Search Rock Island County Arrest Records
Rock Island County arrest records are kept by the Rock Island County Sheriff's Office and police departments in Moline, Rock Island, East Moline, and other cities along the Mississippi River. The county has a population around 142,700 and is part of the Quad Cities area that spans the Illinois-Iowa border. Arrest records in Rock Island County can be searched through the sheriff's office, the circuit clerk, and state databases. Multiple agencies produce arrest records here, so knowing which one handled the arrest is key to finding the right record.
Rock Island County Quick Facts
Rock Island County Sheriff's Office
The Rock Island County Sheriff's Office is at 1317 3rd Ave, Rock Island, IL 61201. The phone number is (309) 794-1230. The sheriff handles arrests in unincorporated areas and runs the Rock Island County Jail. Booking records, arrest data, and jail information are all held at this office. The records division can help you locate specific arrest records or direct you to the right department.
Several cities in Rock Island County have their own police forces. Rock Island, Moline, and East Moline each handle arrests within their city limits. The city of Rock Island Police Department is a separate agency from the county sheriff, even though they share the same city name. When looking for arrest records in Rock Island County, you need to figure out which agency made the arrest. The sheriff is the best first contact if you are not sure. They know which agencies are active in different parts of the county and can point you to the one that holds the arrest record you need.
How to Search Rock Island County Arrest Records
The Rock Island County Circuit Clerk handles court records for criminal cases in the 14th Judicial Circuit. When an arrest leads to criminal charges, the case goes through the circuit court. The clerk's records include filings, charges, hearing dates, plea entries, and case outcomes. Contact the circuit clerk in Rock Island for help with case lookups. Court records are a good way to find arrest records that moved into the criminal justice system.
The Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification keeps statewide criminal history data. This may include Rock Island County arrest records that resulted in convictions. Under the Uniform Conviction Information Act (20 ILCS 2635/1), conviction records held by the state police are public. The CHIRP system provides digital searches for approved users. For records that did not lead to a conviction, you will need to file a FOIA request with the local agency that made the arrest.
Call the Rock Island County Jail at (309) 794-1230 for information about current inmates or recent bookings. Jail records show who is in custody, what charges they face, and bond amounts. This is the fastest way to check on someone who was recently arrested in Rock Island County.
FOIA Requests for Rock Island County Arrest Records
The Illinois Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140/1) lets anyone request arrest records from government agencies in Rock Island County. No reason is required. Submit a written request to the FOIA officer at the agency that holds the record you want. For the sheriff's office, address your request to 1317 3rd Ave, Rock Island, IL 61201. For Moline or Rock Island city police, contact those departments directly.
Agencies have five business days to respond, with a possible five-day extension. Under 5 ILCS 140/2.15, basic arrest information must be released within 72 hours of an arrest. That includes the person's name, age, charges, and the arresting agency. Make your request specific by including names, dates, and the type of record you want. Broad requests take longer and may cost more if they pull a lot of pages. Many Rock Island County agencies provide the first 50 pages at no cost.
What Rock Island County Arrest Records Show
Arrest records from Rock Island County show the full name and date of birth of the person taken into custody. They list each charge, the date and time of the arrest, and the agency that made it. Booking records from the county jail include a booking number, bond amount, intake date, and release information when available. Court records connected to the arrest provide case numbers, attorney information, hearing dates, and the final disposition.
An arrest record is not a conviction record. Someone who is arrested may never face charges, or their case might be dismissed. Under the UCIA (20 ILCS 2635/1), only conviction data from the state police is open to the public. Arrest records from Rock Island County agencies that did not result in convictions are still accessible through FOIA, but sealed or expunged records are not. The Office of the State Appellate Defender can help if you need information about getting arrest records sealed or expunged in Illinois.
Rock Island County Arrest Records Resources
The ISP fee schedule lists what it costs for criminal history checks at the state level. To view your own complete criminal history, go through the Access and Review process at an approved Live Scan vendor. This lets you see all arrest records tied to your fingerprints in Illinois, including those from Rock Island County.
Arrest authority in Illinois is covered by 725 ILCS 5/107-2. This applies to all officers working in Rock Island County, whether county or municipal. The ISP FOIA page has request forms if you want records from the state police. If any Rock Island County agency denies your FOIA request, you can take it to the Illinois Attorney General's Public Access Counselor for review.
Cities in Rock Island County
Two cities in Rock Island County have dedicated arrest records pages with details on local access and procedures:
Nearby Counties
Rock Island County shares borders with these Illinois counties, each with its own arrest records system: