Search Champaign County Arrest Records
Champaign County arrest records are maintained by the Champaign County Sheriff's Office and local police departments in the county. Home to the University of Illinois and about 212,000 residents, Champaign County generates a steady number of arrest records each year. The sheriff's office and the Circuit Clerk both handle public record requests related to arrests and criminal cases. All Champaign County arrest records fall under the public access provisions of the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140/1).
Champaign County Quick Facts
Champaign County Sheriff's Office
The Champaign County Sheriff's Office is located at 502 S. Vine St. in Urbana, IL 61801. The main phone number is (217) 384-1243. The sheriff handles law enforcement in unincorporated areas of Champaign County and runs the county jail. Arrest records, booking data, and warrant information are all on file at this location.
The cities of Champaign and Urbana each have their own police departments. If the Champaign Police Department made the arrest, that department holds the original report. Same goes for Urbana Police. The sheriff's office has its own set of arrest records and also keeps booking data for anyone processed through the Champaign County Jail. So you may need to contact more than one agency to find the right record, depending on who handled the arrest and where the booking took place.
How to Search Champaign County Arrest Records
Start with the agency that made the arrest. The Champaign County Sheriff's Office handles walk-in and phone requests during normal business hours. You can call (217) 384-1243 to ask about a specific record. The office can tell you if someone is currently in custody at the county jail or provide booking details from recent arrests.
The Champaign County Circuit Clerk maintains court records tied to criminal cases. You can reach the clerk at (217) 384-3720. Court records show filings, charges, hearing dates, motions, and case dispositions. They are separate from the arrest report itself but give you the full picture of what happened after charges were filed. Some court records may be searchable through the clerk's online tools.
For a statewide search, the Illinois State Police CHIRP system lets you run a name-based criminal history check. This database pulls data from agencies across Illinois, so a Champaign County arrest that led to a conviction should show up. The Bureau of Identification at 260 N Chicago St in Joliet handles more formal requests at the state level.
Filing a FOIA Request in Champaign County
The Illinois Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140/1) gives anyone the right to request arrest records from Champaign County agencies. Put your request in writing. Include the person's full name, an approximate date for the arrest, and what type of records you are looking for. Send the request to the agency that holds the records. The sheriff handles requests for sheriff's cases and jail records. City police departments handle their own.
Agencies must respond within five business days. They can take one five-day extension if needed. Under 5 ILCS 140/2.15, basic arrest information must be released within 72 hours. That covers the name, charges, and arresting agency. This applies to every law enforcement agency in Champaign County.
Fees for record copies vary. Some agencies offer a certain number of free pages. Others charge per page from the start. Ask about costs when you file your request. If your request is denied, the Illinois Attorney General's Public Access Counselor can review the denial and issue an opinion.
What Champaign County Arrest Records Show
A Champaign County arrest record contains the essential facts about the event. The person's full name and date of birth are listed. The charges, arrest date and time, and the arresting officer or agency are recorded. If the individual was booked into the county jail, the file also includes a booking number, bond details, and intake data.
Court records from the Champaign County Circuit Clerk go further. They track a criminal case from its first filing through sentencing or dismissal. Hearing dates, motions, plea entries, and final dispositions all appear in the court file. Under the Uniform Conviction Information Act (20 ILCS 2635/1), conviction records are public. Arrest data that did not result in a conviction may still be available via FOIA, unless the record has been sealed or expunged. Information about the sealing and expungement process is on the Illinois State Appellate Defender website.
Legal Resources for Champaign County
The Illinois FOIA statute is the primary law for public access to arrest records. The Uniform Conviction Information Act (20 ILCS 2635/1) governs how conviction data is made available. Illinois arrest authority falls under 725 ILCS 5/107-2, which defines when and how police can make arrests.
The ISP fee schedule lists costs for state-level criminal history reports. Champaign County residents can use approved fingerprint vendors to get more detailed criminal history checks through the state system. The ISP FOIA page also processes requests for statewide criminal history data.
Cities in Champaign County
These Champaign County cities have their own arrest records pages with local details:
Nearby Counties
Champaign County shares borders with these Illinois counties: