Clark County Felony Records Lookup

Clark County felony records are maintained by the Circuit Clerk in Marshall, Illinois. This eastern Illinois county has about 15,000 residents and is part of the 5th Judicial Circuit. The clerk's office stores all felony case filings, docket entries, bond records, court orders, and sentencing documents. You can search these records online through Judici or request them in person at the courthouse. This page covers how to access Clark County felony records, what you will pay for copies, and how Illinois law governs public access to criminal case information.

Clark County Circuit Clerk Office

Ami Shaw is the Circuit Clerk for Clark County. Her office handles all criminal case filings, bond paperwork, docket management, and court orders for felony cases. The courthouse is in Marshall. Call 217/826-2811 to check on a case or find out what you need for a records request.

Clark County belongs to the 5th Judicial Circuit. This circuit also includes Clark, Coles, Cumberland, Edgar, and Vermilion counties. Each county in the circuit keeps its own case files and runs its own clerk's office. Marshall is a small town, and the clerk's office generally processes requests without much wait time during regular business hours. If you are not sure which county handled a particular felony, the clerk can often help you figure out where to look.

Search Clark County Felony Records Online

Clark County participates in Judici, a free online case search tool used by many Illinois counties. You can look up felony cases by defendant name or case number. Results include docket entries, charges, hearing dates, and case status. Select Clark County from the menu, enter your search, and the data loads right away.

The re:SearchIL platform is another option. This statewide repository managed by Tyler Technologies pulls court documents from across Illinois. Some Clark County filings may appear there. Neither platform provides the full case file. Under the Illinois Supreme Court's Electronic Access Policy, certain documents can only be viewed in person at the courthouse.

Always use four-digit years when entering case numbers on Judici. Type 2024CF0015 rather than 24CF0015 for accurate results.

Fees for Clark County Felony Records

Illinois sets the same copy fees for all circuit courts. The first page costs $2.00. Pages two through nineteen are $0.50 each. Each page after nineteen is $0.25. Certified copies add $6.00 per seal. Name searches cost $6.00 per year when no case number is available.

To request records by mail, send a check or money order payable to the Clark County Circuit Clerk. Include the case number or the defendant's full name and date of birth. A self-addressed stamped envelope will help with return mailing. Walk-in requests at the counter are handled during normal hours.

Illinois Law and Clark County Felony Cases

All felony arrests in Clark County are reported to the Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification in Joliet. The Criminal Identification Act (20 ILCS 2630) requires every law enforcement agency in Illinois to send fingerprints and arrest data to this central database. The ISP holds over five million fingerprint records statewide.

The Unified Code of Corrections (730 ILCS 5) sets felony sentencing ranges that apply to all Illinois counties, including Clark. Class X brings 6 to 30 years. Class 1 is 4 to 15. Class 2 runs 3 to 7 years. Class 3 is 2 to 5. Class 4 carries 1 to 3 years. Clark County felony records show these classifications next to the charges and the final outcome.

The Live Scan vendor locator tool on the ISP website helps locate fingerprinting service providers near Clark County for electronic submissions.

This ISP tool helps you find Live Scan fingerprinting vendors, which is relevant if you need to submit fingerprints for a record check or Access and Review request.

Statewide Conviction Records

Under the Uniform Conviction Information Act (20 ILCS 2635), anyone can request a conviction report from the ISP. The electronic version costs $10. Paper is $16. No consent from the subject is needed. Only conviction data appears in the results.

This works well when you need to check for records beyond just Clark County. The ISP database covers all 102 counties in Illinois. Electronic requests process faster than paper in most cases. Results arrive by mail or through the ISP online portal.

Expungement and Sealing of Clark County Records

Some Clark County felony records may qualify for sealing or expungement. Sealing removes the record from public view but keeps it accessible to law enforcement and prosecutors. Expungement destroys the record entirely. Eligibility depends on the felony class and the person's full criminal history. Certain Class 3 and Class 4 felonies can be sealed after a waiting period.

To start, file a petition with the Clark County Circuit Court. There is no filing fee. If granted, the ISP charges $60 to process the order. Visit the Illinois expungement and sealing page for detailed steps. Reach the ISP expungement unit at ISP.Expungement.Unit@illinois.gov.

The Illinois Courts website lists public resources, including information on how to access criminal court records and connect with local clerk offices.

This page on the Illinois Courts site provides links and resources useful for anyone seeking to access Clark County felony records or connect with the circuit clerk.

FOIA and Clark County

Illinois courts are not covered by the Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140). Court records follow rules set by the judiciary. But law enforcement agencies in Clark County, such as the sheriff and Marshall police, are subject to FOIA. You can submit written requests for arrest reports, incident logs, and similar law enforcement documents.

The Illinois Courts circuit clerk directory lists contact info for every clerk in the state. It is a useful bookmark if you need to look up offices in nearby counties.

Counties Near Clark County

Clark County is in eastern Illinois near the Indiana border. The following counties maintain their own felony records through separate clerk offices.