Highland Park Arrest Records
Highland Park arrest records are handled by the Highland Park Police Department and processed through the Lake County court system. These arrest records are public under Illinois law, and you can request copies by filing a FOIA request or contacting the department directly.
Highland Park Quick Facts
Highland Park Police Department
The Highland Park Police Department is the primary source for arrest records in the city. The department is at 1677 Old Deerfield Rd, Highland Park, IL 60035. Call (847) 432-7730 for general questions about arrest records or to ask about a FOIA request. Highland Park PD handles all arrests within city limits.
Highland Park has about 30,400 residents and is located on the North Shore of Lake County. The police department has a full records division that manages arrest reports, incident files, and other police documents. When Highland Park officers make an arrest, the report stays on file at the station. If the Lake County State's Attorney files charges, the case enters the county court system.
Walk-in requests for Highland Park arrest records are accepted during business hours. Bring a valid photo ID for your own record. For records about another person, submit a written FOIA request. Staff at the records window can help with the proper forms and fees.
How to Search Highland Park Arrest Records
Start with the Highland Park Police Department records division. Visit the station, call ahead, or send a written request. They keep files on every arrest made by Highland Park officers. Some basic arrest data may appear in press releases the department shares.
The City of Highland Park website has general information and may link to FOIA forms. For court records tied to Highland Park arrests, use the 19th Judicial Circuit Court in Lake County. The circuit clerk handles court case searches by name or case number. All criminal cases from Highland Park go through the Lake County court system.
The Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification runs statewide criminal history checks. Under the Uniform Conviction Information Act (20 ILCS 2635/1), the ISP keeps a database of conviction records from every agency in the state. Highland Park arrests that led to convictions will appear in the ISP system. There is a fee for these name-based or fingerprint-based searches.
The Lake County Sheriff's Office maintains jail and booking records. If someone arrested in Highland Park was held at Lake County Jail, their booking data is in the sheriff's system.
FOIA Requests for Highland Park Arrest Records
Under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140/1), you can file a FOIA request with the Highland Park Police Department. Put it in writing. Include the person's full name, the date of the arrest if you know it, and any report or case numbers. More detail speeds up the search.
Highland Park PD must respond within five business days. They can take five extra days for large or complicated requests. Per 5 ILCS 140/2.15, basic arrest data must be released within 72 hours. That means the name of the person arrested, the charges, and the arresting agency. Highland Park PD cannot withhold this information. The first 50 pages are usually free, with a per-page charge after that point.
If your request gets denied, the department has to explain why in writing. You can appeal to the Illinois Attorney General's Public Access Counselor. Typical reasons for denial are active investigations or records that have been sealed by a court. Routine Highland Park arrest data should be made available without issue.
What Highland Park Arrest Records Contain
A Highland Park arrest record shows the full name, date of birth, and physical description of the person arrested. It lists every charge filed, the arresting officer, and the date, time, and location of the arrest within Highland Park. If the person was sent to Lake County Jail, there will be separate booking data with an intake number.
Court records from Highland Park arrest cases add case numbers, hearing dates, plea entries, and final dispositions. The Lake County Circuit Clerk manages these files. Arrest authority in Illinois comes from 725 ILCS 5/107-2, which sets out when officers can make arrests with or without a warrant. Highland Park officers follow the same rules as every police department in the state.
Sealed and expunged records are not available to the public. Under Illinois law, some arrests that did not result in a conviction can be sealed or expunged after a waiting period. If a Highland Park arrest record has been sealed, it will not show up in any public search. Only law enforcement and certain agencies can see those records.
Highland Park and Lake County
All criminal cases from Highland Park go through the Lake County court system. The 19th Judicial Circuit covers Lake County and processes felony, misdemeanor, and traffic cases from Highland Park and all other communities in the county. The Lake County Courthouse in Waukegan handles most cases. The circuit clerk there maintains records for every case from arraignment through final disposition.
The Lake County State's Attorney reviews Highland Park arrest cases and decides which ones to take forward. The Lake County Public Defender represents people who cannot afford a lawyer. Legal aid organizations like Prairie State Legal Services also serve Lake County residents who need help with Highland Park arrest records, expungement, or sealing questions.
Highland Park is on the North Shore, and residents sometimes have cases that touch both Lake and Cook County systems. However, arrests that happen within Highland Park city limits go through Lake County. That distinction matters when you are trying to find arrest records, since the filing location depends on where the arrest took place.
Nearby Cities
Cities near Highland Park with arrest records pages:
Northbrook, Glenview, and Wilmette are also near Highland Park but do not have separate arrest records pages on this site. Waukegan is nearby as well but does not have a page here.