Find Felony Records in Monroe County

Monroe County felony records are maintained at the Circuit Clerk's office in Waterloo, Illinois. The county has about 34,000 residents and belongs to the 20th Judicial Circuit. All felony case filings, bond records, docket entries, sentencing orders, and court documents are managed by the clerk's office on South Main Street. Free online case searches are available through Judici. You can also go to the courthouse in person or mail a written request. This page explains how to search Monroe County felony records, what the costs are, and how Illinois law governs who can access these files.

Monroe County Circuit Clerk Office

Lisa Fallon is the Circuit Clerk for Monroe County. Her office takes care of all criminal case records, including felony charges, bond documents, docket entries, and court orders. The office is in Room 115 at 100 South Main Street in Waterloo. Call 618/939-8681 if you need details about a specific case or want to confirm what paperwork you need for a records request.

Monroe County is part of the 20th Judicial Circuit, which also includes Perry, Randolph, St. Clair, and Washington counties. St. Clair County is the largest in the circuit, handling far more felony cases than Monroe County does. But the same rules and fee schedules apply across the entire circuit. Each county has its own clerk and maintains its own files.

Search Monroe County Felony Records Online

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

The statewide re:SearchIL platform may also have some Monroe County documents. Managed by Tyler Technologies, it gathers court filings from many Illinois courts. Neither tool provides the full paper case file. Under the Illinois Supreme Court's Electronic Access Policy, some documents can only be viewed in person at the courthouse.

When using Judici, type four-digit years in case numbers. Enter 2024CF0020 rather than 24CF0020.

Monroe County Record Copy Fees

The fee schedule follows statewide rules. Your first page is $2.00. Pages two through nineteen cost $0.50 each. Pages twenty and up are $0.25 per page. Certified copies add $6.00 per certification seal on top of the copy charges.

To request records by mail, include a check or money order payable to the Monroe County Circuit Clerk. Provide the case number or the defendant's full name. A self-addressed stamped envelope is recommended. Walk-in requests are processed at the counter during office hours. Name searches cost $6.00 per year searched through the clerk's records.

Illinois Law and Monroe County Felony Cases

All felony arrests in Monroe County get reported to the Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification. The Criminal Identification Act (20 ILCS 2630) requires this of every law enforcement agency in Illinois. Fingerprint cards and arrest data are sent to a central database in Joliet that stores millions of records.

Monroe County felony sentences follow the Unified Code of Corrections (730 ILCS 5). The ranges are straightforward. Class X carries 6 to 30 years. Class 1 is 4 to 15 years. Class 2 brings 3 to 7 years. Class 3 runs 2 to 5 years. Class 4 is 1 to 3 years. These classifications appear in Monroe County felony records next to the charges and final outcome.

A statewide conviction search is available through the ISP under the Uniform Conviction Information Act (20 ILCS 2635). It costs $10 electronically or $16 by paper. Only conviction records are returned. No consent is needed.

This Illinois General Assembly page shows the full text of the Criminal Identification Act, which governs how felony records from Monroe County and every other county are collected and shared.

Sealing and Expungement in Monroe County

Some Monroe County felony records can be sealed or expunged. Sealing removes the record from public view. Law enforcement and prosecutors retain access. Expungement destroys the record entirely. Eligibility depends on the felony class and the person's overall criminal history. Certain Class 3 and Class 4 convictions may be eligible for sealing after a waiting period.

Start by filing a petition with the Monroe 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 outlines eligibility and the required forms. Email ISP.Expungement.Unit@illinois.gov with questions.

The re:SearchIL system serves as a statewide court document repository, where some Monroe County records may be available for online viewing.

FOIA and Monroe County Records

Courts in Illinois are not covered by the Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140). Judicial rules govern court record access instead. However, the Monroe County Sheriff and local police departments are subject to FOIA. You can submit a written request for arrest reports, incident logs, and related documents.

The Illinois Courts clerk directory has contact information for Monroe County and all other circuit clerks in the state. Use it if you need to reach clerks in nearby counties as well.

Counties Near Monroe County

Monroe County is in southwestern Illinois, close to the St. Louis metro area. These neighboring counties each maintain their own felony records.