Find Arrest Records in Henry County
Henry County arrest records are managed by the Henry County Sheriff's Office in Cambridge, Illinois. With a population of about 48,200, Henry County is a rural county in northwestern Illinois. Cambridge serves as the county seat and is where the sheriff's office and courthouse are located. The sheriff maintains arrest records for unincorporated areas and runs the county jail. Local police in Kewanee, Geneseo, and other Henry County towns keep their own arrest files. Public access to Henry County arrest records is guaranteed under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140/1).
Henry County Quick Facts
Henry County Sheriff's Office
The Henry County Sheriff's Office is located at 311 W Center St, Cambridge, IL 61238. Phone: (309) 937-3942. The sheriff's office provides law enforcement for Henry County outside of city limits. Deputies handle patrol duties, serve court papers, and manage the county jail. Arrest records from the sheriff's office are stored here and available for public requests.
Kewanee and Geneseo are the two largest cities in Henry County. Both have their own police departments that maintain separate arrest records. Cambridge, while the county seat, is much smaller. If you are looking for a specific arrest record from Henry County, the first thing to determine is which agency made the arrest. City police records stay with that department. Sheriff's office arrests are at the main office in Cambridge. Call (309) 937-3942 if you need help figuring out where to go.
How to Search Henry County Arrest Records
Call the Henry County Sheriff's Office at (309) 937-3942 to start your search. You can also visit the office at 311 W Center St in Cambridge. Provide the full name of the person and any other details you have like date of birth or an approximate arrest date. Staff will let you know what is available and what steps to take next.
The Henry County Circuit Clerk maintains court records for criminal cases. Henry County is part of the 14th Judicial Circuit. The circuit clerk's office at the Henry County Courthouse in Cambridge has files that show charges, hearings, pleas, and dispositions. Court records give more detail than arrest records alone. They show whether a case went to trial, what the plea was, and how it ended. For a complete picture of a criminal matter in Henry County, you need both the arrest record and the court file.
The Illinois State Police CHIRP system lets you run a statewide name-based criminal history search. Henry County arrests may show up alongside records from other counties. The ISP Bureau of Identification runs the database. Costs are posted on the fee schedule. For a more thorough search, fingerprint-based checks through approved vendors are also an option.
FOIA Requests for Henry County Arrest Records
You have the right to request Henry County arrest records under the Illinois FOIA. Put your request in writing and send it to the Henry County Sheriff's Office at 311 W Center St, Cambridge, IL 61238. Include names, dates, and any other information that helps identify the records you want. The more specific your request, the faster the response.
State law requires a response within five business days, with a possible five-day extension for large requests. The first 50 pages are typically free. After that, Henry County may charge a per-page copying fee. Under 5 ILCS 140/2.15, basic arrest information must be released within 72 hours. This includes the arrested person's name, charges, and which Henry County agency handled the arrest.
If the agency denies your request, they must explain why in writing and cite a specific exemption. The Illinois Attorney General's Public Access Counselor handles appeals. Sealed and expunged Henry County arrest records are not subject to public disclosure.
What Henry County Arrest Records Show
Henry County arrest records contain the person's name, date of birth, and physical description. They list each charge, the arrest date and time, and the arresting officer or agency. Booking records from the Henry County jail include a booking number and intake details. These are the facts captured at the time of arrest.
Court records add depth to what arrest records show. Case numbers, plea entries, hearing dates, attorney information, and final case outcomes are all in the court file. Dismissals and acquittals appear alongside convictions. Conviction data is handled under the Uniform Conviction Information Act (20 ILCS 2635/1), which sets statewide rules for sharing that type of information. Arrest records that did not lead to a conviction can still be requested in many cases. Records that have been sealed or expunged under Illinois law are not open to the public. The Illinois State Appellate Defender explains the sealing and expungement process.
Henry County Records Resources
The Illinois FOIA statute governs public records access in Henry County. Arrest authority is covered by 725 ILCS 5/107-2. The ISP FOIA page handles state-level requests that may include Henry County data.
Prairie State Legal Services provides legal aid in the Henry County area. They assist with records access, sealing petitions, and expungement filings. The 14th Judicial Circuit also provides some self-help resources for people navigating the court system. These resources can be valuable for anyone dealing with Henry County arrest records or related legal matters.
Cities in Henry County
Henry County includes Kewanee, Geneseo, Cambridge, and other communities. None of the cities in Henry County meet the population threshold for a dedicated arrest records page. For arrest records from specific cities within Henry County, contact the local police department or the Henry County Sheriff's Office.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Henry County and each has its own arrest records system: