Sangamon County, Illinois Arrest Records

Sangamon County arrest records are official documents that provide notable information about arrests made by local law enforcement agencies, including the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office and municipal police departments. These agencies usually create and maintain arrest records following incidents when they apprehend and hold individuals in custody for alleged crimes. The primary function of arrest records is to ensure that arrests are accurately documented for record-keeping purposes. These records also serve the public interest of keeping the public informed about actions, specifically arrests, carried out by local law enforcement agencies, thereby promoting transparency and accountability of criminal justice processes.  

Sangamon County arrest records are also used in different capacities by certain local, state, and federal agencies. For instance, crime statistics provided by the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office rely heavily on local arrest records data. Additionally, criminal history reports compiled by the Illinois State Police (ISP) Bureau of Identification may also feature Sangamon County arrest records. Although arrest records are subject to the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, the release of criminal history reports is controlled by the Illinois Uniform Conviction Information Act (UCIA).     

Are Arrest Records Public Information in Sangamon, Illinois?

Sangamon County arrest records are considered public information under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, codified in 5 ILCS 140. According to the act, all records in the custody of public bodies are presumed to be open to public inspection and copying. These include law enforcement agencies and the records they create, such as arrest records.  

The Illinois Freedom of Information Act is addressed to all persons, regardless of where they reside. As a result, there are no state residency requirements to access public Sangamon County arrest records. Furthermore, record seekers are not usually required to present a valid form of identification to access arrest records. However, they may need to present identification when requesting confidential records.

What Do Public County Arrest Records Contain?

According to 5 ILCS 140/2.15, typical information found in a public arrest record includes: 

• The arrestee’s full name
• The arrestee’s age, address, and photograph (if available)
• Details of the charges related to the arrest
• The arrest time and location
• The investigation or arresting agency’s name
• Incarceration details (if applicable)

Notwithstanding, several exceptions to the Illinois Freedom of Information Act that limit public access to arrest records exist. Under 5 ILCS 140/2.15 (c), record custodians are allowed to withhold the time and location of an arrest, as well as the arresting or investigation agency name, if they determine that disclosing this information would:

• Interfere with pending law enforcement proceedings
• Endanger the life or physical safety of law enforcement or correctional personnel
• Compromise any correctional facility’s security

Furthermore, certain types of arrest records are completely exempt from public access. For example, juvenile arrest records are confidential pursuant to the Illinois Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Additionally, sealed and expunged arrest records are unavailable to the public.

Sangamon County, Illinois Arrest Search

Interested persons may conduct background checks through the Illinois State Police (ISP) Bureau of Investigation (BOI) to find an individual’s Sangamon County arrest records. The BOI is the state's central repository of criminal records. Accordingly, criminal justice agencies across Illinois, including those in Sangamon County, usually report criminal records they generate to the BOI. These criminal records include arrest records, state’s attorney filing decisions, court dispositions, sentence information, and custodial data. In turn, the BOI compiles these records to generate a subject’s criminal history record information (CHRI), often referred to as a “rap sheet,” which may be obtained through a background check. 

Generally, CHRIs are not entirely public. Per the Illinois Uniform Conviction Information Act (UCIA), the BOI can only release conviction information in CHRI to the public. The BOI offers two ways of conducting background checks: name-based or fingerprint-based checks.  Name-based background checks may be conducted through the BOI’s Criminal History Information Response Process (CHIRP) website. Individuals must log in to use the website. 

On the other hand, fingerprint-based background checks may be submitted to the BOI through a licensed live scan fingerprint vendor. Interested persons may review the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation’s Licensed Live Scan Fingerprint Vendor List to find approved vendors. Out-of-state requesters must select vendors that offer card scanning. Additionally, they must complete and submit the Out-of-State Request form, provided they are requesting conviction information. Note that background check requests are subject to certain fees. These fees are outlined in the ISP Background Check Fee Schedule. 

Another way to find Sangamon County arrest information is by reviewing inmate records. Interested persons may use the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) Individual in Custody Search portal to find information about people held in state custody. Meanwhile, information about federal inmates is accessible through the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Inmate Locator portal.

Sangamon County Inmate Locator

The Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office Inmate Roster is a free public service tool that provides information about individuals booked into the Sangamon County Jail. The roster is searchable by subject name, and search results may be sorted by name, booking date, city, state, or prisoner type (i.e., civil, misdemeanor, felony, e.t.c). Inmates' details available on the roster typically include:

• Inmate’s full name
• Inmate number
• Date of birth
• City and state of residence 
• Prisoner type
• Booking date and time
• Booking number 
• Class 
• Release date (if applicable)
• Bond
• Charge details

Individuals may direct inquiries about the inmate roster to the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office at: 

One Sheriff's Plaza 

Springfield, Illinois 62701

Phone: 217-753-6855 or 217-606-7701 (hotline)

Active Warrant Search in Sangamon County

Per 725 ILCS 5/107-1, an arrest warrant is a written court order that commands a peace officer or some other named person to arrest a specific individual. In Sangamon County, a judge has the authority to issue an arrest warrant. They may issue an arrest warrant pursuant to a complaint presented to a court charging a defendant (the person to be arrested) with an offense. According to 725 ILCS 5/107-9, an arrest warrant must contain the following information: 

• The defendant’s name, sex, and date of birth. However, if this information is unknown, any name or description that can be used to identify the defendant with reasonable certainty must be provided.   
• Description of the charged offense
• The name of the issuing municipality or county
• The issuing judge’s signature and office title
• Conditions of pretrial release (if any)
• Geographical limitations placed on the execution of the warrant (if any).

Interested persons may find information about active arrest warrants in Sangamon County by contacting the county Sheriff’s Office Support Service Division at 217-753-6385. They may also contact municipal police departments to obtain information about the arrest warrants they are responsible for executing. Alternatively, they may use the Sangamon County Circuit Clerk's Records Lookup portal to access court case records and review them for arrest warrants connected to a case. They may also make in-person inquiries about active warrants by visiting the County Circuit Clerk's office at: 

200 South Ninth Street

Springfield, Illinois 62701 

Note: Specific information about a sought-after warrant, such as the warrant subject's name, must be provided to facilitate a warrant search. 

How to Find Arrest Records for Free in Sangamon County

In Sangamon County, record seekers may use the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office Inmate Roster to access certain arrest information for free. However, the roster only provides information about county inmates. An alternative way to find arrest records for free in Sangamon County is by visiting local law enforcement agencies. These agencies may allow individuals to inspect public arrest records in person for free. Searchers are usually required to provide details about the sought-after record to assist in its identification. These details may include the arrestee’s name, date of birth, arrest location, and arrest date.

Notwithstanding, agencies usually charge a fee for copies of records they furnish to requesters. Additionally, individuals may need to provide proper identification to access confidential arrest records.

Sangamon County Arrest Report

Sangamon County arrest reports and arrest records primarily differ in the amount of information each contains. Arrest reports are generally more comprehensive, containing basic details about an arrest and the arresting officer’s firsthand account of what transpired during and after the incident. By contrast, an arrest record typically only documents pertinent factual details about an arrest, such as the arrestee’s personal information, charges, arrest date, and location.

How to Get an Arrest Record Expunged in Sangamon County

In Sangamon County, record holders may follow these steps to apply for expungement of their arrest record: 

• Step 1 - Get copies of your criminal history record: This entails conducting a background check through the Illinois State Police (ISP) Bureau of Investigation (BOI) to obtain your statewide criminal history transcript, also known as a rap sheet. This record contains a list of most of the arrests and convictions that an individual has incurred in Illinois.
• Step 2 - Review your criminal history record for eligible arrests: Under relevant Illinois laws, only certain types of arrests are eligible for expungement. These include, but are not limited to: 
  • Arrests for misdemeanors or felonies that did not result in a conviction
  • Arrests that resulted in misdemeanor or felony convictions, provided that:
    • The conviction was reversed or vacated
    • The governor issues a pardon
    • The arrestee is an honorably discharged veteran who received a Certificate of Eligibility for Expungement from the Prisoner Review Board
    • The conviction was for an eligible misdemeanor or class 4 cannabis offense under the Illinois Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act.
  • Arrest resulting in sentences for court supervision, provided certain conditions are met. 
  • Arrests resulting in sentences of qualified probation (if 5 years have passed since the arrestee has finished their qualified probation).

It is worth noting that certain types of arrest can not be expunged. One example is an arrest for a minor traffic offense, unless the arrestee was released without being charged. Generally, prospective applicants may review the Illinois Judiciary’s Criminal Record Sealing and Expungement guide to ascertain if their arrests are eligible for expungement.

• Step 3 - complete and file the expungement request form: Eligible individuals may complete the Request to Expunge or Seal Criminal Records form. The left side of the form contains detailed instructions on how to complete the form. Applicants must also prepare the applicable filing fee ($60). However, those who can not afford the filing fee may file an Application for Waiver of Court Fees. The completed expungement request form, applicable fee, and other required documents should be filed with the Sangamon County Circuit Clerk’s office at: 

200 South Ninth Street

Springfield, Illinois 62701

Phone: 217-753-6674

Upon receiving the expungement request, the clerk may schedule a hearing. During the hearing, a judge would decide to either approve or deny the request. If approved, an expungement order would be issued and forwarded to the relevant agencies, such as the ISP. These agencies are allowed 60 days to effect the order. In cases where the request was denied, applicants are allowed 30 days to file an appeal. 

How Do You Remove Sangamon County Arrest Records From the Internet?

The primary way to remove a Sangamon County arrest record from the internet is by getting the record expunged. Expunged arrests are erased from a subject’s criminal history records and are treated as if they never happened. As a result, they are removed from government-operated online channels, like BOI’s Criminal History Information Response Process (CHIRP) website. Record holders may also provide their expungement order to third-party aggregator websites to ensure their records are removed.

Some third-party aggregator websites also allow individuals to opt out of their service, which removes their public record from the website’s online database. Depending on the website, they may offer an online opt-out request form or a dedicated phone number for making opt-out requests.