Randolph County Criminal History

Randolph County criminal history records can be searched through the Circuit Clerk office in Chester and the statewide Judici court records portal. This southern Illinois county sits along the Mississippi River and is part of the 2nd Judicial Circuit. If you need to look up a criminal case or check on past court filings, the clerk has records going back many years. You can start a search from home through the online portal, or call the clerk for help with older case files. Randolph County criminal history data covers all felony and misdemeanor cases processed through the local circuit court system. The county handles its own case records while the Illinois State Police keeps a separate statewide criminal history database.

Randolph County Circuit Clerk

The Randolph County Circuit Clerk is Julie A. Carnahan. The clerk office keeps all criminal history court records for the county. You can reach them at (618) 826-5000 for questions about case files, copies, or how to search for records. The office is at the Randolph County Courthouse in Chester, Illinois. Hours are Monday through Friday during normal business times. Walk-in visits are welcome, though calling first can save you a trip if the records you need are not on site.

Randolph County is part of the 2nd Judicial Circuit, which also includes Franklin, Hamilton, Jefferson, and White counties. Criminal cases filed in Randolph County stay with the local clerk even though the circuit covers multiple counties. Each county in the circuit has its own clerk office and its own set of court records. If you are not sure where a case was filed, the clerk can help point you in the right direction within the 2nd Judicial Circuit.

Search Randolph County Criminal History Online

Randolph County uses Judici.com for online court record searches. This is the same system used by more than 80 Illinois counties. You can look up criminal cases by name or case number at no cost. The site shows case type, filing date, charges, and disposition details for Randolph County criminal history records. Search results include both open and closed cases, so you can see the full timeline of a criminal matter from start to finish.

The Judici portal for Randolph County lets you view case details without making an account. Just go to the site, pick Randolph County from the list, and type in the name you want to search. Results come up fast. You can see hearing dates, judge assignments, and what happened at each court date. This is a good first step when you need to check on criminal history records in Randolph County before making a trip to the courthouse.

Not all case details show up online. Sealed records, juvenile cases, and some older files may not appear on Judici for Randolph County. If you cannot find what you need online, contact the clerk at (618) 826-5000.

Illinois State Police Records for Randolph County

The Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification keeps a statewide criminal history database that includes Randolph County records. This is a separate system from the county court records. The BOI collects arrest data, charge info, and disposition results from all 102 Illinois counties. A person's statewide criminal history may show records from Randolph County and any other county where they had a case.

Under the Uniform Conviction Information Act (20 ILCS 2635), anyone can request conviction data from the ISP. A name-based UCIA search costs $16 by paper or $10 through Live Scan. This search pulls up conviction records from across Illinois, including any from Randolph County. The results only show convictions, not arrests that did not lead to a guilty finding. Fingerprint-based checks cost more but give more precise results since they match on prints rather than just a name.

You can also view your own criminal history at no charge through the ISP Access and Review process. Visit any law enforcement office or licensed Live Scan vendor in the Randolph County area. Complete the Access and Review form and get fingerprinted. The ISP will mail your criminal history transcript to you. The last page of that packet has a Record Challenge form if anything looks wrong. Under the Criminal Identification Act (20 ILCS 2630), the ISP must give you your transcript when you go through this process.

Randolph County Criminal Record Expungement

If you have a criminal history record in Randolph County that you want cleared, the Office of the State Appellate Defender has free info on how expungement and sealing work in Illinois. The process starts by filing a petition with the Randolph County Circuit Clerk. You need to know your case number and the charges involved. Some charges can be expunged, which means they get erased. Others can only be sealed, meaning they still exist but most people cannot see them.

Not every criminal history record in Randolph County qualifies. Certain felonies cannot be expunged or sealed under Illinois law. Arrests that did not lead to a conviction are often eligible. Misdemeanors may qualify after a waiting period. The rules are detailed, so check the OSAD website or talk to a lawyer before you file. The Randolph County clerk can tell you the filing fee for an expungement petition. The ISP charges $60 to process a court order to expunge or seal a record once the judge signs off.

Getting Criminal History Copies in Randolph County

You can get copies of criminal history records from the Randolph County Circuit Clerk by visiting the courthouse in Chester. Bring the name of the person and any case details you have. The clerk charges a per-page fee for plain copies and more for certified copies. Certified copies have the clerk's seal and are valid for court use or official purposes. Plain copies work fine if you just need to review the file.

For Randolph County criminal history records, you may also request copies by mail. Send a written request to the clerk with the case info, a self-addressed stamped envelope, and a check or money order for the copy fees. Call (618) 826-5000 first to confirm the amount so your request does not get held up. Mail requests take longer than in-person visits, but they work well if you live far from Chester.

Note: Certified disposition letters from Randolph County can take a few business days to prepare if the case is older.

Nearby Counties

These counties are near Randolph County. Criminal cases are filed in the county where the offense took place, so check the right county if you are not sure where to look.