Access Sangamon County Criminal History

Sangamon County criminal history records are maintained by Circuit Clerk Joseph B. Roesch through the 7th Judicial Circuit in Springfield, Illinois. As the state capital county with over 194,000 residents, Sangamon County processes a large number of criminal cases. The circuit clerk offers a free online records lookup tool that requires no registration. You can also search through Judici.com or visit the Springfield courthouse in person. This page covers all the ways to find criminal history records from Sangamon County courts and state agencies.

Sangamon County Circuit Clerk Office

Joseph B. Roesch is the Sangamon County Circuit Clerk. The main office is at 200 South 9th Street, Room 405, Springfield, Illinois 62701. Call (217) 753-6674 for questions about criminal history records. The fax number is (217) 747-5108. The clerk's office stores all criminal case files, handles new filings, and provides copies of court records for cases filed in Sangamon County.

The 7th Judicial Circuit covers four counties: Sangamon, Christian, Macoupin, and Montgomery. Each county in the circuit has its own clerk who manages local records. Criminal cases filed in Sangamon County are kept at the Springfield courthouse. If you are looking for a case from one of the other three counties, you would contact that county's clerk instead. Sangamon County being the capital county means it handles state government-related cases as well as local criminal matters.

Sangamon County Criminal History Records Lookup

Sangamon County has a dedicated records lookup tool on the circuit clerk's website. This tool stands out because it does not require registration or an account to use. You can search by name, case number, or filing date. Results show case details, hearing dates, and disposition information for criminal cases in Sangamon County. You can also create a PDF of the information you find, which is useful for keeping a copy of your results.

The Sangamon County records lookup also includes a court schedule search. This lets you find upcoming hearing dates for criminal cases. It is one of the more user-friendly tools among Illinois county court websites. On top of this, Sangamon County participates in Judici.com, giving you a second free option for searching criminal history records online. Between the two tools, you have solid online access to Sangamon County criminal history data.

Sealed and expunged records will not appear in either system. Older criminal history cases may require an in-person visit to the clerk's office in Springfield.

Illinois State Criminal History Checks in Sangamon County

The Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification is located in Joliet but covers the entire state, including Sangamon County. Under the Uniform Conviction Information Act (20 ILCS 2635), all conviction data is public. A name-based UCIA inquiry costs $16.00 by paper or $10.00 through Live Scan. Fingerprint-based checks for state-only results run $20.00 by paper or $15.00 through Live Scan.

Springfield has several Live Scan vendors where Sangamon County residents can get fingerprinted for criminal history checks. The Access and Review process lets you check your own record at no ISP charge. Under the Criminal Identification Act (20 ILCS 2630), the ISP must give you your criminal history transcript when you submit fingerprints. The ISP mails results within about 15 days, though some requests take longer.

Note: The ISP headquarters in Springfield (801 South 7th Street) handles FOIA requests but is not the same as the Bureau of Identification in Joliet for criminal history checks.

Clearing Criminal History in Sangamon County

Sangamon County residents who want to expunge or seal a criminal record file a petition with the circuit clerk at the Springfield courthouse. The Office of the State Appellate Defender has a free guide that explains eligibility and the filing process. Arrests without convictions are the most commonly eligible records for expungement. Some convictions may be sealed after a waiting period under 20 ILCS 2630, Section 5.2.

After a judge approves the petition, the ISP charges $60.00 to process the court order. Sangamon County may have its own court filing fees as well. Once the criminal history record is expunged, it is removed from the clerk's records lookup, Judici.com, and the ISP database. Future searches will not return the expunged Sangamon County record.

Cities in Sangamon County

Sangamon County includes Springfield, the state capital of Illinois. All criminal cases from Springfield and other Sangamon County communities go through the 7th Judicial Circuit.

Other communities in Sangamon County include Chatham, Rochester, and Sherman. All criminal filings from these areas go through the circuit clerk's office in Springfield.

Nearby Counties

Sangamon County shares the 7th Judicial Circuit with Christian, Macoupin, and Montgomery counties. Other neighboring counties have separate circuits for criminal history records.