Franklin County Felony Records Search

Franklin County felony records are managed by the Circuit Court Clerk in Benton, Illinois. The 2nd Judicial Circuit handles all criminal cases here, and every felony filing in Franklin County becomes part of the public record. You can search these records through the Judici online system or by visiting the clerk office in Benton. Whether you need a case number lookup or a name-based search, the clerk staff or online tools can help you find what you need in the Franklin County felony record system.

Franklin County Court Clerk Office

James Muir is the Circuit Court Clerk for Franklin County. The office handles all felony records filed in the county. You can visit in person during business hours to request copies of felony case files. If you have a case number, the process is quick. Name-based searches take more time because the clerk needs to check the index first.

Franklin County is part of the 2nd Judicial Circuit, which also covers several other counties in southern Illinois. Felony cases from anywhere in the county get filed at the courthouse in Benton.

Online Felony Records for Franklin County

Franklin County uses Judici for online case access. This free tool lets you search felony records by name or case number. The Franklin County Judici page is at https://www.judici.com/courts/cases/case_search.jsp?court=IL055015J. You can view docket entries, court dates, charges, and case outcomes without leaving your home.

Keep in mind that Judici shows docket summaries, not full case documents. The Illinois Supreme Court's Electronic Access Policy limits what can be viewed remotely. If you need copies of actual court filings from a Franklin County felony case, contact the clerk or go to the courthouse. The re:SearchIL statewide portal is another resource for searching court records.

Use the four-digit year when entering case numbers on Judici. A felony case from 2023 should be entered as 2023CF followed by the case number, not 23CF.

Franklin County Felony Record Copy Costs

Copy fees in Franklin County follow Illinois law. You pay $2.00 for the first page of any felony record. Pages 2 through 20 are $0.50 each. After page 20, the rate drops to $0.25 per page. Certified copies cost an extra $6.00 per certification seal. If the clerk needs to do a search for you, that is $6.00 per case or per year searched.

Mail requests should include a check or money order. Cash is only accepted in person at the Benton courthouse. Include the defendant name, date of birth, and any case numbers you already know to speed up the process.

Note: Certified copies are often needed for legal proceedings or official use outside the court.

Felony Case Types in Franklin County

Illinois classifies felonies into five levels. Class X is the most serious with 6 to 30 years in prison. Class 1 carries 4 to 15 years, Class 2 is 3 to 7 years, Class 3 is 2 to 5 years, and Class 4 is 1 to 3 years. The Unified Code of Corrections (730 ILCS 5) sets these sentencing ranges. Every felony record filed in Franklin County includes the class of the offense.

A typical Franklin County felony case file contains the charging document (indictment or information), all motions filed by both sides, court orders, bond records, and the final disposition. Some files also include victim impact statements and sentencing recommendations. The level of detail depends on how far the case went through the system.

ISP Criminal History and Franklin County

All felony arrests in Franklin County get reported to the Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification. The Criminal Identification Act (20 ILCS 2630) requires every law enforcement agency to send fingerprints and arrest data for felony charges. So even if you search only at the county level, the arrest also exists in the state database.

The ISP Access and Review process lets you check your own criminal history. Visit a Live Scan vendor to get fingerprinted. Results arrive by mail. There is no fee for this. If you find errors, you can challenge them using the form in the packet.

For a name-based conviction check through the ISP, the fee is $16 for paper or $10 for electronic. The Uniform Conviction Information Act (20 ILCS 2635) governs who can request these searches and what info gets shared.

Clearing Franklin County Felony Records

Some Franklin County felony records can be expunged or sealed. The Office of the State Appellate Defender has information on eligibility and the process. Cases that ended in dismissal or not-guilty verdicts are generally eligible for expungement. Certain convictions may be sealed after the required waiting period.

File the petition at the Franklin County Circuit Court in Benton. The ISP charges $60 to process the court order. Once completed, the record comes off Judici and other public search tools.

Franklin County Felony Record Resources

Use the Illinois Courts clerk directory to verify contact details for the Franklin County clerk office or any other county in the state.

The re:SearchIL portal serves as the official statewide document repository for Illinois courts and can be used to search Franklin County records.

Nearby County Felony Records

Franklin County is in southern Illinois. The neighboring counties also file felony records through their own circuit clerks.

Cities in Franklin County

Benton, West Frankfort, and Christopher are the main towns in Franklin County. None has a population over 50,000. All felony cases from these and other Franklin County communities are filed at the Circuit Court in Benton.