Illinois Criminal Records

This guide explains how to find Illinois criminal records, arrest records, court records, inmate information, and the public sex offender registry, and how Illinois background-check and record-clearing laws work. It was last reviewed in June 2026 using official Illinois sources, and it points you to the state and county agencies that hold each type of record. You can also start a name search using the tool on this page.

How do I look up a criminal record in Illinois?

There are three main ways to look up an Illinois criminal record:

• Illinois State Police name-based search. Under the Uniform Conviction Information Act (20 ILCS 2635), only conviction information is publicly available - not arrests that did not lead to a conviction. Name-based searches are run through the ISP's Criminal History Information Response Process (CHIRP) system. The fee is $16 for a paper response and $10 for an electronic one. See the ISP Bureau of Identification page to get started.
• Checking your own record (Access and Review). Any individual can visit an Illinois law-enforcement facility, correctional facility, or licensed fingerprint vendor to obtain a copy of their own criminal history transcript. The Illinois State Police does not charge for processing Access and Review requests, though the fingerprinting facility may charge its own fee.
• An online people-search tool like the one on this page, which compiles public-record data from many sources into one report. These tools are for personal knowledge only and are not a substitute for an official ISP search or an FCRA-compliant background check.

A fingerprint-based search is the only way to confirm a record truly belongs to a specific person; a name-and-date-of-birth search can return matches that belong to someone else.

Are criminal records public in Illinois?

Only conviction information is public in Illinois. Under the Uniform Conviction Information Act (20 ILCS 2635), the Illinois State Police is required to make conviction records available to the public, but arrest records that did not result in a conviction are not publicly accessible. Court case files are generally open under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140), so individual case documents can often be viewed at the courthouse where the case was filed. Records that have been expunged or sealed are not available to the public.

Where can I look up arrest records in Illinois?

Arrest records in Illinois are held by the arresting agency - a city police department, county sheriff, or the Illinois State Police. Because the public ISP database only shows convictions, arrest-only information typically requires contacting the arresting agency directly or reviewing court records at the clerk's office where any charges were filed. Many county sheriffs publish an online jail roster showing current inmates. Remember: an arrest is not a conviction and does not prove guilt.

How do I find court records in Illinois?

Illinois circuit court records are held at the county level by the Clerk of the Circuit Court in each of Illinois's 102 counties. For case documents filed electronically, the statewide re:SearchIL portal - maintained by the Illinois Supreme Court - lets you search cases and view electronically filed documents across participating courts. For full physical files, contact the clerk in the county where the case was filed. The Illinois Courts website also includes a Find Your Court directory to locate your local circuit court.

How do I look up warrants in Illinois?

Warrants in Illinois are issued by circuit courts. The best place to check is the county clerk's office or the sheriff in the county where the charges would be filed. Some county sheriff websites publish outstanding-warrant lists. The statewide re:SearchIL portal may also show active cases with warrant status for courts that participate in electronic filing. Active warrants can surface on third-party background reports, but the issuing court or county is the authoritative source.

Do arrests show up on background checks in Illinois?

For employment screening run through a consumer reporting agency, both the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and Illinois-specific laws apply. Under the FCRA, non-conviction arrests older than seven years generally cannot be reported. Separately, the ISP's public conviction database does not include arrests that did not lead to a conviction. Illinois employers with 15 or more employees are also subject to the Job Opportunities for Qualified Applicants Act (820 ILCS 75), Illinois's "ban the box" law, which prohibits asking about criminal history until after the applicant is deemed qualified and notified of an interview or receives a conditional job offer.

How far back does a background check go in Illinois?

Illinois follows the federal FCRA framework without a separate state cap on conviction reporting. Key points:

• Arrests that did not lead to a conviction generally cannot be reported by a consumer reporting agency once they are more than seven years old.
• Convictions can generally be reported indefinitely under federal law; there is no Illinois state law that caps conviction reporting to seven years.
• The FCRA's $75,000 salary exception applies: when a job pays $75,000 or more per year, a consumer reporting agency can report older non-conviction records beyond the seven-year limit.
• Illinois's ban-the-box law (820 ILCS 75) delays when an employer can ask about convictions, but does not limit how far back a conviction can be considered once inquiry is permitted.

How do I find someone in jail or prison in Illinois?

It depends on where the person is held:

• State prison. Use the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) Offender Search to find a person currently in an IDOC facility. You can search by name or IDOC number and the results typically show the facility, custody status, and related information.
• County jail. People awaiting trial or serving shorter sentences are usually in a county jail. Check the relevant county sheriff's website for an inmate roster or jail lookup tool.
• Federal custody. For federal cases, use the Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator rather than IDOC.

How do I find out if someone is on probation or parole in Illinois?

State parole (called Mandatory Supervised Release in Illinois) is supervised by IDOC, and a person's status may appear in the IDOC offender search. Probation is administered by the circuit court and the county probation department; the sentencing court's records are the best source. Probation lets a person serve a sentence in the community under court-set conditions instead of in prison.

What are the felony classes in Illinois?

Illinois divides felonies into five classes, plus a separate category for first-degree murder. Penalties below are general ranges under the Unified Code of Corrections (730 ILCS 5):

• First-degree murder: 20 to 60 years in prison (extended term: 60 to 100 years).
• Class X felony: mandatory 6 to 30 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections; probation is not available.
• Class 1 felony: 4 to 15 years in prison (extended term: 15 to 30 years).
• Class 2 felony: 3 to 7 years in prison (extended term: 7 to 14 years).
• Class 3 felony: 2 to 5 years in prison.
• Class 4 felony: 1 to 3 years in prison; probation is usually available.

All felony sentences also carry a period of Mandatory Supervised Release (parole) after release. Actual sentences depend on the specific offense, prior criminal history, and other factors.

What are the misdemeanor classes in Illinois?

Illinois groups misdemeanors into three classes, punishable by county jail time and/or a fine rather than state prison:

• Class A misdemeanor: up to one year in county jail and/or a fine up to $2,500. Examples include simple battery and a first-offense DUI.
• Class B misdemeanor: up to six months in county jail and/or a fine up to $1,500. Examples include criminal trespass.
• Class C misdemeanor: up to 30 days in county jail and/or a fine up to $1,500. This is the lowest misdemeanor level in Illinois.

Are traffic violations crimes in Illinois?

Most routine traffic tickets in Illinois are civil infractions, not criminal offenses, and typically result only in a fine. However, more serious driving offenses - such as driving under the influence (DUI), reckless driving, and aggravated speeding - are criminal offenses. A first-offense DUI is generally charged as a Class A misdemeanor, and repeat or aggravated DUI offenses can be charged as felonies. Criminal traffic offenses create a criminal record that may appear on background checks.

Is the sex offender registry public in Illinois?

Yes. The Illinois State Police maintains a public Sex Offender Registry under the Sex Offender Registration Act (730 ILCS 150). You can search it by name or address at sor.isp.illinois.gov. The registry is publicly available and shows registrant information including the offense and registration status. Illinois also allows a Parolee Sex Registrant Search through IDOC for individuals on parole who are also sex offenders.

How long must sex offenders register in Illinois?

Illinois uses three registration periods under 730 ILCS 150:

• 10 years - for certain lower-level sex offenses.
• 25 years - for certain intermediate offenses.
• Lifetime - for serious felony sex offenses and anyone classified as a sexual predator.

Most felony sex offense convictions trigger lifetime registration. Registrants must keep their address current with local law enforcement and re-register periodically.

Can someone be removed from the Illinois sex offender registry?

In limited cases, yes. Under 730 ILCS 150/3-5, a person who has completed their full registration term can petition the circuit court in the county of conviction to terminate the duty to register. To succeed, the petitioner must show full compliance throughout the registration period, no additional sex-offense convictions, and no pending criminal charges. Lifetime registrants face a much higher bar and removal is rare. Removal from the Illinois registry does not eliminate registration obligations in other states or under federal law.

How do I expunge or seal my criminal record in Illinois?

Illinois has two distinct remedies under the Criminal Identification Act (20 ILCS 2630/5.2):

• Expungement physically destroys the record. It is available for arrests that did not result in a conviction, supervision orders successfully completed, and certain other dispositions. It is generally not available for felony or misdemeanor convictions.
• Sealing hides the record from public view but keeps it accessible to law enforcement and certain agencies. Sealing is available for many misdemeanor convictions and some felony convictions (with notable exceptions such as domestic-violence offenses and sex offenses). Waiting periods typically begin after the end of the sentence, supervision, or probation.

Eligibility depends on the specific offense, sentence, and waiting period. The Illinois Office of the State Appellate Defender publishes worksheets and forms to help determine eligibility, and the statute itself is 20 ILCS 2630 (Criminal Identification Act).

Do I need a lawyer to expunge or seal my record in Illinois?

You are not required to hire a lawyer. The Office of the State Appellate Defender and the Illinois courts publish forms and worksheets, and some legal-aid clinics assist with expungement petitions at no cost. That said, eligibility rules are detailed and an error in the petition can result in denial, so many people choose to consult an attorney - particularly for felony sealing or complex cases.

How long does a felony stay on your record in Illinois?

An Illinois felony conviction stays on your record permanently unless you obtain relief such as sealing under 20 ILCS 2630/5.2, a pardon, or expungement (which is generally not available for convictions). There is no automatic deletion. The FCRA framework discussed above limits what a background-check company may report for certain non-conviction items; it does not erase the underlying conviction record.

Are juvenile criminal records private in Illinois?

Juvenile records in Illinois are confidential and are generally not available to the public or ordinary background checks under the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 (705 ILCS 405). When a juvenile case is dismissed, results in a finding of not delinquent, or involves a minor offense (such as a Class B or C misdemeanor equivalent), the court must automatically order expungement. For other juvenile records, a petition for expungement can be filed in the sentencing court. Expunged juvenile records are physically destroyed and the minor's name is removed from all official indexes. The OSAD Juvenile Expungement page has forms and instructions.

Cook County criminal records

Cook County is the most populous county in Illinois - home to Chicago and roughly 5.1 million residents - and its Circuit Court is one of the largest unified court systems in the world. The Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County provides case lookup information online at cookcountyclerkofcourt.org, where you can search active and historical criminal, civil, and other cases. Full case files are available in person at the clerk's offices (50 W. Washington, Chicago, or a district courthouse). Copy fees are $2.00 for the first page, $0.50 per page from pages 2 to 20, and $0.20 per page thereafter, plus a $6.00 certification fee if a certified copy is needed.

Official Illinois criminal record sources

• Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification - name-based and fingerprint-based criminal history background checks; public conviction search via CHIRP.
• ISP Access and Review - how to request and review your own Illinois criminal history transcript.
• Illinois State Police Sex Offender Registry - free public search of registered sex offenders by name or address.
• IDOC Offender Search - locate individuals in Illinois state prison custody and search parolee sex registrants.
• re:SearchIL - Illinois Supreme Court's statewide portal for court cases and electronically filed documents (free public access as of May 2025).
• Cook County Clerk of the Circuit Court - Online Case Information - case lookup for Illinois's most populous county.
• Illinois Office of the State Appellate Defender - Expungement - forms, worksheets, and guidance for expunging or sealing a criminal record.
• Illinois Department of Labor - Job Opportunities for Qualified Applicants Act - the state's ban-the-box law (820 ILCS 75).

Disclosure: criminal.com may earn a commission when you use the people-search tool on this page, which is powered by a third-party background-check service. Results from such tools are for your personal knowledge only and may not be used to make decisions about employment, housing, credit, tenant screening, or any other purpose covered by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). An arrest record or mugshot is not proof of guilt. This page is general information about Illinois public records, not legal advice; for advice about your situation, consult an attorney. Information was last reviewed in June 2026 and laws may change.