Illinois Arrest Records Search | Criminal Records 2026

by
Illinois statewide guide · Arrests, convictions, courts and record correction

Illinois Criminal History Lookup: Choose the Record That Answers Your Question

Illinois does not place every arrest, jail booking, police report, court case and conviction in one public database. The correct search depends on whether you need a current inmate, an arrest report, a county court disposition, public conviction information or your own complete state record.

This guide explains the rules, fees, search limitations, FOIA procedures, fingerprint process, court workflow, employment protections and record-clearing steps inside the article. External portals are reserved for the final live search, request or filing.

Choose the correct search Public conviction search Get your own full record
Illinois public conviction information is not the same as a complete arrest history. A no-record response from a public conviction search does not prove that a person was never arrested, investigated, charged, acquitted, dismissed, supervised or involved in a sealed, expunged, juvenile or out-of-state case.
Public ISP search

Conviction information under the UCIA.

Current arrest

Search the city or county jail system.

Court outcome

Use the filing county’s circuit clerk.

Your full record

Use fingerprint-based Access and Review.

Facts reviewed

July 23, 2026 using official sources.

Start here

Choose the record by the result you need

PUBLIC ISP RECORD Do you need public conviction information?

Use the Illinois State Police Uniform Conviction Information Act process. The public response is limited to conviction information collected and maintained by ISP.

Best for: public Illinois conviction checks, qualifying background inquiries and confirmation of a reported conviction.
COUNTY OR LOCAL RECORD Do you need a recent arrest or court case?

Search the arresting police department, county sheriff, county jail and circuit clerk in the county where the incident or charge occurred.

Best for: recent bookings, mugshots, arrest reports, pending charges, dockets, judgments and certified dispositions.
PERSONAL TRANSCRIPT Do you need everything on your own record?

Use fingerprint-based Access and Review. This is also the correct starting point when you believe Illinois criminal-history information is inaccurate.

Best for: reviewing your complete Illinois transcript, identity mismatches and submitting a Record Challenge.
Fast decision: Use ISP public conviction information for a public background inquiry, the county for the actual arrest and court file, and Access and Review for your own complete state transcript.

Choose the problem you need to solve

This page is organized around tasks rather than a directory of unexplained links.

Record decoder

Seven Illinois records that are often confused

Record type, custodian and practical use
Record Who maintains it What it can show What it cannot prove
Public UCIA conviction response Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification Publicly disseminable Illinois conviction information collected and maintained by ISP. It does not prove that no arrest, dismissed case, juvenile matter or out-of-state event ever existed.
Local arrest report The police department, sheriff or state agency that made or investigated the arrest. Incident narrative, arrest details, officers, alleged conduct and releasable supplements. An arrest report is not a finding of guilt or final court disposition.
County jail booking County sheriff, jail or corrections department. Current custody, booking identifiers, charges, bond entries, release or transfer data. A booking charge may later be amended, dismissed or declined.
Circuit court criminal case Circuit clerk in the county where the case was filed. Filed charges, hearings, orders, pleas, judgments, sentences and disposition. An online docket summary may not replace a certified court document.
IDOC custody record Illinois Department of Corrections. State prison custody, IDOC identification and available offender information. IDOC is not a universal county jail or recent-arrest search.
Access and Review transcript Illinois State Police, obtained through fingerprints. The requesting individual’s Illinois criminal-history transcript or a no-history statement. It should not automatically be used as a substitute for a legally required FBI or licensing check.
Registry record ISP or another legally designated agency. Information required for a specific registry, such as sex-offender registration. A registry is not the person’s complete criminal history.
The county matters. Illinois circuit clerks maintain trial-court files county by county. The arrest may occur in one city, the person may be booked into a county jail, and the criminal case may use a separate court number.
Electronic name search

How the Illinois CHIRP process works

Name-based UCIA inquiries are processed electronically through the Criminal History Information Response Process, commonly called CHIRP. Access requires registration, authentication and any user agreement applicable to the requester.

Confirm that CHIRP is the correct search Use CHIRP for an electronic Illinois public conviction-information inquiry. Do not use it when you need a recent booking, police narrative or your own complete transcript.
Complete the required digital identity setup CHIRP uses authenticated and encrypted access. The registration instructions direct users to obtain a State of Illinois Digital ID and Entrust certificate.
Enter identity information exactly When Illinois driver-license information is used during enrollment, enter it exactly as printed. Out-of-state users should follow the non-Illinois resident acceptance route shown during registration.
Create and save the profile credentials Keep the profile name, password and digital-certificate information. The first login and later access depend on the registered identity.
Enter the subject’s legal information carefully Use the full legal name, date of birth and any other requested identifiers. CHIRP instructions warn users not to place a period after a middle initial because it can create processing problems.
Review the search before payment A name-based search can match the wrong person or miss a person because of aliases, changed surnames, spelling or incomplete demographic information.
Save the Transaction Control Number The TCN is the submission identifier. ISP directs users to enter the TCN in CHIRP to retrieve the response.
Interpret the response as conviction information Do not expand the response beyond what it states. Verify important results against the circuit court case and certified disposition.
Best verification method: Use CHIRP to identify public conviction information, then use the county case number or county of conviction to obtain the court docket or certified disposition.
Open the CHIRP live system Review current ISP name-search instructions
Paper and out-of-state requests

When the electronic CHIRP route is not suitable

Non-fingerprint paper request

ISP identifies form ISP6-405B for a manual UCIA non-fingerprint inquiry.

Fingerprint paper request

ISP identifies form ISP6-404B for a manual UCIA fingerprint-card inquiry.

Out-of-state requester

ISP provides an online order form through which the paper UCIA request forms can be mailed to the requester.

Do not mail an incomplete request. Confirm the current form edition, fee, payment instructions, fingerprint-card requirements and mailing address before submission.
Order the current paper request forms
ISP fee schedule

Illinois criminal-history fees explained

Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification fees
Submission type Manual or paper Electronic or Live Scan Qualifying resubmission
UCIA name-based inquiry $16 $10 Not listed
UCIA fingerprint-card inquiry $20 $15 $10 with prior TCN
Applicant check: Illinois only $20 $15 $10
Applicant check: FBI only $12 $12 $10
Applicant check: Illinois and FBI $32 $27 $20
NCPA/VCA or qualifying volunteer submission Not available $25 $20
Access and Review or Record Challenge No ISP fee No ISP fee Fingerprint provider may charge
Petition to expunge or seal No ISP fee No ISP fee Court filing fees may apply
Court order to expunge or seal $60 $60 Separate local fees may apply
Criminal-history subpoena $20 $20 Not applicable
Three costs can apply to one fingerprint transaction: the ISP fee, the licensed Live Scan vendor’s service fee and any additional fee required by the requesting agency. Ask for the complete total before fingerprints are taken.
Resubmission rule: Keep the original Transaction Control Number. ISP requires the previous TCN for a submission to qualify for the reduced fingerprint-resubmission fee.
County criminal cases

How Illinois criminal court records are organized

Illinois circuit courts are the state’s courts of original jurisdiction. The state has 25 judicial circuits. Seven are single-county circuits—Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, St. Clair and Will—while the remaining circuits contain multiple counties.

Each county’s elected circuit clerk preserves the trial-court files and case records for that county. Because of this county structure, there is no one public search that reliably replaces every circuit clerk.

Choose the county where the charge was filed The correct county is usually where the alleged offense or arrest occurred, not necessarily where the defendant lives.
Find the official circuit clerk Use the Illinois Courts directory to locate the courthouse, clerk website, address and telephone number.
Search by case number first A case number is more precise than a name and helps avoid combining unrelated same-name cases.
When using a name, search broadly first Begin with the legal surname and first name. Try former names, aliases, suffixes and spelling variants.
Confirm the case category Distinguish criminal felony, criminal misdemeanor, traffic, ordinance, juvenile and civil cases.
Read the docket chronologically Identify the initiating charge, amended filings, hearings, warrants, pleas, judgments and final orders.
Order the actual document when needed A short docket entry may not state the full legal effect. Request the complaint, information, dismissal, judgment or sentencing order.
Request certification for formal use Employers, courts, immigration authorities, licensing agencies and other institutions may require a certified disposition rather than an online screenshot.
Common Illinois criminal docket terms
Term Plain-language meaning What to verify
Pending The case has not reached a final disposition. Review the latest docket entry and next court date.
Charge filed A prosecutor or authorized complainant filed a formal allegation. Read every count and later amended filing.
Dismissed The court ended a charge or case without a conviction on that dismissed matter. Confirm whether all counts and related cases were dismissed.
Nolle prosequi The prosecutor declined to continue pursuing the identified charge at that time. Check which count, defendant and case the filing covers.
Supervision A court disposition that may avoid a judgment of conviction if successfully completed, depending on the offense and order. Obtain the completion and termination order before describing the outcome.
Guilty or conviction A judgment or legally recognized conviction was entered. Read the count, offense class, sentence and judgment date.
Acquitted or not guilty The defendant was not found guilty of the count resolved by the verdict. Confirm whether another count or case remained.
Closed The clerk system no longer treats the case as active. Closed alone does not identify the final outcome.
Find the correct county court Find the circuit clerk
Arrest and police reports

What Illinois arrest information is public within 72 hours?

Illinois FOIA requires state and local criminal-justice agencies to furnish specified chronologically maintained arrest information as soon as practical and no later than 72 hours after the arrest.

Name and identifying information
Age and address when publicly releasable
Photograph when available
Charges connected with the arrest
Time and location of the arrest
Investigating or arresting agency
Custody receipt date and time when applicable
Discharge or transfer date and time when applicable
This does not require release of every investigative record. Witness information, victim data, confidential sources, juvenile information, active investigative material, medical information, video, photographs or safety-sensitive content may be withheld or redacted under an applicable exemption.

Send the request to the agency that created the record

Correct FOIA custodian by incident
Incident Likely record holder What to request
City police arrest Municipal police department Arrest report, incident report, probable-cause report and releasable supplements.
County sheriff arrest County sheriff’s records or FOIA officer Sheriff incident and arrest records plus booking documents maintained by that office.
Illinois State Police incident ISP Freedom of Information Officer Specific ISP arrest, field, investigative, audio, dash-camera or related records.
County jail booking Sheriff or county corrections department Booking sheet, custody dates, charges, release or transfer information.
Filed criminal case County circuit clerk Complaint, information, court order, judgment, sentence or certified disposition.

ISP FOIA request checklist

Requester’s name and company, if applicable
Email, telephone number and mailing address
Exact type of record requested
Report, case, ticket or laboratory number
Incident city, county and address
Names of subjects, officers or involved people
Subject’s date of birth when known
A narrow incident date or date range
ISP email rule: ISP directs requesters to place the entire FOIA request in the body of the email and not submit the request as an attachment.
Copy-ready Illinois arrest-report request
Under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, I request an electronic copy of the releasable arrest report, incident report, probable-cause narrative and releasable supplemental reports relating to [full legal name], date of birth [date if known], for the incident occurring on or about [date and time] at [location]. The believed arresting agency is [agency]. Known identifiers include report number [number], arrest number [number], booking number [number] and court case number [number]. Please provide a written estimate before processing if fees will exceed $[amount]. If any portion is withheld, please identify the statutory basis and release all reasonably segregable nonexempt material.
ISP response timing: ISP states that it has five business days to respond to FOIA requests, subject to an additional five-business-day extension when collection, review or redaction requires more time.
Illinois State Police FOIA Officer
801 South 7th Street, Suite 1000-S
Springfield, IL 62703
Email submission

ISP.FOIA.Officer@illinois.gov

Put the complete request inside the email body.

Submit or review an ISP FOIA request Email the ISP FOIA Officer
Troubleshooting

No Illinois arrest or criminal record found? Diagnose the search

CHIRP returned no public conviction record The event may have been an arrest without conviction, a dismissal, supervision, juvenile matter, sealed record, expunged record, out-of-state case or name mismatch.
The arrest happened within the last several hours The person may still be in municipal intake, identification, medical screening or transfer to the county jail.
The county jail search has no result Search the arresting city’s police lockup, retry with fewer name fields, call the sheriff and ask whether the person was released or transferred.
The court search has no case The prosecutor may not have filed the case, the filing may be too recent, the charge may be in another county or the name may be indexed differently.
The person left county custody Search IDOC when a state-prison transfer is possible. Check the receiving county or federal system when another jurisdiction controls custody.
The record existed earlier but disappeared It may have been sealed, expunged, corrected, removed under a court order or moved from a live custody roster to an archived system.
The date of birth does not match Treat the result as a different person unless the agency confirms an identity or data-entry error.
A third-party site shows more information Verify every claim through ISP, the arresting agency and the circuit clerk. Aggregators may combine people, retain outdated charges or omit dismissals.
Useful call script “I am trying to locate an arrest, booking or criminal case for [full legal name], date of birth [date]. The incident may have occurred on [date] in [city and county] through [agency]. I have [report, booking or case number]. Can you tell me which office maintains the record, or whether the person was released, transferred or indexed under another name?”
Current incarceration

County jail search versus the Illinois IDOC search

Use the county jail when
  • The arrest is recent
  • The person is awaiting first appearance or trial
  • The sentence is being served locally
  • The sheriff controls the booking and release
  • You need county bond, visitation or jail information
Use IDOC when
  • The person entered Illinois state prison custody
  • You have an IDOC number
  • The county confirms transfer to IDOC
  • You need state-prison or supervised-release information
  • You are checking an IDOC wanted-fugitive listing
IDOC is not a complete Illinois arrest-record search. It does not replace local police reports, county jail rosters or county circuit-court files.
Search current IDOC custody Open IDOC offender-search options
Personal criminal history

How to obtain your own complete Illinois record

A public UCIA search is not the correct way to review every entry on your own Illinois criminal-history transcript. ISP’s Access and Review process uses fingerprints to identify the correct record.

Choose an approved fingerprint location You may approach an Illinois law-enforcement facility, correctional facility or licensed fingerprint vendor during regular business hours.
Ask specifically for Access and Review Do not request an ordinary employment or licensing background check. The transaction must be submitted under the correct Access and Review purpose.
Provide fingerprints and identifying information The facility or vendor captures the prints and demographic information needed for biometric identification.
Select the delivery address The transcript or no-history statement can be mailed to your residence or to the participating law-enforcement or correctional facility.
Receive the transcript and challenge form ISP mails the criminal-history transcript with a Record Challenge form, or a written statement that no criminal history was found.
Collect a facility-delivered response promptly When the response is sent to a facility, the facility releases it only to the individual. If it is not collected within 45 days after notification, the facility destroys it.
Review every arrest and disposition Compare names, dates, charges, court dispositions and identifying numbers with certified court records.
Use Record Challenge for errors Complete the challenge form and attach documents supporting the requested correction.
ISP fee: ISP does not charge to process Access and Review or a Record Challenge. The police agency or fingerprint vendor may charge its own fingerprint-service fee.
Delivery privacy: When you use a home address, confirm that you can securely receive sensitive mail. When you use a facility, monitor the response and collect it before the 45-day destruction period.
Start Access and Review Find licensed fingerprint services
Record correction

How to challenge incorrect Illinois criminal-history information

Correct the problem through the agency that controls it
Error First office to contact Evidence to collect
Wrong person attached to the record ISP through Access and Review and Record Challenge Fingerprints, government ID, court records and identity-theft documentation.
Missing dismissal or final disposition Circuit clerk and ISP Record Challenge Certified disposition, dismissal order or amended judgment.
Incorrect police narrative The arresting or investigating law-enforcement agency Report number, recordings, photographs, court findings and written correction request.
Incorrect jail release or booking data County sheriff or corrections records unit Booking number, release papers, bond receipt and court order.
Incorrect online court index County circuit clerk Case number, filed document and exact incorrect docket entry.
Third-party website remains outdated Publisher after the official record is corrected Certified disposition, correction letter, sealing order or expungement order.
Obtain your fingerprint-based transcript A name-based screenshot is not enough for a formal ISP Record Challenge.
Mark each incorrect entry separately Identify the arrest date, charge, agency, case number and disposition that requires review.
Obtain certified supporting records Request certified dispositions, amended orders or correction documents from the circuit clerk or agency.
Complete the included Record Challenge form Explain the requested correction clearly and attach copies of supporting evidence.
Keep a complete submission copy Save the transcript, challenge, certified documents, mailing proof and all later correspondence.
Review ISP’s written response ISP will state what action was taken or advise that it determined no correction was required.
Expungement and sealing

Illinois record-clearing process updated for 2026

Expungement

Expungement is generally the stronger remedy. For an eligible record, it removes or destroys records as directed by law and returns the person to the legal status occupied before the arrest, charge or conviction subject to statutory exceptions.

Sealing

Sealing removes an eligible record from ordinary public access but does not destroy every copy. Authorized law-enforcement, courts and certain legally designated agencies may retain access.

Eligibility cannot be determined from the charge name alone. The correct remedy depends on the disposition, supervision or probation type, waiting period, later convictions, excluded offenses and every case on the person’s record.

Records commonly evaluated for expungement

Release without charging
Dismissed charges
Acquittals
Reversed or vacated convictions
Successfully completed eligible supervision
Successfully completed eligible qualified probation
Certificate-of-innocence records
Other records made eligible by statute

Records commonly evaluated for sealing

Arrests resulting in release without charging
Dismissed or acquitted cases
Eligible supervision records
Eligible misdemeanor convictions
Many eligible felony convictions
Eligible municipal ordinance cases
Eligible records of adults and minors prosecuted as adults
Other records authorized by current Illinois law
Common exclusions exist. Certain DUI, reckless-driving, domestic-violence, order-of-protection, sex-offense, animal-cruelty and registration-related records may be excluded or subject to special rules. Use the current forms and statute rather than an old online eligibility list.

Where to file

Obtain your complete record Use Access and Review or gather certified dispositions from every applicable circuit clerk.
List every arrest and case Record the case number, arrest date, arresting agency, charge and final disposition.
Separate records by county File in the circuit court where the arrest occurred or charges were brought. Records from several counties generally require filings in each county.
Use the June 2026 adult forms Illinois Courts lists the revised adult Request, Case List, Additional Arrests or Cases, proposed Order and related forms as approved in June 2026.
Download the PDF before completing it Illinois Courts warns users not to fill the form directly inside an unsupported browser because progress may be lost.
Flatten the completed PDF for e-filing Print the completed form to PDF or use another approved flattening method, reopen it and confirm that all information remains visible.
Pay the county filing fee or request waiver Circuit-clerk fees vary. Eligible filers can submit the statewide civil court-fee waiver forms.
Serve the required agencies Follow the form instructions for notice to the State’s Attorney, arresting agencies, ISP and any other required recipient.
Attend the hearing when scheduled An objection may be filed, and the judge decides whether the requested relief is legally available and appropriate.
Keep certified copies of the signed order The record may become unavailable to you after expungement. Retain the order and certified dispositions securely.

What the petition must identify

Petitioner’s full legal name
Date of birth
Current address
Every court case number
Date of every arrest
Identity of every arresting authority
Requested remedy for every record
Other information required by the circuit court

State and local costs

ISP petition fee

ISP lists no fee for the petition to expunge or seal criminal history.

ISP order fee

ISP lists a $60 fee for processing a court order to expunge or seal.

County fees

The circuit clerk may charge a filing fee, certification fee and other local costs. A fee waiver may be available.

After the judge signs the order

Obtain the signed and certified order Confirm that the order lists every arrest, agency and case the judge intended to cover.
Confirm service on ISP and the agencies Record clearing does not begin merely because the petition was filed.
Allow the agencies to process the order Current Illinois law requires ISP to send written compliance notice within 60 days after service of the order, or after resolution of a qualifying motion.
Use Access and Review to verify the result If the record still appears after the processing period, obtain a new transcript and contact the responsible agency.

Automatic-sealing changes that are not fully active in 2026

Future dates in the current Illinois statute
Date Scheduled change What it means in July 2026
January 1, 2028 Circuit clerks begin scheduled sealing of qualifying municipal ordinance and Class C misdemeanor records after the statutory period. Do not assume these records are automatically sealed yet in 2026.
January 1, 2029 Broader automatic-sealing provisions begin for specified eligible records and time periods. A currently eligible person may still need to petition rather than wait for future automation.
By January 1, 2034 Circuit clerks must complete implementation of the automatic-sealing framework described in the statute. The transition is phased and does not guarantee immediate statewide removal today.
Do not delay solely because automatic sealing is scheduled. Waiting can affect employment, housing, licensing and background checks. Review present eligibility for petition-based relief.
Download the current statewide forms Review official eligibility guidance
Employment protections

How Illinois employers may use arrest and conviction records

An arrest is not a conviction. Unless another law authorizes the inquiry, Illinois generally prohibits an employer, employment agency or labor organization from inquiring into or using an arrest record as the basis for an employment action.

Records protected as an “arrest record”

An arrest that did not lead to conviction
A juvenile record
Expunged criminal-history information
Sealed criminal-history information
Impounded criminal-history information
Other records protected by applicable law

Illinois Ban the Box timing

The Job Opportunities for Qualified Applicants Act generally applies to private employers with at least 15 employees and employment agencies.

Before an interview decision

The employer generally may not inquire into, consider or require disclosure of criminal history before the applicant is determined qualified and selected for an interview.

When no interview occurs

The employer generally must wait until after making a conditional employment offer before making the inquiry.

Exceptions include: jobs where federal or state law requires exclusion for particular convictions, positions requiring a fidelity bond that a specified conviction prevents, and qualifying EMS employment.

Conviction-record assessment

An Illinois employer generally may take adverse action based on a conviction only when it determines that there is a substantial relationship between the offense and the job, or employment would create an unreasonable risk to property or the safety or welfare of individuals or the public.

Length of time since the conviction
Number of convictions on the record
Nature and severity of the conviction
Relationship to safety and security
Facts surrounding the conviction
Applicant’s age when the offense occurred
Evidence of rehabilitation
Relationship between the offense and job duties

Required interactive assessment

Preliminary written decision The employer identifies each disqualifying conviction and explains why it believes the conviction relates to the position or risk.
Copy of the conviction report When a report was used, the applicant or employee receives a copy.
Right to respond The notice must explain the right to dispute the record’s accuracy and submit mitigating or rehabilitation evidence.
At least five business days The applicant or employee receives at least five business days to respond before a final decision.
Employer reviews the response The employer must consider the submitted information before making the final decision.
Final written notice A final disqualification notice must identify the convictions and reasoning, any reconsideration procedure and the right to file an IDHR charge.
Applicant response packet: Include the certified disposition, proof the report belongs to another person, evidence of time passed, training, treatment, education, employment history, references and explanation of why the conduct will not recur in the position.
Illinois Ban the Box questions

312-793-7191

DOL.BTB@Illinois.gov

Conviction-record discrimination

Illinois Department of Human Rights

312-814-4320

Review Ban the Box requirements Review conviction-record protections
Restricted and specialized records

Records that require a different search or legal rule

JV
Juvenile records

Juvenile law-enforcement and court records are governed by separate confidentiality and expungement rules. Illinois Courts lists a revised juvenile expungement form suite approved in July 2026.

SE
Sealed records

Sealed records are generally unavailable to ordinary public searches but may remain available to law enforcement, courts and other entities authorized by law.

EX
Expunged records

Agencies generally respond to an ordinary public inquiry as though an expunged record never existed, subject to statutory exceptions and authorized access.

SO
Sex-offender registry

The registry covers legally required registrants and specified offenses. It is not a complete criminal-history report and should not be used to predict future conduct.

VO
Violent offender registry

Illinois maintains a separate Murderer and Violent Offender Against Youth database for people required to register under that statute.

ID
Criminal identity theft

A person whose identity was used by someone arrested may need a court petition, fingerprint proof and official corrections. Outside Cook County, local forms may vary.

Registry safety: Registry information may not be used to harass, threaten, stalk or commit a criminal act against a registrant or family member.
Record lifecycle

How an Illinois incident becomes several separate records

Incident or investigation The law-enforcement agency creates field reports, recordings, photographs and investigative material.
Arrest Chronological arrest information is created, including identity, charges, arrest time, location and agency.
Booking and custody The jail creates a booking number, custody record, charge entries and release or transfer information.
Prosecutor review The prosecutor may file the original allegation, file different charges, reduce counts or decline prosecution.
Circuit court case The circuit clerk maintains the filed charges, docket, hearings, orders, judgment and sentence.
ISP criminal-history update Arresting agencies and courts transmit reportable criminal-history information to ISP.
Public conviction response Conviction information maintained by ISP may be disseminated through the public UCIA process.
Correction, sealing or expungement Later court orders and Record Challenges may change what appears in public, court, law-enforcement or personal-history systems.
Official contacts

Illinois criminal-history and court-record contacts

Match the office to the task
Office Contact Use this office for
ISP Bureau of Identification Customer Support 815-740-5160
ISP.BOI.Customer.Support@illinois.gov 		Submission status, CHIRP response retrieval, fingerprint and criminal-history process questions.
ISP Bureau of Identification 260 North Chicago Street
Joliet, IL 		BOI forms and scheduled in-person business. The facility is restricted-access and appointments are required.
ISP Freedom of Information Officer ISP.FOIA.Officer@illinois.gov
801 S. 7th St., Suite 1000-S
Springfield, IL 62703 		Specific ISP arrest, investigative, report, audio and video requests.
County circuit clerk Use the Illinois Courts county directory. Criminal dockets, court orders, judgments, sentences, certified dispositions and filing record-clearing petitions.
County sheriff or corrections department Use the arrest county’s official website. Current jail custody, bookings, release, transfer, bond and county arrest records.
Illinois Department of Corrections Use the Individual in Custody Search. State-prison custody and IDOC offender information.
Illinois Department of Labor 312-793-7191
DOL.BTB@Illinois.gov 		Job Opportunities for Qualified Applicants Act and Ban the Box questions.
Illinois Department of Human Rights 312-814-4320 Arrest-record or conviction-record employment discrimination concerns.
BOI appointments: ISP lists Bureau of Identification appointments Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Contact Customer Support before traveling.
Map and appointment

Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification in Joliet

The Bureau of Identification is located at 260 North Chicago Street in Joliet. It is a restricted-access facility, and ISP requires an appointment to enter.

Do not arrive without confirming access. Call 815-740-5160 or email Customer Support to confirm that an in-person visit is required and schedule the appointment.
Practical use guide

What to do with the Illinois record you found

1
Family custody question

Use the city or county jail first. Save the booking number and confirm custody before sending money or traveling.

2
Public background inquiry

Use the ISP public conviction process and describe the result only as conviction information returned for the submitted identity.

3
Formal case outcome

Obtain a certified disposition from the circuit clerk rather than relying on an arrest page or third-party summary.

4
Your own inaccurate record

Use fingerprint-based Access and Review, submit the Record Challenge and attach certified proof.

5
Employment denial

Request the report and written reasoning, use the five-business-day response period and submit correction or rehabilitation evidence.

6
Record clearing

Collect every case, determine present eligibility and file the current June 2026 statewide forms in each applicable county.

Official information incorporated

How this guide was researched

The operational rules and explanations above were extracted from the current Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification pages, ISP fee schedule, CHIRP instructions, Access and Review rules, ISP FOIA procedures, Illinois Courts directories and 2026 statewide forms, Illinois Department of Corrections search, Illinois Human Rights protections, Department of Labor Ban the Box guidance and the current Illinois Compiled Statutes.

Information included on-page

Search limitations, fees, required identifiers, FOIA fields, response timing, fingerprint steps, challenge process and filing workflow.

Links retained for live action

CHIRP searches, court-directory lookup, IDOC custody search, FOIA submission, form downloads and official filing.

Update-sensitive details

Fees, laws, forms, automatic-sealing dates, portal access and office procedures should be rechecked before payment or filing.

Last official-source review: July 23, 2026. Live custody, court status, fees, forms and laws may change after this date.
Frequently asked questions

Illinois arrest and criminal-record questions answered

Is there one statewide Illinois arrest search?

No. ISP provides public conviction information, while local arrests, jail bookings and trial-court cases are maintained by local agencies and county circuit clerks.

Does CHIRP show arrests that did not lead to conviction?

The public UCIA process is limited to conviction information. A non-conviction arrest, dismissal, juvenile case or sealed or expunged record may not appear.

What does an Illinois CHIRP no-record result mean?

It means the search did not return matching publicly disseminable ISP conviction information. It does not prove the person was never arrested or charged.

How much is a CHIRP name search?

ISP currently lists the electronic UCIA name-based inquiry at $10. The paper name-based request is listed at $16.

How much is a fingerprint-based Illinois conviction search?

ISP lists the electronic Live Scan UCIA fingerprint inquiry at $15 and the manual fingerprint-card inquiry at $20. Vendor service charges may be added.

How do I find someone arrested today?

Identify the arresting city and county. Check the municipal police department and county jail. A new arrestee may not appear until intake and transfer are completed.

Where can I find Illinois mugshots?

A booking photograph may appear through the county sheriff or jail when legally available. A mugshot documents booking and does not prove guilt.

Where do I find the final court outcome?

Use the circuit clerk in the county where the criminal charge was filed. Obtain the dismissal, judgment, sentencing order or certified disposition when the outcome matters.

How do I request an Illinois arrest report?

Send a specific FOIA request to the agency that created the report. Include the date, location, involved name, date of birth and report or case number.

How quickly must arrest information be available?

Specified chronological arrest information maintained by state or local criminal-justice agencies must be furnished as soon as practical and no later than 72 hours after arrest, subject to lawful exemptions.

How do I get my complete Illinois criminal record?

Use ISP Access and Review. Have fingerprints taken through a law-enforcement or correctional facility or licensed fingerprint vendor and request the transcript under the correct purpose.

Does ISP charge for Access and Review?

No. ISP does not charge to process Access and Review or a Record Challenge, but the fingerprinting location may charge a service fee.

How do I correct my Illinois record?

Obtain the fingerprint-based transcript, complete the Record Challenge form and attach certified evidence showing the incorrect or incomplete information.

What is the difference between sealing and expungement?

Expungement generally removes an eligible record more completely, while sealing restricts ordinary public access but permits access by certain authorized entities.

Where do I file an Illinois record-clearing petition?

File with the circuit clerk in each county where the relevant arrest occurred or charge was filed. Multiple counties normally require separate county filings.

How much does ISP charge for a sealing or expungement order?

ISP lists no fee for the petition and a $60 fee for processing the court order. Separate county filing and certified-copy fees may apply.

Are Illinois records automatically sealed in 2026?

Some records may already qualify for immediate or automatic treatment under existing law, but broader statutory phases are scheduled for 2028 and 2029. Do not assume a record is sealed without checking.

Can an Illinois employer ask about an arrest with no conviction?

Unless otherwise authorized by law, Illinois generally prohibits employers from inquiring into or using a protected arrest record as the basis for an employment decision.

How long do I have to respond to a conviction-based preliminary denial?

Illinois requires the employer to allow at least five business days for the applicant or employee to dispute the record and provide mitigating evidence.

Does the IDOC search include county jail inmates?

No. IDOC is primarily for Illinois state correctional custody. Search the county sheriff or jail for recent arrests and pretrial custody.

Accuracy, privacy and legal-use notice

County Arrest Records is an independent informational guide. It is not the Illinois State Police, Illinois Department of Corrections, Illinois Courts, a circuit clerk, county sheriff, police department or law firm.

Arrests and charges are allegations unless proven in court. Public conviction searches, jail records and online court dockets can be incomplete, delayed, corrected, sealed or expunged. Confirm the person through multiple identifiers and obtain the current official document before making an employment, housing, financial, legal, licensing or publication decision.

Expungement, sealing, employment screening and disclosure rules are legally complex. The information above explains official procedures but is not legal advice for a particular person or case.

Last reviewed against official Illinois sources: July 23, 2026.

Leave a Comment