Cook County Criminal Records Search: Cases & Public Records
Cook County Criminal Records Search: Cases, Court Dockets & Public Records
To search Cook County criminal records, begin with the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County’s Online Case Information. The service provides publicly available court docket summaries for historical and active cases in Chicago and suburban Cook County.
A court docket can help you locate the case number, court, hearings, charges and available disposition information. However, an online docket is not a certified criminal record. For official documents, contact the Clerk’s Criminal Department, Criminal Division or the appropriate suburban courthouse.
Independent information guide. CriminalCourtRecord.org is not affiliated with Cook County courts, the Clerk of the Circuit Court, Cook County Sheriff or Illinois State Police.
Where to Find Cook County Criminal Records Online
There is no single Cook County search that combines every criminal case, jail booking, arrest report, statewide conviction history and federal prosecution. The correct government source depends on the information you need.
| Record needed | Official source | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Criminal court case or docket | Cook County Clerk Online Case Information | Available case status, court events, docket entries and other public case information. |
| Chicago misdemeanor records | Criminal Department | Misdemeanor and preliminary felony hearing records in Chicago’s First Municipal District. |
| Chicago felony trial records | Criminal Division | Felony trial records at Leighton Criminal Courthouse, 2650 South California Avenue. |
| Suburban criminal cases | Cook County Municipal Districts 2–6 | Criminal cases heard in Skokie, Rolling Meadows, Maywood, Bridgeview and Markham. |
| Certified judgment or disposition | Clerk’s Court Document Request | Official court document obtained from the division or district holding the case. |
| Current Cook County Jail custody | Sheriff’s Individual in Custody Locator | Available Cook County Jail custody information. Not a criminal conviction history. |
| Illinois statewide conviction history | Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification | Public conviction information under the Uniform Conviction Information Act. |
| Federal criminal case | PACER | Federal court cases, including cases filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. |
How to Search Cook County Criminal Cases by Name or Case Number
The Clerk’s official online service displays electronic docket summaries. The Clerk warns that the online data may take several days to reflect a recent filing or court event, and the electronic information is not the official court record.
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Open the Clerk’s public case information page.
Go to cookcountyclerkofcourt.org/online-case-information and follow the link to the public search application.
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Choose the available criminal case lookup.
Use the categories displayed by the official public search. If you arrive at a page specifically intended for registered Illinois attorneys, return to the public Online Case Information page instead.
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Enter the criminal case number if you have it.
A full case number helps distinguish proceedings involving people with similar names. Copy all letters and numbers exactly as they appear on your court notice.
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Use the defendant’s name when the number is unknown.
Search using the name fields provided by the current portal. Try accurate spelling variations or aliases if a search does not produce the expected case.
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Identify the proper court division or district.
A Chicago felony trial may belong to the Criminal Division at Leighton, while a Chicago misdemeanor may be associated with the Criminal Department. Suburban cases can belong to one of five separate municipal districts.
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Open the matching case summary.
Compare the name, case number, court and dates. A shared name alone does not establish that the record concerns the person you intended to search.
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Examine the chronological docket entries.
Look for the original charges, appearances, motions, court orders, plea or trial activity, disposition, sentencing and subsequent proceedings.
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Verify the final outcome.
A charge or an arraignment does not prove conviction. Check whether the case resulted in dismissal, acquittal, conviction, supervision, another disposition or continued proceedings.
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Request court documents when the summary is insufficient.
Note the case number and contact the Criminal Department, Criminal Division or the relevant suburban district. Request the precise document you need rather than relying on a screenshot.
Can you view criminal documents in the public online search?
The Clerk describes the online service as an electronic docket containing brief summaries of case documents and events. The public database is not a complete substitute for the original court file.
If you want a complaint, signed order, judgment, sentencing document or other court filing, ask about the official court-file access procedure.
Cook County Criminal Department vs. Criminal Division
Cook County does not use these two names interchangeably. Choosing the correct office matters when you need a criminal court file, certified disposition, court date or old case.
Criminal Department
Main records location:
Richard J. Daley Center
50 W. Washington Street
Room 1006
Chicago, IL 60602
Telephone: 312-603-4641
Email: CriminalMisdemeanorservices@cookcountycourt.com
This department maintains Chicago First Municipal District misdemeanor criminal records, felony preliminary hearing records and other qualifying criminal proceedings.
Criminal Department ↗Criminal Division
Main records location:
Leighton Criminal Courthouse
2650 South California Avenue
5th Floor, Room 526
Chicago, IL 60608
Telephone: 773-674-3140
The Criminal Division handles felony trials in Chicago, as well as related post-conviction proceedings, motions and petitions to expunge or seal qualifying records.
Suburban districts maintain records for felony matters heard in their respective locations.
Criminal Division ↗What about the first appearance or bond court?
The Cook County Criminal Department also identifies First Appearance Court at 2650 South California Avenue, Room 111, Chicago, IL 60608.
An initial appearance or custody-related proceeding does not necessarily identify the court that will ultimately maintain the felony trial judgment. For a final disposition, follow the case to its trial court or the appropriate Clerk’s office.
Domestic violence proceedings
Cook County’s Domestic Violence Courthouse is located at 555 W. Harrison Street, Chicago, IL 60607. Certain domestic violence criminal matters and civil protective-order cases are handled through specialized court procedures.
The Clerk’s Domestic Violence Division contact number for court-document inquiries is 312-325-9500. Confidential records may not be released through ordinary public case-search or copy requests.
Cook County Criminal Records by Suburban Courthouse
A case filed in Skokie, Rolling Meadows, Maywood, Bridgeview or Markham should not automatically be sent to the Daley Center’s Chicago Criminal Department. The Clerk says certified Chicago Criminal Department dispositions are for Chicago cases, while suburban cases should be handled by the appropriate suburban district.
| District | Courthouse and address | Clerk telephone | Examples of areas served |
|---|---|---|---|
|
District 2 Skokie |
5600 Old Orchard Road Skokie, IL 60077 |
847-470-7250 | Evanston, Skokie, Des Plaines, Northbrook, Niles, Park Ridge and Wilmette |
|
District 3 Rolling Meadows |
2121 Euclid Avenue Rolling Meadows, IL 60008 |
847-818-3000 | Arlington Heights, Palatine, Schaumburg, Elk Grove Village, Mount Prospect and Wheeling |
|
District 4 Maywood |
1500 Maybrook Drive Maywood, IL 60153 |
708-865-6040 | Oak Park, Cicero, Berwyn, Maywood, River Forest and Melrose Park |
|
District 5 Bridgeview |
10220 South 76th Avenue Bridgeview, IL 60455 |
708-974-6500 | Oak Lawn, Orland Park, Palos Hills, Bridgeview, Evergreen Park and Tinley Park |
|
District 6 Markham |
16501 South Kedzie Parkway Markham, IL 60428 |
708-232-4551 | Calumet City, Chicago Heights, Harvey, Homewood, Dolton and South Holland |
These examples reflect the Clerk’s published district service areas. A municipality can be associated with more than one kind of court or case, so the actual case number and assigned district should control your records request.
Contact the correct suburban criminal records office
The Clerk provides separate criminal-service email addresses for the five suburban districts:
- Skokie: SkokieDist2Crimservices@cookcountycourt.com
- Rolling Meadows: RollMeadDist3CrimSvc@cookcountycourt.com
- Maywood: MaywoodDist4Crimservices@cookcountycourt.com
- Bridgeview: BridgeviewDist5Crimservices@cookcountycourt.com
- Markham: MarkhamDist6Crimservices@cookcountycourt.com
How to Get Certified Cook County Criminal Records or a Disposition
A certified disposition establishes the official outcome recorded by the court. It may be required for immigration matters, licensing applications, legal proceedings or corrections to background records.
Cook County’s online case summary is helpful for finding a case but should not be submitted as if it were a Clerk-certified judgment.
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Find the correct case number.
Use the public case search or documents already in your possession. If unavailable, contact the appropriate Criminal Department or district.
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Determine where the case was handled.
For a Chicago misdemeanor, use the Criminal Department. For a Chicago felony trial, use the Criminal Division. For a suburban criminal case, contact its municipal district.
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Request the exact type of record.
Ask for a certified disposition, judgment, dismissal order, sentencing order or other specific court document.
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Provide the Clerk’s required identifiers.
For a Chicago Criminal Department certified disposition, the Clerk asks for the defendant’s name, date of birth and date of arrest. Other divisions may request the case number or additional details.
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Ask whether the original file is available.
Recent records may be on-site, while older case files could require retrieval. Sealed or impounded records may not be available without legal authorization.
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Confirm the charges before paying.
The Clerk says fees for certified copies, photocopies and name searches are governed by the applicable fee schedule. Request a current quote for the exact record.
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Confirm the official delivery process.
Ask whether the document can be obtained in person, through an approved request procedure or by mail. Certification requirements can affect delivery.
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Preserve the certified record.
Check that the document identifies the correct case, court and outcome. Keep the certification intact for the organization requesting it.
Cook County Jail Records and Current Inmate Search
The Cook County Sheriff’s Office operates the Individual in Custody Locator. The county government links to this service for locating people currently held in Cook County Jail.
Use the jail locator when your question concerns current custody, a booking number or housing information. Do not treat a custody listing as a conviction record.
Cook County Sheriff Locator
Open the official Sheriff’s custody locator, follow its displayed search instructions and use the available name or other supported identifying information.
If a result appears, confirm that the record concerns the correct individual.
Open Individual in Custody Locator ↗Jail Contact Information
Cook County Department of Corrections
2700 South California Avenue
Chicago, IL 60608
Main telephone: 773-674-1945
Automated assistance: 773-674-5245
The automated line provides custody-related options, including locating an individual.
Sheriff’s Corrections Department ↗What if someone was arrested but no court case appears?
An arrest and a filed criminal prosecution are different stages of the process. A person may be booked or brought before a first-appearance court before the online criminal case record reflects subsequent proceedings.
Check custody information through the Sheriff’s Office, then confirm the court and case number with the appropriate Clerk. For an arrest made by another law-enforcement agency, contact the agency responsible for the arrest report.
Chicago Police Department arrest reports
A Chicago Police Department incident or arrest report is a police record, not a criminal court judgment. For an original Chicago police report, use the City of Chicago or Chicago Police Department’s authorized records-request procedure.
For a police report originating with a suburban police department, request it from that municipality rather than assuming the Cook County Sheriff created the report.
Illinois State Police Criminal History Checks vs. Cook County Cases
The Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification maintains statewide criminal-history information. Its public criminal-history program operates under the Illinois Uniform Conviction Information Act (UCIA).
The UCIA allows the public to request releasable conviction information. It should not be described as a complete public report of all arrests, dismissed charges, juvenile matters or restricted criminal records.
Current Illinois criminal-history search fees
| Illinois State Police service | Electronic or Live Scan | Manual / paper submission |
|---|---|---|
| UCIA name-based conviction search | $10 | $16 |
| UCIA fingerprint-based inquiry | $15 | $20 |
| Authorized Illinois state-only applicant check | $15 | $20 |
| Authorized combined Illinois and FBI applicant check | $30 | $35 |
| Personal Access and Review | No ISP fee | Fingerprint collection provider may charge |
The state-only, FBI and combined applicant rates in this table reflect the Illinois State Police schedule effective October 1, 2026. The UCIA name and fingerprint fees are listed separately. Verify the correct authorized request category before payment.
How to check your own complete Illinois criminal history
Illinois State Police provides a separate Access and Review process for individuals who want to review or challenge their own Illinois criminal-history records.
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Open the official Illinois State Police instructions.
Use the Bureau of Identification’s Access and Review page.
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Arrange fingerprinting.
An Illinois law-enforcement agency, correctional facility or licensed fingerprint vendor can facilitate the approved procedure.
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Complete the identifying information.
Follow the agency or vendor’s instructions for submitting fingerprints and the required details.
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Review the personal criminal-history response.
Illinois State Police sends the result or notice that no history was found under its Access and Review procedure.
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Challenge any incorrect information.
The response includes a Record Challenge form, which can be used to dispute an inaccurate criminal-history entry.
How to Find Older Cook County Criminal Records
Cook County’s online case-search system does not guarantee that every older court file is fully indexed or accessible. The Clerk maintains an Archives Department for pre-electronic and historical court records.
The Archives Department reports that computerized court indexing and docketing began in the early 1980s. Older criminal case research may therefore require archived records rather than an online docket search.
Richard J. Daley Center
50 West Washington Street
Room 1113
Chicago, IL 60602
Telephone: 312-603-6601
Before visiting Archives
- Identify the approximate year of the case and defendant’s name.
- Determine whether the case was a felony, misdemeanor or another type of proceeding.
- Contact Archives to find out whether the relevant records are held there.
- Ask about indexes, off-site retrieval and available copies.
- Allow additional time before traveling to inspect an archived file.
The Clerk states that archived files are often stored off-site and may require two to ten days to transfer to Archives for viewing.
How to Interpret Cook County Criminal Court Records
A case record can contain several entries that look similar to someone unfamiliar with criminal court terminology. Reviewing the final disposition is important before drawing any conclusions.
| Common entry | What it can mean | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Arrest / booking | A law-enforcement custody event. | Whether charges were filed and the case’s final outcome. |
| Felony charge | A criminal allegation classified as a felony. | A charge is not itself a conviction. |
| Preliminary hearing | An early proceeding concerning prosecution and probable cause. | Whether the case later proceeded to felony trial. |
| Motion filed | A party requested judicial action. | Check whether the judge granted or denied the request. |
| Dismissed | A charge or case was dismissed. | Whether every count was dismissed and whether an arrest record remains. |
| Court supervision | A distinct Illinois disposition that may involve conditions without entry of a conviction when successfully completed. | Review the final order, completion status and offense-specific consequences. |
| Conviction / sentence | The court entered a judgment of guilt or an associated sentence. | Check the exact count, judgment and later modifications. |
| Closed | Administrative case status. | Closed alone does not prove conviction or dismissal. |
Cook County Criminal Records Expungement and Sealing
Illinois law permits eligible criminal arrest and court records to be expunged or sealed under specified conditions. These remedies are different, and eligibility depends on the offense, disposition, criminal history and applicable Illinois law.
Expungement
A qualifying expungement changes the availability or retention of specified criminal records under the applicable statutory procedure.
The Cook County Clerk explains that expunged records are destroyed in the contexts described in its official guidance.
Sealing
Sealing restricts ordinary public access to qualifying criminal records without necessarily destroying them.
Certain authorized agencies may still have access under Illinois law.
How to begin an expungement or sealing request
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Identify every relevant criminal case.
Use the court’s public records and, if necessary, your Illinois Access and Review history to prepare an accurate list of cases and dispositions.
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Review Illinois eligibility requirements.
Some arrests, dismissals, supervisions and convictions may qualify, while others have restrictions or different waiting periods.
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Open the Cook County Clerk’s adult expungement page.
Download the official Illinois Courts forms and instructions linked by the Clerk.
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Identify the correct filing district.
The Clerk instructs petitioners with Chicago cases and suburban cases to use the appropriate filing location and jurisdiction.
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Complete the petition and notices.
Include the required case details and follow the rules for filing and notifying relevant agencies.
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Ask about current fees and waivers.
Cook County court filing charges may apply. Eligible applicants may request a court fee waiver. Check the current fee schedule rather than relying on an older online estimate.
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Follow the court’s decision.
Keep the signed order if the petition is granted and follow the legally required notification or record-update procedures.
Why You Cannot Find a Cook County Criminal Record Online
| Problem | Possible reason | Best next step |
|---|---|---|
| New arrest but no online court case | The case may not yet be filed or reflected in the Clerk’s online docket. | Check the Sheriff’s current custody locator and contact the appropriate court. |
| Chicago felony record not found at Daley Center | The felony trial case may be maintained by the Criminal Division at Leighton Courthouse. | Call the Criminal Division at 773-674-3140. |
| Skokie or Bridgeview case missing from Chicago records | Suburban districts maintain their own case files and dispositions. | Contact the municipal district where the case was heard. |
| Court date differs from an online entry | Electronic docket updates can be delayed. | Follow the official court notice and verify with the Clerk. |
| Docket found but no document image | Public electronic summaries are not complete official case files. | Request document inspection or copies from the proper court office. |
| Case is decades old | Pre-electronic records may not be fully indexed online. | Contact the Archives Department at 312-603-6601. |
| Court record differs from an Illinois State Police report | Court dockets and statewide conviction history have different disclosure and reporting rules. | Compare the certified disposition and use ISP’s Record Challenge procedure if appropriate. |
| A previous case no longer appears | Possible sealing, expungement, confidentiality or database changes. | Use an authorized court inquiry; do not speculate about the person’s record. |
How to confirm your next Cook County criminal court date
The Clerk’s Criminal Department says its staff can help locate court-date information when provided the necessary identifiers, including the defendant’s name, aliases, date of birth, arrest year and charge information.
For Chicago misdemeanor or preliminary-hearing matters, call 312-603-4641. For Chicago felony trials, the Criminal Division lists 773-674-3140 and a court-appearance information line at 773-674-9255.
Cook County’s general Clerk customer service number is 312-603-5030.
Can Cook County Criminal Records Be Used for a Background Check?
Public court records can help confirm that a case was filed and identify recorded court activity. They are not automatically a legally compliant employment or tenant-screening report.
When background information affects employment, housing, licensing or other eligibility decisions, the Fair Credit Reporting Act and applicable Illinois law may impose additional requirements.
An arrest is not proof of conviction, and a common-name match is not adequate confirmation of identity. Check the final disposition and source of the information before relying on it.
Cook County Criminal Records FAQs
1. How do I search Cook County criminal records online?
Use the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County’s Online Case Information service. Search the available criminal case information using the supported name or case-number fields, then review the case docket.
2. Is the Cook County criminal records search free?
The Clerk offers public online case information without charging for ordinary docket lookup. Certified documents, printed copies, staff-assisted searches or other services may involve fees. An Illinois State Police statewide conviction-history inquiry is a separate paid service.
3. Where can I find Cook County felony criminal records?
Chicago felony trial records are maintained by the Criminal Division at Leighton Criminal Courthouse, 2650 South California Avenue, Chicago. Suburban felony records may be maintained by the district where the case was heard.
4. Where do I find Chicago misdemeanor criminal records?
The Criminal Department maintains Chicago First Municipal District misdemeanor and related records. Its primary public file-request location is Richard J. Daley Center, Room 1006, 50 W. Washington Street, Chicago. The telephone number is 312-603-4641.
5. Can I search Skokie, Maywood and Bridgeview criminal cases?
Yes. The Clerk’s public case-information service covers available Cook County court records. For certified dispositions or case-file requests, contact the appropriate suburban municipal district, such as Skokie, Rolling Meadows, Maywood, Bridgeview or Markham.
6. How do I get a certified Cook County criminal disposition?
Contact the Clerk’s division or district maintaining the case. For Chicago Criminal Department dispositions, the Clerk requests the defendant’s name, date of birth and date of arrest. Confirm the applicable certification charge and delivery procedure.
7. Where do I search Cook County Jail inmate records?
Use the Cook County Sheriff’s Individual in Custody Locator through the official county government link. For assistance, the Sheriff’s automated information line is 773-674-5245. Jail custody information is not a complete criminal conviction history.
8. How do I get my own Illinois criminal history?
Use the Illinois State Police Access and Review process. It requires fingerprints through an authorized agency or licensed vendor. Illinois State Police does not charge for the Access and Review processing, although fingerprint collection fees may apply.
9. Can Cook County criminal records be expunged or sealed?
Qualifying arrests, court supervisions, misdemeanors and certain felony records may be eligible for relief under Illinois law. Use the Cook County Clerk’s adult expungement and sealing instructions to review eligibility and official forms.
10. Why is a Cook County criminal case not appearing online?
The record may be newly filed, maintained in a different criminal division or suburban district, older than the electronic index, sealed, expunged, confidential or not yet updated. Contact the appropriate Clerk rather than assuming the case never existed.
Cook County Criminal Records: Government Links
The following resources belong to the Cook County Clerk of the Circuit Court, Cook County Sheriff’s Office, Illinois State Police and other official government agencies.
- Cook County Clerk — Online Case Information
- Cook County Public Case Search
- Cook County Criminal Department — Chicago Misdemeanors
- Cook County Criminal Division — Felonies and Suburban Districts
- Cook County Clerk — Court Document Requests
- Cook County Court Archives — Historical Records
- Cook County Adult Criminal Expungement and Sealing
- Cook County Government — Locate an Inmate
- Cook County Sheriff — Individual in Custody Locator
- Cook County Department of Corrections
- Illinois State Police — Criminal History
- Illinois State Police — Criminal History Fee Schedule
- Illinois State Police — Personal Access and Review
- PACER — Federal Court Case Search