Adams County Arrest Records

Law enforcement agencies like the Adams County Sheriff's Office and the Quincy Police Department arrest individuals suspected of committing crimes or persons whose arrests were sanctioned by a court. Following an arrest, suspects are taken to the Adams County Detention Center where they are booked, resulting in the creation of arrest records. Consequently, for all arrests that make it to trial, there are usually corresponding Adams County court records.

Arrest records contain vital information about arrest incidents and typically include the arrested individual's name, date of birth, the charge/offense that led to the arrest, photographs, bail, and release information. The agency that apprehends a suspect is responsible for generating and preserving the relevant arrest records.

Are Arrest Records Public in Adams County?

Yes. Arrest records in all Illinois County's are public under the Illinois Uniform Conviction Information Act (UCIA). Per this Act, Adams County residents may obtain these records when they submit a record request to the agency that made an arrest or any other record custodian. However, this law also allows for the confidentiality of certain arrest records whose contents are deemed to be of no relevance to the public.

More so, records are typically removed from public access if they pose a danger to any person or organization or if the need for privacy surpasses the public right to know, e.g., when their disclosure violates a person's right, if their disclosure poses a threat to public security, or if their disclosure may jeopardize the outcome of ongoing criminal litigations or investigations. Exemptions from the UCIA include juvenile records, information about victims or confidential informants, social security numbers, banking information, sealed or expunged records, trade secrets and proprietary information, and information disclosed under a promise of confidentiality.

For requests involving records with non-public contents, the portions containing confidential information are redacted before the records are released to requesters. If the party requesting confidential records has a legitimate cause to view them, they shall obtain a subpoena from a court, which they must present to the record custodians during their request.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Public copies of Adams County arrest records typically contain the suspect's name and date of birth, the arrest and detention facility, case and detention status, arrestee's physical characteristics (race, gender, height, weight), date and location of arrest, date and time of booking officer, and name of the arresting officer. Where applicable, certain arrest records contain bail/bond and release information (date and time).

Adams County Arrest Statistics

According to the arrest report provided by the Illinois Uniform Crime Reporting (I-UCR) program, 246 arrests were made in Adams County in 2023. It comprised 167 males and 79 females. The following offenses were also reported:

• 1 murder and non-negligent manslaughter.
• 7 aggravated assaults.
• 17 burglary cases.
• 25 simple assaults.
• Six larceny cases.
• Four motor vehicle thefts.
• 13 drug law violations.
• Nine weapon law violations.

The total number of arrests in the previous year was 218, indicating a 12.87% rise in apprehensions within county limits.

Find Adams County Arrest Records

The Adams County Sheriff's Office is in charge of the county jail and, as such, maintains arrest records for all inmates booked into the facility. Interested parties may request records from this agency by completing a FOIA form and submitting it in person to the office during business hours. The request form should be furnished with sufficient information to aid the identification and retrieval of the sought-after records. Relevant details include an arrestee's name, date of birth, and arrest date.

Local police departments maintain their records independently and may be queried under the Freedom of Information Act to obtain them. Request procedures and record custodial units vary for different agencies. For instance, the Central Records Unit is responsible for preserving records and facilitating public searches at the Quincy Police Department. To request records, one must complete a Freedom of Information Act Request Form and submit it to the office during business hours.

This agency typically provides records to requesters in PDF formats sent via email. Record request fees may apply for physical copies obtained at the agency. The first 50 pages of non-colored record copies are available for free. A $0.50 fee is required for each additional page reproduced. Each colored copy obtained shall require fees equivalent to their actual reproduction cost.

Free Arrest Record Search in Adams County

The Adams County Sheriff's Office publishes an updated jail inmates list on its website every day. Interested parties can download a PDF copy of this list for free. Arrest information provided by this resource includes first and last names of inmates, front mugshots, charges, bond amounts, and court dates. For additional information not provided on the list, visit the sheriff's office and request the record of interest.

Adams County Sheriff's Office
535 Vermont Street
Quincy, IL 62301
Phone: (217) 277-2200
Jail: (217) 277-2202
Fax: (217) 277-2214

Third-party websites also provide free access to basic arrest information, not necessarily complete reports or records. They are typically searchable by an inmate's first and last name and cover multiple counties. NB: Since inmates are booked into and released from jail daily, the accuracy of third-party websites is not guaranteed, as reasonable time may elapse before updates are made.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Indefinitely. Arrests stay indefinitely on a person's records and may be retrieved during background checks. However, arrests may be removed from one's record if expunged or sealed. Regardless, although hidden from the public, law enforcement agencies may retain expunged records on file for reference in exceptional cases and for documentation purposes.

Expunge Adams County Arrest Records

Expunged arrest records are generally removed from public access and can not be retrieved during background checks. Guidelines governing expungement of arrest and other criminal cases in Adams County are enshrined in the Illinois Compiled Statutes (ILCS 2630/5.2). Subjects of expunged arrest records are legally permitted to deny that such arrests ever happened when queried by landlords or potential employers. NB: arrests made for certain crimes can not be expunged, such as DUI, reckless driving, sexual offense, sexual offense against a minor, and domestic battery.

To qualify for an expunction, an arrestee must have fulfilled any outstanding sentences, paroles, and fine payments, exhausted the waiting period applicable to the associated offense, and must not have any pending charges against them. Waiting periods typically range from two to five years. Arrests may qualify for expungement if:

• They did not lead to a conviction
• The charges were dismissed
• The convictions were reversed by an appeal court
• The arrestee completed a court-ordered probation for the related offense
• The associated offense was a traffic misdemeanor
• The arrestee was a first-offender for certain less serious crimes.

Qualified individuals may begin by completing a Request to Expunge and Impound criminal Records Form and submitting it to the court with jurisdiction over the case (which is the Adams County Circuit Court in this case). The offender or their legal representative can do this by mail or in person. Note that certain fees are required for this procedure. Indigent persons who qualify for a waiver should file an Application for Waiver of Court Fees.

The court shall notify the prosecution and allow a reasonable period for any objections. Thereafter, the court may either issue an expungement order or schedule an expungement hearing if there are any objections or further information is required. If the court grants the expungement petition, it shall issue copies of an expungement order to all involved agencies, ordering the destruction of all affected records.

Adams County Arrest Warrants

Adams County arrest warrants are official paperwork issued by the court, ordering law enforcement to apprehend and detain crime suspects, persons guilty of contempt of court, and individuals who fail to honor court summons. Arrest warrants may be executed at any place and time. Per state laws (725 ILCS 5/107-9), an arrest warrant must be issued based on probable cause. Probable cause is typically based on evidential information, affidavits, or complaints.

Warrants are necessary for arrests, except where a law enforcement officer witnessed the crime being committed, and there is potential for the offender to escape if not apprehended immediately. The Sheriff's Office is responsible for serving warrants and executing all authorized arrests. Per state law, an arrest warrant must set forth the following:

• The suspect's name or physical description if the name is unknown
• The offense for which they are being arrested
• The arrest clause
• The name and signature of the issuing judge or magistrate
• The date and county of issuance.

NB: active arrest warrants remain non-public until the named individual gets arrested. Nevertheless, interested parties should contact the sheriff's office for inquiries about active and executed warrants.

Do Adams County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No. Once issued, an arrest warrant remains active until the individual named on it turns themselves in or gets arrested. Otherwise, a warrant can only go away legally if the issuing authority recalls or quashes it. A court can quash a warrant if new evidence that absolves a suspect emerges, if the suspect dies, or if the suspect challenges its validity and wins. The execution of an arrest warrant may be delayed if the suspect moves to another jurisdiction.