Cass County Felony Records

Cass County felony records are managed by the Circuit Clerk in Virginia, Illinois. This small central Illinois county has a population of roughly 12,000 and operates within the 8th Judicial Circuit. The clerk's office stores felony case filings, docket entries, bond information, sentencing records, and court orders. You can search some of these records online using the Judici platform or visit the courthouse to make a request in person. This page covers how to look up Cass County felony records, what fees apply, and what state law says about accessing criminal case information.

Cass County Circuit Clerk Office

Brad Parlier is the Circuit Clerk for Cass County. His office handles felony case filings, bond paperwork, docket management, and court orders. The courthouse is in Virginia, Illinois. Call 217/452-7225 to ask about a specific case or find out what you need to submit a records request by mail.

Cass County is part of the 8th Judicial Circuit. This circuit also includes Adams, Brown, Mason, Menard, Pike, Sangamon, and Schuyler counties. Each county in the circuit maintains its own records. Because Cass County is relatively small, the clerk's office can usually process walk-in requests on the spot. If you are unsure whether a felony was charged here or in a neighboring county, the staff can help you figure out where to look.

Search Cass County Felony Records Online

Judici is the online case search platform used by Cass County. It is free. Select Cass County from the drop-down, type in a name or case number, and the system pulls up docket entries, hearing dates, charges, and case status. This works for felony cases as well as other case types.

You can also check re:SearchIL for court documents. This statewide system is run by Tyler Technologies and collects filings from courts across Illinois. Some Cass County records may appear there. Neither Judici nor re:SearchIL provides the full case file, though. Under the Illinois Supreme Court's Electronic Access Policy, certain documents require in-person access at the courthouse.

When searching Judici, use four-digit years in case numbers. Type 2024CF0010 rather than 24CF0010.

Copy Fees for Cass County Records

The fee schedule is uniform across Illinois circuit courts. Your first page costs $2.00. Pages two through nineteen are $0.50 each. After page nineteen, each additional page drops to $0.25. Certified copies add a $6.00 fee per certification seal. If you need a name search and do not have a case number, the clerk charges $6.00 per year searched.

Mail requests should include a check or money order payable to the Cass County Circuit Clerk. Provide the case number or the defendant's full name and date of birth. A self-addressed stamped envelope helps if you want documents mailed back to you. In-person requests at the courthouse are handled during business hours.

Illinois Law and Cass County Felony Cases

Every felony arrest in Cass County is reported to the Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification. The Criminal Identification Act (20 ILCS 2630) mandates this reporting for all law enforcement agencies statewide. Fingerprints and arrest details flow into a central ISP database in Joliet that contains over five million records.

Sentencing in Illinois follows the Unified Code of Corrections (730 ILCS 5). Class X felonies bring 6 to 30 years. Class 1 is 4 to 15 years. Class 2 carries 3 to 7. Class 3 runs 2 to 5 years. Class 4 is 1 to 3 years. These ranges appear in Cass County felony records next to the specific charges and final disposition of each case.

The ISP Access and Review page explains how individuals can check their own criminal history records held by the state.

This screenshot shows the ISP's Access and Review section, where Illinois residents can request a copy of their own criminal history to verify its accuracy.

Running a Statewide Conviction Search

The Uniform Conviction Information Act (20 ILCS 2635) allows anyone to request a statewide conviction report from the ISP. The cost is $10 for electronic or $16 for paper. No consent from the subject is required. Only conviction data is included in the results.

If you need to check for records outside Cass County, this is a good option. The ISP database covers every county in Illinois. Electronic submissions process faster in most cases. Results come through the ISP's online system or by mail.

Expungement and Sealing of Cass County Records

Some Cass County felony records can be sealed or expunged. Sealing takes the record out of public view. Police and prosecutors can still see sealed records. Expungement deletes the record entirely. Eligibility depends on the felony class and the person's criminal history. Certain Class 3 and Class 4 felonies may qualify for sealing.

To begin, file a petition with the Cass County Circuit Court. There is no filing fee for this petition. If the court grants the order, the ISP charges $60 to carry it out. The Illinois expungement and sealing page walks through each step. Contact the ISP expungement unit at ISP.Expungement.Unit@illinois.gov with questions.

Illinois Legal Aid provides helpful information on how to get copies of criminal records, including guidance specific to residents of smaller counties like Cass.

This page from Illinois Legal Aid explains the process for obtaining copies of criminal records and covers options that apply to Cass County residents.

FOIA Requests in Cass County

Illinois courts do not fall under the Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140). Court records are governed by rules set by the judiciary. Law enforcement agencies in Cass County, such as the sheriff and local police, are subject to FOIA. You can submit a written request for arrest reports, incident logs, and similar documents to those agencies.

The Illinois Courts circuit clerk directory lists every clerk in the state. Bookmark it for easy access to contact info for Cass County or neighboring offices.

Counties Near Cass County

Cass County is in central Illinois, surrounded by several other counties that handle felony cases through their own circuit clerks.