Access Lee County Criminal Records

Lee County criminal records are held by the Circuit Clerk in Dixon and include case files from the 15th Judicial Circuit. The clerk handles felony charges, misdemeanor cases, and traffic offenses filed in the county court. You can search Lee County criminal records through online state portals or visit the clerk's office on South Galena Avenue in person. Court records contain charges, court dates, case outcomes, and sentencing information. This page walks through the main options for finding, searching, and getting criminal records in Lee County, Illinois.

Lee County Circuit Clerk Office

Amy Johnson serves as the Lee County Circuit Clerk. Her office is at 309 S. Galena, Suite 320, Dixon, IL 61021. The phone number is 815/284-5234. This is the office that keeps all court records for criminal cases in Lee County. Every charge, hearing, motion, and outcome in the 15th Judicial Circuit gets filed here. If you need to check on a case or request a copy of a court document, this is the place to start.

The 15th Judicial Circuit covers Lee County along with several neighboring counties in northern Illinois. The court in Dixon handles criminal cases from across the county. Walk-in visitors can ask the staff to pull up a case by name or case number. The office processes records requests in person and by mail. If you plan to visit, call ahead to make sure you know the hours and what to bring.

Lee County has a population of about 33,500 people. The courthouse in Dixon is the central point for all court business. Because the county is more rural than the suburban counties closer to Chicago, the case volume is lower, but the clerk still keeps a full set of records going back many years. The staff can search older records too if you need something from a past case.

Search Lee County Criminal Records Online

The re:SearchIL portal is an online tool that lets you look up court records from multiple Illinois counties. This can be used to find Lee County criminal records without going to the courthouse in Dixon. You search by name, case number, or date. Results show the case type, charges, hearing dates, and case status. The portal covers multiple jurisdictions, so you can see if someone has cases in Lee County and in other counties at the same time.

The re:SearchIL portal provides access to court records across multiple Illinois counties including Lee County.

Use re:SearchIL to search Lee County criminal cases by name or case number from any device.

For a broader search that covers conviction records from all 102 Illinois counties, the state police operate the CHIRP system. This tool runs name-based conviction checks under the Uniform Conviction Information Act at 20 ILCS 2635. The fee is $10 for an electronic check. CHIRP results pull from the statewide database, not just from Lee County records. It gives you a wider view of someone's criminal history across Illinois.

The CHIRP portal is operated by the Illinois State Police for statewide criminal conviction searches.

CHIRP checks cover conviction data from Lee County and every other Illinois county in one search.

Illinois State Police and Lee County

The Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification is the central state agency for criminal history data. They hold fingerprint files and conviction records from every county, including Lee County. Criminal arrests and court outcomes from the 15th Judicial Circuit feed into this statewide system. The Bureau manages more than five million fingerprint files across Illinois.

Name-based checks through the state police cost $10 electronic or $16 paper. These are run through CHIRP. Fingerprint-based checks are also available. A state-only fingerprint check costs $15 electronic. A combined state and FBI check runs $27 electronic or $32 paper. The fingerprint route is more accurate because it ties to a specific person rather than just a name match. For Lee County residents or anyone with a case in the 15th Judicial Circuit, the ISP check adds a layer of coverage beyond what local court searches provide.

Criminal Records Laws for Lee County

Illinois law governs how criminal records are handled in Lee County. The Criminal Identification Act at 20 ILCS 2630 is the main statute. It sets rules for collecting, storing, and releasing criminal history data. The act covers everything from how the state police maintain their database to how individuals can challenge errors in their records. It applies to every county in Illinois, Lee County included.

Sealing and expungement fall under this same law. Some Lee County criminal records can be removed from public view. Expungement destroys the record entirely. Sealing keeps it on file but blocks the public from seeing it. The eligibility rules depend on the case type and outcome. Arrests that did not lead to conviction are often eligible for expungement. Supervision can be sealed after two years. Qualified probation can be sealed after five years. The petition is filed with the Lee County Circuit Clerk in Dixon. The filing fee is $60. The Office of the State Appellate Defender has a guide that explains the process and the forms you need.

The Illinois Freedom of Information Act under 5 ILCS 140 gives you the right to request records from government agencies in Lee County. This includes police reports, arrest logs, and incident records. You submit a written request to the agency that holds the records. They must respond within five business days.

Note: Sealed and expunged Lee County records will not show up in any public search tool or at the clerk's office.

Get Copies of Lee County Court Records

Official copies of Lee County criminal records are available from the circuit clerk in Dixon. In person is the quickest route. Head to 309 S. Galena, Suite 320, and the staff will look up a case and make copies for you. Standard copies cost a per-page fee. Certified copies, which come with the clerk's seal, cost more. Some agencies require certified copies, so ask ahead of time what format you need.

You can also request records by mail. Write to Amy Johnson, Lee County Circuit Clerk, 309 S. Galena, Suite 320, Dixon, IL 61021. Include the person's full name, any known case numbers, and a check or money order for the fees. Call 815/284-5234 first to find out the current fee schedule. The clerk's office will process your request and mail back whatever they find. Getting the payment right on the first try keeps the process moving.

Nearby Counties

Lee County borders several counties in northern Illinois. Criminal cases are filed in the county where the case was heard. If you need records from a nearby area, check the circuit clerk in that county.