Boone County Arrest Records

Boone County arrest records document the details of arrests in the county and are created by law enforcement agencies. They include details about the arrestees, such as their personal information, booking numbers, and the alleged crimes they committed. It also details the circumstances surrounding their arrest, such as the place and time of their arrest. Other records, including Boone County court records and inmate records, also contain the county's arrest information.

Law enforcement officers in the county have the authority to make an arrest when they have a reason to believe that someone has committed or is committing a crime. Arrestees may be detained for a short time without being charged, and arrests can be made with or without a warrant. Boone County arrest records are created by the Illinois State Police, the Boone County Sheriff's Office, and other local law enforcement organizations in the county.

Are Arrest Records Public in Boone County?

Yes. Except in cases where the law exempts them, Boone County arrest records are open to the public. Per the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, the majority of arrest records in the county are available for review and request from record custodians by any interested person. These records are kept up to date and made public by record custodians, including the Boone County Sheriff's Office and the Illinois State Police. However, to preserve the integrity of current investigations or to protect sensitive information, some records are exempt from public access. Arrest records typically exempted from public view in Boone County include the following:

• Information that can affect the safety of individuals involved in an investigation
• Juvenile arrest records
• Information that can compromise active investigations
• Sensitive personal information, including social security numbers and driver’s license number
• Expunged records

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Arrest records in Boone County typically contain the following information:

• The arrested person’s first and last name
• Arrestee’s date of birth, gender, and place of birth
• Arrestee’s fingerprint and mugshot
• Arrestee’s residential address
• Arrestee’s physical description, such as weight, height, scars, eye color, race, and tattoos
• Arresting agency
• Booking number
• Booking date
• Arrest charges
• Arrest warrants (if applicable)
• Location of arrest
• Date of arrest

Boone County Arrest Statistics

The Boone County Sheriff's Office made 219 arrests in 2022, according to arrest data made available to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The Sheriff's Office made 473 arrests in 2023, a 116% increase. These arrests include 11 disorderly conduct arrests, 29 drug-related offenses arrests, 128 driving under the influence arrests, 52 simple assaults arrests, and 212 other offenses arrests.

Find Boone County Arrest Records

Inmate records generally contain information about arrests in Boone County. Arrest details, including the arrestee's name, age, charges, gender, and bond information, are available in inmate records. Inmate records are typically accessible to the public and are available at federal, state, and local agencies. The Boone County Sheriff’s Office allows the public to view the records of inmates in their facility. The Sheriff’s Office also partners with the Victim Information and Notification Everyday (VINE) program to provide online access to the county’s inmate records. Anyone can search for the county’s inmate records on the VINELink platform at no cost.

Furthermore, record seekers can search for inmate records on the Individual in Custody Search platform provided by the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC). This platform can be used to find Boone County arrest information from records of inmates incarcerated in state prisons. The search can be done by name, birth date, or IDOC number. Additionally, anyone can use the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ Inmate Locator to search for inmate records from Boone County in federal prisons. Users can search by name or identifying number.

Free Arrest Record Search in Boone County

Record seekers in Boone County can use these free official websites to find the county’s arrest records:

• Boone County Sheriff’s Office through VINELink
• Illinois Department of Corrections Individual in Custody Search portal
• Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator

Furthermore, some third-party websites also offer free access to Boone County’s arrest records. These websites give users access to arrest data from inmate, court, and criminal records. Third-party search resources, in contrast to government-owned websites, are largely unregulated and may contain inaccurate information.

Boone County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Arrest records are not the same as criminal records. Although crime details are included in both records, the records custodian, substance, and development procedures differ. Boone County's arrest records include details such as the arrestee's name, charges, and bond terms. However, criminal records contain more than information about arrests; they also contain information about prosecutions, convictions, incarcerations, and paroles.

Furthermore, arrest records are made after an arrest, whereas criminal records are made after an arrest charge that leads to a court case. The existence of a criminal record is evidence that an individual’s arrest led to a criminal court proceeding.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Arrest records in Boone County are permanent unless they are expunged or sealed. Individuals may petition the court for expungement of their arrest records if they are eligible for expungement under Illinois law.

Expunge Boone County Arrest Records

Per the Illinois Expungement Statute, only the following arrest records may be expunged in Boone County:

• Arrest records that did not lead to conviction
• Arrest records of convictions that were vacated or reversed
• Arrest records of a person who receives a pardon from the Illinois governor
• Records of certain offenses where the penalties were successfully completed without incidences and the prescribed waiting period had elapsed

Individuals in the county interested in expunging their Boone County arrest records must first obtain their criminal record containing the arrest. They can obtain the records from the Boone County Sheriff’s Office or the Illinois State Police. They should then review the documents for arrest records that are eligible for expungement. The Illinois Judiciary makes available an Expungement Instruction Sheet for a list of eligible offenses and their requirements.

If the person’s arrest records are eligible for expungement, they must fill out the Request for Expunge/Seal Criminal Records form and follow the guide in the Instruction sheet on how to fill out the form. Afterward, they must file the completed form and their criminal records with the Boone County Circuit Court Clerk’s Office by E-Filing, mail, or in person at:

Boone County Circuit Court Clerk’s Office
17th Judicial Circuit Court
601 North Main Street
Belvidere, IL 61008
Phone: (815) 544-0371

The Circuit Court will review the petition and may schedule a hearing to decide on it. If the petition is successful, the court will send copies of the expungement order to every listed law enforcement agency. The agencies must expunge the arrest records within 60 days. Persons whose petitions are denied can file a notice of appeals within 30 days. Individuals in Boone County interested in expunging their arrest records are advised to seek legal guidance.

Boone County Arrest Warrants

In Boone County, an arrest warrant is a court-issued document that authorizes law enforcement agents to arrest and detain an individual suspected of committing a crime within the county. A law enforcement officer must present a written complaint made under oath to a Boone County judge showing probable cause that the subject of the warrant committed a crime. The judge reviews the complaint and issues the warrant if there is sufficient evidence to prove probable cause. A Boone County arrest warrant typically has the following information:

• The first and last name of the person to be arrested
• Description by which the person may be specifically identified, such as age, tattoos, sex, and other features of the person
• A description of the alleged offense
• Warrant number
• Signature of the judge or in the title of the judge’s office
• The court that issued the warrant
• Order for the person to be brought before the court by the law enforcement officer
• The date the warrant was issued

Do Boone County Arrest Warrants Expire?

A Boone County arrest warrant does not expire. Typically, it remains active until it is executed or canceled by a court order. The subject of an arrest warrant can be apprehended anywhere, regardless of how long ago the arrest warrant was issued.