Access Washington County Criminal Records

Criminal records in Washington County are held at the Circuit Clerk's office in Nashville, Illinois. The county is part of the 2nd Judicial Circuit and has a population of about 13,535. You can search criminal case data for free through the Judici online portal, or visit the courthouse in Nashville for official copies. The clerk handles records for all felonies and misdemeanors filed in Washington County. This page covers the ways to find criminal records here, what state resources apply, and how Illinois law treats access to these files.

Washington County Circuit Clerk

The Circuit Clerk handles all criminal case records in Washington County. The office is at the courthouse in Nashville. Every felony and misdemeanor charge filed here goes through this office. The clerk records charges, court dates, plea entries, and case outcomes. If you need to check on a case or get copies, start at the clerk's office in Nashville. Walk-ins are taken during regular hours.

When you visit, bring a valid photo ID. Staff can search records by name or case number and print copies on the spot. Standard copies cost a per-page fee. Certified copies cost more and carry the clerk's official seal. You need certified copies for court proceedings or when an agency asks for formal proof. Standard copies are fine for personal review. Washington County is part of the 2nd Judicial Circuit, and all criminal cases from the county are heard in Nashville.

Mail requests are accepted too. Write to the Washington County Circuit Clerk at the courthouse in Nashville, IL. Include the person's full name, case number or range of years to search, and a check or money order for fees. Call the clerk's office first to get the current fee amounts. Most mail requests take one to two weeks. The staff are generally helpful over the phone if you have questions about what is on file.

The Criminal Identification Act (20 ILCS 2630) sets the rules on which records the clerk can release and how they handle requests.

Search Washington County Cases Online

Washington County court records are on Judici. Judici is a free portal. More than 80 Illinois counties use it. Pick Washington County from the list, type a name or case number, and results show up fast. You can view case type, charges, hearing dates, and status. Criminal, civil, and traffic cases are all there.

The re:SearchIL portal also pulls court data from multiple Illinois counties, including Washington County records from the 2nd Judicial Circuit.

Sealed and expunged records are not on Judici. Juvenile matters are excluded. Some older cases may not be in the system. For official copies with the clerk's seal, you go through the office in Nashville. Judici is a research and viewing tool. It works well for quick lookups and checking case status. It does not produce certified documents. There can also be a short lag between new court filings and when they appear online.

State Police Records for Washington County

The Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification stores criminal history data from all 102 Illinois counties. Washington County records are part of that database. When someone gets arrested or convicted here, local agencies report the data to the state system. A state police search covers the entire state, not just the 2nd Judicial Circuit.

Name-based conviction checks cost $10 for electronic results. Fingerprint checks go from $15 to $32 based on scope. The CHIRP system lets you run conviction searches online with an Illinois ID. CHIRP and Judici are different systems that pull from different data sources. Running both gives you a wider view of records tied to Washington County.

Under the Uniform Conviction Information Act (20 ILCS 2635), conviction data is public. Anyone can request it without giving a reason. This covers Washington County and every other county in the state.

Washington County Records and State Law

Illinois law shapes how criminal records are handled in Washington County. The Criminal Identification Act (20 ILCS 2630) is the main statute. It covers collecting, storing, and sharing criminal history. Conviction records are public. Arrest data that did not lead to a conviction has tighter limits. The Washington County clerk follows these state rules for every request.

The Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140) gives you another path. File a written FOIA request with the Washington County sheriff, the state's attorney, or any public body. Police reports, arrest logs, and other law enforcement records can come through FOIA. Agencies have five business days to respond. Send the request in writing to the records custodian at the agency holding the files you need.

Clearing Records in Washington County

Some Washington County criminal records can be sealed or expunged. Expungement destroys the record. Sealing hides it from public view while keeping it visible to law enforcement. Arrests without a conviction are the most common type that qualifies. Certain supervision and probation cases may also qualify after the wait time passes.

The waiting period is two years after supervision ends and five years for qualified probation. File a petition with the 2nd Judicial Circuit Court through the Washington County clerk in Nashville. 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 which records qualify, what forms to use, and how the hearing goes. If the judge grants it, the clerk and state police both update their files.

Sealed records stay visible to law enforcement and some licensing bodies in the state.

Getting Washington County Criminal Records

There are several ways to get criminal records from Washington County. The method depends on what type of copy you need.

• Visit the Washington County Circuit Clerk at the courthouse in Nashville
• Look up cases on the Judici portal for free
• Mail a request with case details and payment to the clerk
• Use the ISP CHIRP system for statewide conviction data
• Send a FOIA request to Washington County law enforcement

For Washington County records, the clerk and Judici are the main local sources. State police tools work best for searches that go beyond the 2nd Judicial Circuit. The re:SearchIL portal can cover multiple counties in a single search if you need records from more than one area.

Nearby Counties for Criminal Records

Washington County borders several counties in southern Illinois. Criminal cases get filed where the offense took place. Contact the circuit clerk in the right county if you need records from nearby.