Tazewell County Felony Records

Tazewell County felony records are filed and stored at the Circuit Court Clerk's office in Pekin, Illinois. The county sits in the 10th Judicial Circuit and has a population near 130,000. If you need to search for a felony case in Tazewell County, you can use the free Judici online portal or visit the clerk's office in person. Criminal case filings, docket sheets, and court orders for Tazewell County felony cases are all held by the clerk. You can also request copies of felony records by mail with the right forms and fees.

Tazewell County Felony Case Search

The main way to look up felony records in Tazewell County is through Judici. Tazewell County is one of the 82 Illinois counties that use this system. You can search by name or case number at no cost for single lookups. Over 100 million records from the history of Illinois courts are on the platform, and Tazewell County's felony cases are included. When you search by case number, use the full four-digit year format. For instance, enter 2024CF1234, not just 24CF1234.

Judici shows docket entries, case status, and scheduled court dates for Tazewell County felony cases. Full case documents may not be available online due to the Illinois Supreme Court's Electronic Access Policy. That policy, in effect since April 2004, limits remote access to actual case documents. Docket summaries are what you get online. If you need the full file for a felony case, you will have to go to the clerk's office in Pekin or send a written request by mail.

The re:SearchIL portal is another tool. It is the statewide document repository run by Tyler Technologies for Illinois courts. You may find some Tazewell County court documents there, though coverage varies.

Tazewell County Circuit Clerk Office

The Tazewell County Circuit Clerk is the official keeper of all felony records filed in the county. Lincoln C. Hobson serves as clerk. The office is at 342 Court Street in Pekin. You can call 309/477-2214 to ask about a case or to find out what you need to bring for an in-person records request. Walk-ins are welcome during regular hours. The staff can help you pull up a felony case by name or case number and print copies while you wait.

Under Illinois law, the Criminal Identification Act (20 ILCS 2630) requires all policing agencies to send fingerprint data for felony arrests to the Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification. So the ISP also has records of felony arrests that took place in Tazewell County. But for court filings, dispositions, and case documents, the Circuit Clerk is where you go.

Felony Records Fees in Tazewell County

Tazewell County follows the standard Illinois fee schedule for court record copies. Here is what you can expect to pay:

• First page: $2.00
• Pages 2 through 20: $0.50 per page
• Pages 21 and up: $0.25 per page
• Certification: $6.00 per seal
• Search fee: $6.00 per name or case searched

If you already have the case number, there is no search fee. Just ask for copies of that specific case. The $6 search fee applies when the clerk has to look up records by name without a case number. Payment can be made by cash, check, or money order in person. For mail requests, send a check or money order made out to the Tazewell County Circuit Clerk. Do not mail cash.

Note: The $6 search fee is per name or per year searched, depending on the type of request.

Felony Case Process in Tazewell County

Felony cases in Tazewell County go through the 10th Judicial Circuit Court. The process starts with an arrest and booking. Law enforcement then sends the case to the State's Attorney for charges. If charges are filed, the case enters the circuit court system. The clerk assigns a case number and creates the official file.

Illinois classifies felonies into five levels under the Unified Code of Corrections (730 ILCS 5). Class X is the most serious, with 6 to 30 years and no probation. Class 1 carries 4 to 15 years. Class 2 is 3 to 7 years. Class 3 is 2 to 5 years. Class 4 is 1 to 3 years. The class of the felony appears on the court records, so knowing these ranges helps you read what a Tazewell County felony case actually means. A case number starting with "CF" in Tazewell County tells you it is a criminal felony filing.

Most felony cases move through arraignment, pretrial hearings, and then trial or a plea deal. All of these steps show up on the docket. You can track them through Judici or by checking in person at the clerk's office in Pekin.

Illinois State Police Records for Tazewell County

Beyond the county court, the Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification keeps statewide criminal history records that include Tazewell County felony arrests. A name-based search through the ISP costs $16 by paper or $10 electronically under the Uniform Conviction Information Act (20 ILCS 2635). This search returns conviction data only. It does not show arrests that did not lead to a conviction.

You do not need the person's consent for a name-based search. A fingerprint-based search costs more ($20 paper, $15 Live Scan) but gives a fuller history. The ISP's fee schedule page has the full breakdown.

The ISP Bureau of Identification is at 260 North Chicago Street in Joliet. It is a restricted facility. You need an appointment. Call 815-740-5160 to set one up.

Tazewell County Felony Record Expungement

Some felony records in Tazewell County can be expunged or sealed. Expungement erases the record. Sealing hides it from most searches, but law enforcement can still see it. The rules are in Section 5.2 of the Criminal Identification Act (20 ILCS 2630). Not every felony qualifies. Class 3 and Class 4 felonies may be eligible for sealing in some cases. You file the petition with the Tazewell County Circuit Court.

The Office of the State Appellate Defender has a free guide at osad.illinois.gov that walks you through the steps. The ISP charges $60 to process a court order for expungement or sealing. Filing the petition itself costs nothing. If you have questions, you can reach the ISP Expungement Unit at ISP.Expungement.Unit@illinois.gov.

Tazewell County Court Records Screenshot

The Judici case search portal is the primary tool for looking up Tazewell County felony records online.

Select Tazewell County from the drop-down menu to start a free felony case search right from this page.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Tazewell County. Each has its own Circuit Court Clerk handling felony records: