illinois State Police registry for publicly available information concerning individuals subject to registration.
Best for: Official registry lookup, not a complete criminal background report.
PACER Federal Court Records
Search federal criminal cases, including those filed in the Northern, Central or Southern District of Illinois.
Best for: Federal prosecutions that do not appear in an Illinois circuit court search.
How to Search Illinois Criminal Court Records Online for Free
Illinois has 102 county Circuit Clerks. The Clerk for the county where a case was filed maintains the official trial-court record. Some counties provide free online docket searches; others require registration, limit documents or charge for staff-performed searches.
The Illinois Judicial Branch provides a statewide directory of Circuit Clerks, but that directory is not itself a statewide name-search database for criminal defendants.
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Find the county where the case was filed
Identify whether the criminal prosecution was filed in Cook, DuPage, Lake, Will, Kane, Champaign, Sangamon or another Illinois county. Use the location of the court case, not necessarily the individual’s current address.
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Open the official Illinois Circuit Clerk directory
Visit Illinois Courts — Circuit Court Clerks. Choose the county and follow its official Clerk website or contact details.
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Locate the criminal court case search
Look for labels such as Case Search, Public Access, Criminal Court Records, Court Docket or Case Information. The exact name depends on the county’s software.
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Search by case number or party name
A full case number is generally the most precise starting point. For a name search, enter the available legal name and use county, case-category or filing-year filters when supported.
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Identify the criminal case category
Illinois circuit court records commonly use CF for criminal felony and CM for criminal misdemeanor. Traffic and ordinance case classifications can be different; check the case description instead of treating every citation as a criminal conviction.
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Read the entire court docket
Review the criminal complaint or charges, hearing history, orders, disposition, judgment and any sentencing information. A filing entry is not proof of conviction.
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Check for subsequent court action
A case can include amended charges, dismissed counts, motions, appellate activity, expungement or sealing orders. Do not rely on an old entry when a later order changes the outcome.
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Request certified court documents when necessary
Save the case number, filing county and exact document title. Contact the county Circuit Clerk for an official judgment, disposition or certified copy.
Illinois Criminal Case Search Links by County
The following official county resources are useful for larger Illinois jurisdictions. For every other county, use the statewide Circuit Clerk directory.
| County / Area | Official court records source | Local search detail |
|---|---|---|
| Cook County Chicago and suburbs |
Cook County Online Case Information | Public electronic docket summaries. Recent events may take several days to appear. Courthouse terminals provide another access route. |
| DuPage County Wheaton |
DuPage Circuit Court Clerk | Public case-access resources. Criminal and traffic department: (630) 407-8600. |
| Lake County Waukegan |
Lake County Online Portal | The Clerk publishes portal registration instructions and separate procedures for court record searches and copies. |
| Will County Joliet |
Will County Public Case Lookup | Provides free public court case lookup; online results are not certified official court records. |
| Champaign County Urbana |
Champaign Circuit Clerk | Use View Public Case Information for docket lookup, or the Clerk’s criminal records request form for documents. |
| St. Clair County Belleville |
St. Clair Court Tools | Links to criminal and civil case search, court dockets and other Clerk services. |
| All other Illinois counties | Illinois Circuit Clerk Directory | Find the correct clerk and ask about public online searching, courthouse access and certified records. |
Cook County Criminal Records: An Important Chicago Detail
The Cook County Clerk’s online docket provides summaries of documents and case events, not the official court file itself. The Clerk advises that recent updates can take a few days to reach its online search.
If a Chicago criminal court event took place very recently, a no-result or unchanged docket may reflect an update delay. Use the Clerk’s public courthouse terminals or contact the proper criminal division when the current status matters.
Illinois State Police Criminal History Search: CHIRP and UCIA
The Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification (BOI) maintains the state’s central criminal-history repository. Public conviction information is available under the Uniform Conviction Information Act (20 ILCS 2635).
The online Criminal History Information Response Process (CHIRP) is the ISP’s name-based criminal-history inquiry system. It is not an anonymous, unrestricted free people-search page.
How to Request a Name-Based Illinois Criminal History Search
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Open the official ISP name-based background-check page
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Review CHIRP registration requirements
Follow the official registration and troubleshooting instructions. CHIRP uses authenticated access and a State of Illinois Digital ID. Some workflows require an ISP user agreement or other authorized access arrangements.
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Choose the approved inquiry route
Registered eligible users can follow CHIRP’s name-based inquiry procedure. Those unable to use CHIRP can review the ISP’s paper UCIA request options.
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Provide the required identifying information
The request process uses identifying information for the record subject. Enter it accurately, follow the displayed permissions and avoid treating uncertain name matches as confirmed identity.
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Review the official fee
The ISP’s October 1, 2026 schedule lists $10 for an electronic UCIA name-based inquiry and $16 for a paper inquiry.
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Retain the transaction control number
If CHIRP issues a TCN, save it. The ISP’s support guidance explains that users retrieve submitted CHIRP responses using that number.
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Interpret results cautiously
A name-based search may produce an incorrect identity match or miss information associated with an alias or inaccurate identifying details. Fingerprints provide stronger identity verification.
How to Check a CHIRP Submission
The ISP directs users to return to CHIRP and use their TCN to retrieve an available response. For a question about the status of a name-based or fingerprint submission, the Bureau of Identification lists:
Email: ISP.BOI.Customer.Support@illinois.gov
Include an appropriate request or transaction identifier, but do not email unnecessary sensitive personal information.
How to Get a Copy of Your Own Illinois Criminal Record
If you want to see your personal Illinois criminal-history transcript, the correct route is Access & Review. It is not the same as paying for a public UCIA conviction inquiry.
Access & Review allows a person to obtain and inspect their fingerprint-identified Illinois criminal-history record and challenge inaccurate entries.
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Find an Illinois fingerprint provider
Contact an Illinois law-enforcement or correctional facility that provides the service, or a licensed Live Scan fingerprint vendor. Ask specifically whether it offers ISP Access & Review, not just a standard employment background check.
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Submit fingerprints and identification
The facility or vendor takes fingerprints and required identification details, then transmits them to the Illinois State Police.
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Receive your transcript or no-record statement
The ISP processes the request and provides a criminal-history transcript or a statement that no criminal history was found, using the authorized delivery procedure.
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Examine the entries carefully
Check arrest information, charges, dispositions and the reporting agencies. Compare the transcript against certified court judgments or dismissal orders where available.
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Challenge inaccuracies if needed
The Access & Review packet includes a Record Challenge form. Follow ISP’s instructions and supply supporting information about the incorrect entry.
Official Illinois State Police Access & Review Instructions →
What if Your Illinois Criminal History Contains an Error?
Start by identifying whether the error came from an arresting agency, the court disposition or the state repository. A certified court order may be necessary to correct a missing or incorrect disposition.
The ISP provides a formal challenge procedure. Where FBI records are involved, the contributing state or local criminal justice agency generally must authenticate and correct the underlying information before the FBI can update it.
Illinois Criminal Records Search Fees — October 2026
The Illinois State Police updated parts of its fingerprint-processing fee schedule effective October 1, 2026. The charges below relate to different types of requests and should not be confused with county Clerk fees.
| ISP service | Paper / manual | Electronic / Live Scan |
|---|---|---|
| UCIA name-based conviction inquiry | $16 | $10 |
| UCIA fingerprint inquiry | $20 | $15 |
| Fee-applicant state-only fingerprint check | $20 | $15 |
| Fee-applicant FBI-only fingerprint check | $15 | $15 |
| Fee-applicant state and FBI fingerprint check | $35 | $30 |
| Personal Access & Review | No ISP processing fee; fingerprint provider may charge | |
| ISP record challenge | No ISP fee | |
The fingerprint-based fee-applicant amounts apply to the corresponding authorized applicant request categories. They should not be mistaken for the price of the FBI’s separate personal Identity History Summary service. Local fingerprint collection charges can be additional.
How to Understand an Illinois Criminal Court Record
A criminal case may contain multiple charges, different outcomes for individual counts and several years of court activity. The most important information is usually the final disposition—not merely the original charge or arrest.
| Record term | Meaning | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| CF | Common Illinois felony case designation | Check the exact filed charge and court |
| CM | Common Illinois misdemeanor case designation | Review the criminal disposition |
| Arraignment | An early criminal hearing involving charges and plea procedures | Later entries and any final judgment |
| Nolle prosequi | The prosecution elects not to proceed with a charge | Which counts are affected |
| Dismissed | A charge or proceeding was dismissed | Whether all charges were dismissed |
| Not guilty | May describe a plea or final finding, depending on the docket context | Whether an acquittal actually occurred |
| Court supervision | A distinct Illinois court disposition that can avoid conviction upon successful completion in eligible cases | Completion and any subsequent court order |
| Judgment / sentence | Final or significant court determination regarding outcome and punishment | Count-by-count disposition and later amendments |
Does an Illinois Arrest Mean Someone Was Convicted?
No. An arrest is a law-enforcement action. A criminal charge is an allegation. A conviction results from the applicable judicial determination or plea process. A case may end in dismissal, acquittal, supervision or another disposition without an ordinary criminal conviction.
For Illinois screening and record research, the distinction is especially important because the public ISP conviction-history system and county criminal court dockets do not present identical record categories.
How to Obtain Certified Illinois Criminal Court Records
If you need an official criminal judgment, docket, sentencing order or dismissal record for a court, government application, immigration matter or other formal purpose, ask the Circuit Clerk in the filing county.
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Find the correct criminal case
Use the county’s public case search or contact the Clerk. Record the exact case number, defendant name, case category and filing year.
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Identify the document required
Ask for the specific judgment, court order, final disposition or docket sheet. A general request for a complete criminal history may belong with ISP rather than the Clerk.
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Contact the court custodian
Use the official Circuit Clerk directory to locate the correct records department, email, telephone number or online request form.
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Ask for certification and the current fee
State whether you need a certified or plain copy. Charges can vary by county, document type, page count and delivery method.
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Review privacy and access restrictions
Some records are sealed, expunged, impounded or confidential. Juvenile matters and documents containing protected information have additional access restrictions.
I would like to obtain a certified copy of a public Illinois criminal court document. The case was filed in [County] under case number [Case Number], involving [Party Name]. I am requesting [Final Disposition / Judgment of Conviction / Dismissal Order / Sentencing Order]. Please confirm availability, certification fees and accepted methods for payment and delivery.
What the Circuit Clerk May Not Have
A county criminal court file does not necessarily contain the police department’s arrest report, investigative evidence or transcripts prepared by a court reporter. For a police incident report, contact the arresting agency. For a hearing transcript, ask the court about the official court reporter and transcript-order procedure.
See Champaign County’s Explanation of Court Files and Record Access →
Illinois Prison Records, County Jail Bookings and Offender Information
For people currently in the Illinois state correctional system, use the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) Individual in Custody Search. This is different from the court case search and from county jail records.
How to Search the Illinois IDOC Database
- Visit IDOC Individual in Custody Search.
- Search by last name, IDOC number or birth date, using the options provided.
- Open the relevant public record and check the available custody, sentencing and status information.
- If no result appears, consider whether the person is held in a county jail, uses a different name or is no longer shown in the active public database.
- Confirm important information directly with IDOC or the court of conviction.
For archived information concerning a former person in custody, IDOC explains that an additional archived-record request may be necessary.
State Prison or Supervision
Use IDOC for information within the Illinois Department of Corrections system.
County Jail or Recent Booking
Contact the county sheriff or detention agency responsible for the booking. County jail rosters do not necessarily appear in IDOC.
Use the county of arrest to identify the correct agency.
Illinois Sex Offender Registry
The Illinois State Police provides an official registry with public name, city, county, ZIP code and other permitted search criteria. This resource covers registrable offenses under applicable law and is not a complete criminal-history database.
Illinois Criminal Record Expungement and Sealing in 2026
Illinois law provides ways to restrict public access to qualifying criminal-history records. Expungement and sealing are different forms of relief, and eligibility depends on the offense, case disposition and legal requirements.
Expungement
Generally used for qualifying records such as arrests that did not result in conviction, dismissed cases, acquittals and certain eligible supervision or probation outcomes.
It generally removes or destroys qualifying records under the governing law.
Sealing
Restricts public access to qualifying records, including many eligible convictions, while specified government entities may retain authorized access.
A sealed record is not necessarily destroyed.
Important Illinois Clean Slate Changes
Changes effective June 1, 2026 revised several petition-based sealing requirements. Illinois Legal Aid Online describes a two-year waiting period for certain misdemeanors, ordinance violations and qualifying supervision or probation outcomes, and a three-year period for other eligible felony convictions.
The new rules also removed the former drug-testing requirement for eligible sealing or expungement requests.
Where to File an Illinois Expungement or Sealing Request
- Obtain your relevant court dispositions and Illinois State Police criminal-history information.
- Review current Illinois eligibility rules, including excluded offenses.
- Download the Illinois Courts’ approved statewide forms. The court lists revised expungement and sealing forms approved in September 2026.
- Prepare separate requests for the applicable filing counties or Cook County districts as required.
- File through the court’s accepted method and follow applicable agency-notice, fee and fee-waiver procedures.
- Respond to objections or attend a hearing if required.
- Keep your signed order and follow up on implementation where appropriate.
Why an Illinois Criminal Record May Not Appear in a Search
| Problem | Possible explanation | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| No statewide court case result | There is no single free public search covering all Illinois county criminal dockets | Search the filing county Circuit Clerk |
| CHIRP finds no conviction | UCIA concerns releasable conviction data; name variations or repository reporting may also matter | Confirm with official court records or an authorized fingerprint inquiry |
| Cook County docket is not updated | Electronic docket updates may lag recent court proceedings | Check the courthouse public terminal or contact the Clerk |
| Name matches several people | Common name, incorrect identifiers or multiple records | Verify case number, county, dates and lawful identifying details |
| Case is sealed or expunged | Public access may be restricted under state law or court order | Contact the court concerning authorized access |
| Only an arrest appears | Charges may not have been filed or final disposition may belong to another source | Check the prosecutor’s filing court and the responsible Clerk |
| No IDOC custody result | The person may be in county jail, discharged or outside IDOC | Check county detention records or ask IDOC about archived information |
| Federal case is missing | Federal court cases are maintained separately | Search PACER |
A “no result” response means that the particular system did not produce a matching record. It does not necessarily establish that no criminal case, arrest or conviction exists.
Illinois Criminal Records for Employment and Background Screening
Using criminal records for an employment or housing decision can involve federal and Illinois legal requirements. Public availability alone does not make a report suitable for every eligibility decision.
Employers and other regulated users should determine whether the Fair Credit Reporting Act applies, obtain required authorization when necessary and follow applicable disclosure, adverse-action and dispute procedures.
Illinois also has state-specific restrictions affecting how criminal history may be considered in employment. A business should not treat a simple online court docket or CHIRP response as an automatically compliant screening process.
Federal Trade Commission — Employer Background Check Rules →
State of Illinois Criminal Records FAQs
1. How can I search State of Illinois criminal records online?
For a criminal court case, use the Circuit Clerk in the Illinois county where the case was filed. For publicly releasable statewide conviction-history information, follow the Illinois State Police CHIRP or UCIA request process.
2. Is there a free statewide Illinois criminal court case search?
Illinois does not provide one free public search covering all 102 county criminal court dockets. Individual Circuit Clerks offer their own searches and courthouse access procedures, which may be free or subject to registration or charges.
3. How much does an Illinois State Police CHIRP criminal history search cost?
Under the ISP fee schedule effective October 1, 2026, a UCIA name-based inquiry costs $10 electronically or $16 on paper. CHIRP registration and authorized access requirements apply.
4. Can I get a copy of my own Illinois criminal record for free?
Illinois State Police does not charge to process a personal Access & Review criminal-history request. You must submit fingerprints through an appropriate provider, which may charge a separate fingerprint collection fee.
5. Does a CHIRP background check show all Illinois arrests?
No. Public UCIA requests concern conviction information releasable under Illinois law, not every arrest or nonconviction entry. A person’s own Access & Review transcript follows a different fingerprint-based procedure.
6. Where can I search Cook County or Chicago criminal court cases?
Use the Cook County Clerk of the Circuit Court’s Online Case Information page. It provides public docket summaries. Very recent case events may take several days to appear, and courthouse public terminals provide another official access route.
7. How do I obtain certified Illinois criminal court records?
Contact the Circuit Clerk in the county where the case was filed. Provide the case number, party name and exact document required, and ask about certified-copy fees and available delivery methods.
8. How do I correct incorrect information on my Illinois criminal history?
Use the Illinois State Police Access & Review procedure to obtain your transcript. Then follow the Record Challenge instructions and provide relevant court or arresting-agency documentation to support the correction.
9. Can Illinois criminal records be expunged or sealed in 2026?
Yes, qualifying records may be eligible for expungement or sealing under current law. Illinois updated several sealing rules effective June 1, 2026, but broad automatic Clean Slate sealing is not expected to begin until 2029. Current petitions use the applicable court procedures.
10. Does an Illinois criminal court record mean someone was convicted?
No. A court record may show pending charges, dismissals, acquittals, supervision or convictions. Check the final disposition of each charge and any later court orders rather than relying solely on the filing or arrest entry.
Official Illinois Criminal Records Sources
Use these government and legal-aid resources to verify the correct records process, current fees, court access and available relief.
Illinois Court Records
- Illinois Courts — Official Circuit Clerk Directory
- Illinois Courts — Statewide Court Directory
- Cook County Clerk — Online Case Information
- DuPage County Circuit Clerk
- Lake County Circuit Clerk Online Portal
- Will County Public Case Search
- Champaign County Court Record Access
- St. Clair County Case Search and Dockets
Illinois State Police and Criminal History
- Illinois State Police — Bureau of Identification
- Illinois Criminal History and UCIA Rules
- CHIRP Name-Based Background Checks
- ISP Fingerprint-Based Background Checks
- ISP Access & Review of Your Own Record
- ISP Record Challenge Guidance
- ISP October 2026 Criminal History Fee Schedule