Illinois has a layered arrest record system where what the public can access depends on which tool they use and what kind of information they are looking for. The state's CHIRP system through the Illinois State Police provides conviction-focused background checks to the public. The full statewide criminal history transcript, which includes all arrests, is available through fingerprint-based personal record review. Circuit court records are generally public. And Cook County -- the most populous county in the state -- notably does not provide public online access to criminal records, making it an exception to the standard pattern. This guide covers all of it.
What Makes Illinois Arrest Records Public
The Illinois Freedom of Information Act, codified in 5 ILCS 140, establishes that government records are public and accessible to citizens. Criminal history records, including arrest records, are covered by this framework.
The Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification, or BOI, serves as the state's central repository for criminal history record information under the Illinois Criminal Identification Act, 20 ILCS 2630. The BOI maintains fingerprint files for more than five million individuals and is the official source for statewide criminal history information.
A key distinction in Illinois is that the standard public background check through the ISP -- using the CHIRP system -- shows conviction information, not the full arrest record. Only convictions for misdemeanor or felony offenses become part of the public criminal record report. Arrest records that did not lead to conviction, pending cases, and non-conviction entries are not part of what the standard public CHIRP check returns.
For the full statewide criminal history transcript, which includes all arrests and convictions, fingerprinting is required and that level of access is primarily for personal record review.
Exemptions from public access include juvenile records, expunged records, sealed records, and active investigation materials.
What an Illinois Arrest Record Contains
An arrest record is a booking document. It reflects the facts of an arrest as recorded at the time of booking and carries no presumption of guilt.
Under 5 ILCS 140, an Illinois arrest record must contain the individual's name, age, and address; a photograph when available; details relevant to the arrest including the offense and arresting agency; and if incarcerated, the time and date of receipt, discharge, or transfer.
The full Illinois State Police criminal history transcript includes all of the above plus court dispositions, conviction information, and incarceration history for cases that proceeded through the system. County-level circuit court records contain case-level information including charges filed, court proceedings, and the final disposition.
How to Search Illinois Arrest Records
The CHIRP system -- Criminal History Information Response Process -- is the ISP's online tool for criminal history background checks. To use CHIRP as a non-criminal-justice entity, you register for a digital ID through the Illinois Department of Innovation and Technology. Name-based inquiries cost $10 for electronic records or $16 for paper documents and do not require the subject's consent. Fingerprint-based inquiries require the subject's consent. CHIRP returns conviction information only for standard public requests.
The ISP Bureau of Identification is located at 260 North Chicago Street, Joliet, IL 60432. Phone: 815-740-5160, select option 2. Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 4 PM. Appointments are required to enter the facility.
For personal full criminal history -- all arrests and convictions -- you obtain your Statewide Criminal History Transcript through the ISP by submitting fingerprints through a licensed live scan vendor. The ISP emails the encrypted report after processing.
Circuit court records are the free public tool for case-level information. Each county's circuit court clerk maintains court records that are generally open to the public. The Illinois Courts website provides an eCourt portal with case lookup capability. For Cook County specifically, public online access to criminal records is not available -- you must visit the Circuit Clerk's Office in the district or courthouse where the case was filed.
For broader multi-source searches that aggregate public record data across Illinois's 102 counties, TruthFinder is a practical option.
VINELink at vinelink.com connects to the Illinois DOC system and many county facilities and provides free real-time custody status and notification registration.
County Jail Records in Illinois
Illinois has 102 counties and each county sheriff manages the local jail. County jails hold people who have recently been arrested, those awaiting trial, and individuals serving short sentences. For anyone arrested recently, start at the county sheriff or local police department level.
Most Illinois county sheriff websites publish online booking rosters or inmate search tools. Cook County, which includes Chicago, operates the Cook County Department of Corrections, which is one of the largest single-site jail systems in the country. The CCDOC has its own online inmate search tool.
When someone is convicted and sentenced to state prison, they enter the Illinois Department of Corrections system. The IDOC has a free online offender search at illinois.gov/idoc or through the IDOC website, searchable by name or IDOC number. Results show the person's current facility, sentence information, and projected release or parole date. For direct inquiries, the IDOC main office is in Springfield.
Federal Arrests in Illinois
Federal arrests in Illinois are made by agencies including the FBI, the DEA, U.S. Marshals, the ATF, and Homeland Security Investigations. Illinois has significant federal law enforcement activity, particularly in the Northern District centered in Chicago.
The BOP Inmate Locator at bop.gov/inmateloc is the official free tool for locating anyone serving a federal sentence. Search by name or BOP register number. Federal court records are available through the PACER system at pacer.gov.
Federal arrests and convictions are not part of the ISP's criminal history database. A CHIRP check will not surface federal charges.
Arrest Records Versus Conviction Records
An arrest record documents that law enforcement took someone into custody. A conviction record documents a court's finding of guilt. In Illinois, these are explicitly treated differently in the public records framework -- the standard public CHIRP check returns conviction information, not the full arrest history.
Charges can be dropped, cases dismissed, and juries acquit. For non-conviction outcomes, the arrest entry remains in ISP records unless expunged. Those records may still appear on third-party background checks or in circuit court case searches even when they do not appear on a standard CHIRP public check.
Illinois Expungement and Sealing Under 20 ILCS 2630
Illinois law under 20 ILCS 2630/5.2 provides two distinct remedies for eligible individuals: expungement and sealing. They are not the same thing and they cover different situations.
Expungement is the stronger remedy. It removes the arrest record entirely -- the record is erased as if the arrest did not occur, and the person can deny it happened. Expungement is available for most arrests that did not result in conviction, including acquittals, dismissals, and nolle prosequi dispositions. Orders of supervision that were successfully completed may also be eligible for expungement after applicable waiting periods. Once expungement is ordered, the ISP must comply within 60 days.
Sealing is the remedy for convictions. Sealing hides the record from public view and most background checks, but the record remains accessible to law enforcement and certain government agencies. Many misdemeanor convictions and some felony convictions are eligible for sealing after applicable waiting periods. For most eligible misdemeanors the waiting period is at least three years after completion of sentence. Violent offenses, sex offenses, and DUIs are generally not eligible for sealing.
Both processes require filing a petition in the circuit court in the county where the arrest or case occurred. The Illinois State Police must receive a copy of the order and has 60 days to comply with expungement orders.
InmateAid's guides on expungement and record sealing cover Illinois's framework in more detail. For anyone with a Chicago or Cook County arrest, Illinois Legal Aid Online at illinoislegalaid.org is a reliable free resource for navigating the specific Cook County process. Mugshot removal from third-party sites after expungement or sealing is a separate process addressed in InmateAid's resources on that topic.
Frequently asked questions
Are Illinois arrest records public?
Yes, under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act at 5 ILCS 140. However, the standard public CHIRP background check through the ISP returns conviction information, not the full arrest history. Non-conviction arrest records are not part of the standard public CHIRP output. Circuit court records at the county level are generally public and include case-level charge and disposition information.
How do I search Illinois arrest records?
The ISP CHIRP system processes name-based conviction history checks at $10 electronic or $16 paper -- register at the ISP website. Circuit court clerks in each county provide free public access to case filings. For Cook County, visit the Circuit Clerk's Office in person -- online access is not available. For multi-source results, TruthFinder aggregates public record data across jurisdictions. For real-time custody status, VINELink at vinelink.com provides free notifications. For IDOC state prison inmates, use the IDOC offender search at illinois.gov/idoc.
What does an Illinois arrest record contain?
Under 5 ILCS 140, an Illinois arrest record includes the person's name, age, and address; a photograph when available; the offense and arresting agency; and if incarcerated, receipt and release dates. The full ISP criminal history transcript also includes court dispositions, convictions, and incarceration history. Circuit court records add case-level charge and disposition detail.
Is an arrest the same as a conviction in Illinois?
No. An arrest documents that someone was taken into custody. A conviction documents a court's finding of guilt. Illinois explicitly treats them differently in public records -- the standard CHIRP check shows convictions, not all arrests. Non-conviction arrest records exist in ISP files and may appear in circuit court searches, but they do not appear in a standard public CHIRP background check.
How do I find someone in an Illinois county jail?
Check the sheriff's office website for the county where the arrest occurred. Most Illinois county sheriffs publish online inmate rosters. For Cook County, use the Cook County Department of Corrections inmate search. VINELink at vinelink.com connects to many county facilities statewide. For someone sentenced to state prison, use the IDOC offender search at illinois.gov/idoc.
Can I search federal arrest records in Illinois?
Federal court records are available through PACER at pacer.gov. For someone serving a federal sentence, the BOP Inmate Locator at bop.gov/inmateloc is the free official tool. Federal arrests are not part of the ISP criminal history database -- a CHIRP check will not surface federal charges.
How long does an arrest stay on record in Illinois?
Illinois arrest records remain in ISP files indefinitely unless expunged or sealed. Non-conviction arrests are generally eligible for expungement with no waiting period for acquittals and dismissals. Conviction records may be eligible for sealing after applicable waiting periods -- typically at least three years for eligible misdemeanors. Records that do not qualify for either remedy remain permanently in the system.
What is the difference between expungement and sealing?
Expungement under 20 ILCS 2630/5.2 erases the record entirely -- it is removed from public access and ISP files, and the person can legally deny it occurred. It applies primarily to non-conviction arrests and some successfully completed supervision orders. Sealing makes the record inaccessible to the public and most background checks but leaves it accessible to law enforcement and certain government agencies. It applies to many eligible misdemeanor and some felony convictions after waiting periods. Different offenses qualify for each, and neither applies to violent offenses, sex offenses, or DUIs in most circumstances.
Who qualifies for expungement in Illinois?
Under 20 ILCS 2630/5.2, expungement is available for arrests that resulted in acquittal, dismissal, or nolle prosequi. Orders of supervision that were successfully completed may qualify after waiting periods (five years for certain traffic and domestic offense supervision orders). Convictions are generally not eligible for expungement -- sealing is the applicable remedy for most eligible convictions. The petition is filed in the circuit court in the county where the arrest or case occurred.
Why does my record show an arrest but no conviction?
An arrest entry is created at booking and remains in ISP records and circuit court files regardless of how the case resolved. If charges were dropped, the case dismissed, or you were acquitted, the arrest entry still exists unless expunged. It may appear in circuit court case searches and on third-party background check sites even though it does not appear on a standard CHIRP public conviction check. Expungement under 20 ILCS 2630/5.2 is the legal remedy to fully remove qualifying non-conviction arrest records. ---
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