Search Peoria County Felony Records

Peoria County felony records are managed by the Circuit Clerk's office in downtown Peoria, Illinois. As one of the larger counties in the state with a population around 180,000, Peoria County processes a significant volume of criminal cases each year through its 10th Judicial Circuit courthouse. The clerk's office at 324 Main Street handles all felony filings, docket entries, bond records, and sentencing documents. This page covers how to search these records, what the fees look like, and what Illinois law says about public access to felony case files in Peoria County.

Peoria County Circuit Clerk Office

Robert Spears is the Circuit Clerk for Peoria County. His office sits in Room G22 at the Peoria County Courthouse, 324 Main Street. Staff there process criminal case filings, maintain docket records, handle bond paperwork, and manage court orders for all felony matters. Call 309/672-6989 if you need to check on a specific case or ask about what you need for a records request.

The 10th Judicial Circuit includes Peoria County alongside several neighboring counties. Each county in the circuit runs its own clerk's office and keeps its own case files. Peoria County is the most populous in the circuit, which means its caseload tends to be heavier than the surrounding counties. If a case was filed here, all records stay here unless transferred by court order.

Peoria County Felony Records Online

Peoria County participates in Judici, the online case search tool used by dozens of Illinois counties. You can search by name or case number to find docket entries, charges, hearing dates, and case status. It costs nothing to use. Pick Peoria County from the drop-down and run your search.

You can also check re:SearchIL, the statewide court document repository run by Tyler Technologies. Some Peoria County case documents may appear in that system. But neither Judici nor re:SearchIL provides access to the full case file. Actual documents require an in-person visit under the Illinois Supreme Court's Electronic Access Policy.

The Judici system covers a large number of Illinois courts, and Peoria County is one of the more active participants in the network.

This screenshot shows the Judici multicounty search interface, which lets you search across Peoria County and other participating Illinois counties at the same time.

Fees for Peoria County Felony Records

Copy fees follow state law. They are the same at every Illinois circuit court. The first page is $2.00. Pages two through nineteen cost $0.50 each. Page twenty and beyond is $0.25 per page. A certified copy adds $6.00 for each certification seal.

If you want to run a name search through the ISP, that costs $16 on paper or $10 if done electronically. Mail requests to the Peoria County clerk should include a check or money order made out to the Peoria County Circuit Clerk. Put the case number or the full name of the defendant on your request. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope so they can mail documents back to you.

Walk-in requests are handled at the counter. Staff can pull a file and make copies on the spot, though wait times vary based on how busy the office is.

Illinois Law and Peoria County Felony Cases

All felony arrests in Peoria County are reported to the Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification. The Criminal Identification Act (20 ILCS 2630) requires every law enforcement agency in Illinois to submit fingerprints and arrest data. The ISP maintains a central database in Joliet with over five million fingerprint records.

Sentencing for Peoria County felony convictions follows the Unified Code of Corrections (730 ILCS 5). Class X felonies carry 6 to 30 years. Class 1 is 4 to 15. Class 2 means 3 to 7 years. Class 3 brings 2 to 5. Class 4 is 1 to 3 years. These ranges appear in Peoria County felony records next to each charge and its final outcome.

The Uniform Conviction Information Act (20 ILCS 2635) allows anyone to request a statewide conviction search through the ISP. The fee is $10 electronically or $16 by paper. No consent from the subject is needed. Results show convictions only.

The ISP fee schedule page shows current costs for criminal record searches, including searches that cover Peoria County felony records.

Sealing and Expungement in Peoria County

Certain Peoria County felony records may qualify for sealing or expungement. Sealing removes the record from public view while still letting police and prosecutors access it. Expungement destroys the record completely. Eligibility depends on the type of felony and the person's criminal history overall. Some Class 3 and Class 4 felonies can be sealed.

You start by filing a petition with the Peoria County Circuit Court. The petition itself has no filing fee. If the court approves the order, the ISP charges $60 to process it. The Illinois expungement and sealing page explains each step in detail. Email ISP.Expungement.Unit@illinois.gov with questions.

FOIA and Peoria County Felony Records

Illinois courts are not subject to the Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140). Court records are governed by rules from the judiciary instead. However, law enforcement agencies in Peoria County do fall under FOIA. That includes the Peoria County Sheriff and local police. Arrest reports, incident logs, and related documents are available through a written FOIA request to those agencies.

The Illinois Courts circuit clerk directory lists contact information for the Peoria County clerk and every other circuit clerk in the state. It is useful if you need to reach clerks in nearby counties too.

Cities in Peoria County

The city of Peoria is the county seat and the largest city in Peoria County. Felony cases from the city are handled by the Peoria County Circuit Clerk.

Counties Near Peoria County

Peoria County is in central Illinois, bordered by several counties that each run their own circuit clerk offices for felony case records.