DeWitt County Felony Records

DeWitt County felony records are maintained by the Circuit Clerk in Clinton, Illinois. With a population of about 16,000, DeWitt County is part of the 11th Judicial Circuit in central Illinois. The clerk's office at 201 W. Washington Street stores all felony filings, docket entries, bond documents, sentencing records, and court orders. You can search case information online through Judici or visit the courthouse for in-person access. This page explains how to find DeWitt County felony records, what fees you will pay, and how Illinois law affects public access to criminal case data.

DeWitt County Circuit Clerk Office

Michelle R. VanValey is the Circuit Clerk for DeWitt County. Her office manages all criminal case filings, docket entries, bond paperwork, and court orders for felony matters. The courthouse sits at 201 W. Washington Street in Clinton. Call 217/935-7750 to check on a specific case or get details on submitting a records request.

DeWitt County is part of the 11th Judicial Circuit, which also covers Ford, Livingston, Logan, McLean, and Woodford counties. McLean County, with Bloomington-Normal, is the largest in the circuit. Each county keeps its own files. Clinton is a small city between Bloomington and Decatur. The clerk's office handles requests without long wait times during regular hours. If you think a case may have been filed in McLean or another nearby county, the DeWitt clerk can usually help you figure that out.

Search DeWitt County Felony Records Online

DeWitt County uses Judici for online case searches. This is a free public tool. Select DeWitt County from the menu, enter a name or case number, and the results show docket entries, hearing dates, charge details, and case status. Felony cases as well as other case types are searchable.

The re:SearchIL statewide repository may have some DeWitt County court documents too. Tyler Technologies runs this system for Illinois courts. But neither platform provides the full case file. Under the Illinois Supreme Court's Electronic Access Policy, some documents are restricted to in-person viewing at the clerk's office in Clinton.

Tip: Use four-digit years when entering case numbers on Judici. Type 2024CF0008 instead of 24CF0008.

Fees for DeWitt County Felony Records

Copy fees are uniform across Illinois circuit courts. The first page costs $2.00. Pages two through nineteen are $0.50 each. After that, each page is $0.25. Certified copies add $6.00 per seal. A name search costs $6.00 per year when you do not have a case number.

For mail requests, send a check or money order payable to the DeWitt County Circuit Clerk. Include the case number or the defendant's name and date of birth. Enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope if you want documents sent back to you. Walk-in requests happen at the front counter during business hours.

Illinois Law and DeWitt County Felony Cases

Felony arrests in DeWitt County are reported to the Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification in Joliet. The Criminal Identification Act (20 ILCS 2630) requires this from every law enforcement agency in the state. Fingerprints and arrest data go into the ISP's central database, which holds more than five million records.

The Unified Code of Corrections (730 ILCS 5) sets sentencing ranges for each felony class. Class X is 6 to 30 years. Class 1 is 4 to 15. Class 2 carries 3 to 7. Class 3 is 2 to 5 years. Class 4 runs 1 to 3 years. DeWitt County felony records include these class designations along with the charges and the final outcome of each case.

The ISP fee schedule page outlines costs for statewide conviction searches and other record request services available to the public.

This screenshot shows the ISP's fee page, which lists what you will pay for a statewide conviction search that may include DeWitt County felony data.

Statewide Conviction Records

Anyone can request a statewide conviction report from the ISP under the Uniform Conviction Information Act (20 ILCS 2635). Electronic requests cost $10. Paper is $16. No consent from the subject is needed. Only conviction data appears in the results, not arrests without convictions.

This works well if you need records beyond DeWitt County. The ISP database spans all 102 Illinois counties. Electronic submissions generally process faster than paper. Results come by mail or through the ISP's online system.

Expungement and Sealing in DeWitt County

Certain DeWitt County felony records may be sealed or expunged. Sealing blocks public access. Law enforcement and prosecutors can still see the record. Expungement destroys it. Eligibility depends on the felony class and the person's full criminal history. Some Class 3 and Class 4 felonies may qualify for sealing after a waiting period.

File a petition with the DeWitt County Circuit Court to start. No filing fee is required. If the court grants the order, the ISP charges $60 to process it. Visit the Illinois expungement and sealing page for full instructions. The ISP expungement unit is at ISP.Expungement.Unit@illinois.gov.

The re:SearchIL document repository is a statewide tool where some DeWitt County court filings may be available for online viewing.

This page shows the re:SearchIL search interface, where you may find certain DeWitt County court documents alongside filings from other Illinois counties.

FOIA and DeWitt County

The Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140) does not apply to Illinois courts. Court records follow separate rules set by the judiciary. But law enforcement agencies in DeWitt County, including the sheriff's office and Clinton police, are subject to FOIA. You can submit a written request for arrest reports, incident logs, and related records from those agencies.

Use the Illinois Courts circuit clerk directory to find contact information for Michelle VanValey's office or any other circuit clerk in Illinois.

Counties Near DeWitt County

DeWitt County is in central Illinois between Bloomington and Decatur. The following counties maintain their own felony records through separate circuit clerk offices.