Madison County Criminal History Search

Madison County criminal history records are kept by Circuit Clerk Patrick McRae through the 3rd Judicial Circuit in Edwardsville, Illinois. Located in the Metro East region across the river from St. Louis, Madison County has over 263,000 residents. Criminal case data from Madison County is searchable online through the clerk's website and Judici.com. You can also visit the courthouse in Edwardsville for in-person record requests. This page explains how to find and access criminal history information from Madison County courts and state agencies.

Madison County Circuit Clerk Office

The Madison County Circuit Clerk is Patrick McRae. The office is at 155 North Main Street, Edwardsville, Illinois 62025. You can call (618) 692-6240 for criminal history record inquiries. The fax number is (618) 692-0676. This office processes all criminal case filings, stores court records, and provides copies of documents to the public.

The 3rd Judicial Circuit covers both Madison County and Bond County. Criminal cases from either county go through this shared circuit. However, Madison County has its own circuit clerk who handles the Madison County records specifically. Bond County has a separate clerk for its cases. If you need criminal history records from Madison County, you go through the Edwardsville office. The clerk can provide certified copies, court dispositions, and case file information for criminal matters filed in Madison County.

Search Madison County Criminal History Online

The Madison County court records search page lets you look up cases online. You can search by name, case number, or filing date to find criminal history records from the 3rd Judicial Circuit. This tool is provided through the county's own website and gives you access to case details without having to visit the courthouse.

Madison County also uses Judici.com for online court records. This gives Madison County residents two free tools for searching criminal history records online. Judici covers 82 Illinois counties and needs no account to use. The county's own search tool may have slightly different features or additional detail. Both systems pull from the same underlying court records for the 3rd Judicial Circuit.

Sealed and expunged criminal history records will not show up in either online tool. For records not available online, contact the Madison County Circuit Clerk at (618) 692-6240.

State Criminal History Checks for Madison County

The Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification maintains statewide criminal history records, including data from Madison County. Under the Uniform Conviction Information Act (20 ILCS 2635), conviction information is public. A UCIA name-based inquiry costs $16.00 by paper or $10.00 through Live Scan. Fingerprint-based checks for state-only results are $20.00 by paper or $15.00 through Live Scan.

Madison County residents can use Live Scan vendors in the Edwardsville and Collinsville areas for fingerprint-based criminal history checks. The Access and Review process under the Criminal Identification Act (20 ILCS 2630) lets you view your own record at no ISP charge. You submit fingerprints at any law enforcement office or licensed vendor and the ISP mails your transcript. This includes all Madison County criminal history data in the state system.

Expunging Madison County Criminal History

To expunge or seal a criminal record in Madison County, file a petition with the circuit clerk in Edwardsville. The Office of the State Appellate Defender has free materials explaining eligibility. Arrests that did not result in conviction are commonly eligible. Certain convictions may be sealed after waiting periods outlined in state law.

The ISP charges $60.00 to process the court order after a judge approves the petition. Madison County may have its own filing fees. Once expunged, the criminal history record is removed from public search tools including Judici.com and the ISP database. The Madison County court records search will also stop showing the case.

Note: The process typically takes several months from petition filing to final removal of Madison County criminal history records from public databases.

Cities in Madison County

Madison County includes cities like Granite City, Alton, Collinsville, and Edwardsville. None currently meet the 50,000 population threshold for a dedicated page, but all criminal cases from these communities are filed through the 3rd Judicial Circuit in Edwardsville.

Nearby Counties

Madison County shares borders with several other counties. Bond County is in the same 3rd Judicial Circuit. All other neighbors have their own circuits for criminal history records.