Franklin County Criminal Records

Criminal records in Franklin County are filed and stored at the Circuit Clerk's office in Benton. Located in southern Illinois, Franklin County has roughly 37,000 residents and is part of the 2nd Judicial Circuit. The Judici online portal gives free access to court case data from this county. You can also visit the courthouse in Benton to request copies in person. This page walks through the main sources for Franklin County criminal records, the state tools that cover this area, and the legal rules that control public access to these files.

Franklin County Circuit Clerk

The Franklin County Circuit Clerk manages all court files in the county. The office is in the Franklin County Courthouse in Benton. Criminal cases, traffic tickets, and civil filings all pass through here. If you want copies of a criminal record, bring an ID and the case number or name. Staff will search the system and print what you need. Standard copies have a per-page fee. Certified copies cost more and include the clerk's official seal, which you need for court submissions.

Franklin County has a moderate case volume for its size. Benton and West Frankfort are the two largest towns, and most criminal activity in the county comes from those areas. The 2nd Judicial Circuit serves Franklin County and several other southern Illinois counties. Judges rotate between locations in the circuit. Criminal records from Franklin County cases stay with the local clerk regardless of which judge heard the matter.

Illinois law makes conviction data public. The Uniform Conviction Information Act (20 ILCS 2635) says anyone can ask for conviction records. The Franklin County clerk must hand them over when asked through proper channels. No reason is needed to make the request.

Search Franklin County Records Online

Franklin County is on Judici. This free online portal covers court records from 82 counties in Illinois. Go to the site, select Franklin County, and type a name or case number. Results show the charges, court dates, and case status. It covers criminal, civil, and traffic cases. No account needed.

Judici is a viewing tool. It shows the case summary but not full documents. Police reports, motions, and witness statements are not on there. For those, you need the clerk's office in Benton. But Judici is the best free starting point for anyone checking on a criminal case in Franklin County. The data goes back years and active cases get updated as things move through court.

The re:SearchIL portal is worth checking too. This state-run system gives access to filed court documents. Public users pay $0.10 per page with a $3 cap per document. Some Franklin County criminal filings may be on there. It adds to what Judici shows by letting you see actual filed papers.

Franklin County State Criminal Records

The Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification stores criminal history data from every county in Illinois. Franklin County is in the system. Arrests and convictions get reported to the Bureau by local agencies. A name-based check costs $10 electronic or $16 for a paper copy. Fingerprint-based checks run $15 to $20. A combined state and FBI check is $27 to $32.

The CHIRP system handles online conviction checks. It costs $10 and you need an Illinois ID to sign up. CHIRP only shows convictions. It will not return pending cases or arrests where charges were dropped. For a fuller picture of Franklin County criminal records, run a CHIRP search and a Judici search. Each tool pulls from a different data source.

The Criminal Identification Act (20 ILCS 2630) controls how the state database works. It tells who can see records, what gets stored, and when records can be removed. Franklin County criminal records in the state system follow these rules.

Expungement in Franklin County

Some Franklin County criminal records can be expunged or sealed. Expungement wipes the record. Sealing hides it from the public but law enforcement can still access it. Arrests that did not lead to a conviction are often eligible. Certain supervision and probation cases qualify too after a waiting period.

You start by filing a petition with the 2nd Judicial Circuit Court. The court order fee is $60. You must serve copies on the State's Attorney and the arresting agency. Waiting periods depend on the case type. The Office of the State Appellate Defender offers free forms and guides for the process. Once the court grants the petition, the Franklin County clerk and the Illinois State Police both update their records.

Not all offenses are eligible. Some crimes can never be expunged or sealed. Check the State Appellate Defender site or talk to a lawyer about your specific case.

Get Copies of Franklin County Records

Go to the clerk's office in Benton for the fastest service. Bring your ID and the case number. Staff will print copies while you wait. Certified copies are available for a higher fee. Mail requests work too. Send the name, case number, and payment to the Franklin County Circuit Clerk at the courthouse in Benton. Most come back in one to two weeks.

The Illinois Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140) is another path. You can file a FOIA request with the Franklin County Sheriff or any police department in the county. They must respond in five business days. For a quick free check, Judici works. For official copies, the clerk in Benton handles it.

• In-person at the clerk's office in Benton
• Free online search through Judici.com
• Mail requests with payment to the Circuit Clerk
• CHIRP statewide conviction check for $10
• FOIA requests to local law enforcement

Nearby Counties for Criminal Records

Franklin County is in southern Illinois. If a criminal case was filed in another county, check with that county's circuit clerk for records.