Iroquois County Felony Records Lookup
Iroquois County felony records are filed at the Circuit Court Clerk's office in Watseka, Illinois. The 21st Judicial Circuit covers felony cases in Iroquois County and neighboring Kankakee County. Finding felony records here is possible through the Judici online search tool or by visiting the courthouse in person. The clerk's office stores all case filings, court orders, and docket information. This page walks through the search options, fees, and legal rules for accessing felony records in Iroquois County. About 27,000 people live in this agricultural county in eastern Illinois near the Indiana border.
Iroquois County Felony Records Quick Facts
Iroquois County Circuit Court Clerk
Lisa Hines serves as the Circuit Clerk for Iroquois County. Her office is at 550 South 10th Street in Watseka. All felony case filings, docket entries, motions, and court orders for cases in Iroquois County are processed and stored here. You can visit during regular hours to look up a case or request copies. The staff can search by name or case number at the counter.
| Clerk | Lisa Hines |
|---|---|
| Address | 550 S. 10th St., Watseka, IL 60970 |
| Phone | 815/432-6950 |
| Fax | 815/432-9333 |
| Hours | Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM |
Iroquois County shares the 21st Judicial Circuit with Kankakee County. The two counties have separate clerks and separate case files, but circuit judges may rotate between them.
Search Iroquois County Felony Records Online
The Judici case search platform covers Iroquois County. It is free to use for single case lookups. You can search by name or case number. Results include the case type, charges filed, docket entries, and filing dates. Judici has data going back many years, so even older felony cases from Iroquois County may show up.
Always type the full four-digit year in the case number field. A felony case would look like 2023CF0025 in the Judici system. The CF part means criminal felony. If you shorten the year to two digits, the search will not work right. This trips up a lot of people who are new to the system.
The Judici participating courts list confirms that Iroquois County is part of the network. You can also try the re:SearchIL statewide document portal. It may have some Iroquois County documents, though full case files are usually only available in person at the clerk's office because of Illinois Supreme Court rules on electronic access.
Judici lets you pick Iroquois County from the home page and search felony records right away at no cost.
Iroquois County Felony Record Fees
Standard Illinois copy fees apply in Iroquois County. Here is the breakdown:
- First page: $2.00
- Pages 2 through 19: $0.50 each
- Pages 20 and up: $0.25 each
- Certification seal: $6.00
- Search fee (no case number): $6.00
You can pay at the courthouse in Watseka. For mail requests, send a check or money order to the Clerk of the Circuit Court. Include the case number or the full name and date of birth of the person. The clerk contacts you with the total before mailing copies out.
State Criminal History for Iroquois County
The ISP Bureau of Identification holds statewide felony arrest records. This covers Iroquois County arrests too. A name-based inquiry costs $16 by paper or $10 electronically under the Uniform Conviction Information Act (20 ILCS 2635). It returns conviction information only. No consent needed from the subject.
A fingerprint-based search is more thorough. It costs $20 on paper or $15 through Live Scan and requires consent. The ISP also offers a free Access and Review for people who want to see their own record. Visit a Live Scan vendor, get fingerprinted, and your results arrive by mail. There is a Record Challenge form in the packet if you find errors.
The State Appellate Defender's site explains expungement and sealing options for Illinois criminal records.
Felony Laws Affecting Iroquois County
The Criminal Identification Act (20 ILCS 2630) requires police in Iroquois County to report felony arrests to the ISP. Fingerprints and arrest data go to the Bureau of Identification for every felony case. This same law sets the rules for expungement and sealing.
Under the Unified Code of Corrections (730 ILCS 5), Illinois felonies range from Class 4 (1 to 3 years) to Class X (6 to 30 years with mandatory prison). Iroquois County felony records show the class of each charge. Courts are exempt from the Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140), but court records are still open to the public through the clerk unless a judge orders them sealed.
Expungement in Iroquois County
To clear a felony record in Iroquois County, you can file a petition for expungement or sealing at the Circuit Court in Watseka. There is no fee to file the petition. If the court grants the order, the ISP charges $60 to carry it out. Check the State Appellate Defender's expungement guide for rules on who qualifies and what steps to take.
Not every felony can be cleared. Arrests without convictions have the best shot. Some drug charges may qualify for sealing under more recent Illinois laws. Talk to a lawyer or legal aid group if you need guidance on a specific Iroquois County felony record.
Nearby Counties
Iroquois County sits in eastern Illinois. These are the surrounding counties, each with its own Circuit Clerk for felony records.
Cities in Iroquois County
Watseka is the county seat. Other communities include Gilman, Milford, and Onarga. All felony cases from these areas go through the Iroquois County Circuit Court in Watseka. No city in Iroquois County has more than 50,000 people.