Washington County Felony Records Search

Washington County felony records are maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk in Nashville, Illinois. The county is part of the 2nd Judicial Circuit and has a population near 14,000. If you are trying to find a felony case here, you can search through the Judici online portal at no cost or visit the clerk's office in person. Felony filings, court dockets, and case status updates for Washington County are all public records. The clerk keeps these files and can help you pull up what you need. You can also send a written request by mail for copies of felony case documents from this office.

Washington County Felony Case Lookup

The fastest way to look up a felony case in Washington County is through Judici. Washington County is one of the 82 Illinois counties that participate in this system. You can search by the defendant's name or by case number. There is no charge for a single case lookup. The system holds over 100 million records from courts across the state, and Washington County's felony cases are included. When entering a case number, always use the full four-digit year. Type 2024CF1234, not 24CF1234.

Judici displays docket entries, hearing dates, and case status for Washington County felony cases. You will not find full case documents online, though. The Illinois Supreme Court's Electronic Access Policy has been in place since April 2004. It blocks remote access to actual court documents for most case types. What you see online are docket summaries. For the full file, go to the clerk's office in Nashville or submit a request by mail. The re:SearchIL statewide document repository may have some Washington County filings, but coverage is not complete for every county.

Washington County Circuit Clerk Office

Andrea Renken serves as the Washington County Circuit Clerk. Her office is the official keeper of all felony records filed in the county. The courthouse sits at 125 E. Elm St in Nashville. You can call 618/327-4800 to check on a case or ask what documents you need to bring for a records request. Walk-ins are welcome during business hours. Staff can pull up a felony case by name or case number and make copies while you wait.

Under the Criminal Identification Act (20 ILCS 2630), every policing agency in Washington County must send fingerprint data for felony arrests to the Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification. That means the ISP also holds records of felony arrests from this area. But for the actual court filings, dispositions, and case documents, the Circuit Clerk in Nashville is where you go.

Felony Records Fees in Washington County

Washington County uses the standard Illinois fee schedule for court record copies. Here is what to expect:

• Record search fee: $6.00 per name searched
• First page copy: $2.00
• Pages 2 through 19: $0.50 each
• Pages 20 and up: $0.25 each
• Certification seal: $6.00 per document

If you already have the case number, there is no search fee. Just ask for copies of that specific case file. The $6 search fee kicks in when the clerk has to look up records by name alone. You can pay with cash, check, or money order in person. For mail requests, send a check or money order payable to the Washington County Circuit Clerk. Do not send cash through the mail.

Washington County Felony Case Process

A felony case in Washington County starts with an arrest. Local law enforcement books the suspect and forwards the case to the State's Attorney for review. If charges are filed, the case enters the 2nd Judicial Circuit Court. The clerk assigns a case number and opens the official file. Cases with a "CF" prefix are criminal felony filings.

Illinois sorts felonies into five classes under the Unified Code of Corrections (730 ILCS 5). Class X is the worst, carrying 6 to 30 years in prison with no chance of probation. Class 1 brings 4 to 15 years. Class 2 means 3 to 7 years. Class 3 is 2 to 5 years, and Class 4 is 1 to 3 years. The felony class shows up on the court records. A Washington County felony case will list which class the charge falls under, so you can tell how serious the offense is just from the docket entry. Most cases move through arraignment, pretrial hearings, and then either a trial or plea agreement. All of those steps appear on the docket in Judici or at the clerk's office.

State Police Records for Washington County

The Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification keeps statewide criminal history records that include Washington County felony arrests. You can run a name-based search through the ISP under the Uniform Conviction Information Act (20 ILCS 2635). This costs $16 by paper or $10 electronically. Only conviction data comes back. Arrests that did not lead to a conviction will not show up.

Consent from the person being searched is not needed for a name-based check. A fingerprint search costs $20 by paper or $15 through Live Scan, and it gives a broader history. The ISP fee schedule lists every charge. The BOI facility is at 260 North Chicago Street in Joliet. You need an appointment to visit. Call 815-740-5160 to schedule one.

The Judici portal is how most people search for Washington County felony records online. Select Washington County from the list and start your search.

This is the Judici multi-county search page where you can pick Washington County and look up felony cases for free.

Washington County Felony Record Expungement

Some felony records in Washington County can be expunged or sealed. Expungement wipes the record completely. Sealing hides it from most public searches, though law enforcement still has access. The rules come from Section 5.2 of the Criminal Identification Act (20 ILCS 2630). Not every conviction qualifies. Class 3 and Class 4 felonies may be eligible for sealing under certain conditions.

The Office of the State Appellate Defender has a free guide at osad.illinois.gov that explains the process. You file the petition with the Washington County Circuit Court. The ISP charges $60 to process the court order once a judge signs off. Filing the petition itself is free. Questions can be sent to ISP.Expungement.Unit@illinois.gov.

Note: Courts in Illinois are exempt from FOIA, but law enforcement agencies are not, so you can file a Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140) request with the local sheriff or police for arrest reports tied to felony cases.

Counties Near Washington County

Washington County shares borders with several Illinois counties. If a felony was filed in a neighboring county, contact that county's clerk office for records.