Montgomery County Felony Records

Montgomery County felony records are stored at the Circuit Court Clerk's office in Hillsboro, Illinois. The 4th Judicial Circuit handles criminal cases in this county. You can search felony records online through the Judici system or visit the courthouse on North Main Street. Montgomery County is a rural area in south-central Illinois with around 28,000 residents. Whether you need to check a case number, look up a name, or get copies of court documents, the clerk's office is the place to start. This page covers all the ways to search and get felony records in Montgomery County.

Montgomery County Circuit Clerk

Daniel Robbins is the current Circuit Clerk for Montgomery County. The office is at 120 North Main Street in Hillsboro, in Room 125 of the courthouse. This is where all felony case files are kept. The clerk handles filings, maintains the docket, and provides copies to the public. Walk-in requests are welcome during business hours.

The 4th Judicial Circuit includes Montgomery County along with several other counties like Macoupin, Christian, Shelby, Fayette, Bond, Jersey, and others. Each county in the circuit has its own clerk, but circuit judges travel between them. If a felony was filed in a different 4th Circuit county, contact that county's clerk instead.

Montgomery County Felony Records Online

Judici provides free online access to Montgomery County felony case records. You can search by name or case number. The tool shows docket entries, charges, case status, and filing dates. Montgomery County is one of over 80 Illinois counties on the Judici platform, so there is a large amount of historical court data available.

When you search by case number, always use the four-digit year. For example, enter 2024CF0010 instead of 24CF0010. The CF prefix stands for criminal felony. Getting this format right makes the search go much faster. You can also browse by recent filings to see what new cases have been added.

The re:SearchIL system is another online option. This is the state court document repository. Some Montgomery County records may be in there, though full document access is still limited by the Illinois Supreme Court's Electronic Access Policy. You might only get docket summaries online.

Copy Fees for Montgomery County Felony Records

The fee schedule is the same across Illinois. The first page costs $2.00. Pages 2 through 19 are $0.50 each. Pages 20 and beyond are $0.25 each. Certification is $6.00 per seal. A name search without a case number costs $6.00.

Pay at the courthouse in person or by mail. Mail payments should be a check or money order made out to the Clerk of the Circuit Court. Include the defendant's name, case number if you have it, and your return address. Do not send cash through the mail.

Illinois State Police Felony Searches

The Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification keeps criminal history records that cover Montgomery County felony arrests. The BOI collects fingerprints and arrest data from every law enforcement agency in the state. Their records go deeper than what the county court holds because they track arrests statewide, not just in one county.

A name-based search under the Uniform Conviction Information Act (20 ILCS 2635) costs $16 on paper or $10 electronically. This shows conviction data only. You do not need the subject's consent. A fingerprint search costs more ($20 paper, $15 electronic) and returns a broader record. That one does need consent. The ISP fee schedule page has the full cost breakdown.

To see your own record, visit a Live Scan vendor for a free Access and Review. Your results come by mail. If there are mistakes on your Montgomery County felony record, the packet includes a challenge form you can send to the BOI in Joliet.

The ISP fee schedule shows all costs for name-based and fingerprint-based criminal history searches in Illinois.

Felony Records Laws in Montgomery County

The Criminal Identification Act (20 ILCS 2630) requires Illinois police to report felony arrest data to the ISP. Montgomery County agencies comply with this. The same law covers expungement and sealing of criminal records.

Illinois uses five felony classes. Under the Unified Code of Corrections (730 ILCS 5), Class X felonies bring 6 to 30 years. Class 1 is 4 to 15 years. Class 2 is 3 to 7. Class 3 is 2 to 5. Class 4 is 1 to 3 years. Each Montgomery County felony record shows the class of the offense. Class X crimes carry mandatory prison time.

The Illinois Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140) lets you request police and government records. Courts are exempt from FOIA, but the records they hold are still public through the clerk. If you want arrest reports or police records from Montgomery County, submit a FOIA request to the agency that made the arrest.

Sealing Montgomery County Felony Records

Some felony records in Montgomery County may qualify for sealing or expungement. File a petition at the Montgomery County Circuit Court in Hillsboro. No fee for the petition. If the judge grants the order, the ISP charges $60 to process it. The State Appellate Defender's expungement page has details on who qualifies and how to start.

Arrests that did not lead to conviction have the best chance of being expunged. Certain drug offenses may be eligible for sealing. Contact a local legal aid organization if you need free help with the process.

Note: Sealed records are hidden from public view but still accessible to law enforcement agencies in Illinois.

Nearby Counties

Montgomery County is surrounded by several other 4th Circuit counties and neighbors. Check these if the case was filed somewhere else.

Cities in Montgomery County

Hillsboro is the county seat. Other towns include Litchfield, Nokomis, and Raymond. All felony cases from these places are filed at the Montgomery County Circuit Court. None of the cities here have a population above 50,000.