Illinois Public Criminal Records: Criminal Records Guide
Illinois • Statewide Criminal Records Guide
Illinois Public Criminal Records: Search Court Cases, Convictions, Arrests and State Records
Looking for Illinois public criminal records? Learn how to search criminal court cases through county circuit clerks, request Illinois State Police conviction records, check correctional information and obtain official documents.
There is no single public website that provides every Illinois arrest, charge and conviction across all 102 counties. Trial court files are maintained through local circuit clerks, while statewide criminal-history information is maintained separately by the Illinois State Police.
Where to Find Illinois Public Criminal Records
Start with the record category that matches your purpose. These official services do not all contain the same information.
Illinois Courts Directory
Locate the county circuit court and circuit clerk responsible for the case. Public search options depend on the county.
Find a courthouse →Cook County Case Information
Search available electronic dockets for current and historical Cook County proceedings. Online summaries are not certified records.
Cook County lookup →Illinois State Police CHIRP
Obtain qualifying Illinois conviction information through the Uniform Conviction Information Act name-based process.
Name-based checks →ISP Access and Review
Use an authorized fingerprint provider to obtain a transcript of your own Illinois criminal history and challenge errors.
Access your own record →Illinois IDOC Search
Check available public information about individuals held by, or recorded in, Illinois Department of Corrections systems.
Search IDOC records →Sex Offender Registry
Review Illinois State Police information concerning persons required to register under applicable state law.
Open registry →Illinois Criminal Records Search: Find the Correct Office
Choose what you want to find. This on-page guide does not request personal identifiers, submit a search or access restricted government databases.
How to Search Illinois Criminal Court Records by Name or Case Number
Illinois has 25 judicial circuits. Each county has an elected circuit clerk who maintains the court’s files and case records. That means a search for a criminal case in Chicago may use a different online portal from a case in Peoria, Springfield or Belleville.
- Determine where the case was filed.
Identify the county, rather than relying only on the municipality where an arrest occurred. The court named on a citation, notice or prior judgment is especially useful.
- Visit the Illinois Courts Directory.
Use the official directory to find the county’s court and local clerk information.
- Open the circuit clerk’s official website.
Look for an option labeled Public Case Search, Criminal Records, Court Records, Case Lookup or Docket Search.
- Choose criminal case searching.
Some counties separate felony, misdemeanor, traffic, civil and family records. Use the category appropriate for your case.
- Search using an identifying field.
Where offered, enter the defendant’s name or case number. A full case number is usually more specific than a common name.
- Compare possible matches.
Check court location, filing year, criminal case number, case type and public identity information. A name match alone is not confirmation.
- Open the docket.
Review charges, court appearances, filings, motions and case events.
- Locate the disposition.
Determine whether each charge ended in a dismissal, acquittal, conviction or another recognized outcome.
- Check later entries.
A judgment may have been modified, appealed, vacated or affected by sealing or expungement.
- Request court documents when needed.
Contact the circuit clerk about available copies, certified judgments, older files and access restrictions.
Illinois Criminal Records Search by County
Illinois has 102 counties. The following table identifies major places and the proper government office to contact. It does not assume every county provides the same online search functionality.
| County | Major communities | Official record custodian | Recommended search |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cook | Chicago, Skokie, Evanston | Cook County Clerk of the Circuit Court | Online case information |
| DuPage | Wheaton, Naperville | DuPage County Circuit Clerk | Find current clerk case lookup |
| Lake | Waukegan, Libertyville | Lake County Circuit Clerk | Confirm current public electronic access |
| Will | Joliet, Bolingbrook | Will County Circuit Clerk | Use clerk criminal-case resources |
| Kane | Geneva, Aurora, Elgin | Kane County Circuit Clerk | Search local court docket |
| McHenry | Woodstock, Crystal Lake | McHenry County Circuit Clerk | Check local case search |
| Winnebago | Rockford | Winnebago County Circuit Clerk | Check criminal records portal |
| Sangamon | Springfield | Sangamon County Circuit Clerk | Look up the filing court |
| Peoria | Peoria | Peoria County Circuit Clerk | Use court case search or clerk request |
| Madison | Edwardsville, Alton | Madison County Circuit Clerk | Check local criminal case information |
| St. Clair | Belleville, East St. Louis | St. Clair County Circuit Clerk | Search appropriate county court |
| Champaign | Champaign, Urbana | Champaign County Circuit Clerk | Search county docket or ask clerk |
For a county not listed, select the county in the Illinois Courts Directory. The separate Circuit Court Clerks Directory also provides county-specific clerk contact information.
Cook County Public Criminal Records: Chicago Case Search
Cook County is Illinois’ most populous county and has its own Circuit Court Clerk search system.
The Cook County Clerk provides On-line Case Information to help members of the public review the general status of historical and active proceedings. The online docket contains brief summaries of filed court documents and events.
How to use the Cook County search
- Open the Clerk’s official case information page.
Read the public-record disclaimer before continuing.
- Follow the current case-search link.
The Clerk’s website links to the public case search application.
- Select the relevant division or search category.
Use the criminal option when available rather than a civil-only search.
- Enter the case information.
Search by the supported case number or available party information.
- Review the electronic docket.
Check the filing year, court, entries and case status.
- Verify important outcomes.
For recent filings or official copies, ask about courthouse public access terminals or Clerk-maintained records.
Illinois State Police Criminal History: CHIRP and UCIA
Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification is the statewide custodian of Illinois criminal-history record information. The Uniform Conviction Information Act (UCIA) allows the public to request qualifying conviction-history information.
Unlike a circuit court docket, a public UCIA response generally concerns convictions maintained by ISP rather than every local charge, arrest or dismissal.
Public Conviction Information
Use the ISP Criminal History Information Response Process (CHIRP) for eligible electronic name-based inquiries.
- UCIA conviction-information scope
- Statewide repository search
- Registered inquiry procedure
- Electronic and manual request options
- Fee for each applicable inquiry
Your Own Criminal History
ISP’s Access and Review procedure lets individuals request their own criminal-history transcript with fingerprints.
- Personal identity verification
- Criminal-history transcript
- No-record response where applicable
- Record Challenge form
- No ISP processing fee
How to request an Illinois UCIA name-based check
- Read the ISP criminal-history page.
Confirm that a public UCIA conviction inquiry is appropriate for your purpose.
- Open ISP’s Name Based Background Checks instructions.
Follow the current CHIRP registration and authentication requirements.
- Provide required subject details.
Enter the supported identifying information accurately.
- Pay the applicable search fee.
The current electronic name-based fee is $10.
- Retrieve the response.
Follow the ISP instructions for obtaining the result and retaining the transaction reference.
- Interpret the result carefully.
An absence of publicly releasable convictions is not equivalent to proving there have never been arrests, charges or court proceedings.
Illinois Criminal Records Fees: Free Searches and Paid Reports
Illinois State Police’s published schedule distinguishes public UCIA searches from authorized applicant checks. The fee amounts below are current in October 2026.
| Record search or service | Published cost | Purpose or limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Many county court case searches | Free when offered | Public docket information; coverage varies by county |
| UCIA name-based electronic inquiry | $10 | Publicly releasable Illinois conviction history |
| UCIA name-based paper inquiry | $16 | Manual conviction-history request |
| UCIA electronic fingerprint inquiry | $15 | Fingerprint-based UCIA request |
| UCIA paper fingerprint card inquiry | $20 | Paper fingerprint request |
| Authorized applicant state-only electronic check | $15 | Applicable state background-screening program |
| Authorized applicant combined state/FBI electronic check | $30 | Separate legally authorized screening category |
| ISP personal Access and Review | No ISP fee | Personal transcript; fingerprint provider may charge |
| ISP record challenge | No ISP fee | Request correction of personal criminal-history information |
| Certified circuit court document | Varies by clerk | Official copy of a particular case document |
ISP identifies October 1, 2026 as the effective date for its updated authorized-applicant fee schedule. Do not confuse these fees with a general public UCIA inquiry.
How to Get Your Own Illinois Criminal Record and Correct Errors
If you want to know what is contained in your own Illinois criminal history, the public UCIA process may not be the most appropriate route. ISP provides Access and Review, which is intended for an individual to inspect and challenge their record.
- Locate a participating fingerprint provider.
ISP states that an individual may approach an Illinois law-enforcement or correctional facility or an authorized licensed fingerprint vendor for Access and Review.
- Request Access and Review specifically.
Explain that you want your own criminal-history transcript, not merely a name-based public conviction inquiry.
- Provide fingerprints and identifying details.
The authorized provider submits the required information to Illinois State Police.
- Receive the transcript or no-history response.
ISP sends the result to the designated residence address or participating facility as authorized.
- Review your record.
Compare arrests, charges, case numbers and dispositions against official court documents.
- Challenge inaccuracies if necessary.
Use the Record Challenge form provided with the transcript and supporting documentation.
- Verify the response to your challenge.
ISP will send written notice identifying corrections made or explaining when no change is warranted.
Illinois Department of Corrections Public Inmate Records
The Illinois Department of Corrections operates an Individual in Custody Search. It allows the public to look up individuals recorded in the state correctional system.
Available search methods
- Last name, including partial last-name searches where supported
- IDOC number
- Date of birth
IDOC’s public FAQ explains that releasable information about an individual may include the person’s name, IDOC number, current institution or status, certain identifying statistics, admission and release dates, and sentencing information.
Why someone may not appear
A person may be in a county jail awaiting trial, housed in another state or federal institution, recorded under a different name, or outside current search coverage after completing a sentence. Absence from the state prison search is not evidence that no criminal case or conviction exists.
Illinois DOC public information phone: (217) 558-2200.
Illinois IDOC Individual in Custody Search ↗Illinois State Police Sex Offender Registry
Illinois State Police maintains an online registry of individuals required to register under applicable Illinois law.
Search options include name, date of birth, city, county, ZIP code, status and other supported fields. The registry is updated by agencies and should be interpreted in light of the site’s own limitations and disclaimers.
- Open the official ISP registry.
Read the disclaimer and access rules.
- Search using basic identifiers.
Begin with first and last name where appropriate.
- Refine results.
Add county, city, ZIP code or other relevant details.
- Open the matching public record.
Review the identifiers, registration status and offense information displayed.
- Verify questionable information.
Contact the listed registering agency for corrections or verification.
Understanding Illinois Arrest Records, Charges and Convictions
People often search for “criminal records” when they mean one of several legally different kinds of information.
| Record type | Typical custodian | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| Arrest or police report | Arresting police department or sheriff | An arrest or investigation was recorded; not a conviction |
| Criminal charge | Circuit clerk and prosecutor | A criminal allegation was formally filed |
| Court docket | Circuit clerk | Court proceedings and available case history |
| Dismissal or acquittal | Circuit clerk | A particular charge did not result in conviction through that disposition |
| Judgment of conviction | Circuit clerk | The court’s formal conviction outcome |
| State conviction history | Illinois State Police | Publicly releasable conviction information in the state repository |
| Personal criminal-history transcript | Illinois State Police | Individual’s record available under Access and Review rules |
| State prison record | Illinois DOC | Correctional custody and related information |
Does a criminal charge mean someone was convicted?
No. A charge is an allegation. You must check the disposition for each count. A single case can involve dismissed counts, amended charges and separate conviction findings.
Can dismissed cases remain public?
Some dismissed cases remain accessible depending on court policy and Illinois sealing or expungement law. Other qualifying records may be restricted. The outcome and public visibility must be checked separately.
Can someone have records in multiple Illinois counties?
Yes. A person may have cases in more than one county, and each local circuit clerk is responsible for its own court records. A search of only Cook County, for example, does not cover every prosecution elsewhere in Illinois.
Illinois Expungement, Sealing and Restricted Public Criminal Records
Illinois provides legal processes for expunging and sealing qualifying criminal records. These are not identical remedies.
Expungement
Under applicable Illinois law and orders, eligible criminal records may be removed or destroyed. The precise effect depends on the offense and legal procedure.
Sealing
Sealing generally limits access by ordinary members of the public, although certain agencies or authorized parties may retain access under the law.
Illinois Courts provides statewide forms for adult criminal record expungement and sealing. The adult forms were approved or revised in June 2026, and the court also publishes juvenile expungement forms approved in July 2026.
How to begin the Illinois expungement or sealing process
- Gather case information.
Locate the county, case number and disposition of each record involved.
- Review eligibility rules.
Determine which records may qualify for expungement or sealing.
- Download current approved forms.
Use the Illinois Courts website rather than older third-party form packets.
- Prepare the request.
Illinois Legal Aid Online offers a free guided interview to help complete eligible applications.
- File in the proper court.
Follow the circuit clerk’s current filing instructions, fee requirements and procedural rules.
- Confirm the court’s order and its implementation.
Do not assume filing a request automatically removes a record.
Why Can’t I Find an Illinois Criminal Record?
| Problem | Possible cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| No result in Cook County | Case filed in another county or data unavailable online | Check actual filing county |
| Case visible, final judgment missing | Online docket summary or processing delay | Request official record from clerk |
| UCIA check returns no conviction | Public conviction scope or repository coverage | Do not assume absence of all arrests or charges |
| Old court case absent | Historical files may not be electronically available | Ask the circuit clerk about archives |
| IDOC result missing | County jail custody, discharge or different facility | Check correct corrections agency |
| Names do not match correctly | Spelling, alias or shared name | Use case number and lawful identifiers |
| Record was expunged or sealed | Statutory restriction or court order | Follow authorized access procedure |
| Federal case not found | Federal court cases use separate systems | Search PACER |
Can Illinois Public Criminal Records Be Used for Employment or Tenant Screening?
Public access to a record does not mean it can be used without restriction for every purpose. The Fair Credit Reporting Act may apply when an employer or landlord obtains a background report from a consumer reporting agency.
Illinois and local jurisdictions may impose further requirements involving criminal-history consideration, disclosure, notice and the treatment of expunged or sealed information.
Before making a decision
- Verify the correct individual.
- Distinguish arrests from convictions.
- Review final dispositions.
- Check the currency of information.
- Consider sealing and expungement restrictions.
Understand legal requirements
- Use an appropriate screening procedure.
- Follow applicable FCRA consent and disclosure requirements.
- Provide required pre-adverse-action notices.
- Allow required dispute opportunities.
- Observe Illinois and applicable local laws.
CriminalCourtRecord.org is an informational website, not a consumer reporting agency. Its content and links should not be presented as an employment or tenant-screening report.
FTC Background Check Requirements ↗Illinois Public Criminal Records FAQs
Are Illinois public criminal records available online?
Yes. Some Illinois county circuit clerks provide online public case information. Illinois State Police also offers public conviction-history checks, while IDOC provides correctional record lookup.
Is there one statewide Illinois criminal court records search?
No single public court portal provides every Illinois circuit court record across all counties. Search through the local circuit clerk in the county where the case was filed.
Can I search Illinois criminal cases by name?
Some county clerks allow public searches by party or defendant name. Other jurisdictions use different search criteria or limit remote access. Check the official local clerk website.
How can I search Cook County criminal records?
Use the Cook County Clerk of the Circuit Court’s On-line Case Information service. The public electronic docket provides case summaries but is not the official certified court record.
How much is an Illinois State Police criminal-history check?
ISP lists $10 for an electronic UCIA name-based inquiry and $16 for a paper name-based inquiry. Other fingerprint and authorized-applicant services have separate fees.
How do I obtain my own Illinois criminal-history record?
Use ISP Access and Review through a participating law-enforcement or correctional facility or licensed fingerprint vendor. ISP does not charge for its Access and Review processing, although the fingerprint provider may charge.
Does an arrest mean someone has a criminal conviction?
No. An arrest is not proof of guilt. The criminal court’s final disposition establishes what happened to the filed charges.
Can I search Illinois inmate records for free?
Illinois Department of Corrections offers a public Individual in Custody Search, including lookup by last name, IDOC number or date of birth. It does not cover every county jail or historical conviction.
Do sealed or expunged Illinois criminal records appear in public searches?
Sealing and expungement can restrict access to or remove eligible records according to Illinois law and the applicable court order. Some legally authorized users may retain access to certain sealed information.
How do I get a certified Illinois criminal court judgment?
Contact the circuit clerk of the county and court that entered the judgment. Provide the case number and ask about certified copies, current fees and delivery options.
Official Illinois Criminal Records Resources
- Illinois Courts Directory — identify court locations and jurisdictions.
- Illinois Circuit Court Clerks — county clerk contact information.
- Cook County On-line Case Information — public case summaries and disclaimer.
- Illinois State Police Criminal History — UCIA scope.
- ISP Name-Based Background Checks — CHIRP requests.
- ISP Official Fee Schedule — current state criminal-history fees.
- ISP Viewing My Record — Access and Review and correction procedures.
- Illinois Administrative Code Part 1210 — individual record access and review.
- Illinois DOC Individual in Custody Search — correctional records.
- Illinois State Police Sex Offender Registry — official public registry.
- Illinois Courts Expungement and Sealing Forms — current approved forms.
- Illinois Legal Aid Online — free form preparation guidance.
- PACER — federal criminal case searches.
- FTC Employer Background Checks — federal consumer-reporting requirements.