Find Union County Criminal Records

Criminal records in Union County are maintained by the Circuit Clerk's office in Jonesboro, Illinois. The county is part of the 1st Judicial Circuit and has a population of about 16,886. You can search Union County criminal records through the Judici online portal at no cost, or go to the courthouse on West Market Street to get copies directly. The clerk handles all felony and misdemeanor case files for the county. This page covers how to search, where to look, and what Illinois law says about accessing criminal records in Union County.

Union County Circuit Clerk Office

Keri Clark serves as the Union County Circuit Clerk. The office is at 309 West Market Street, Room 101, Jonesboro, IL 62952. You can reach them at 618-833-5913. The clerk's office is where all criminal case files in Union County start and stay. Every felony and misdemeanor charge runs through this office. The clerk records charges, court dates, plea entries, and final case outcomes. If you want to look up a case or get copies, this is where you begin.

Visit in person for the fastest service. Bring a photo ID and a case number if you have one. Staff can search by name or case number and print copies right then. Standard copies are charged per page. Certified copies cost more but come with the clerk's official seal. You need certified copies for court proceedings or when an agency asks for proof of a case. Standard copies are fine for personal use or research. The office staff in Jonesboro can help you figure out which type you need.

Mail requests are an option too. Send a letter to Keri Clark, Circuit Clerk, 309 West Market Street, Rm 101, Jonesboro, IL 62952. Include the full name, the case number or range of years, and a check or money order for fees. Call 618-833-5913 before sending payment to confirm the fee amounts. Most requests by mail come back within one to two weeks. The Criminal Identification Act (20 ILCS 2630) sets the rules on what the clerk can share and with whom.

Search Union County Criminal Cases Online

Union County is on Judici. This free public tool covers more than 80 Illinois counties. Select Union County, type a name or case number, and results appear fast. You can view case type, charges, hearing dates, and status. Criminal, civil, and traffic cases are all in there. It is the easiest way to check Union County cases from anywhere with an internet connection.

Judici gives free public access to Union County court case data from the 1st Judicial Circuit.

Sealed and expunged records do not show on Judici. Juvenile matters are excluded as well. Some older cases may not appear if they were filed before the county joined the system. For the complete court file or official copies with the clerk's seal, you need to go through the clerk's office in Jonesboro. Judici is a research tool for quick online checks. It does not replace certified copies from the Union County Circuit Clerk.

Note: Online data may lag a day or two behind new filings at the courthouse.

State Police Criminal Records for Union County

The Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification stores criminal history from all 102 counties. Union County data is part of that. Arrests and convictions in Union County get reported to the state system. A check through the ISP covers the entire state, not just the 1st Judicial Circuit. Name-based conviction searches cost $10 for electronic results. Fingerprint checks go from $15 to $32 depending on scope.

The ISP fee schedule shows costs for name-based and fingerprint criminal history checks that cover Union County records.

The CHIRP system lets you run conviction searches online. You need an Illinois ID to register. Once set up, you type a name and get back statewide conviction data. CHIRP pulls from a different pool than Judici. Judici shows case data from the Union County clerk. CHIRP shows conviction records that agencies sent to the state police. Under the Uniform Conviction Information Act (20 ILCS 2635), conviction data is public. Anyone can request it without giving a reason.

Union County Records and State Law

Illinois law governs how criminal records work in Union County. The Criminal Identification Act (20 ILCS 2630) is the key statute. It covers collecting, storing, and sharing criminal history data. Conviction records are public. Arrest data without a conviction has tighter rules. The act also spells out when records can be sealed or expunged. Union County follows these same state rules.

The Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140) gives another way in. You can file a written FOIA request with the Union County sheriff, the state's attorney, or any public body. Police reports, arrest logs, and other law enforcement documents are available through FOIA. Agencies have five business days to respond. Write the request and send it to the records custodian at the agency that has your file.

Sealing Records in Union County

Some Union County criminal records can be sealed or expunged. Expungement wipes the record entirely. Sealing hides it from public view but law enforcement and some state agencies can still see it. Arrests that did not end in a conviction are the strongest candidates. Certain supervision and probation outcomes may qualify after waiting periods pass.

The wait is two years after supervision ends and five years for qualified probation. File the petition with the 1st Judicial Circuit Court through the Union County clerk in Jonesboro. 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 a guide that covers eligibility, forms, and what to expect at the hearing. If a judge grants the petition, the Union County clerk and state police both update their records. The case then drops out of public searches.

Note: Sealed Union County records stay visible to law enforcement and certain licensing bodies.

Getting Union County Criminal Records

There are several routes to get criminal records from Union County. The fastest is to visit the clerk's office in Jonesboro in person.

• Visit the Union County Circuit Clerk at 309 West Market Street in Jonesboro
• Search Judici online for free case data
• Mail a request with case details and payment to Keri Clark at the clerk's office
• Use the ISP CHIRP system for statewide conviction searches
• File a FOIA request with Union County law enforcement

For Union County records, the clerk and Judici are the two main local resources. The re:SearchIL portal can pull court records from several Illinois counties in one search. State police tools are the way to go if you need a statewide check beyond the 1st Judicial Circuit.

Nearby Counties for Criminal Records

Union County sits in southern Illinois near several other counties. Criminal cases are filed where the charge was brought. Contact the circuit clerk in the right county if you need records from a nearby area.