Des Plaines Arrest Records Search
Des Plaines arrest records are maintained by the Des Plaines Police Department in Cook County. Located near O'Hare International Airport in the northwest suburbs of Chicago, Des Plaines has its own full-service police department that handles all arrests within city limits. These arrest records are public under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140/1).
Des Plaines Quick Facts
Des Plaines Police Department
The Des Plaines Police Department is at 1420 Miner St, Des Plaines, IL 60016. Call (847) 391-5400 for general inquiries. The department's records division handles all requests for Des Plaines arrest records, incident reports, and police documents. They are the first stop when you need an arrest record from this city.
Des Plaines PD serves a city that sits near a major airport and along several busy highways. The area sees a mix of cases including traffic stops, DUI arrests, theft, and other offenses that come with a high-traffic location. Each arrest creates a record that gets filed with the department. If the state's attorney files charges, the case moves into the Cook County court system. The police keep their own copy of the arrest report regardless.
Walk-in requests are taken during business hours. You can also submit requests by mail or through the city's website. If you need your own arrest record, bring a photo ID. For records about someone else, file a written FOIA request. The records staff can explain the process and help with forms.
How to Search Des Plaines Arrest Records
Start at the Des Plaines PD records division. Call or visit the station. They can tell you what arrest records are available and how to get copies. Some arrest information may appear in press releases or media reports from the department.
Court records from Des Plaines arrests go through the Cook County Circuit Court. The Rolling Meadows courthouse at the Third Municipal District handles many northwest suburban cases including those from Des Plaines. You can search the Cook County court system online by name to find criminal filings, charges, hearing dates, and case outcomes.
The Cook County Sheriff's Office keeps jail and booking records. If someone arrested in Des Plaines is transferred to Cook County Jail, their booking data will be in the sheriff's system. The sheriff's website offers an inmate search tool that is free to use.
The Illinois State Police CHIRP system runs statewide criminal history lookups. The Bureau of Identification manages this database. It pulls arrest data from every law enforcement agency in the state. Des Plaines arrests show up alongside records from other departments across Illinois. A fee is charged for these searches.
Des Plaines FOIA Process for Arrest Records
File a written FOIA request with the Des Plaines Police Department under 5 ILCS 140/1. Include the person's full name, approximate dates, and any report numbers. Be as specific as you can. Vague requests take longer to process.
The department must respond within five business days. A five-day extension is allowed for complex or large requests. Per 5 ILCS 140/2.15, basic arrest information has to be made public within 72 hours. That covers the arrested person's name, the charges, and which agency made the arrest. This is a legal requirement that applies to every police department in Illinois, including Des Plaines PD.
The first 50 pages are usually free. Beyond that, expect a per-page copying fee. If the department denies your request, you can appeal to the Illinois Attorney General's Public Access Counselor. Every denial must come with a written explanation.
What Des Plaines Arrest Records Contain
A Des Plaines arrest record includes the full name, date of birth, and physical description of the person arrested. It shows all charges, the arresting officer's name, and when and where the arrest took place. If the person was processed through Cook County Jail, booking data with an intake number and housing details becomes part of the file.
Court records go deeper. They track case numbers, hearing schedules, plea deals, trial results, and sentencing information. Under the Uniform Conviction Information Act (20 ILCS 2635/1), conviction data is available at the state level. Records that have been sealed or expunged under Illinois law will not show up in any public search. Arrest authority comes from 725 ILCS 5/107-2, which spells out when police officers can arrest someone with or without a warrant.
Cook County Connection
Des Plaines is in Cook County. Criminal cases from Des Plaines arrests go through the Cook County Circuit Court. The Rolling Meadows courthouse serves the northwest suburbs and handles most cases from Des Plaines. The Cook County State's Attorney decides whether to pursue charges after an arrest, and the Cook County Public Defender represents eligible defendants.
The Cook County Sheriff's Office runs the county jail system. If someone arrested in Des Plaines ends up at Cook County Jail, the sheriff's office will have their booking records. The county also has a pretrial services division that tracks people on bond while they await trial. Des Plaines is close to several other suburban police departments, and multi-jurisdictional cases sometimes involve coordination with Cook County agencies.
Nearby Cities
Cities near Des Plaines with arrest records pages: