Adams County Criminal Records Lookup

Adams County criminal records are maintained by the Circuit Clerk of the 8th Judicial Circuit in Quincy, Illinois. The clerk's office stores all felony and misdemeanor case files for the county. You can search Adams County criminal records through the Judici online portal or visit the courthouse in person. Adams County sits in western Illinois along the Mississippi River and has a population of about 64,000. This page covers the different ways to find criminal case data, what state resources apply, and how to request copies of records from Adams County courts.

Adams County Circuit Clerk Office

The Circuit Clerk is the main record keeper for criminal cases in Adams County. The office is at the Adams County Courthouse in Quincy, IL. Every felony and misdemeanor charge filed in the county goes through this office. The clerk records charges, court dates, plea entries, motions, and final case outcomes. If you need to look up a case or get copies, this is where you start. Walk-ins are welcome during normal business hours.

Bring a valid ID if you plan to request copies of criminal records in Adams County. The clerk's staff can help you find case numbers, check the status of a filing, and tell you what documents exist on file. Standard copies are available for a per-page fee. Certified copies cost more and carry the clerk's official stamp. Certified copies are typically needed for court proceedings or other legal purposes. Standard copies work fine for personal review or research. You can call the clerk's office before visiting to ask about current fees and confirm office hours.

Adams County is part of the 8th Judicial Circuit, which also covers a few neighboring counties. Criminal cases from Adams County are heard in the circuit court at the Quincy courthouse.

Search Adams County Criminal Records Online

Adams County court records are available through the Judici portal. Judici is a free public tool that covers 82 counties in Illinois, and Adams County is one of them. You can search by name, case number, or citation number. The system shows case type, filing date, charges, hearing schedules, and case status. Criminal, civil, traffic, and other case types are all included. This is the easiest way to look up a criminal case in Adams County from your computer or phone.

The Judici portal offers free public access to Adams County court case data including criminal filings.

Some records will not appear on Judici. Sealed cases, expunged records, and certain juvenile files are not shown in any public search. If you think a record should exist but cannot find it online, call the clerk's office in Quincy to ask. The online tool works well for checking case status, finding hearing dates, and getting an overview of what is on file. It does not replace official copies from the clerk. If you need a certified copy for legal purposes, you must go through the clerk's office directly.

Note: Online results may lag behind the most recent filings due to processing time at the clerk's office.

State Police Criminal Records for Adams County

The Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification maintains criminal history data from every county in the state. Adams County records that have been reported to the ISP are included in their database. Name-based checks cost $10 for electronic results. Fingerprint-based checks range from $15 to $32. The ISP holds fingerprint files and conviction data that local law enforcement agencies submit from the county level. If you need a statewide criminal history check rather than just a local court search, the ISP is the resource to use.

The ISP Bureau of Identification handles criminal history checks that cover Adams County and the entire state.

You can also use the CHIRP system to run an online name-based conviction search. CHIRP requires an Illinois driver's license or state ID to set up an account. Once you have an account, you enter a name and get back statewide conviction data. This picks up Adams County records that have been reported to the state police. A CHIRP search and a local Judici search can return different results because each system updates separately. Using both gives you a broader view of someone's criminal history.

Adams County Criminal Records and State Law

Under the Uniform Conviction Information Act at 20 ILCS 2635, conviction data held by the Illinois State Police must be open to the public. Anyone can request it. You do not need to give a reason. This act covers convictions only. Arrests without a conviction do not fall under this law.

The Illinois Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140) gives you the right to request records from Adams County government agencies. This includes police reports, arrest logs, and other documents held by local law enforcement. You send a written request to the records custodian at the relevant agency. Responses are due within five business days. FOIA is a useful tool when you need records beyond what the court system holds. The Criminal Identification Act (20 ILCS 2630) sets guidelines on which records stay public and which can be sealed or expunged across Illinois.

Sealing and Expungement in Adams County

Illinois law allows some criminal records to be expunged or sealed. In Adams County, you file a petition with the 8th Judicial Circuit Court in Quincy. Expungement removes the record entirely. Sealing hides it from public view but still lets law enforcement and some state agencies access it. The most common cases that qualify for expungement are arrests that did not result in a conviction. Certain types of supervision and probation may also qualify after a waiting period.

Two years must pass after supervision ends before you can file. For qualified probation, the wait is five years. The court order fee is $60. You serve copies of the petition on the State's Attorney and the arresting agency. The Office of the State Appellate Defender has a full guide on the process. It explains which records qualify, what forms to file, and how the hearing works. If the court grants your petition, the Adams County Circuit Clerk updates the file and notifies the state police to adjust their records as well.

If you cannot afford an attorney, look into free legal aid in the Quincy area. Some organizations help with expungement petitions at no cost.

Getting Copies of Adams County Criminal Records

The most direct way is in person. Visit the Adams County Courthouse in Quincy. Bring an ID and the case number if you have it. The clerk staff can pull the file and print copies for you. Fees are charged per page. You pay at the counter. Cash and checks are usually accepted.

Mail requests work too. Write to the Adams County Circuit Clerk with the full name of the person, the case number or years you want searched, and a check or money order for the fees. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope. Processing time varies but most requests are handled within a couple of weeks. Over the phone, the clerk can give you basic case information like whether a file exists and what the current status is. They can tell you what you need to send for a full records request. You can also search Judici at no cost for basic case data, though that system does not provide official copies.

• In-person at the Adams County Courthouse in Quincy
• By mail with payment and return envelope
• Judici online for basic case searches
• CHIRP for statewide conviction data

Note: Always verify current fees with the clerk before sending a payment by mail.

Nearby Counties

These counties are near Adams County. If a case was filed in a different county, contact that county's circuit clerk for records.