Find Lee County Felony Records

Lee County felony records are stored at the Circuit Clerk's office in Dixon, Illinois. The county has about 34,000 residents and is part of the 15th Judicial Circuit. All felony case filings, bond records, docket entries, sentencing orders, and court documents pass through the clerk's office on South Galena Avenue. Free online case searches are available through Judici. You can also visit the courthouse or submit a written request by mail. This page explains how to search Lee County felony records, the fees involved, and the state laws that govern public access.

Lee County Circuit Clerk Office

Amy Johnson is the Circuit Clerk for Lee County. Her office takes care of all felony filings, docket updates, bond documents, court orders, and sentencing records. The office is in Suite 320 at 309 S. Galena in Dixon. Call 815/284-5234 if you need information about a case or want to confirm what is required for a records request.

Lee County sits in the 15th Judicial Circuit alongside Carroll, Jo Daviess, Ogle, and Stephenson counties. Each county has its own clerk and its own set of case files. Dixon is the county seat and the main place where Lee County felony matters are heard. If you are unsure which county handled a particular case, the clerk can often help you figure it out.

Search Lee County Felony Records Online

Lee County uses Judici for free public case searches. Select Lee County from the drop-down, type a name or case number, and the system pulls up docket entries, charges, hearing dates, and case status. No account or fee is needed.

The re:SearchIL platform is another tool to try. This statewide court document repository is run by Tyler Technologies and may have some Lee County filings. Neither tool provides the full case file. Under the Illinois Supreme Court's Electronic Access Policy, certain documents are restricted to in-person viewing.

On Judici, use four-digit years for case numbers. Enter 2024CF0030 instead of 24CF0030 for the best results.

Fees for Lee County Felony Records

Copy fees are the same across all Illinois circuit courts. Your first page costs $2.00. Pages two through nineteen are $0.50 each. Pages twenty and beyond are $0.25 per page. A certified copy costs $6.00 extra for each certification seal.

For mail requests, include a check or money order payable to the Lee County Circuit Clerk. Provide the defendant's name or case number. A self-addressed stamped envelope is helpful if you want papers mailed back. Walk-in requests are taken at the clerk's counter during business hours. Name searches cost $6.00 per year searched.

State Law and Lee County Felonies

All felony arrests in Lee County are reported to the Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification in Joliet. The Criminal Identification Act (20 ILCS 2630) makes this mandatory. Fingerprints and arrest data flow into a central database that the ISP maintains. The system holds over five million fingerprint records.

Sentencing follows the Unified Code of Corrections (730 ILCS 5). Class X felonies carry 6 to 30 years. Class 1 is 4 to 15 years. Class 2 is 3 to 7 years. Class 3 runs 2 to 5 years. Class 4 is 1 to 3 years. Lee County case records show these classes alongside the charges and final disposition.

Anyone can run a statewide conviction search through the ISP under the Uniform Conviction Information Act (20 ILCS 2635). The fee is $10 electronically or $16 by paper. Only convictions appear. No consent is required from the person being searched.

The Illinois Courts website provides public resources and court access information that apply to Lee County and every other county in the state.

Sealing and Expungement in Lee County

Some Lee County felony records can be sealed or expunged. Sealing keeps the record out of public view. Law enforcement can still see sealed records. Expungement destroys the record entirely. Not every felony qualifies. Certain Class 3 and Class 4 convictions may be eligible for sealing once a waiting period has passed.

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

Illinois Legal Aid provides free guides on criminal records, including information relevant to people seeking to seal or expunge felony records in Lee County.

FOIA and Lee County Records

Illinois courts are exempt from the Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140). Court records follow separate rules set by the judiciary. But the Lee County Sheriff, Dixon Police, and other local law enforcement agencies are subject to FOIA. Send a written request for arrest reports, incident logs, and similar documents.

For help finding records, Illinois Legal Aid offers step-by-step guides on how to get copies of criminal records and what your rights are under Illinois law.

Counties Near Lee County

Lee County is in northern Illinois. These neighboring counties each have their own circuit clerk handling felony cases.