Access Montgomery County Arrest Records
Montgomery County arrest records are maintained by the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office in Hillsboro. The county has about 27,600 residents and sits in south-central Illinois as part of the 4th Judicial Circuit. Hillsboro serves as the county seat. The sheriff's office keeps arrest records for areas outside city police coverage, and the circuit clerk maintains criminal court records at the Montgomery County Courthouse. State-level databases from the Illinois State Police also contain criminal history data that may cover Montgomery County arrests.
Montgomery County Quick Facts
Montgomery County Sheriff's Office
The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office is at 140 N Main St, Hillsboro, IL 62049. Call (217) 532-9511 to reach the office. The sheriff handles law enforcement for all of Montgomery County that falls outside city police boundaries. Deputies patrol rural roads, serve warrants, conduct investigations, and manage the county jail. Each person booked into the Montgomery County Jail has booking records created as part of the arrest records process.
Hillsboro, Litchfield, and a few other towns in Montgomery County have their own police departments. Arrests made by those agencies stay with that department unless the case moves to the county jail. If you need arrest records from Montgomery County and you are not sure which agency handled the arrest, the sheriff's office can often help you figure out where to look. All law enforcement in Montgomery County follows the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140/1) for releasing records to the public.
The jail also holds inmates for other agencies at times. Booking records from those holds are still part of the county's files.
How to Search Montgomery County Arrest Records
Criminal cases in Montgomery County go through the 4th Judicial Circuit. The Montgomery County Circuit Clerk handles all filings and keeps records of charges, court dates, motions, and case outcomes. Visit the clerk's office at the courthouse in Hillsboro to look up case information. The 4th Circuit covers several counties, and online search access may be available through the circuit's website, though coverage and functionality can vary.
The Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification is the central source for criminal history records across the state. Their CHIRP system provides name-based criminal history searches. Public conviction data is accessible under the Uniform Conviction Information Act (20 ILCS 2635/1). Arrests from Montgomery County that did not end with a conviction will not appear in CHIRP results.
To view your own complete criminal history, use the ISP Access and Review process. This requires fingerprinting at an approved vendor. It is the only method to see Montgomery County arrests on your record that never resulted in charges or a conviction.
FOIA Requests for Montgomery County Records
Anyone can request arrest records from Montgomery County agencies through the Freedom of Information Act. No reason is required. Submit a written request to the FOIA officer at the agency with the records. For the sheriff, mail your request to 140 N Main St, Hillsboro, IL 62049. For city arrests, contact the Hillsboro or Litchfield police records division.
Under 5 ILCS 140/2.15, basic arrest data must be released within 72 hours of an arrest. This includes the arrested person's name, age, address, charges, and the arresting agency. Standard FOIA requests get a five-business-day turnaround. Agencies can extend by five more days for large or complex requests. Copying charges usually start after the first 50 pages. Include the full name of the person, approximate dates, and the type of record you need. Specific requests move through the process much faster than vague ones.
What Montgomery County Arrest Records Show
A Montgomery County arrest record lists the arrested person's full name, date of birth, charges, and when the arrest happened. It identifies the arresting agency and usually includes an incident or case number. Booking records from the county jail add bond amounts, intake details, and physical descriptions. If the case went through the courts, the circuit clerk will have records showing case numbers, hearing dates, attorneys, and final outcomes.
There is an important difference between being arrested and being convicted. An arrest record from Montgomery County means someone was taken into custody. It does not prove guilt. The Uniform Conviction Information Act (20 ILCS 2635/1) governs the public release of conviction data through the ISP. Arrest records without convictions are available through FOIA from local agencies but not through the state CHIRP system. Records that have been sealed or expunged cannot be accessed by the public. The Office of the State Appellate Defender has details about who qualifies for sealing or expungement.
Montgomery County Arrest Records Resources
The ISP fee schedule lists costs for state criminal history checks. The ISP also takes FOIA requests for records in their system. Illinois arrest authority under 725 ILCS 5/107-2 spells out when officers can make an arrest. That statute covers all officers working in Montgomery County.
Looking to clear your record? The expungement and sealing process in Illinois lets some people remove arrest records from public view. Eligibility depends on the case outcome, and not every arrest qualifies. The State Appellate Defender's office has free forms and guides. Once sealed, a Montgomery County arrest record will not show up in public searches through the circuit clerk or the ISP.
Cities in Montgomery County
Montgomery County does not have any cities with a population above 100,000. Hillsboro is the county seat, and Litchfield is another notable community. For arrest records from those cities, contact the local police department. Arrest records from other parts of Montgomery County go through the sheriff's office.
Nearby Counties
Montgomery County neighbors several Illinois counties with their own arrest records systems: