Access Menard County Felony Records
Menard County felony records are kept at the Circuit Clerk's office in Petersburg, Illinois. This small county has about 12,000 residents and belongs to the 7th Judicial Circuit. The clerk maintains all felony case filings, bond documents, docket entries, sentencing orders, and related court papers. You can search case data online for free through Judici, visit the courthouse on South 7th Street, or mail a written request. This page covers how to find felony records in Menard County, what the costs are, and how Illinois law governs access to criminal case files.
Menard County Felony Records Quick Facts
Menard County Circuit Clerk Office
| Clerk | Elyse Waibel |
|---|---|
| Address | 102 S. 7th St., Petersburg, IL 62675 |
| Phone | 217/632-2615 |
| Fax | 217/632-4124 |
| Hours | Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. |
| Circuit | 7th Judicial Circuit |
Elyse Waibel serves as the Circuit Clerk for Menard County. Her office handles all criminal case filings, felony charges, bond records, hearing schedules, and court orders. The courthouse is at 102 S. 7th Street in Petersburg. Call 217/632-2615 to ask about a case or find out what is needed for a records request.
Menard County is part of the 7th Judicial Circuit, which also includes Sangamon, Morgan, Greene, Jersey, Macoupin, and Scott counties. Sangamon County, home to Springfield, is by far the largest county in this circuit. Menard County's felony caseload is much lighter by comparison, but the same rules and fee schedules apply across the whole circuit.
Menard County Felony Records Online
Menard County uses Judici for free case searches. Select Menard County from the drop-down, enter a name or case number, and the system returns docket entries, charges, hearing dates, and case status. No account is needed.
The statewide re:SearchIL repository may also have some Menard County documents. It is run by Tyler Technologies and gathers court filings from many Illinois courts. Neither system shows the complete paper case file. The Illinois Supreme Court's Electronic Access Policy restricts certain documents to in-person viewing at the courthouse.
Use four-digit years in case numbers when searching on Judici. Enter 2024CF0005 instead of 24CF0005.
Copy Fees for Menard County Records
The fee schedule is standard across Illinois circuit courts. First page: $2.00. Pages two through nineteen: $0.50 each. Page twenty onward: $0.25 per page. Certified copies add $6.00 per seal. Name searches run $6.00 per year.
Mail requests should include a check or money order payable to the Menard County Circuit Clerk. Provide the defendant's name or case number. Add a self-addressed stamped envelope if you want documents returned by mail. In-person requests are handled at the clerk's counter during office hours.
Illinois Statutes and Menard County Felony Cases
Every felony arrest in Menard County is reported to the Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification. The Criminal Identification Act (20 ILCS 2630) makes this mandatory for all law enforcement agencies in the state. Fingerprints and arrest data go to a central database in Joliet with millions of records.
Felony sentencing in Menard County follows the Unified Code of Corrections (730 ILCS 5). Class X felonies carry 6 to 30 years. Class 1 brings 4 to 15. Class 2 is 3 to 7 years. Class 3 is 2 to 5 years. Class 4 runs 1 to 3 years. These ranges appear in Menard County felony records alongside the charges and final disposition.
Anyone can request a statewide conviction search through the ISP. The Uniform Conviction Information Act (20 ILCS 2635) allows this. The cost is $16 by paper or $10 online. Only conviction data is returned. No consent from the subject is required.
Judici's list of participating courts shows Menard County among the many Illinois counties where felony case data is available for free online searching.
Sealing and Expungement in Menard County
Certain Menard County felony records can be sealed or expunged. Sealing hides a record from the public. Law enforcement still has access to sealed records. Expungement destroys the record completely. Not all felonies qualify. Some Class 3 and Class 4 convictions may be eligible for sealing after a waiting period.
Start by filing a petition with the Menard County Circuit Court. There is no filing fee. If the court grants the order, the ISP charges $60 to process it. The Illinois expungement and sealing page has the eligibility details and forms. Email ISP.Expungement.Unit@illinois.gov with questions.
The ISP FOIA page explains how to submit records requests to the state police, including requests that may involve Menard County felony case data.
FOIA and Menard County Records
Courts in Illinois are not covered by the Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140). Judicial rules govern court record access. But the Menard County Sheriff and local police are subject to FOIA. Send a written request for arrest reports, incident logs, and related law enforcement documents.
The Illinois Courts clerk directory lists contact info for Menard County and every other circuit clerk in the state. Bookmark it if you need to reach clerks in multiple counties.
Counties Near Menard County
Menard County is in central Illinois, just northwest of Springfield. These neighboring counties each maintain their own felony records.