Jo Daviess County Criminal Records

Criminal records in Jo Daviess County are held at the Circuit Clerk's office in Galena. Jo Daviess County sits at the northwest tip of Illinois where the state meets Iowa and Wisconsin. The county has about 21,500 residents and is part of the 15th Judicial Circuit. Circuit Clerk Kathy A. Phillips manages the office. You can search criminal case data through the Judici portal for free or visit the courthouse in person. This page explains the tools, offices, and laws that shape how you access criminal records in Jo Daviess County.

Jo Daviess County Circuit Clerk

Circuit Clerk Kathy A. Phillips runs the court records office for Jo Daviess County. The office is at 330 North Bench Street in Galena, IL 61036. You can call at 815/777-0037. The clerk handles criminal cases, traffic matters, civil suits, and all other court filings. If you need a copy of a criminal record, visit the courthouse with a photo ID and the case number or name of the person you are looking for.

Staff will search the system and print copies. Standard copies have a per-page fee. Certified copies cost more and include the clerk's seal. You need the certified version for court filings or legal proceedings. Jo Daviess County is one of the less populated counties in Illinois, so the case volume is lower than in urban areas. But the clerk still processes the full range of criminal filings from misdemeanors to felonies.

The 15th Judicial Circuit covers Jo Daviess, Stephenson, Lee, Carroll, and Ogle counties. Judges rotate through the circuit. Records from Jo Daviess County cases stay with the local clerk. The Uniform Conviction Information Act (20 ILCS 2635) requires that conviction records be shared with the public. The Jo Daviess County clerk must provide them when asked. No reason is needed.

Search Jo Daviess County Records Online

Jo Daviess County is on the Judici system. This is a free public portal. Pick Jo Daviess County from the list, type in a name or case number, and view the results. Criminal cases show charges, court dates, and how things stand. It also covers civil and traffic cases. No account is needed.

Judici shows case summaries. The full court file is not on there. Police reports, filed motions, and witness statements are only available through the clerk's office in Galena. Judici is the best free tool for checking if a criminal case exists in Jo Daviess County. The data goes back multiple years and active cases get updated as the clerk enters new info from court events.

The re:SearchIL portal provides access to filed court documents from across Illinois. Public users pay $0.10 per page with a $3 cap per document. Some Jo Daviess County criminal filings may be on there. Sealed and expunged records will not appear on either system.

Jo Daviess County State Records

The Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification stores criminal history data from all 102 counties. Jo Daviess County is in the database. When someone is arrested here, the local agency reports it to the Bureau. A name-based check costs $10 online or $16 by mail. Fingerprint checks run $15 to $20. Combined state and FBI checks are $27 to $32.

The CHIRP system lets you run a conviction check online for $10. You need an Illinois driver's license or state ID to sign up. CHIRP only returns convictions. Pending cases and dismissed arrests do not appear. Using CHIRP alongside Judici gives a broader view of Jo Daviess County criminal records since the two tools pull from different data sources.

The Criminal Identification Act (20 ILCS 2630) governs the state criminal history database. It sets rules for what data is stored, who can access it, and the process for sealing or removing records.

Expungement in Jo Daviess County

Certain Jo Daviess County criminal records can be expunged or sealed. Expungement wipes the record. Sealing hides it from the public but law enforcement retains access. Arrests without convictions are the most commonly eligible. Some supervision and probation outcomes qualify after a waiting period that depends on the type of case.

File a petition with the 15th Judicial Circuit Court. The court order fee is $60. Serve copies on the State's Attorney and the arresting agency. The Office of the State Appellate Defender has free forms and instructions. Once the judge signs the order, the Jo Daviess County clerk and the Illinois State Police update their records. The case no longer shows up in public searches on Judici or CHIRP.

Some offenses can never be cleared under Illinois law. Check the State Appellate Defender site or talk to a lawyer about whether your case qualifies.

Get Copies of Jo Daviess County Records

Visit the clerk's office at 330 North Bench Street in Galena for the fastest service. Bring an ID and the case number. Staff will print copies on the spot. You can also call 815/777-0037 to ask about fees or check what is on file. Mail requests are accepted. Send the name, case number, and payment to Circuit Clerk Kathy A. Phillips at the courthouse address.

The Illinois Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140) lets you request records from local agencies. File a FOIA request with the Jo Daviess County Sheriff or any police department in the county. They must respond in five business days. Judici is free for online lookups. CHIRP costs $10 for statewide conviction data.

• In-person at the clerk's office in Galena
• Free online search on Judici.com
• Mail requests to the Circuit Clerk
• Phone inquiries at 815/777-0037
• CHIRP conviction check for $10

Nearby Counties for Criminal Records

Jo Daviess County is at the northwest corner of Illinois. If a case was filed in a nearby county, contact that county's circuit clerk.