Chicago Arrest Records

Chicago arrest records refer to all information generated or received during an arrest. Such records include information about an arrestee, criminal charges, and the circumstances surrounding the event. Arrests are a necessary legal procedure for apprehending persons suspected of violating the law. Arresting officers in Chicago have the legal right to arrest suspected offenders. Arrestees may be detained and booked at the county jail.

Chicago's Police Department keeps records of arrest events and releases them upon request from interested parties. Arrest information is also accessible in crime-related public files. Thus, interested parties may easily locate these data in Illinois court records and inmate files.

Are Arrest Records Public in Chicago?

The Illinois Freedom of Information Act allows public members to view and obtain copies of arrest records from specific government entities. These entities are required to release records in their custody to eligible public members. For instance, the Chicago Police Department may release police or arrest reports to eligible parties at this address:

Public Safety Headquarters Building
3510 South Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL 60653
Phone: (312) 746-6000
Email: CLEARPATH@chicagopolice.org

Illinois state laws redact or restrict portions of arrest records from public view. Such records are exempted to prevent unwarranted access to a person's sensitive and private information. Non-public arrest records in Chicago may include the following:

• Arrest information that may interfere with an ongoing investigation or prosecution.
• Records that reveal the identities of confidential sources or complainants.
• Arrest documents that may deprive a person of their right to a fair or impartial hearing.

Chicago Arrest Statistics

The Federal Bureau of Investigation Crime Data Explorer maintains an annual report for all documented crimes in Chicago. According to the report, the city's law enforcement agencies reported 21,942 arrests in 2023. While there is no city-wide incarceration data for Chicago, the state's correctional facilities housed 28,976 inmates as of December 31, 2024. Public members may inquire about inmate statistics by visiting the Cook County Jail at:

2700 South California Avenue
Chicago, IL 60608.

Find Chicago Arrest Records

The Chicago Police maintains an online database of arrests made on or after January 1, 2014. Inquirers must fill out the required details to view records on the platform.

Inmate records are an alternative option for finding arrest records in Chicago. Such records mostly contain arrest data like the arrestee's name, physical description, booking date, arrest charges, and bond amount.

You may find inmate records via databases maintained by government entities. For example, the Cook County jail website hosts an online search platform for detained persons. Inquirers must fill in the inmate's name or booking number to view their arrest information.

The Illinois Department of Corrections also maintains a searchable database for inmate records. To view records on the database, inquirers must fill in the inmate's name, birthdate, and IDOC number.

Likewise, the Federal Bureau of Prisons has an online database for offenders serving time in federal correctional centers. Inquirers must provide the inmate's name or prison identification number to view records on the platform.

Chicago Arrest Records vs. Criminal Records

Arrest records are not the same as criminal records in Chicago. The records are different in the following aspects:

They contain different information

Chicago arrest records provide information on arrest-related events, such as the arrest charges, booking date, bond amount, and the arresting officer's information. However, criminal records contain an individual's criminal history. The record typically includes information on arrests, court, and incarceration activities.

The records are accessible through different agencies

Interested parties may find arrest records through arresting agencies like the Chicago Police Department or the Cook County Sheriff's Office. The agencies serve as record custodians of arrest information. In contrast, criminal records fall under the jurisdiction of the Illinois State Police. The agency creates criminal records by gathering relevant data from other public agencies.

The records lead to different outcomes

Arrest records have almost no negative impact on a record subject's life. However, criminal records may lead to negative implications like discrimination and loss of freedom. Case in point: convicted sex offenders may lose their right to work or live in specific regions in Chicago.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

In Chicago, Illinois, arrests stay on your record permanently until they are sealed or expunged. Expungement is a legal process for removing arrests or criminal records from publicly accessible databases. Note that some arrests are not eligible for expungement.

Chicago Arrest Warrants

Chicago arrest warrants are court documents that authorize the arrest of persons who have violated state or federal laws. Cook County's court judges typically issue arrest warrants upon receiving an affidavit from an arresting agency. The affidavit must contain compelling proof that the defendant broke the law.

Chicago arrest warrants may include the following information:

• The defendant's personal information, such as the name, aliases, address, and physical description.
• Criminal charges.
• Arresting agency's information.
• Court document number.
• The court official's name and signature.

Do Chicago Arrest Warrants Expire?

Arrest warrants issued in Chicago do not have an expiration date. The document only expires when the defendant is arrested or the court revokes the order. Note that the statute of limitations does not affect the validity of an arrest warrant.

Expunge Chicago Arrest Records

Chicago residents may expunge arrest records by petitioning the circuit court in Cook County. The court may decide after reviewing the petition and other factors, such as the eligibility requirements. For instance, you must fulfill these requirements before filing an expungement petition:

• There are no pending criminal charges.
• The arrest charges are eligible for expungement.
• The waiting period for expunging the crime has elapsed.

How to expunge arrest records in Chicago

Eligible parties may expunge arrest records by using these steps:

1. Obtain a copy of your criminal record from the Illinois State Police.
2. Get a criminal court record if the arrest led to a conviction. The Cook County circuit court is responsible for releasing copies of the document. You may view and download the records online or visit the circuit court clerk at this address:
   Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County
   50 West Washington
   Suite 1001
   Chicago, Illinois 60602-1305
   Phone: (312) 603-5030
3. Fill out any of these forms:
   1. Request to Expunge or Seal Criminal Records in English or Spanish.
   2. Illinois Additional Arrest Charges for Expungement (for expunging more than one arrest record).
   3. Notice of Filing for Expungement (to notify the arresting agency of your decision to file for expungement).
   4. Additional Notice of Filing for Expungement (to notify more than one agency that you are filing for expungement).
4. Send the required documents and forms to the circuit court clerk's office at:
   50 West Washington Street
   Chicago, IL 60602
   Phone: (312) 603-5030
   Email: courtclerk@cookcountycourt.com.