Jackson County Felony Records

Jackson County felony records are filed at the Circuit Court Clerk's office in Murphysboro, Illinois. Part of the 1st Judicial Circuit, Jackson County has a population near 57,000 and sits in southern Illinois. The clerk maintains all criminal filings, court orders, and docket information for felony cases in the county. You can search cases for free online through Judici. The clerk's office also accepts walk-in visits during business hours and handles mail requests for record copies. If you need felony case information from Jackson County, there are several ways to get it.

Search Jackson County Felony Cases

Judici provides free online access to Jackson County felony case dockets. The county participates in this statewide system that covers over 82 counties. Search by defendant name or case number. The results include docket entries, hearing schedules, and the current status of a case. Over 100 million records from Illinois courts are in the Judici database.

Use the full year when entering a case number. Type 2024CF0123 rather than 24CF0123. The "CF" code in Jackson County court records means criminal felony.

Full case documents typically cannot be viewed online. The Illinois Supreme Court's Electronic Access Policy, in effect since 2004, restricts remote access to actual filings. You see docket summaries online. For complete documents from a Jackson County felony case, visit the clerk's office in Murphysboro or send a written request.

Jackson County Circuit Clerk Details

Christian Hale serves as the Jackson County Circuit Clerk. The office is the official custodian of all felony records in the county. Walk in during regular hours to look at a case file or get copies. Staff can pull up records by name or case number. Call 618/687-7300 with questions about a specific case or the request process.

For mail requests, send your letter to P.O. Box 730, Murphysboro, IL 62966. Include the person's name and date of birth. Add the case number if you know it. A check or money order for the fees should be made payable to the Jackson County Circuit Clerk.

Jackson County Felony Record Copy Fees

Jackson County uses the standard Illinois fee schedule. Here is the breakdown:

• First page: $2.00
• Pages 2 through 20: $0.50 per page
• Pages 21 and after: $0.25 per page
• Certification: $6.00 per seal
• Record search: $6.00 per name

When you have the case number, you avoid the $6 search fee. Just ask for copies of that specific case and pay the copy rates. The search fee only applies when the clerk needs to look up records using a name without a case number.

Note: Always call ahead if mailing a request to confirm payment amounts and processing times.

Felony Records Law Affecting Jackson County

The Criminal Identification Act (20 ILCS 2630) is the backbone of felony records law in Illinois. It requires every police agency to send fingerprints and arrest details for felony cases to the ISP Bureau of Identification. A felony arrest in Jackson County gets logged with both the county clerk and the state police.

Illinois felonies are classified under the Unified Code of Corrections (730 ILCS 5). Class X is the most serious, carrying 6 to 30 years. Class 1 is 4 to 15. Class 2 is 3 to 7. Class 3 is 2 to 5 years. Class 4 is 1 to 3. The felony class on a Jackson County court record shows how severe the original charge was.

ISP Records for Jackson County Felonies

The Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification keeps statewide criminal history records that include Jackson County. A name-based conviction search costs $10 electronically under the Uniform Conviction Information Act (20 ILCS 2635). No consent from the subject is required. Only conviction information is returned.

Fingerprint-based searches cost $15 through Live Scan and require consent. The full ISP fee schedule has all the details. Find a Live Scan vendor near Murphysboro at idfprapps.illinois.gov.

The ISP also allows a free Access and Review for people who want to check their own criminal history. Visit a Live Scan vendor, get fingerprinted, and the ISP mails the results. The packet includes a form to challenge any errors.

Sealing Records in Jackson County

Some Jackson County felony records can be sealed or expunged. The rules are in the Criminal Identification Act (20 ILCS 2630, Section 5.2). Class 3 and Class 4 felonies may be eligible for sealing. You file the petition at the Jackson County Circuit Court in Murphysboro. Filing is free. The ISP charges $60 to process the court order.

The Office of the State Appellate Defender has a guide at osad.illinois.gov that covers the entire process.

Jackson County Court Records Screenshot

The Office of the State Appellate Defender provides information on clearing felony records in Jackson County and across Illinois.

This resource explains the eligibility rules and steps for sealing or expunging a felony record in Illinois.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Jackson County, each with their own felony records kept by local Circuit Court Clerks: