Search Bloomington Criminal History
Bloomington criminal history records are filed and maintained through the McLean County Circuit Court. With nearly 79,000 residents, Bloomington is the county seat and the largest city in McLean County. Criminal cases from Bloomington are searchable online through Judici.com, which is the public court records portal used by McLean County and 81 other Illinois counties. Whether you need to check on a specific case, find court dates, or look up charges from a Bloomington arrest, the McLean County Circuit Clerk keeps those files. The Bloomington Police Department handles local arrest records separately from the court system, so you may need to check both places for a complete criminal history tied to Bloomington.
Bloomington Quick Facts
Bloomington Police Criminal Records
The Bloomington Police Department is at 305 S. East St, Bloomington, IL 61701. Call (309) 434-2355 for general questions. Arrests made within Bloomington city limits are handled by this department. They keep police reports, arrest records, and incident files for Bloomington.
Police records and court records serve different purposes in Bloomington. An arrest report from the police department shows what happened at the time of arrest. Court records show charges, hearings, and case outcomes. For a full criminal history picture in Bloomington, you might need both. The police department can provide copies of local arrest reports. Court records come from the McLean County Circuit Clerk.
Search Bloomington Criminal History Online
McLean County uses Judici.com for online court records. This is a free public search tool that covers criminal, civil, and traffic cases in Bloomington. You can search by name or case number. The system shows criminal charges, dispositions, sentences, hearing dates, and case minutes. It is one of the easiest ways to look up criminal history from Bloomington cases without going to the courthouse.
Judici shows a lot of data, but it has some limits. Document images are only available to subscribers. Some older Bloomington cases may not be in the system. And Judici only covers court records. If someone was arrested in Bloomington but never charged, there won't be a Judici record. Still, for most criminal history searches in Bloomington, Judici is the best place to start online.
Premium services on Judici let attorneys and other professionals get deeper access to Bloomington criminal history case files. The basic public search is free, though. You don't need an account to look up names or case numbers for Bloomington criminal cases on Judici.
McLean County Court Records for Bloomington
The McLean County Circuit Clerk keeps all criminal history court records for Bloomington. The courthouse is in downtown Bloomington since it is the county seat. McLean County is part of the 11th Judicial Circuit. Criminal cases filed in Bloomington go to this court, and the clerk stores case files, issues copies, and handles record requests.
You can also visit the clerk's office in person to get certified copies of Bloomington criminal history records. Certified copies carry the court seal and are accepted as legal proof. Call ahead to check what fees apply and what documents you need to bring. Having the case number speeds up the process when you visit for Bloomington records.
Under the Uniform Conviction Information Act (20 ILCS 2635), all conviction records in Illinois are public. This includes Bloomington criminal history convictions. Anyone can ask for conviction data without stating a reason. The law has been in place since 1991.
State Criminal History Resources for Bloomington
Beyond McLean County, Bloomington residents can search criminal history through the Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification. The BOI keeps statewide criminal history data. A UCIA name-based check costs $16.00 by paper or $10.00 through Live Scan. Fingerprint checks are $20.00 by paper or $15.00 through Live Scan for state-only results. These searches cover all of Illinois, not just Bloomington.
Bloomington residents can view their own criminal history for free through the Access and Review process. Visit any law enforcement facility or licensed Live Scan vendor near Bloomington. You submit fingerprints, and the ISP mails your criminal history transcript to you. The Criminal Identification Act (20 ILCS 2630) requires the ISP to provide this service. Use the Live Scan vendor lookup to find a location near Bloomington.
Expungement of Bloomington Criminal History
Bloomington residents who want to clear criminal history records can petition through the McLean County Circuit Court. The Office of the State Appellate Defender provides guides on who qualifies for expungement or sealing in Illinois. Expungement erases the record. Sealing hides it from most public searches.
The ISP charges $60.00 to process a court order for expungement or sealing. Filing the petition has no ISP fee. You file at the McLean County Circuit Clerk office in Bloomington. The judge reviews the petition and makes the decision. Not every criminal history record qualifies. Serious felonies and certain other offenses cannot be expunged under Illinois law. Legal aid groups in the Bloomington area may offer help with the process.
Note: Expungement clinics are sometimes held in the Bloomington-Normal area to help people who want to clear their criminal history records.
McLean County Criminal History Records
Bloomington is in McLean County, and all criminal filings go through the McLean County Circuit Court. The county court system handles cases for Bloomington, Normal, and other communities in the county. For more details on the county court, fees, and other criminal history resources, visit the McLean County page.
Nearby Cities
These cities are near Bloomington. Each city's criminal cases go through their county court system.