Chicago Criminal History Records

Chicago criminal history records come from two main places. The Cook County Circuit Court handles all felony and misdemeanor case files for the city. The Chicago Police Department keeps its own arrest records, which you can get as a RAP sheet. Searching for criminal history in Chicago means checking both systems. The state level adds a third layer through the Illinois State Police. Most people start at the county court or the police department, depending on what type of record they need. Chicago has the largest volume of criminal cases in all of Illinois.

Chicago Police Criminal History RAP Sheet

The Chicago Police Department keeps its own arrest records for the city. These records are separate from what the county court holds. If you were arrested in Chicago, the police have a file on that arrest. You can get a copy of your own Chicago criminal history by requesting a RAP sheet from the police department. The main office is at 3510 S. Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60653. Call (312) 745-5623 for questions about criminal history access. The general non-emergency line is 3-1-1 inside the city or (312) 746-6000 from outside.

To get a RAP sheet in person, go to the Public Access Information Room on the first floor, Window #1. Fingerprinting happens on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. only. The fee is $16. You can pay with cash, check, or money order made out to City of Chicago, Dept of Revenue. Bring a valid state driver's license or ID card. Your record will be ready for pickup two business days later at the same window between 8:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.

You can also request a Chicago criminal history RAP sheet by mail. Send your request to Field Services Section Unit 166, Attn: O.S.A.R., 3510 S. Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60653. The email for general police inquiries is police@cityofchicago.org, though the mail option works best for record requests from outside the city.

One thing to know before you go. If you have an open arrest warrant, the police can arrest you anywhere. That includes the police station itself. The Chicago Police Department posts this warning directly on their records page. Check your warrant status before visiting in person.

The Chicago Police homepage shows how to reach the department and find local district stations across the city.

This page links to the main police website for the City of Chicago, where you can find district contact info and service details.

Chicago Criminal History Court Records

All criminal court cases in Chicago go through the Cook County Circuit Court. The Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County stores these case files. The main courthouse is the Richard J. Daley Center at 50 W. Washington Street in downtown Chicago. Criminal cases in Cook County are not fully searchable online. The clerk's website lets you look up some case types, but full criminal history files require an in-person visit.

The Cook County online case information system covers civil, traffic, and some other case types. You can search DUI cases, speeding tickets, and suspended license cases through the portal. Criminal felony and misdemeanor records are the gap. To get those files in Chicago, you must go to the Daley Center in person with a valid photo ID. On-site files cover cases from the past four years. Older records may need to be pulled from storage, which takes extra time.

Note: Chicago criminal cases are filed in the 1st Judicial Circuit, which covers Cook County alone.

Chicago Criminal History Access Options

The City of Chicago police records page has more details on how to request arrest records and other criminal history documents from the department. Chicago is the only city in Illinois with a police department large enough to run its own criminal history records system at this scale. Most other cities in the state rely on their county circuit clerk for court records and the ISP for statewide data.

The City of Chicago police records information page provides details on requesting documents from the department.

This screenshot shows the records section of the Chicago Police Department website, which outlines the steps for getting arrest data and criminal history copies.

Illinois State Police Resources for Chicago

Beyond the local level, Chicago residents can search criminal history records through the Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification. The BOI keeps statewide criminal history data. A name-based check under the Uniform Conviction Information Act (20 ILCS 2635) costs $16 by paper or $10 through Live Scan. This law makes conviction records public in Illinois. Anyone can ask for conviction data without stating a reason. The UCIA applies to all Chicago arrests that resulted in a conviction.

Fingerprint-based checks cost $20 by paper or $15 through Live Scan for state-only results. Chicago has many Live Scan vendors. Use the ISP Live Scan vendor lookup to find one near you. The Access and Review process lets you view your own criminal history at no charge from the ISP. Visit any law enforcement facility or licensed vendor in Chicago to start. Under the Criminal Identification Act (20 ILCS 2630), the ISP must give you your criminal history transcript when you submit fingerprints through Access and Review.

Results from name-based checks usually come back in 24 to 48 hours. Some take up to 30 to 40 days. Keep your Transaction Control Number. You will need it to check the status of your request or get a notarized copy.

Clearing Chicago Criminal History

The Office of the State Appellate Defender provides information on expunging or sealing criminal history records in Illinois. Chicago residents file expungement petitions at the Cook County Circuit Clerk office. Expungement completely erases a record. Sealing hides it from most public searches but keeps it visible to law enforcement.

Not every case qualifies. Arrests that did not lead to a conviction are often eligible. Some convictions can be sealed after a waiting period. The ISP Expungement Unit processes court orders at the state level. You can email them at ISP.Expungement.Unit@illinois.gov. The court filing fee is $60 for the ISP to process an expungement or sealing order. There is no ISP fee to file the petition itself.

Cook County Criminal History Records

Chicago is in Cook County. All criminal court cases for the city are handled by the Cook County Circuit Court system. For full county-level details on court records, fees, and office locations, visit the Cook County criminal history page.

Nearby Cities

These cities are near Chicago. Each has its own police department, but criminal court cases go through their respective county circuit court.