Find Felony Records in McDonough County

McDonough County felony records are handled by the Circuit Court Clerk's office in Macomb, Illinois. The 9th Judicial Circuit covers McDonough County along with several neighboring counties in western Illinois. You can look up felony records through the free Judici online system or visit the courthouse to search in person. Macomb is home to Western Illinois University, and the county's felony caseload reflects a mix of small-town and college-area cases. This page explains how to search, what it costs, and where to turn for more help with McDonough County felony records.

McDonough County Circuit Court Clerk

Ian Fischer is the Circuit Clerk for McDonough County. His office sits at the McDonough County Courthouse on Courthouse Square in Macomb. The clerk's office files and stores all felony case records, processes copy requests, and manages the court docket. Staff are available during regular business hours. You can search records at the counter or call ahead to check on a specific case.

McDonough County is part of the 9th Judicial Circuit, which also includes Knox, Fulton, Warren, Hancock, and Henderson counties. The same group of judges rotates across these counties, but each county keeps its own case files with its own clerk.

Search McDonough County Felony Records Online

The Judici platform covers McDonough County. This makes it easy to search felony records from anywhere with internet access. The tool is free for one case at a time. Enter a last name, first name, or case number and the system pulls up matching results. You will see filing dates, charge descriptions, and docket entries for each felony case.

Use the full four-digit year in case numbers. A felony case might be listed as 2023CF0075 on Judici. Do not shorten the year to two digits. McDonough County's court data goes back years in the Judici system, so older felony records may be available too.

You can also check the re:SearchIL statewide portal for any court documents from McDonough County. The Illinois Supreme Court still limits full remote access to case documents, so docket summaries are more common online. For complete files, plan a trip to the clerk's office in Macomb.

The re:SearchIL system holds court documents from across Illinois, including some from McDonough County.

Fees for McDonough County Felony Records

McDonough County uses the standard Illinois copy fee schedule. The first page of any document costs $2.00. Pages 2 through 19 are $0.50 each. After page 19, each additional page is $0.25. Certification costs $6.00 per seal. If you need the clerk to search for a case by name because you do not have a case number, there is a $6.00 search fee.

In-person payments can be made at the courthouse. For requests by mail, send a check or money order payable to the Clerk of the Circuit Court. Put the case number on the check if you have it. Include a self-addressed envelope if you want copies mailed back. The clerk will let you know the total before processing.

Note: Online searches through Judici are free, but getting official copies still requires going through the clerk's office and paying the fees above.

State-Level Felony Record Searches

The ISP Bureau of Identification holds statewide criminal history records. These cover felony arrests from McDonough County and every other county in Illinois. A name-based search through the ISP costs $16 by paper or $10 electronically under the Uniform Conviction Information Act (20 ILCS 2635). This returns conviction data only. No consent from the subject is required.

For a more thorough search, a fingerprint-based inquiry through a Live Scan vendor costs $20 by paper or $15 electronically. It returns a fuller history, but the person being searched must consent. If you want your own record, the Access and Review process is free. Get fingerprinted at a Live Scan vendor and the ISP mails you the results.

Use the ISP's vendor locator to find a fingerprint location near Macomb or anywhere in Illinois.

McDonough County Felony Record Laws

The Criminal Identification Act (20 ILCS 2630) is the main Illinois law on criminal records. It requires police to send felony arrest data and fingerprints to the ISP. McDonough County law enforcement follows this mandate. The act also lays out rules for expungement and sealing of felony records.

Illinois classifies felonies into five levels. The Unified Code of Corrections (730 ILCS 5) sets these ranges: Class X at 6 to 30 years, Class 1 at 4 to 15, Class 2 at 3 to 7, Class 3 at 2 to 5, and Class 4 at 1 to 3 years. Every McDonough County felony record lists the class of the charge. Class X crimes like armed robbery carry mandatory prison time with no option for probation.

Expungement of McDonough County Records

You can petition to expunge or seal certain felony records in McDonough County. File at the Circuit Court in Macomb. The petition itself has no fee. If the judge approves, the ISP charges $60 to carry out the order. Check the State Appellate Defender's expungement guide for eligibility rules and step-by-step instructions.

Arrests without convictions are more likely to qualify. Some drug-related felonies may also be eligible for sealing under newer Illinois laws. Talk to a lawyer if you are unsure about your situation. Legal aid organizations in western Illinois may be able to help at no cost.

Nearby Counties

These counties border McDonough County in western Illinois. Each has its own clerk and court system for felony records.

Cities in McDonough County

Macomb is the county seat and largest city. It is also home to Western Illinois University. All felony cases from Macomb and surrounding communities in McDonough County go through the Circuit Court at the county courthouse. No cities in McDonough County have a population over 50,000.