Illinois Criminal Records
Illinois criminal records are kept by the Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification and by circuit court clerks in all 102 counties. The Bureau of Identification holds more than five million fingerprint files and makes conviction data available to the public under the Uniform Conviction Information Act. You can search Illinois criminal records through the state CHIRP system, through county court portals like Judici, or in person at any circuit clerk office. Court records show charges, case status, and case outcomes for both felony and misdemeanor crimes across Illinois. This page covers how to find, search, and get copies of criminal records at the state and local level.
Illinois Criminal Records Quick Facts
Illinois Criminal Records Through State Police
The Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification is the main state agency for criminal records in Illinois. They collect and store criminal history data from law enforcement and courts across all 102 counties. The Bureau promotes public safety by maintaining accurate and timely criminal history information. Their records relate to more than five million fingerprint files. These help identify individuals and potential suspects through the Automated Biometric Identification System, also called ABIS. The Bureau of Identification office is at 260 North Chicago Street in Joliet, Illinois 60432. You can reach them at 815/740-5160 or email ISP.BOI.Customer.Support@illinois.gov. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Appointments are needed since the BOI is a restricted access facility.
The Bureau offers both fingerprint-based and name-based criminal history checks in Illinois. You pick the type based on what you need. A state-only check costs $15 electronically or $20 for paper. An FBI check adds $12. A combined state and FBI check costs $27 electronic or $32 paper. The ISP fee schedule has the full list of costs. Name-based checks under the UCIA cost $10 electronic or $16 for paper.
You can view the Bureau's criminal history information page for details on what types of checks exist and who can request them. The background checks page explains the steps for both individuals and agencies in Illinois.
Note: The BOI is a restricted access facility, so appointments are required for in-person visits.
Public Access to Illinois Criminal Records
On January 1, 1991, the Uniform Conviction Information Act became law in Illinois. Under 20 ILCS 2635, all criminal history conviction data collected by the Illinois State Police must be made available to the public. This is the key law that lets anyone search conviction records in Illinois. Only conviction information gets released to the public. Arrest records that did not lead to a conviction are not part of what the public can see through this act.
The Illinois Freedom of Information Act under 5 ILCS 140 also gives the public a right to access government documents and records. FOIA defines a public record broadly. It covers all records, reports, forms, writings, letters, and other documentary materials that pertain to public business. Police departments and other agencies in Illinois must respond to FOIA requests within five business days, though extensions are possible. The Attorney General FOIA page has more on how this works.
Some records are not available to the public in Illinois. Juvenile delinquency and child protection cases are off limits. So are adoption records, sealed or expunged records, mental health records, and certain confidential filings like Social Security numbers and bank account details. Under 20 ILCS 2630, the Criminal Identification Act sets rules for when records can be sealed or expunged.
How to Search Criminal Records in Illinois
CHIRP stands for Criminal History Information Response Process. This is the online system for name-based criminal history checks in Illinois. The system runs through the Illinois State Police and uses the UCIA framework. You need an Illinois driver's license or state ID to register. You also need a Digital Certificate from the Illinois PKI system. Once set up, you log in to CHIRP and submit your name-based inquiry. The fee is $10 for electronic or $16 for paper. You get a Transaction Control Number, then use that TCN to get your results.
When entering names into the CHIRP system, do not put a period after the middle initial. The CHIRP instructions page walks you through the full process from registration to getting results. If you want to check the status of a submission, email ISP.BOI.Customer.Support@illinois.gov with your details.
For fingerprint-based checks, you must visit a Live Scan vendor in person. The Live Scan vendor lookup tool helps you find a location near you. Live Scan vendors are spread across Illinois and provide the fingerprint service that the state police need to run a full criminal history check.
Illinois Criminal Records Name-Based Checks
Name-based checks are the fastest way to search Illinois criminal records. The ISP name-based checks page covers how this works. You submit a name and the system searches conviction records. Results come back faster than fingerprint checks. The cost is $10 for electronic requests or $16 for paper requests.
Fingerprint-based checks provide a more complete picture. They match against the full database of over five million prints. This type of check is often needed for certain licenses and official purposes in Illinois. The state-only fingerprint check costs $15 electronic or $20 paper. Adding the FBI check brings the total to $27 electronic or $32 paper. Resubmissions cost $10 to $20 depending on the type.
Review Your Own Criminal Records in Illinois
Any person may approach any Illinois law enforcement or correctional facility or licensed fingerprint vendor to get their own criminal history transcript. This is called the Access and Review process. The Illinois State Police does not charge a fee for processing these requests. However, the agency providing the fingerprint service may charge a processing fee. The Access and Review page has full details.
Your results get mailed to you. They cannot be picked up in person at the Bureau of Identification. The last page of your transcript includes a Record Challenge form. If you find errors in your Illinois criminal records, you fill out that form and mail it to the BOI or drop it off at the main entrance vestibule. For notarized copies, email ISP.BOI.Customer.Support@illinois.gov with your TCN number.
Illinois Criminal Records in County Courts
Circuit court clerks in each of the 102 Illinois counties keep court records for criminal cases. These records show charges, court dates, case status, and outcomes. Most counties in Illinois have some form of online access to court case data. There are two main systems used across the state.
Judici.com provides free public access to court records for 82 participating Illinois counties. You can search by name, case number, or ticket number. The system shows case details, history of court dates, dispositions, and payment information. Judici is the most widely used court records portal in Illinois.
re:SearchIL is the statewide portal run by the Illinois courts. It provides access to filed documents through the eFileIL system. Public access costs $0.10 per page with a max of $3 per document under 705 ILCS 105/27.1b. Judges and attorneys of record get free access. The public can view non-confidential records in case types like arbitration, law, and tax cases. Restricted records like juvenile, adoption, and sealed cases are not available through this portal.
Cook County is the biggest exception. Criminal case files there are not available online. You must go in person to the Circuit Court Clerk's office in the district where the case took place. For misdemeanors in Cook County, call (312) 603-4641. For felonies, call 773-674-3147.
Expungement and Sealing of Illinois Criminal Records
Illinois law allows certain criminal records to be expunged or sealed. Expungement is the cleanest remedy when it is available. It generally applies to arrests that did not result in convictions, certain probation outcomes, and some specific offenses. When expungement is not available, sealing often is. Sealing limits who can see the record. The public usually cannot access sealed records, though law enforcement and some licensing bodies still can.
Under the Criminal Identification Act (20 ILCS 2630/5.2), waiting periods apply. Two years for supervision and five years for qualified probation. You petition the court for relief. The expungement information page from the Office of the State Appellate Defender walks through the full process. Juvenile records maintained by the Illinois State Police for arrests before age 17 are handled under Section 5-915 of the Juvenile Court Act (705 ILCS 405). The court order fee for expungement or sealing is $60.
Chicago Criminal Records Search
The Chicago Police Department has its own arrest search system at publicsearch1.chicagopolice.org. This database covers arrests from January 1, 2014 onward for adults aged 18 and over. Only arrests made by Chicago Police are in this system.
If you need your Chicago RAP sheet (Record of Arrests and Prosecutions), visit Chicago Police Headquarters at 3510 S. Michigan Ave. The fee is $16, payable by cash, check, or money order to the City of Chicago, Dept of Revenue. The department automatically sends your fingerprints to the Illinois State Police to get a copy of your state rap sheet at no extra cost. You have one month from the date listed to contact Criminal History Access and Review at 312-745-5623 to schedule an appointment to view your state rap sheet. Fingerprinting is available Tuesdays through Thursdays from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Illinois Legal Aid also has guides on how to get copies of your court records in Illinois.
Illinois Criminal Records Background Checks
The ISP background checks page at isp.illinois.gov lays out the steps for getting criminal history checks done in Illinois. Both state-only and combined state-and-FBI checks are available. The process starts with fingerprinting at a Live Scan vendor or by mailing in a fingerprint card.
Court record copy fees vary by county in Illinois. Typical rates run from $0.15 to $2.00 per page. Certified copies add $5 to $10 more. Will County, for example, charges $2.00 for the first page, $0.50 for the next 19 pages, and $0.25 for all remaining pages. Certification costs $6 per document there. Each county sets its own fee schedule, so call the circuit clerk before you visit to confirm costs for copies of criminal records in Illinois.
Browse Illinois Criminal Records by County
Each county in Illinois has its own circuit clerk who keeps criminal court records. Pick a county below to find local contact info and resources.
Criminal Records in Major Illinois Cities
Residents of major cities access criminal records through their county circuit court or local police department. Pick a city below to find local resources.