Access Kankakee County Arrest Records
Kankakee County arrest records are managed by the Kankakee County Sheriff's Office and local police departments in the area. The county has a population just above 106,000 and sits about 60 miles south of Chicago. Kankakee is the county seat and the largest city. Arrest records in Kankakee County come from the sheriff's office, the Kankakee Police Department, the Bourbonnais Police Department, and other local agencies. Public access to these records is governed by Illinois law, and there are multiple ways to search for them.
Kankakee County Quick Facts
Kankakee County Sheriff's Office
The Kankakee County Sheriff's Office is at 3050 S Justice Way, Kankakee, IL 60901. The phone number is (815) 802-7100. This office handles law enforcement for areas outside city limits and runs the Kankakee County Jail. The jail holds people booked on arrests from the sheriff's office and local police departments throughout the county. Booking records, charges, bond amounts, and intake data are all maintained at this facility.
The Kankakee Police Department and other municipal agencies handle arrests within their own jurisdictions. An arrest in the city of Kankakee is handled by city police. An arrest in Bourbonnais goes through the Bourbonnais police. These departments keep their own records, but many people who are arrested end up at the county jail regardless of which agency made the arrest. The sheriff's office can often point you toward the right agency if you are unsure which one holds the arrest record you need in Kankakee County.
How to Search Kankakee County Arrest Records
Court records tied to arrests in Kankakee County go through the circuit clerk's office. Kankakee County is part of the 21st Judicial Circuit. The circuit clerk's records show criminal case filings, charges, hearing schedules, and how each case ended. Contact the clerk's office at the Kankakee County Courthouse for help looking up a specific case. If an arrest led to criminal charges, the court record will have the most complete information.
The Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification holds criminal history records from across the state. This database may include Kankakee County arrests that led to convictions. Under the Uniform Conviction Information Act (20 ILCS 2635/1), conviction data from the state police is available to the public. The CHIRP system runs name-based searches for approved users.
For recent bookings, call the Kankakee County Jail at (815) 802-7100. The jail roster shows who is in custody, what charges they face, and bond information. This is the quickest way to check on a recent arrest in Kankakee County.
Filing FOIA Requests for Kankakee County Arrest Records
The Illinois Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140/1) is the tool for requesting arrest records from Kankakee County agencies. Any person can file a request. You do not need to explain your reasons. Submit a written request to the FOIA officer at the agency holding the record. For the sheriff, send it to 3050 S Justice Way, Kankakee, IL 60901. City police departments have their own FOIA officers and processes.
Under 5 ILCS 140/2.15, basic arrest information must be released within 72 hours of an arrest. This covers the name, age, address, charges, and the arresting agency. A full FOIA response is due within five business days, with a five-day extension allowed for complex requests. Make your request specific. Include the full name of the person, date ranges, and the type of arrest record you want. The first 50 pages are usually free. If your request will pull a lot of records, the agency may tell you about fees before processing it.
What Kankakee County Arrest Records Contain
An arrest record from Kankakee County shows the full name and date of birth of the person arrested. It includes each charge, the date and time of arrest, and the arresting agency. Booking data from the county jail adds a booking number, bond amount, mugshot, and details about when the person was brought in and released. If the case went to court, the circuit clerk's records will show case numbers, attorney names, hearing dates, and the final result.
Remember that an arrest record is not a conviction. Many people who are arrested in Kankakee County are never convicted. The UCIA (20 ILCS 2635/1) limits what the state police can share to conviction data only. Arrest records without convictions are available from local agencies through FOIA. Sealed and expunged arrest records are completely off limits to the public. The Office of the State Appellate Defender explains how to start the sealing or expungement process if you have an arrest record in Illinois that qualifies.
Kankakee County Arrest Records Resources
Check the ISP fee schedule for costs associated with state-level criminal history checks. To see your own complete record, use the Access and Review process at an approved fingerprint vendor. This shows every arrest tied to your fingerprints in the state system, including those from Kankakee County.
The law governing arrest authority in Illinois is 725 ILCS 5/107-2. It covers when and how officers can make an arrest and applies to all law enforcement in Kankakee County. The ISP FOIA page has forms if you want records from the state police directly. If any Kankakee County agency denies your FOIA request improperly, you can file an appeal with the Illinois Attorney General's Public Access Counselor.
Cities in Kankakee County
No cities in Kankakee County meet the population threshold for a dedicated arrest records page on this site. The city of Kankakee is the county seat and has its own police department. Bourbonnais and Bradley also have local law enforcement. For arrest records from these cities, contact the local police department or the Kankakee County Sheriff's Office directly.
Nearby Counties
Kankakee County shares borders with the following Illinois counties, each with its own arrest records process: