Search Jefferson County Criminal Records

Jefferson County criminal records are kept by the Circuit Clerk in Mt. Vernon and cover all felony and misdemeanor cases in the 2nd Judicial Circuit. The clerk's office holds case files going back decades and makes them available for public search. You can look up Jefferson County criminal records through the Judici court portal or visit the courthouse in person. Case data includes charges, court dates, dispositions, and sentencing details. This page explains the main ways to find, search, and get criminal records in Jefferson County, Illinois.

Jefferson County Circuit Clerk Office

Randy Pollard Jr. serves as the Jefferson County Circuit Clerk. His office is the main source for all court records in the county, including criminal case files. The mailing address is P.O. Box 1266, Mt. Vernon, IL 62864. You can call 618/244-8008 to reach the clerk's staff. The office handles case lookups, copy requests, and filing for the 2nd Judicial Circuit. Walk-in visits are welcome during business hours at the courthouse in Mt. Vernon.

The clerk keeps records for every criminal case filed in Jefferson County. That covers felony charges, misdemeanors, and traffic offenses. When a case gets filed, the clerk assigns a case number and tracks it from start to finish. Each file has the charges, hearing dates, motions, and the final outcome. If you need to check on a case or pull a copy of a court document, this office is where you start. The staff can search by name or case number to help you find what you need.

Jefferson County sits in a part of southern Illinois where the 2nd Judicial Circuit serves several counties. The circuit court in Mt. Vernon handles a mix of criminal matters from the city and the surrounding rural areas. Because the county seat is a regional hub, the courthouse sees steady activity.

Search Jefferson County Records on Judici

Jefferson County criminal records are available online through the Judici court records portal. Judici is used by more than 80 Illinois counties to make case data available to the public. You can search by party name, case number, or filing date. The results show the case type, charges, court dates, and current status. There is no fee to search. You do not need to create an account to use the basic search tools.

The Judici portal for Jefferson County shows court records from the 2nd Judicial Circuit.

From the Judici site you can search for Jefferson County criminal cases and view case details without visiting the courthouse.

When you pull up a case on Judici, you can see the full case history. That includes each court event, any continuances, plea entries, and the final disposition. For criminal cases in Jefferson County, this is a fast way to check if a charge led to a conviction or was dismissed. The system covers both active and closed cases. Sealed and expunged records will not show up. If you need something more than what the online search returns, you can still call or visit the clerk's office in Mt. Vernon.

Note: Judici results for Jefferson County may not include records that have been sealed or expunged by court order.

Illinois State Police Criminal Records

The Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification holds criminal history data for the entire state. This is separate from what the Jefferson County clerk keeps. The state system has fingerprint files and conviction records that come in from every county. Under the Uniform Conviction Information Act at 20 ILCS 2635, conviction data is public. Anyone can run a name-based check through the state for a fee.

The Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification manages criminal history data for all 102 counties.

A statewide check through the ISP covers convictions from Jefferson County and every other county in Illinois.

The cost for a name-based electronic check is $10. You run it through the CHIRP system, which is the online portal the state police operate. Paper checks cost $16. Fingerprint-based checks cost more. A state-only fingerprint check runs $15 electronic. A combined state and FBI check is $27 electronic or $32 paper. If you want a picture of someone's criminal history across all of Illinois, not just Jefferson County, the state check is the way to go.

Criminal Records Laws for Jefferson County

Several Illinois statutes control how criminal records work in Jefferson County. The Criminal Identification Act at 20 ILCS 2630 sets the rules for collecting, storing, and sharing criminal history data. This law applies statewide. It tells the Illinois State Police what records to keep and how people can challenge errors. It also lays out the rules for sealing and expunging criminal records in the state.

Under this act, some Jefferson County criminal records can be sealed or expunged. Expungement wipes the record out. Sealing hides it from the public but law enforcement can still see it. The waiting period depends on the case outcome. For supervision it is two years. For certain probation cases it is five years. You file the petition with the Jefferson County Circuit Clerk in Mt. Vernon. The court filing fee is $60. The Office of the State Appellate Defender has a guide that explains who qualifies and what forms to use.

The Illinois Freedom of Information Act under 5 ILCS 140 also applies to Jefferson County. FOIA gives the public a right to request government records. Police reports, arrest logs, and other documents from law enforcement in Jefferson County can be requested under this law. The agency has five business days to respond.

Get Copies of Jefferson County Court Records

If you need official copies of criminal records from Jefferson County, the circuit clerk can help. In-person requests at the courthouse in Mt. Vernon are the fastest option. Bring a case number if you have one. The staff will pull the file and make copies. Standard copies have a per-page fee. Certified copies cost more but carry the clerk's seal.

Mail requests go to the Circuit Clerk at P.O. Box 1266, Mt. Vernon, IL 62864. Include the full name you want searched, any case numbers you know, and a check or money order for the fees. The clerk will process your request and send the results back by mail. Call 618/244-8008 first to confirm the current fee schedule so you send the right amount. Getting the payment right on the first try avoids delays and extra back and forth with the office.

The county also processes requests made by fax or through written correspondence in some cases. If you are not sure what method works best for your situation, call the clerk's office and they will walk you through it. Having the case number ready speeds things up no matter how you submit the request.

Nearby Counties

Jefferson County borders several counties in southern Illinois. Criminal records are filed in the county where the case was heard, so check neighboring courts if you need records from those areas.