Chicago, Illinois · Police arrest, jail custody and court-record guide
Search a Chicago Arrest, Confirm Cook County Custody and Find the Court Outcome
Chicago arrest information can exist in three separate places. The Chicago Police Department records the arrest, the Cook County Sheriff records county-jail custody, and the Clerk of the Circuit Court maintains the criminal case.
This guide explains exactly what each database covers, why records disappear or fail to appear, how to decode a CPD booking, where to request police documents, how to obtain a certified disposition and what to do when a record is inaccurate, sealed or expunged.
An arrest is not a conviction. A CPD arrest entry or mugshot records an adult arrest. Charges can be amended, declined or dismissed, and a person may be acquitted. Verify the court disposition before describing the arrest as a conviction.
CPD date coverage
January 1, 2014 to present.
Age coverage
Adults age 18 or older at arrest.
Agency coverage
Chicago Police arrests only.
Jail help
Verified
Official-source review July 13, 2026.
Use the database that answers your actual question
CHICAGO POLICE
Was the person arrested by CPD?
Use the Adult Arrest Search for an adult CPD arrest on or after January 1, 2014.
COOK COUNTY SHERIFF
Is the person in county custody?
Use the Individual in Custody Locator for a current Cook County booking, booking ID, division and housing location.
CIRCUIT COURT CLERK
What happened after arrest?
Use the Cook County court docket for filed charges, hearings, orders and disposition.
ILLINOIS STATE POLICE
Do you need statewide history?
Use CHIRP for conviction information or Access and Review for your own fingerprint-based criminal history.
Best full-record workflow: Save the CPD central booking number, locate the Cook County booking identification number when the person entered county custody, and use the court case number to verify the final legal outcome.
What the Chicago Police Adult Arrest Search includes
The CPD search includes only: arrests on or after January 1, 2014; people who were at least 18 at the time of arrest; and arrests made by Chicago Police Department personnel.
Included arrest information
Name, age, address, arrest date and time, arrest location and geographic police assignment.
Included booking information
Mugshot, central booking number, charges, police-facility release date and time and bond information when displayed.
Included geographic fields
The police area, district and beat connected with the arrest record.
Records the CPD search does not include
Arrests before January 1, 2014
A person younger than 18 at the time of arrest
Cook County Sheriff arrests
Illinois State Police arrests
Suburban municipal police arrests
Federal-agency arrests
Records removed after qualifying expungement
Confidential or legally restricted information
A missing CPD result does not prove that no arrest occurred. The arrest may be too old, juvenile, made by another agency, recorded under a different name or removed after a court order.
How to search Chicago Police arrest records accurately
Confirm that CPD probably made the arrest
If the arrest occurred inside Chicago, CPD may be the arresting agency. However, the Sheriff, State Police, transit police, university police or a federal agency could also have made it.
Confirm that the arrest falls within the public date range
The CPD database begins with arrests dated January 1, 2014.
Enter the legal last name
Begin broadly. Do not add unnecessary filters before confirming how the name appears in the system.
Add the first name to reduce results
Test a maiden name, former surname, hyphen variation, suffix or alternate spelling when needed.
Open every plausible result
Compare age, address, arrest date, central booking number, arrest location and charges.
Save the central booking number
The CBN is the most useful identifier for a specific CPD booking and should be included in later report or correction requests.
Record every listed charge
One arrest can contain multiple charges. The court may later file, amend or decline individual counts.
Continue to Cook County court records
Use the defendant name, arrest date and case number to verify the filed case and disposition.
What each Chicago arrest-record field means
| Field | What it identifies | What it does not prove | Best next action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central Booking Number | A specific Chicago Police booking event. | It does not provide the complete court outcome. | Use it in CPD report and correction requests. |
| Mugshot | The booking photograph associated with the arrest. | A photograph does not establish guilt or conviction. | Verify age, CBN, date and court case before relying on it. |
| Age | The age recorded in the public arrest entry. | Age alone cannot distinguish all people with the same name. | Compare it with the arrest date and known birth date. |
| Address | The address information recorded for the arrested person. | It may be outdated, incomplete or disputed. | Do not use an address as the only identity match. |
| Charge | The alleged offense associated with the arrest. | The State’s Attorney may file a different charge or no charge. | Read the filed court complaint, information or indictment. |
| Arrest date and time | When CPD recorded the arrest. | It may not equal the time of the alleged incident or county-jail admission. | Use it to find the correct court and report records. |
| Arrest location | Where the arrest was recorded as occurring. | It may differ from the original incident location. | Include both locations in a report request when known. |
| Police district or beat | The CPD geographic assignment connected with the arrest. | It does not necessarily identify the district holding every report. | Include the district and beat in FOIA requests. |
| CPD release time | When the person left the Chicago Police facility. | The person may have transferred to Cook County Jail rather than being released home. | Check the Cook County custody locator. |
| Bond type or amount | The bond or release information recorded at that stage. | It may not reflect later court orders or the post-2023 pretrial system. | Verify the current court release order. |
CPD release does not always mean freedom from custody. A person may leave a district station because CPD transferred the person to the Cook County Department of Corrections.
Use this identity test before relying on an arrest
Full first and last name match
Age is consistent with the known birth date
Arrest date matches the known incident
Central booking number is consistent
Arrest location is plausible
Court case belongs to the same defendant
Two-identifier minimum: Do not publish, share with an employer, send money or accuse a person based only on a name or facial resemblance.
Same name, different age
Treat the records as different people unless CPD confirms a clerical error.
Same photo, different booking date
The person may have separate arrest events. Review each CBN independently.
Correct arrest, no court case
Filing may be delayed, the prosecutor may have declined charges or the case may use a different name variation.
Correct court case, no CPD result
The arrest may predate 2014 or may have been made by another agency.
No Chicago arrest result found? Check these causes in order
The arrest happened recently
Booking, identity verification and public-database entry may still be underway.
The arrest occurred before 2014
Use CPD Records, your fingerprint-based RAP sheet and Cook County court records.
The person was under 18
Juvenile arrest records do not appear in the Adult Arrest Search.
Another agency made the arrest
Search the Cook County Sheriff, Illinois State Police, suburb, university or federal agency.
The name is recorded differently
Try a former surname, alias, suffix, compound surname or alternate spelling.
The record was expunged
CPD states that an appropriately expunged arrest is removed from the public search.
The person entered Cook County custody
Search the Sheriff locator using the full booked name and booking number.
The person was released quickly
The court case may remain visible even when the person is no longer in jail.
Useful call script
I am trying to locate an arrest or custody record for [full legal name], date of birth [date]. The arrest may have occurred on [date] at [location] through [agency]. I have central booking number [number], Cook County booking number [number] or case number [number]. Can you tell me which office maintains the record?
Which agency should you contact?
| Record needed | Likely custodian | Important identifier | Common mistake |
|---|---|---|---|
| CPD arrest entry | Chicago Police Department | Central booking number | Asking the Sheriff to correct a CPD arrest field. |
| Police incident report | Agency whose officer created the report | Records-division or incident number | Assuming every Chicago-area arrest report belongs to CPD. |
| Current Cook County custody | Cook County Sheriff | Booking identification number | Using the CPD release time as proof that the person went home. |
| Misdemeanor Chicago case | Clerk Criminal Department | Case number, defendant and arrest date | Relying on the original arrest charge. |
| Felony case | Clerk Criminal Division | Case number and defendant information | Calling the misdemeanor department for a felony file. |
| Statewide conviction information | Illinois State Police CHIRP | Accurate name and demographic data | Treating a name search as fingerprint-confirmed identity. |
| Your full Illinois history | ISP Access and Review | Live-scan fingerprints | Using a public name search to challenge your own record. |
How to request a Chicago Police arrest report
The CPD Adult Arrest Search is a summary. A complete arrest or incident file may contain additional documents, narratives and evidence references.
Documents worth naming specifically
Arrest report
The booking and arrest document associated with the central booking number.
Incident report
The initial narrative and classification connected with the reported event.
Supplemental reports
Follow-up reports created after the initial incident report.
Property inventory
Records describing property collected, inventoried, returned or retained.
Body-camera or video records
Describe the exact date, time, location and involved personnel to reduce review time.
Photographs or evidence logs
Request the releasable photographs or index rather than asking vaguely for “everything.”
Information CPD needs to locate the record
Arrested person’s full name
Date of birth or age
Central booking number
Arrest date and approximate time
Arrest location
Incident or records-division number
Police district or beat
Specific records requested
Copy-ready CPD FOIA request
Under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, I request electronic copies of the releasable arrest report, incident report, probable-cause or charging documents maintained by CPD, property inventory and releasable supplemental reports concerning [full legal name], date of birth [date], arrested on or about [date and time] at [location]. Known identifiers are central booking number [number], records-division or incident number [number], police district [number] and court case number [number]. Please provide a written cost estimate before processing if charges will exceed $[amount].
Why CPD may redact or withhold information
- An investigation remains active.
- The record identifies a juvenile, confidential informant, victim or protected witness.
- Medical, biometric or protected personal information requires redaction.
- Release could interfere with enforcement proceedings or personal safety.
- Audio, video or photographs require frame-by-frame review.
- The requested record is maintained by another agency or the court.
Reduce cost and delay: Request one arrest, a narrow date range and named documents. Ask for electronic delivery and set a maximum cost requiring your approval.
Name check, RAP sheet and fingerprint review are different services
| Service | What it is designed to provide | Best use | Limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CPD Adult Arrest Search | Public CPD adult arrest entries from 2014 onward. | Fast public lookup of a known CPD arrest. | Not a complete city, county or statewide history. |
| CPD name check | A Chicago Police records search performed through the Records Section. | When an in-person Chicago name check is required. | Name matching is less reliable than fingerprints. |
| CPD Access and Review | Fingerprint-supported access to the person’s Chicago criminal-history record. | Preparing for expungement or reviewing your CPD record. | Follow the current weekday fingerprint schedule and identification requirements. |
| ISP CHIRP | Illinois conviction-information name searches. | A statewide public conviction-information inquiry. | A name-based result is not biometric confirmation. |
| ISP Access and Review | Your fingerprint-based Illinois criminal history and challenge packet. | Reviewing or correcting your own statewide record. | The live-scan vendor may charge a fingerprint fee. |
Chicago Public Safety Headquarters
3510 S. Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL 60653
Chicago, IL 60653
Name checks are handled through the Records Section in the main lobby.
CPD Access and Review schedule
The published fingerprinting and RAP-sheet schedule is Tuesday through Thursday, 8 a.m.–1:30 p.m.
Confirm the schedule before traveling.
Employment warning: Use the background-check process required by the employer or licensing agency. A screenshot from the CPD arrest search is not a certified background check.
How to check whether a Chicago arrestee entered county custody
Open the Individual in Custody Locator
Use the exact legal name shown in the CPD arrest record.
Compare the birth information and admission date
Do not assume that every matching name belongs to the same person.
Save the booking identification number
Cook County uses the booking ID for mail, deposits and many Records Office questions.
Record the housing division
The first characters of the housing code identify the division, while the next characters identify the tier or living unit.
Review the custody status
Confirm whether the person is in jail, on electronic monitoring, transferred or discharged.
Use the court record for complete charges
The Sheriff cautions that its offender-management information may not contain every charge associated with a court case.
Corrections customer service
Seven days a week, 8 a.m.–8 p.m.
Automated custody line
English and Spanish automated options.
Cook County Records Office
Use when confirming a booking identification number.
Visitor Information Center
Confirm current visit instructions and housing.
How a Chicago arrest becomes a Cook County court record
CPD arrest and district processing
CPD creates the arrest entry, central booking number, booking photograph, charge entries and related reports.
Release or Cook County transfer
The person may be released from the CPD facility or transferred to the Cook County Department of Corrections.
First appearance
The court considers probable cause, counsel, pretrial release conditions and any detention petition.
Prosecutor filing decision
The State’s Attorney may file, modify, reduce or decline the original arrest charges.
Circuit Court docket
The Clerk records complaints, warrants, bond or pretrial documents, appearances, motions, orders and disposition.
Final outcome
The case may end through dismissal, nolle prosequi, acquittal, guilty plea, trial judgment or another disposition.
How to search the criminal case after a Chicago arrest
The online docket is not the official court record. It provides brief summaries of documents and events. Updates may take several days, and the physical or certified court file controls when formal proof is needed.
Search by case number whenever possible
A case number is safer than a name-only search and reduces same-name mistakes.
Confirm the defendant and division
Determine whether the matter is a Chicago misdemeanor, felony, domestic-violence case, traffic case or suburban Cook County case.
Find the charging document
Look for the complaint, information, indictment or another initiating filing.
Check for amended charges
The filed court charge may differ from the original CPD arrest charge.
Review each court event in date order
Read settings, warrants, appearances, motions, orders, pleas and trial entries.
Locate the final disposition
Do not treat “closed” as a complete explanation. Identify the dismissal, nolle prosequi, judgment, acquittal or sentencing entry.
Use a public-access terminal for a very recent event
The Clerk advises that recent filings may appear at courthouse terminals before the online docket updates.
Order a certified disposition when required
Courts, employers, immigration agencies and licensing bodies may reject an unofficial screenshot.
| Term | Plain-language meaning | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Complaint filed | A criminal allegation was formally presented to the court. | Read each count and compare it with the arrest charge. |
| Preliminary hearing | A proceeding used in certain felony matters before later prosecution steps. | Check whether the case advanced, was dismissed or was refiled. |
| Nolle prosequi | The prosecutor declined to continue a charge at that stage. | Confirm which charge or count the entry covers. |
| Dismissed | A charge or case was dismissed. | Determine whether every count was dismissed. |
| Supervision | A court outcome that may avoid a conviction if the person successfully completes the ordered conditions. | Review completion and eligibility for later record relief. |
| Guilty | The court entered a guilty finding or accepted a guilty plea. | Read the judgment and sentence for each count. |
| Not guilty | The defendant was acquitted of the resolved charge. | Check whether another count remained. |
| Closed | The case is no longer active in the Clerk’s system. | Find the actual disposition rather than relying on “closed.” |
How to view a file or obtain a certified Chicago disposition
Files less than four years old
The Criminal Department states that recent files are generally kept on-site and may be viewed on the request date unless the file is in court.
Identification required
A person requesting to review the physical file must present valid photo identification.
Certified disposition details
Prepare the defendant’s full name, date of birth and arrest date.
Documents that may appear in a criminal file
Arrest report
Criminal complaint
Warrant
Mittimus or custody order
Bond or pretrial release documents
Attorney appearances
Motions and affidavits
Judicial orders and notices
Chicago misdemeanor records
Richard J. Daley Center
50 W. Washington Street, Room 1006
Chicago, IL 60602
50 W. Washington Street, Room 1006
Chicago, IL 60602
Chicago felony records
George N. Leighton Criminal Court Building
2650 S. California Avenue
Chicago, IL 60608
2650 S. California Avenue
Chicago, IL 60608
Chicago versus suburban cases: The Chicago Criminal Department provides dispositions for Chicago cases. A suburban Cook County case must be handled through the municipal district where the case occurred.
How Cook County release and older cash bonds work
Cases filed on or after September 18, 2023: Illinois generally uses a court-ordered pretrial release and detention system rather than requiring a person to pay money for release.
Older cases: A case filed before September 18, 2023 may still contain a cash-bond requirement.
Bond room
Division 5
2700 S. California Avenue
Chicago, IL 60608
2700 S. California Avenue
Chicago, IL 60608
Published hours
10 a.m.–6 p.m., 365 days a year, including holidays.
Legacy-case payment
Cash, certified check or eligible in-person credit or debit card payment.
Important payment and discharge rules
Money orders and personal checks are not accepted for bond
Certified checks require bank verification during banking hours
Card payments carry a published 2.13% nonrefundable service fee
The actual card and valid photo ID are required
Card bond payments must be completed in person at Division 5
Another agency hold can prevent discharge
Release is not immediate. Cook County states that discharge can take approximately two to three hours after an eligible bond is posted and may take longer when GPS monitoring is required.
Do not pay a stranger who promises immediate release. Confirm the case filing date, release order and custody status with the Clerk and Sheriff.
How to send mail after locating a person in custody
Mailing format
Individual’s full booked name
Booking identification number
2700 S. California Avenue
Chicago, IL 60608
Booking identification number
2700 S. California Avenue
Chicago, IL 60608
Use the exact name shown in the locator
Include the booking identification number
Include the sender’s full return address
Do not spray perfume, cologne or another substance
Do not send cash through ordinary mail
Review current prohibited-item rules before mailing a package
Foreign-substance rule: Mail covered, saturated or sprayed with perfume, cologne, oil, grease or another foreign substance is treated as contraband and is not returned.
Rejected-mail review: The sender may object in writing within 10 days after receiving a Notice of Returned Mail. Address the objection to Mail Rejection, Cook County Department of Corrections, 2700 S. California Avenue, Chicago, IL 60608.
Cook County money, commissary, calls and messages
Trust-fund facts
Weekly commissary limit
An eligible individual may purchase up to $100 per week in clothing, supplies or food items.
Online posting time
Western Union, MoneyGram and JailATM deposits generally take one to two business days to post.
Mail posting time
Money orders and cashier’s checks may take up to five business days after receipt.
| Method | Required information | Published code or limit |
|---|---|---|
| Western Union | Exact booked name and booking number | City code CCDOC or Cook County Dept Correction |
| MoneyGram | Exact booked name and booking number | Receive code 1750 |
| JailATM | Account registration and correct booking data | No agency code required |
| Money order by mail | Payable to the individual using exact name and booking ID | Maximum $100 per money order |
| Cashier’s check by mail | Payable to the individual using exact name and booking ID | Maximum $1,000 per cashier’s check |
| Jail lobby kiosk | Correct individual and booking identification | Cash or card at listed compound kiosks |
Calling rates published by Cook County
$0.05/minute
Local calls.
$0.05/minute
Illinois intrastate calls.
$0.05/minute
U.S. interstate calls.
$0.08–$0.13/minute
Published international rates.
Text messages: The published ViaPath service charges friends and family $0.06 per message sent to the person in custody. The individual can respond without a message charge. Messages are reviewed and are not appropriate for privileged attorney communication.
Trust/Finance Office
Published hours: 8 a.m.–4 p.m.
GTL/ViaPath support
24-hour friends-and-family call center.
Why you must check the housing division before scheduling
Cook County visitation is based on the current housing division and tier. The housing code shown in the locator must be decoded before selecting a visit option.
Find the current housing code
Use the custody locator or call 773-674-5245.
Identify the division
The first part of the housing code shows the assigned division, such as DIV6, DIV09 or DIV11.
Identify the tier or living unit
The second part of the code shows the unit used for scheduling.
Have the person add you to the visit list
The detained person must add the visitor before staff contacts the visitor to arrange a visit.
Choose in-person or family video
Family video visits are conducted through Microsoft Teams and require an active account connected with an email address.
Do not rely on an old divisional timetable. Cook County’s central visitation page warns that displayed divisional schedules may be modified. Confirm the current appointment directly.
Video conduct: Drinking, smoking, nudity and inappropriate conduct can lead to termination and loss of visiting privileges.
When a Chicago search is not broad enough
| Option | Published ISP fee | What it provides | Important caution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electronic name-based inquiry | $10 | A CHIRP name-based Illinois conviction-information search. | A similar name can create a false match. |
| Paper name-based inquiry | $16 | A manually submitted name-based inquiry. | It is not fingerprint confirmation. |
| Electronic fingerprint inquiry | $15 ISP fee | A fingerprint-supported Illinois inquiry. | The live-scan vendor may add its own fee. |
| Paper fingerprint card | $20 ISP fee | A fingerprint-card inquiry. | Follow the required submission and payment instructions. |
| Access and Review | No ISP processing fee | Your own fingerprint-based history and challenge form. | The fingerprint vendor may charge separately. |
Public conviction information is not the same as every arrest. CHIRP is useful for statewide conviction information, while Access and Review is the better process for inspecting and correcting your own complete Illinois record.
How to correct an inaccurate Chicago arrest record
| Incorrect field | Office to contact | Evidence to prepare |
|---|---|---|
| CPD name, age, CBN or arrest entry | Chicago Police Records | Government ID, CBN, RAP sheet and court documents. |
| Police incident narrative | Agency that created the report | Incident number and official contradictory records. |
| Cook County booking or housing record | Cook County Sheriff Records Office | Booking ID, ID document and custody dates. |
| Court case index or docket | Clerk of the Circuit Court | Case number and signed judicial order. |
| Statewide Illinois history | Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification | Access and Review fingerprints and certified disposition. |
| Third-party mugshot page | Third-party publisher after official correction | Corrected official record or expungement order. |
Save the inaccurate result
Record the URL, access date, CBN, booking ID, case number and exact error.
Obtain the controlling document
Use identification, fingerprints, a certified disposition or signed correction order.
Contact the creating agency
The Sheriff cannot change a CPD arrest, and CPD cannot change a judge’s order.
Request written confirmation
Save proof of the correction for background-check companies or publishers.
ISP Record Challenge: The Illinois State Police Access and Review packet includes a Record Challenge form. ISP sends a written response describing any correction made or stating that no correction was required.
How Chicago arrest-record relief works
Expungement
Generally removes qualifying arrest and court records from public criminal-history systems as directed by the court order.
Sealing
Restricts public access to a qualifying record while allowing access by certain government and law-enforcement entities.
Dismissal does not automatically clear the record. The CPD arrest can remain public until a qualifying expungement order is entered and processed.
Practical filing sequence
Obtain your Chicago and Illinois histories
Use CPD Access and Review and ISP Access and Review to identify all arrests and outcomes.
Obtain certified dispositions
Collect the official outcome for each arrest or case you plan to include.
Review eligibility
Eligibility depends on dismissal, acquittal, supervision, probation, conviction type, waiting periods and prior record.
Complete the Illinois Supreme Court forms
Illinois circuit courts must accept the approved statewide expungement and sealing forms.
File in the proper county
File in the circuit court for the county where the arrest or criminal case occurred.
Serve the required notice
The prosecutor, arresting agency, ISP and other entities receive notice and may object.
Obtain a signed order
Filing does not clear the record by itself. The judge must grant the request.
Confirm agency processing
Verify that CPD, the Clerk and ISP processed the signed order. CPD states that expunged records are removed from the public arrest search.
Illinois State Police fees: ISP lists no charge for receiving an expungement or sealing petition and a $60 processing charge for a court order. Circuit Clerk filing fees and fee-waiver rules are separate.
Eligibility can be complex. Certain convictions cannot be expunged, some may qualify only for sealing, and special rules apply to cannabis, juvenile and identity-theft records. This section is procedural information, not legal advice.
Chicago police, jail and court contacts
| Office | Contact | Best reason to contact |
|---|---|---|
| CPD Public Safety Headquarters | 3510 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60653 | Name checks, Access and Review and Chicago Police records procedures. |
| Cook County Corrections customer service | 773-674-1945 | Bonding, discharge, property, court and trust-fund questions. |
| Cook County automated custody line | 773-674-5245 | Custody, housing, visit and account menu options. |
| Cook County Records Office | 773-674-2390 | Booking identification number and custody-record questions. |
| Chicago misdemeanor services | 312-603-4641 | Chicago misdemeanor case information and court dates. |
| Cook County Criminal Division | 773-674-9255 | Felony case files and criminal court information. |
| Clerk general information | 312-603-5030 | Office routing and general Circuit Court Clerk assistance. |
| ISP Bureau of Identification | 815-740-5160 | Fingerprint, CHIRP, criminal-history and record-challenge questions. |
Chicago Public Safety Headquarters
CPD’s Records Section, in-person name checks and published Access and Review services are associated with Public Safety Headquarters at 3510 South Michigan Avenue.
Confirm before traveling: Verify the current Records Section hours, fingerprinting schedule, identification requirements and accepted payment method.
Primary records used for this Chicago guide
Chicago Police Adult Arrest Search
Used for date, age, agency and displayed-field limitations.
CPD Records and FOIA guidance
Used for name checks, Access and Review and police-document requests.
Cook County Sheriff
Used for jail contacts, custody, bond, mail, visitation, trust-fund and phone information.
Cook County Circuit Court Clerk
Used for online-docket limits, criminal files, certified dispositions and court locations.
Illinois State Police
Used for CHIRP fees, fingerprint history, Access and Review and Record Challenge.
Illinois Courts
Used for statewide expungement and sealing forms accepted by Illinois circuit courts.
Chicago arrest-record questions answered
How far back does the Chicago Police arrest search go?
The public CPD Adult Arrest Search includes qualifying adult CPD arrests on or after January 1, 2014.
Does the Chicago search include Cook County Sheriff arrests?
No. The CPD public search excludes arrests made by the Cook County Sheriff, Illinois State Police, suburban police departments and other agencies.
Can I search Chicago juvenile arrests?
No. Juvenile arrest records are not included in the CPD Adult Arrest Search and are subject to separate confidentiality rules.
What is a central booking number?
The CBN identifies a specific Chicago Police booking. Save it for report requests, identity verification and correction questions.
Why does the CPD result show release but the person is still jailed?
The release time can mean the person left the CPD facility and was transferred to Cook County custody. Check the Sheriff locator.
Where can I find the final result of the criminal charge?
Search the Cook County court docket and locate the complaint, amended charge, dismissal, plea, judgment, acquittal or sentencing document.
Is the Cook County online docket an official court record?
No. It is an electronic summary and can lag behind recent filings. Obtain a certified or physical court record when official proof is required.
What do I need for a certified Chicago disposition?
Prepare the defendant’s name, date of birth and arrest date. Contact the Criminal Department for a Chicago misdemeanor or the Criminal Division for a felony.
How do I request the full CPD police report?
Submit a focused CPD FOIA request containing the name, birth date, CBN, incident number, arrest date, location, district and exact documents needed.
How do I find the Cook County booking number?
Use the Individual in Custody Locator or contact the Cook County Records Office at 773-674-2390.
Does Cook County still require cash bail?
New cases filed on or after September 18, 2023 generally use the Illinois pretrial release and detention process. An older case may still contain a cash-bond requirement.
How long can Cook County discharge take after an older bond is posted?
The Sheriff states that discharge generally takes approximately two to three hours and can take longer when GPS monitoring is required.
How do I obtain my own Illinois criminal history?
Complete an Illinois State Police Access and Review through an approved live-scan fingerprint vendor. ISP does not charge its own Access and Review processing fee.
How do I correct a wrong arrest or court result?
Contact the office that created it: CPD for the arrest, the Sheriff for the booking, the Clerk for the court index and ISP for statewide history.
Does a dismissed Chicago case disappear automatically?
No. A dismissal may support eligibility for expungement, but the arrest record can remain until the required court process is completed and agencies process the signed order.