Illinois Felony Records
Illinois felony records are kept by county Circuit Court Clerks and the Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification. You can search felony records across all 102 Illinois counties through court case search tools and state databases. The ISP holds more than five million fingerprint files tied to criminal history records in Illinois. County clerks store case filings, docket sheets, and court orders for every felony case heard in their circuit. Whether you need to look up a case number or check a name, there are free and paid ways to search felony records in Illinois from home or in person at any courthouse.
Illinois Felony Records Quick Facts
Where to Find Illinois Felony Records
Felony records in Illinois come from two main places. The county Circuit Court Clerk holds all case filings for felonies in that county. This is where you find docket sheets, court orders, motions, and the final case outcome. Every felony case in Illinois gets filed at the county level. The Clerk of the Circuit Court is the official keeper of these records, and most offices are open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. You can visit any clerk office in person to search or request copies of felony records. The Illinois Courts Circuit Court Clerks Directory has contact info for all 102 county clerks across Illinois.
The Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification is the state-level agency that keeps criminal history records. The BOI collects fingerprints and arrest data from every law enforcement agency in Illinois. Their records cover felony arrests statewide. The BOI is at 260 North Chicago Street in Joliet, and it runs by appointment only. You can reach their customer support line at 815-740-5160.
The ISP Bureau of Identification page has details on how to submit searches and check the status of your request for Illinois felony records.
This is the main landing page for the ISP's criminal history services in Illinois.
Illinois Felony Records Search Tools
Several online tools let you search felony records in Illinois. The most widely used is Judici, which covers 82 of the 102 counties in Illinois. Judici is free for single-case lookups. You can search by name or case number. Over 100 million records from the history of Illinois courts are on the platform. Many circuit courts link to Judici from their own sites, so it is an officially endorsed resource for finding felony records in Illinois. When searching by case number, use the full four-digit year format (for example, 2004CF1234 not 04CF1234).
You can see which courts use Judici on their participating courts list.
Judici lets you pick any participating county and run a free case search for felony records right from the home page.
This page shows all the Illinois courts that participate in the Judici system for public felony record access.
The re:SearchIL portal is the official statewide document repository run by Tyler Technologies for Illinois courts. It holds court documents from across the state. Keep in mind that the Illinois Supreme Court's Electronic Access Policy limits what you can see online. Docket summaries are usually available, but full case documents for felony records often need an in-person visit.
The re:SearchIL portal is the Tyler Technologies system used by Illinois courts for document storage and retrieval.
The Illinois Courts public resources page links to court directories, e-filing tools, and case search options for felony records.
This is the central hub for all public court resources in Illinois.
Illinois State Police Felony Record Searches
The ISP offers two types of criminal history searches for felony records in Illinois. A name-based inquiry costs $16 by paper or $10 electronically. This search returns only conviction information, not all arrests. You do not need the person's consent for a name-based search under the Uniform Conviction Information Act (20 ILCS 2635). A fingerprint-based search costs $20 by paper or $15 through Live Scan and does require consent. It returns a fuller criminal history record.
The ISP fee schedule breaks down every cost for felony record searches.
The full fee table shows costs for state-only, FBI-only, and combined searches for Illinois felony records.
CHIRP is the ISP's online portal for criminal history searches. It stands for Criminal History Information Response Process. CHIRP is not open to the general public. Only law enforcement agencies and groups with a User's Agreement with the ISP can log in. If you need a background check for felony records through CHIRP, you must go through an authorized agency in Illinois.
The CHIRP system requires two-factor login and is limited to authorized users only.
How to Check Your Own Felony Record in Illinois
If you want to see your own criminal history in Illinois, you can do an Access and Review. This is free. Visit a Live Scan fingerprint vendor, get fingerprinted, and your results will be mailed to you. The ISP keeps a list of licensed Live Scan vendors at idfprapps.illinois.gov. The last page of your Access and Review packet includes a Record Challenge form. If you find errors on your felony record, you can use that form to dispute them with the Bureau of Identification in Joliet.
Use this tool to find a fingerprint vendor near you in Illinois.
The ISP Access and Review page explains the full process step by step.
This page covers everything you need to know about checking your own felony record in Illinois through the ISP.
Note: If you have an active arrest warrant, law enforcement can arrest you when you go to get fingerprinted, so check for warrants first.
Illinois Felony Classes and Sentencing
Illinois classifies felonies into five levels. The Unified Code of Corrections (730 ILCS 5) sets the sentencing ranges. Class X is the most serious. It carries 6 to 30 years in prison with no option for probation. Armed robbery and aggravated criminal sexual assault fall under Class X. Class 1 carries 4 to 15 years. Class 2 is 3 to 7 years. Class 3 is 2 to 5 years. Class 4 is 1 to 3 years and covers offenses like computer fraud. Understanding these classes helps when reading felony records in Illinois because the class tells you how severe the charge was.
The Illinois Criminal Code of 2012 (720 ILCS 5) defines every criminal offense and its classification. It is the main reference for what types of crimes show up on felony records in Illinois.
Illinois Felony Record Laws
The Criminal Identification Act (20 ILCS 2630) is the main law that governs felony records in Illinois. It requires every police agency to send fingerprints and arrest data for all felony arrests to the ISP. This law also covers who can access criminal history records and under what rules. Section 5.2 deals with expungement and sealing of felony records in Illinois.
The full text of the Criminal Identification Act is on the Illinois General Assembly website.
The Illinois Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140) gives the public the right to request records from government agencies. Law enforcement agencies, the ISP, sheriffs, and police departments are all subject to FOIA for many records including arrest reports and incident reports. However, courts are exempt from FOIA. Court records access is governed by separate court rules, not FOIA. You can submit FOIA requests to the ISP by visiting their FOIA page or mailing the request to the Freedom of Information Officer at 801 South 7th Street, Suite 1000-S, Springfield, Illinois 62703.
The ISP FOIA page has forms and instructions for submitting public records requests for felony record information in Illinois.
Expunging and Sealing Felony Records in Illinois
Illinois allows some felony records to be expunged or sealed. Expungement erases the record entirely. Sealing hides it from most public searches but law enforcement can still see it. The rules for who qualifies are in the Criminal Identification Act (20 ILCS 2630, Section 5.2). Not all felony convictions can be expunged. Class 3 and Class 4 felonies may be eligible for sealing in certain cases. You must file a petition with the court in the county where the case was heard.
The Office of the State Appellate Defender has a guide on the full process at osad.illinois.gov.
This page walks through the steps and eligibility rules for expunging or sealing felony records in Illinois.
The ISP processes court orders for expungement or sealing at a fee of $60 per order. Filing the petition itself costs nothing. Send questions to the ISP Expungement Unit at ISP.Expungement.Unit@illinois.gov.
Fees for Illinois Felony Record Copies
Most Illinois counties charge the same standard rates for felony record copies. The first page costs $2.00. Pages 2 through 20 cost $0.50 each. Pages 21 and up cost $0.25 each. Certification adds $6.00 per seal. If you do not have a case number and need the clerk to search, there is a $6.00 search fee per year or per case.
Some counties have their own online portals where you can look up felony records for free. Cook County is the main exception. Cook County does not provide public online access to criminal felony records. You must go in person to the courthouse. The directory below lists all clerk offices across Illinois for felony record copy requests.
The official clerks directory on illinoiscourts.gov lists every county with addresses and phone numbers.
Legal Help With Illinois Felony Records
Illinois Legal Aid Online has a step-by-step guide on getting copies of your criminal records in Illinois. The site explains the difference between court records, ISP records, and police records. It also covers what to do if your felony record has errors.
Illinois Legal Aid walks you through the process of getting and understanding your felony record in plain language.
Browse Illinois Felony Records by County
Each of the 102 counties in Illinois has a Circuit Court Clerk who keeps felony case records. Pick a county below to find local contact info, search tools, and resources for felony records in that area.
View All 102 Illinois Counties →
Felony Records in Major Illinois Cities
Residents of major cities file felony cases at their county Circuit Court. Pick a city below to learn about felony records in that area.