Coles County Arrest Records

Cole County arrest records are the official records of a person's apprehension and custody in the county. They are created by law enforcement. It includes details on the people who have been arrested, their booking numbers, the arresting agency, and the alleged offenses they committed. The county's arrest records are also included in other documents, such as Coles County court records and inmate records.

When county law enforcement officers suspect someone has committed or is committing a crime, they have the authority to make an arrest. Arrests can be made with or without a warrant, and people who are arrested might be detained for a short period of time without facing any charges. The Illinois State Police, Coles County Sheriff’s Office, and other local law enforcement organizations in the county create arrest records.

Are Arrest Records Public in Coles County?

Yes. Most arrest records in Coles County are accessible to the public upon request from official record custodians per the Illinois Freedom of Information Act. However, Illinois law forbids the release of certain arrest records if doing so infringes upon the privacy of a party or is deemed to be against the public interest. Usually, these documents contain the following information:

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

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Coles County arrest records generally contain information such as the following:

• The arrested person’s personal information, including full name, gender, date of birth, address, height, and race
• Arrestee’s physical description, such as scars and tattoos
• Booking number
• Arrest charges
• Arresting agency
• Booking date
• Location of arrest
• Date of arrest
• Arrest warrants
• Arrestee’s mugshot
• Arrestee’s fingerprint

Coles County Arrest Statistics

According to the arrest data submitted by the Coles County Sheriff’s Office to the FBI, 19 persons, comprising 16 males and three females, were arrested in the county in 2023. Of the total arrests, eight were arrested for simple assaults, one for burglary, two for drug-related crimes, two for destruction of properties, and five for other offenses.

Find Coles County Arrest Records

Coles County’s records of inmates include information about their arrests, which may be found in inmate records at the county, state, and federal levels. The Coles County Sheriff's Office provides the Current Inmate Database with information about persons arrested in the county. The database contains arrest details, including inmate name, dates of birth, age, race, gender, arrest charges, and booking number.

Coles County Inmate records can also be found by using the Illinois Department of Corrections' (IDOC) Individual in Custody Search portal. Record seekers can search by name, birth date, or IDOC number. Additionally, the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ Inmate Locator allows anyone to search for Coles County inmates in federal prisons.

Free Arrest Record Search in Coles County

Coles County residents interested in free official arrest record searches may use the following resources:

• Coles County Sheriff’s Office Current Inmate database
• Individual in Custody Search portal provided by the Illinois Department of Corrections
• Inmate locator by the Federal Bureau of Prisons

Third-party websites also provide free access to the arrest records from Coles County. Users may be able to access arrest information from criminal, court, and inmate records using these sites. However, unlike government-owned websites, third-party search resources are unregulated and may provide inaccurate information.

Coles County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Although they are sometimes used interchangeably, arrest records and criminal records provide different information. A person's criminal records in Coles County include their arrest records. The arresting agency, the facility where the person was held, the alleged crime, the date and location of the arrest, mugshots, fingerprints, and the arrestee’s personal information are all included in a person’s arrest record. On the other hand, criminal records consist of arrest records, court cases, convictions, sentences, and parole records. A criminal record is a more comprehensive document that contains information on an individual's whole criminal history.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

In Coles County, arrest records are kept on file for life and remain on individuals’ records indefinitely. However, an eligible arrestee may apply to restrict them from public view.

Expunge Coles County Arrest Records

Coles County residents can expunge their arrest records if they are qualified for arrest records expungement under Illinois laws. According to the Illinois Expungement Statute, the following arrest records may be expunged:

• Arrest records of convictions that were reversed or vacated
• Arrest records that did not result in conviction
• Arrest records of persons who receive state pardon
• Records of some stipulated offenses where the penalties were successfully served without incidences after their prescribed waiting periods had elapsed

To expunge Coles County arrest records, arrestees must first obtain the criminal records that contain the arrests. They can get them from the Illinois State Police or the Coles County Sheriff's Office. They should consult the Expungement Instruction Sheet to verify the arrest records that are eligible for expungement. Afterward, they must complete the Request for Expunge/Seal Criminal Records form following the directive in the Instruction sheet. The completed form and the associated criminal records should be filed with the Coles County Circuit Court at:

Coles County Circuit Court Clerk’s Office
5th Judicial Circuit Court
Coles County Circuit Courthouse
651 Jackson Avenue
Charleston, IL 61920
Phone: (217) 348-0516

After reviewing the petition, the Circuit Court may hold a hearing to make a decision. If the petition is successful, copies of the expungement order will be sent to each named law enforcement agency by the court. The arrest records will be expunged by the agencies within sixty days. Coles County residents who wish to have their arrest records expunged are encouraged to consult an attorney.

Coles County Arrest Warrants

In Coles County, an arrest warrant is a court-issued document that gives law enforcement officials the right to arrest and hold someone who is suspected of committing a crime. A written complaint made under oath by a law enforcement official must be presented to a Coles County judge, demonstrating reasonable cause that the warrant's subject committed a crime. After reviewing the complaint and the judge determines that there is enough evidence to establish probable cause, an arrest warrant will be issued. Typically, a Coles County arrest warrant contains the following details:

• Warrant number
• The first and last name of the individual to be arrested
• Information that allows for detailed identification of the individual, including age, sex, scars, tattoos, and other personal characteristics
• A description of the alleged crime
• The judge's name and signature
• The court that issued the warrant
• The date on which the warrant was issued
• Order for the person to be brought before the court by the law enforcement officer

Do Coles County Arrest Warrants Expire?

Coles County arrest warrants are permanent and do not expire. They stay in effect until they are executed, the persons named on them pass away, or the issuing courts revoke them.