Search Clinton County Arrest Records
Clinton County arrest records are held by the Clinton County Sheriff's Office in Carlyle. This southern Illinois county has a population around 37,000 and is part of the Fourth Judicial Circuit. The sheriff's office processes arrest records for incidents handled by county deputies, while local police departments in Carlyle, Breese, and other towns keep records for arrests made within their jurisdictions. Court records connected to arrests flow through the Clinton County Circuit Clerk. These records are accessible to the public under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act.
Clinton County Quick Facts
Clinton County Sheriff's Office
The Clinton County Sheriff's Office sits at 810 Franklin St, Carlyle, IL 62231. Phone is (618) 594-4556. This office handles law enforcement for areas outside city limits across Clinton County. Deputies respond to calls, make arrests, and those arrest records stay on file at the sheriff's office. The county jail also operates out of this location, and booking records are generated each time someone is processed in.
Clinton County is relatively small, but it still has multiple law enforcement agencies. The cities of Carlyle, Breese, Trenton, and New Baden each have local police. An arrest by any of these departments stays with that department. The sheriff's office covers everything else. Both the sheriff and local police must follow the same state rules when it comes to keeping and releasing arrest records. If you are not sure who made the arrest, the sheriff's office can help you figure that out.
How to Search Clinton County Arrest Records
The simplest approach is to call or visit the Clinton County Sheriff's Office. Give them the name of the person and any other details you have. They can check their files and let you know if a record exists. For court records that stem from an arrest, the Clinton County Circuit Clerk at the courthouse in Carlyle is the place to go. The circuit clerk handles criminal case filings and can provide information on charges, court dates, and outcomes.
Online access varies. Some Illinois counties have online case search tools through their circuit clerk's office. Clinton County may offer limited online access, so calling ahead is a good idea. The Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification maintains criminal history records from across the state. Conviction data from Clinton County may appear in the CHIRP system, which is the state's name-based criminal history search. This data falls under the Uniform Conviction Information Act (20 ILCS 2635/1).
For a comprehensive search, fingerprint-based checks are available through approved vendors. Check the ISP fee schedule for current pricing on these searches.
Filing a FOIA Request in Clinton County
Under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140/1), arrest records in Clinton County are public. Anyone can request them. Put your request in writing. Address it to the FOIA officer at the Clinton County Sheriff's Office. Include the person's full name, any dates you know, and what type of record you want. You do not need to give a reason for your request.
Agencies have five business days to respond, with a possible five-day extension for complicated requests. Under 5 ILCS 140/2.15, basic arrest data must be released within 72 hours of an arrest. This covers the name of the person, charges filed, and which agency made the arrest. The first 50 pages of records come at no charge in most cases. Larger requests may carry a per-page fee for copies beyond that.
Some records cannot be released. Sealed or expunged arrest records do not come up in searches and will not be provided. Juvenile records are also protected. The Office of the State Appellate Defender explains how to check if a record qualifies for sealing or expungement.
Contents of Clinton County Arrest Records
A Clinton County arrest record includes the person's full name, date of birth, and physical description. The charges are listed with the date and time of the arrest. The record shows which officer or agency made the arrest. Booking records from the county jail add a booking number, bond amount, and intake details. A mugshot is part of the booking file if one was taken.
Court records carry additional information. They track case numbers, hearing dates, attorney assignments, plea entries, and case outcomes. Dismissed charges and acquittals are in the record just like convictions. Remember that an arrest does not mean guilt. The Uniform Conviction Information Act (20 ILCS 2635/1) governs conviction data at the state level. Arrest data that did not result in a conviction stays with the local agency and is available only through FOIA. If a court in Clinton County seals or expunges a record, that record is no longer available to the public through any channel.
Clinton County Arrest Records Resources
The key laws that govern arrest records in Clinton County are the FOIA statute (5 ILCS 140/1) for public access and the Uniform Conviction Information Act (20 ILCS 2635/1) for conviction data. Illinois law 725 ILCS 5/107-2 defines arrest authority for all officers in the state, including those in Clinton County.
The ISP FOIA page is useful for state-level records. For Clinton County records, start with the sheriff's office or circuit clerk. If your FOIA request is turned down, the Illinois Attorney General's Public Access Counselor can review the denial and decide whether the agency should release the records.
Cities in Clinton County
Clinton County includes Carlyle, Breese, Trenton, and New Baden among other small towns. None of these communities reach the population threshold for a separate arrest records page. For arrest records tied to any Clinton County city, contact that city's police department or the Clinton County Sheriff's Office in Carlyle.
Nearby Counties
These counties neighbor Clinton County and each maintains separate arrest records: