Access Randolph County Criminal Records

Randolph County criminal records are filed and kept by the Circuit Clerk's office at the courthouse in Chester, Illinois. The county is part of the 20th Judicial Circuit and has a population of about 29,903. Criminal case records can be searched online through the Judici portal for free. The clerk's office also takes in-person and mail requests for copies. This page explains how to search, request, and understand criminal records in Randolph County step by step.

Randolph County Circuit Clerk Criminal Records

The Randolph County Circuit Clerk is Julie A. Carnahan. Her office manages all court files for cases in the 20th Judicial Circuit within the county. That includes criminal cases, civil suits, traffic violations, and family law matters. The office is at #1 Taylor Street, Room 302, Chester, IL 62233. You can reach the clerk by phone at 618/826-5000. If you need to pull a criminal case file, check a case status, or get a copy of a court document, this office is the place to go.

Walk-in visits during business hours are the most direct way to get what you need. Bring any case numbers or names you have. The staff can search by name, case number, or date. Copies are available for a per-page fee. Certified copies cost more because they carry the official court seal. Some agencies and courts will only accept certified copies, so check what you need before you make the request.

The clerk's office also accepts mail requests for Randolph County criminal records. Send a letter to Julie A. Carnahan, Circuit Clerk, #1 Taylor Street, Room 302, Chester, IL 62233. Include the full name of the person, any known case numbers, and a money order or cashier's check for the copy fees. The clerk will process the request and mail the results back to you. Cash is accepted for in-person visits only.

Search Randolph County Criminal Records Online

Randolph County court records are available on the Judici portal. This is a free web-based system used by many Illinois counties. You can search by party name, case number, or filing date. No registration is required. Results show the case type, charges, filing date, and current status. Click on any case to see its full history including court events and outcomes.

The Judici portal provides public access to Randolph County criminal case filings from the 20th Judicial Circuit.

Search for criminal filings in Randolph County through the Judici online portal using a name or case number.

Both open and closed cases show up in the results. Active cases display upcoming court dates. Closed cases show the final disposition. Some records are not available through the public search. Cases that have been sealed or expunged by court order are removed. Juvenile proceedings, mental health cases, and other confidential matters are also excluded from results. What you see on Judici is the public portion of the Randolph County court files.

Note: If a Randolph County criminal record does not appear in online results, it may have been sealed or expunged by court order.

Randolph County and State Police Criminal Checks

The Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification holds criminal history data from every county in Illinois. Randolph County criminal arrests and court outcomes are part of this statewide database. If you need a check that goes beyond what the local clerk has on file, the ISP system is the next step. It pulls records from all 102 counties, not just Randolph.

The Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification page outlines how to request criminal history checks that include Randolph County data.

Start a statewide criminal history check at the ISP Bureau of Identification for records that cover Randolph County and beyond.

Name-based conviction searches cost $10 through the CHIRP portal. This online tool is run by the state police under the Uniform Conviction Information Act at 20 ILCS 2635. You register with an Illinois ID and submit a name. CHIRP returns conviction records from the full state system. This is useful when you need results from more than just Randolph County.

Fingerprint checks are more accurate and cost more. A state-only fingerprint search is $15 electronic. Combined state and FBI checks run $27 electronic or $32 paper. You go to a Live Scan vendor to get printed. The prints are sent to the ISP for processing. The nearest vendors to Randolph County are in the metro east area near St. Clair County.

Criminal Records Laws for Randolph County

Illinois law sets clear rules for criminal record access and privacy. The Criminal Identification Act at 20 ILCS 2630 is the main statute. It covers how criminal history data is collected, stored, and shared. This applies to Randolph County the same as it does to every other county in the state. The act also lays out the process for sealing and expunging records.

Expungement destroys a criminal record entirely. Sealing hides it from public view but leaves it accessible to law enforcement and certain agencies. Arrests that did not lead to a conviction are often eligible for expungement. Some supervision and probation outcomes qualify for sealing after a wait. The waiting period is two years for supervision and five years for qualified probation. You file the petition with the Randolph County Circuit Clerk in Chester. The court fee is $60. Once a judge grants the petition, the clerk notifies the state police and local agencies to update their files.

The Office of the State Appellate Defender has a detailed guide on sealing and expungement in Illinois. It walks through the eligibility rules, required forms, and step-by-step instructions for filing the petition.

The Illinois Freedom of Information Act at 5 ILCS 140 gives the public the right to request records held by government bodies. Police reports, arrest logs, and booking records from Randolph County law enforcement can be obtained through FOIA. Agencies must respond within five business days. Requests should be in writing and directed to the specific agency that holds the records.

Nearby Counties

Randolph County borders several other counties in southern Illinois. Criminal records are filed in the county where the case originated, so check neighboring courts if needed.