Find Arrest Records in Madison County
Madison County arrest records are public documents held by the Madison County Sheriff's Office and local law enforcement agencies across this southwestern Illinois county. With a population of about 263,000, Madison County sits in the St. Louis metro area and processes a substantial number of arrest records annually. The county offers a court records search through the Circuit Clerk and accepts FOIA requests for arrest data. Under Illinois law, anyone can request a copy of an arrest record through the proper channels.
Madison County Quick Facts
Madison County Sheriff's Office
The Madison County Sheriff's Office handles law enforcement for unincorporated areas of the county and runs the county jail. You can reach the office at (618) 692-6240. The sheriff's office maintains arrest records, booking data, and warrant files. Cities like Granite City, Edwardsville, and Alton have their own police departments that handle arrests within their jurisdictions.
If you need a Madison County arrest record, the first step is to figure out which agency made the arrest. An arrest by the Granite City Police goes through that department. An arrest by a sheriff's deputy goes through the sheriff's office. Booking records for anyone processed through the Madison County Jail are at the sheriff's office regardless of which agency brought the person in. This is a common setup across Illinois counties.
Searching Madison County Arrest Records
The Madison County Circuit Clerk offers a court records search on the county website. This tool lets you look up criminal case filings, hearing dates, and case outcomes. It covers cases heard in the Madison County courts. You can search by name or case number. Court records show what happened after an arrest, including charges filed, plea entries, and final dispositions.
For current jail inmates, contact the Madison County Sheriff's Office directly. The office can tell you if someone is in custody and provide booking details. Walk-in requests are handled during regular business hours at the sheriff's office in Edwardsville.
At the state level, the CHIRP system from the Illinois State Police searches the statewide criminal history database. Madison County arrests that led to convictions will show up in this system. The Bureau of Identification handles formal state-level record requests. You can also submit a request through the ISP FOIA page.
FOIA Process for Madison County
Under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140/1), any person can request a copy of an arrest record from Madison County. The law clearly mandates that records be open to the public, with a few exceptions for sealed or expunged files. To file a request, write to the agency that holds the record. Include the person's full name, an estimated date for the arrest, and the type of record you need.
The agency gets five business days to respond. They can extend that by five more days if they need additional time. Under 5 ILCS 140/2.15, basic arrest information must be made available within 72 hours of an arrest. This covers the name, charges, and the arresting agency. Madison County agencies must follow this rule just like every other county in Illinois.
Copy fees depend on the agency. Ask about costs when you submit your request. If you feel a request was improperly denied, the Illinois Attorney General's Public Access Counselor can look into it.
What Madison County Arrest Records Contain
A Madison County arrest record holds a wealth of factual details about an incident. It shows the full name and date of birth of the person arrested, and often their address. The arrest date, time, and specific charges are listed. You will find the booking number and the arresting agency noted clearly. If the person was booked into the county jail, the record includes intake information and bond data.
Court records tied to the arrest provide more depth. They show case filings, motions, hearing schedules, plea entries, and sentencing. Under the Uniform Conviction Information Act (20 ILCS 2635/1), conviction records are available to the public. Non-conviction arrest records may still be accessible through FOIA, unless they have been sealed or expunged. The Illinois State Appellate Defender explains the process for getting records cleared.
Legal Resources for Madison County
Several Illinois laws govern how arrest records work in Madison County. The Illinois FOIA statute establishes the right to access government records. The Uniform Conviction Information Act (20 ILCS 2635/1) controls access to conviction data. Arrest authority in Illinois comes from 725 ILCS 5/107-2, which sets out the legal basis for taking someone into custody.
The ISP fee schedule covers costs for state criminal history reports. Madison County residents can use approved fingerprint vendors for more detailed criminal history checks through the state system.
Cities in Madison County
These Madison County cities have their own arrest records pages:
Nearby Counties
Madison County borders these Illinois counties, each with its own arrest records system: