Henry County Felony Records

Henry County felony records are stored at the Circuit Clerk's office in Cambridge, Illinois. The county sits in the 14th Judicial Circuit and has about 48,000 residents. If you need to look up a criminal case here, the clerk keeps all felony filings, docket entries, sentencing orders, and related court documents. Online access is free through Judici. You can also visit the courthouse in person or send a written request by mail. This page covers how to search these records, what costs to expect, and which state laws apply to public access.

Henry County Circuit Clerk Office

Terilyn Kuster Motley serves as the Circuit Clerk for Henry County. The office handles all felony filings, bond records, court orders, and related case documents. You can reach the office at 309/937-3752 if you have questions about a case or need to confirm what paperwork to bring. The courthouse is on West Center Street in Cambridge, which is also the county seat.

Henry County belongs to the 14th Judicial Circuit, which also includes Rock Island, Mercer, and Whiteside counties. Each county in the circuit has its own clerk and maintains its own files. If a felony case was filed in a different county within the circuit, you would need to contact that county's clerk directly.

Search Henry County Felony Records Online

Henry County makes felony case data available through Judici. This is a free public tool. Pick Henry County from the list, type in a name or case number, and the system pulls up docket entries, charge details, hearing dates, and case status. It works on phones and computers.

The statewide court document system, re:SearchIL, is another place to check. It is managed by Tyler Technologies and holds documents from courts across Illinois. Some Henry County records may appear there. Keep in mind that neither tool shows the complete case file. Actual court documents are often limited to in-person access under the Illinois Supreme Court's Electronic Access Policy.

When searching on Judici, use four-digit years in case numbers. For example, type 2024CF0050 rather than 24CF0050. This helps the system find the right case faster.

Fees for Henry County Felony Records

Copy fees in Henry County follow the statewide schedule. The first page costs $2.00. Each page from two through nineteen is $0.50. Pages twenty and up are $0.25 each. If you need a certified copy, the certification seal costs $6.00 on top of the copy charges.

Mail requests should include a check or money order made out to the Henry County Circuit Clerk. Give the full name of the defendant or the case number so staff can find the right file. A self-addressed stamped envelope speeds things up. For in-person visits, payment is taken at the counter during office hours. There is a separate $6.00 per year fee if you ask for a name search through the clerk's index.

State Law and Henry County Felony Cases

Every felony arrest in Henry County is reported to the Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification. The Criminal Identification Act (20 ILCS 2630) requires this. Fingerprints and arrest data go into a central state database. This system holds over five million fingerprint records from across Illinois.

Sentencing for Henry County felony cases follows the Unified Code of Corrections (730 ILCS 5). Class X felonies can bring 6 to 30 years. Class 1 is 4 to 15 years. Class 2 runs 3 to 7 years. Class 3 is 2 to 5 years. Class 4 carries 1 to 3 years. These ranges appear on the sentencing sheets in Henry County case files.

The Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification sits in Joliet and processes conviction searches for the public. Under the Uniform Conviction Information Act (20 ILCS 2635), anyone can request a statewide conviction search. It costs $16 by paper or $10 online. The search returns only conviction data, not arrests or dismissed charges.

The Illinois Courts circuit clerk directory lists contact details for Henry County and every other clerk in the state.

The Judici system lets you search Henry County felony case data along with records from many other Illinois counties that participate in the platform.

Sealing and Expungement in Henry County

Some felony records in Henry County can be sealed or expunged. Sealing hides a record from the public, though law enforcement can still view it. Expungement destroys the record completely. Not every felony qualifies. Certain Class 3 and Class 4 convictions may be eligible for sealing after a waiting period.

You start the process by filing a petition with the Henry County Circuit Court. There is no filing fee for the petition itself. If the court grants the order, the ISP charges $60 to process it. The Illinois expungement and sealing page walks through eligibility rules and the steps involved. You can also email questions to ISP.Expungement.Unit@illinois.gov.

This state page explains the general rules for sealing and expunging criminal records in Illinois, including felony cases filed in Henry County.

FOIA and Henry County Records

Illinois courts do not fall under the Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140). Court records have their own access rules set by the judiciary. However, law enforcement agencies in Henry County, such as the sheriff's office and local police departments, are subject to FOIA. You can send a written FOIA request to those agencies for arrest reports, incident logs, and related documents.

For legal help with records issues, Illinois Legal Aid has guides on how to get copies of criminal records and what your rights are under state law.

Counties Near Henry County

Henry County is in northwest Illinois. Several nearby counties handle felony cases through their own circuit clerks.