Jersey County Criminal Records Search

Criminal records in Jersey County are filed at the Circuit Clerk's office in Jerseyville. Jersey County has about 21,000 residents and sits in southwestern Illinois, just north of the St. Louis metro area. The county is part of the 3rd Judicial Circuit. Circuit Clerk Mitchell P. Reynolds runs the office that handles all court records. You can search criminal case data through the Judici portal online at no cost or visit the courthouse in person. This page covers where to find Jersey County criminal records, the state tools available, and how public access is governed by Illinois law.

Jersey County Circuit Clerk Office

The Jersey County Circuit Clerk handles all court files in the county. The office is at 201 West Pearl Street in Jerseyville, IL 62052. Circuit Clerk Mitchell P. Reynolds oversees the operation. You can reach the office by phone at 618/498-5571. Criminal cases, traffic tickets, civil suits, and family matters all pass through this office. For copies of a criminal record, bring a photo ID and the case number or name to the courthouse.

Staff will pull up the file and print copies at the standard per-page rate. Certified copies cost more and carry the official seal from the clerk. You need certified copies for legal proceedings. The clerk's office is open on weekdays during regular business hours. If you are not sure about fees, call ahead to confirm. Jersey County is small enough that the staff can usually help you fairly quickly.

The 3rd Judicial Circuit covers Jersey County and Madison County. Judges rotate between these areas. Criminal records from cases heard in Jersey County stay with the local clerk. The Uniform Conviction Information Act (20 ILCS 2635) makes conviction data public. Anyone can ask the Jersey County clerk for it. No reason is needed.

Search Jersey County Records Online

Jersey County court records are available on Judici. This free portal covers 82 Illinois counties. Select Jersey County, type a name or case number, and see what comes back. Criminal cases show charges, dates, and how the case ended. It covers traffic and civil cases as well. No sign-up is needed.

Judici shows case summaries only. The full court documents are not available on the portal. For police reports, motions, and other filed papers, you need the clerk's office in Jerseyville. But for a fast check on whether a criminal case was filed in Jersey County, Judici is the right tool. It runs all the time and has data going back multiple years.

The re:SearchIL portal lets you see filed court documents online. Public users pay $0.10 per page, capped at $3 per document. Some Jersey County criminal filings are available there. Sealed and expunged records will not show up on either system.

Jersey County State Criminal Records

The Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification stores criminal history data from every county in Illinois. Jersey County is in the system. When someone gets arrested here, the local agency reports it to the Bureau. Name-based checks cost $10 electronic or $16 paper. Fingerprint checks run $15 to $20. A combined state and FBI check is $27 to $32.

The CHIRP portal handles online conviction checks for $10. You need an Illinois ID to register. CHIRP only shows convictions. It does not return pending cases or arrests that were dismissed. For a fuller picture of criminal records tied to Jersey County, use CHIRP and Judici together. Each pulls from a different data source.

The Criminal Identification Act (20 ILCS 2630) controls the state criminal history database. It sets who can access records, what gets stored, and when records are eligible for sealing or removal.

Clearing Records in Jersey County

Some Jersey County criminal records can be expunged or sealed. Expungement removes the record completely. Sealing blocks public access but keeps the record on file for law enforcement. Arrests that did not result in a conviction are the most common type eligible. Completed supervision cases may qualify after waiting two years.

You file a petition with the 3rd Judicial Circuit Court. The court order fee is $60. You must serve copies on the State's Attorney and the arresting agency. The Office of the State Appellate Defender provides free forms and step-by-step guides. Once the court grants the order, the Jersey County clerk and the Illinois State Police both update their files. The case no longer shows in public search results.

Not every offense qualifies. Some crimes can never be cleared under Illinois law. Review the State Appellate Defender resources or talk to a lawyer about your case.

Get Copies of Jersey County Records

Go to the clerk's office at 201 West Pearl Street in Jerseyville for the fastest service. Bring your ID and case number. Staff will print copies while you wait. Call 618/498-5571 first if you need to check fees or confirm what is on file. Mail requests are accepted too. Send the name, case number, and payment to the Jersey County Circuit Clerk.

The Illinois Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140) gives another option. File a FOIA request with the Jersey County Sheriff or local police. They have five business days to respond. Judici is free for a quick online check. CHIRP costs $10 for a statewide conviction search.

• In-person at the clerk's office in Jerseyville
• Free search on Judici.com
• Mail requests with payment to the Circuit Clerk
• Phone inquiries at 618/498-5571
• CHIRP statewide conviction check for $10
• FOIA requests for law enforcement records

Nearby Counties for Criminal Records

Jersey County borders several counties in southwestern Illinois. If a criminal case was filed in a different county, check with that county's circuit clerk.