Will County Criminal History Records

Will County criminal history records are filed through the 12th Judicial Circuit based in Joliet, Illinois. This county sits just south of Cook County and has more than 708,000 residents. Criminal case filings, court records, and dispositions in Will County are available through the circuit clerk and through online tools like Judici.com. Whether you need to look up a pending case or pull records from a past filing, Will County criminal history searches start with the clerk's office or the Judici system. Getting the right records takes knowing which path to follow.

Will County Circuit Clerk

The Will County Circuit Clerk handles all criminal history court records for the 12th Judicial Circuit. This is a single-county circuit, which means Will County is the only county served by this court system. All criminal filings, from misdemeanors to felonies, go through this one office in Joliet. The clerk stores case files, issues certified copies, and processes record requests for criminal cases in Will County.

Under the Uniform Conviction Information Act (20 ILCS 2635), conviction records in Illinois are public information. This means anyone can request conviction data from Will County without giving a reason. The act has been in effect since 1991 and applies to all counties in the state. If someone was convicted of a crime in Will County, that conviction record is available to the public through the clerk or through the Illinois State Police.

You can reach the Will County Circuit Clerk by visiting the courthouse in Joliet during regular business hours. Phone and mail requests are also accepted for many record types.

Search Will County Criminal History Online

Will County uses Judici.com for online court record access. This is the same free system used by 82 counties across Illinois. You can search Will County criminal history cases by entering a name, case number, or filing date on the Judici site. No registration is needed for a basic search. Results will include the case number, charges, court dates, and whether the case is still open or has been resolved.

Judici is a solid first step for Will County criminal history searches. The tool shows case index data that the circuit clerk has made available online. Keep in mind that not all records appear on Judici. Cases that have been sealed or expunged will not show up in the results. Older cases from before the county went digital may also be missing from the system. For those, you would need to contact the clerk directly.

The Judici portal lets you view hearing schedules and track case progress for Will County criminal cases in real time.

Illinois State Resources for Will County

The Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification keeps a central database of criminal history records from all Illinois counties, including Will County. A UCIA name-based check costs $16.00 by paper or $10.00 through Live Scan. Fingerprint-based state-only checks cost $20.00 by paper or $15.00 through Live Scan. These state-level checks can find criminal history data that the Will County court system alone might not cover, especially if the person has records in other counties.

Under the Criminal Identification Act (20 ILCS 2630), you can check your own criminal history through the Access and Review process at no charge from the ISP. Visit any law enforcement office or licensed Live Scan vendor in or near Will County. Several vendors operate in the Joliet area. You submit your fingerprints and the ISP mails the transcript to your address. The last page of the packet includes a Record Challenge form if you need to dispute anything on your Will County criminal history.

Clearing Records in Will County

Expunging or sealing a criminal history record in Will County requires filing a petition with the circuit clerk. The Office of the State Appellate Defender has a free guide that explains which records qualify and how the process works. Arrests without convictions are often eligible. Certain misdemeanor and felony convictions may be sealed after waiting periods set by state law.

The ISP charges $60.00 to process the court order once a judge grants the petition. Will County may charge its own filing fees on top of that. After expungement, the criminal history record is taken out of public databases. It will not appear on Judici.com or in ISP checks. The process can take several months from start to finish in Will County, so plan for some wait time.

Note: Talk to the Will County Circuit Clerk about the specific forms and fees needed before you file a petition.

Cities in Will County

Will County has several large cities and towns. Criminal cases from all these communities are filed through the 12th Judicial Circuit in Joliet.

Other Will County communities include Romeoville, Plainfield, and Lockport. Bolingbrook sits partially in Will County and partially in DuPage County.

Nearby Counties

These counties share borders with Will County. Criminal history records are filed in the county where the case originated.