Evanston Criminal History Records
Evanston criminal history records are handled through the Cook County Circuit Court and the Evanston Police Department. The city has a population of about 76,340 and sits in Cook County, Illinois. You can search for criminal history records tied to Evanston through the county court system or contact the local police for arrest records. The 1st Judicial Circuit covers Cook County. Whether you need to look up a court case, check on a criminal record, or find out how to get a copy of case documents, there are several options for accessing Evanston criminal history data.
Evanston Quick Facts
Evanston Criminal History and Police
The Evanston Police Department handles local law enforcement. The office is at 1454 Elmwood Ave, Evanston, IL 60201. You can call (847) 866-5000 for questions. Local arrest records are kept by the police department. For court records tied to criminal cases in Evanston, you go through the Cook County Circuit Clerk.
To request a police report, go to the Elmwood Ave station with a valid photo ID. You can ask for copies of incident reports and arrest records at the front desk. The records unit can tell you if a report is ready. Some reports take a few business days to finalize. There is usually a copy fee per page. If you need records by mail, call first and ask about the process. The department does not publish arrest logs online.
The Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification maintains statewide criminal history records that cover Evanston and all other Illinois locations.
The ISP BOI office in Joliet processes criminal history checks for all of Illinois, including Evanston residents.
Court Records for Evanston Criminal History
Criminal cases from Evanston are filed at the Cook County Circuit Court. The Circuit Clerk keeps all criminal history court records for Cook County, which includes cases from Evanston. Cook County does not use Judici.com like most other Illinois counties. The Cook County online case search covers civil, traffic, and some other case types. Criminal case files in Cook County are only available in person at the Richard J. Daley Center, 50 West Washington Street, Room 1006, Chicago, IL. You need a valid photo ID to view files.
Under the Uniform Conviction Information Act (20 ILCS 2635), conviction data in Illinois is public. This applies to criminal history records from Evanston cases as well. Anyone can request conviction information. You do not need to give a reason for the request.
Because Cook County criminal files are only in person, plan to visit the Daley Center in Chicago. Go to Room 1006 with a photo ID. You can look up case files by name or case number at the clerk's window. The staff will pull the file for you to view. You cannot take the file out of the room. If you need copies, ask the clerk. There is a fee for each page. The building is open on weekdays during normal business hours. Get there early, as wait times can be long.
Illinois State Criminal History for Evanston
The Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification keeps statewide criminal history records covering all Illinois locations, including Evanston. A name-based UCIA check costs $16.00 by paper or $10.00 through Live Scan. The results cover convictions from every county in the state. Fingerprint-based checks cost $20.00 by paper or $15.00 through Live Scan for state-only results. Use the Live Scan vendor lookup to find a location near Evanston.
Under the Criminal Identification Act (20 ILCS 2630), you can view your own criminal history for free through the Access and Review process. Visit any law enforcement facility or licensed vendor near Evanston. The ISP mails your transcript in about 15 days. It includes a Record Challenge form if you find errors.
The Office of the State Appellate Defender explains how to expunge or seal criminal history records in Illinois. Evanston residents file petitions through the Cook County Circuit Clerk. The process involves serving notice to the State's Attorney and the arresting agency. A judge decides whether to grant the petition.
Note: Expunged records are destroyed, while sealed records are hidden from most public searches but still exist in the system.
Cook County Criminal History
Evanston is in Cook County. All criminal cases from Evanston go through the Cook County Circuit Court. For more on the county court system, clerk contact info, and criminal history resources, visit the county page.
Nearby Cities
These cities are near Evanston. Each one handles criminal history records through its own county Circuit Court.