Will County Criminal Records

Will County criminal records are managed by the 12th Judicial Circuit Court Clerk at the Will County Courthouse in Joliet. Criminal court records here show the full history of a case, from charges filed through sentencing. The clerk office provides online access to most criminal case data. You can search by name, case number, or date. Will County also makes its fee schedule public so you know what copies cost before you go. Whether you search online or visit in person, this page covers every option for finding criminal records in Will County, Illinois.

Will County Circuit Clerk Criminal Cases

Circuit Clerk Andrea Lynn Chasteen runs the clerk office for the 12th Judicial Circuit in Will County. The office is at the Will County Courthouse, 100 W. Jefferson Street, Joliet, IL 60432. Call (815) 727-8592 with questions. The clerk handles all criminal case filings for the county. That includes traffic infractions, misdemeanors, and felony charges. Every time the state files criminal charges in Will County, the clerk logs the case and tracks it through the court system.

Criminal court records in Will County show the criminal history of a person. This includes traffic infractions along with misdemeanor and felony crimes. The clerk office records each step, from the initial filing through all court dates and the final outcome. If a case goes to trial, the record includes the verdict. If there is a plea deal, that gets recorded too. Sentencing details, fines, and probation terms are all part of the court file.

The Will County Circuit Court website has details on office hours, divisions, and how to reach the right department. If you are not sure which division handles your request, call the main number and they can point you the right way.

Under the Uniform Conviction Information Act (20 ILCS 2635), conviction data held by Illinois agencies is public information. This means anyone can request conviction records from the Will County Circuit Clerk. You do not need to give a reason for your search. Arrest records that did not lead to a conviction may not be available through the clerk, though, because those carry different rules under state law.

Search Will County Criminal Records Online

Most court records in Will County can be viewed online. The Will County court records page explains what is available and how to find it. For criminal cases, the online system shows name, date of birth, case type division, case status, next court date, charges, and a timeline of court appearances. That covers the key details most people need when searching criminal records.

The online system lets you search by name or case number. You can also search by the date a case was filed. Results come up quickly and you can click into any case to see the full record. The system updates as the clerk enters new information, so active cases show current data. This is the fastest way to check on a criminal case in Will County without going to the courthouse in person.

Not every record is online. Some older cases may only exist in paper files at the courthouse. Sealed and expunged records do not appear in online searches. If you search for someone and nothing comes up, the record may be restricted rather than missing. For cases that are online, though, you get a solid picture of what happened and where things stand.

Note: Will County does not use the Judici system that many other Illinois counties rely on for online case searches.

Will County Criminal Records Copy Fees

Will County publishes its fee schedule so you know the cost before you request copies. The fees break down by page count and document type. Here is what the clerk charges for copies of criminal records:

• First page of a document: $2.00
• Next 19 pages: $0.50 per page
• All remaining pages after that: $0.25 per page
• Certification or seal on a document: $6.00
• Certified copy of a judgment: $10.00

So a 25-page criminal case file would cost $2.00 for the first page, $9.50 for pages two through twenty, and $1.25 for the last five pages. That comes to $12.75 total before certification. If you need it certified, add $6.00. These rates apply to in-person and mail requests at the Will County Circuit Clerk office. Call (815) 727-8592 to confirm fees have not changed since your last check.

Payment methods depend on whether you visit in person or mail your request. In-person payments usually include cash, check, or money order. Mail requests should include a check or money order made out to the Will County Circuit Clerk. Credit card options may be available at the counter but call first to confirm.

Will County Circuit Court Resources

The Will County Circuit Court website at willcountycourt.org is the central hub for court information in the county. It covers all divisions of the court, not just criminal. You can find court schedules, judge assignments, forms, and contact details for each department. For criminal records, the court records section is where you want to go.

The site also has information on how to file documents, what forms you need for different case types, and how the court process works in Will County. If you are looking for a specific criminal case, the court records link on the main page takes you right to the search tool. The website is straightforward and you can usually find what you need in a few clicks.

State-Level Criminal Records for Will County

Criminal records from Will County also feed into the statewide system run by the Illinois State Police. The Bureau of Identification collects criminal history data from every county. If someone was arrested or convicted in Will County, that information gets reported to the state. You can search the state database through CHIRP, which runs name-based checks against the full Illinois criminal history file.

CHIRP costs $10 per electronic search. You need an Illinois ID to register. The results cover all counties, not just Will County. So if you want a complete picture of someone's criminal history across Illinois, the state system gives you that. For Will County-specific case details like court dates and charges, the county portal is still the better tool.

Fingerprint-based checks through the state police cost more but cover a wider scope. A state-only check is $15 electronic or $20 paper. Adding an FBI check brings the cost to $27 or $32. These checks run against the full database of over five million fingerprint files held by the Bureau of Identification. You need to visit a Live Scan vendor in person to submit prints.

Public Access to Will County Criminal Records

The Criminal Identification Act (20 ILCS 2630) sets the rules for who can see criminal records in Illinois. Conviction records are open to anyone. You do not need a reason to search them. Arrest records where the person was not convicted carry more restrictions. The law draws a clear line between what is public and what is protected.

The Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140) gives you the right to request records from any public body in Will County. That includes police departments, the sheriff, and other government offices. FOIA requests must be answered within five business days. Some records can be withheld under specific exemptions, but the law starts with the assumption that public records should be open.

Sealed and expunged criminal records in Will County are not available through public searches. Juvenile records are restricted. Adoption records, mental health records, and certain confidential filings like Social Security numbers do not appear in public case files. If a judge orders a record sealed, it drops out of the online system and the clerk will not release it to the public. The State Appellate Defender has more on how sealing and expungement work in Illinois.

Getting Criminal Records in Will County

You have several options for getting copies of criminal records from Will County. The right method depends on what you need and how you plan to use it.

The online portal is the quickest route for basic case info. You can view charges, court dates, and case status without leaving your home. For a printed record, just use your browser's print function on the case page. Keep in mind that online printouts are not certified. They work for personal use but may not be accepted by courts or other agencies that need an official copy.

For certified copies, visit the Will County Courthouse at 100 W. Jefferson Street in Joliet. Bring the case number if you have it. The clerk can look up any case and print certified copies while you wait. You can also mail a request with the case details and a check for the fees listed above. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope so the clerk can mail the copies back to you. Allow extra time for mail requests since they take longer to process than in-person visits.

Your own criminal records are available through the Illinois State Police Access and Review process at no charge from the state. You visit a Live Scan vendor, submit your fingerprints, and the state mails you a transcript of your criminal history. The vendor may charge a fee for the fingerprint service, but the state does not charge for the record itself.

Criminal Records in Will County Cities

Will County covers several cities and towns. All criminal court records go through the 12th Judicial Circuit Court Clerk at the courthouse in Joliet. Residents across the county use the same clerk office for case searches and copies.

Other Will County communities like Romeoville, Plainfield, and Lockport use the same circuit clerk office for criminal records. Call (815) 727-8592 for case info from any city in the county.

Nearby Counties

Looking for criminal records in a county near Will County? Each county has its own circuit clerk office that handles court records.