Are Criminal Records in Cook County Publicly Accessible?

Yes, Cook County criminal records are public. According to the Illinois Freedom of Information Act and the Illinois Court Record and Document Accessibility Act, the public can inspect and request copies of County criminal records from their custodians if there are no legal restrictions or restricting judicial orders. These include arrest histories and documents relating to criminal trials, convictions, and incarcerations within the Cook County Circuit Courts.

However, the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County and the Illinois State Police (ISP) will redact information from publicly accessible Cook County criminal records that violate privacy or whose disclosures may compromise safety.

Who is Eligible to Access Cook County Criminal Records in Illinois?

Anyone can access criminal records in Cook County. The Illinois Freedom of Information Act permits access to such records by:

• Individuals
• Law enforcement agencies
• Attorneys
• Researchers
• Judicial officers
• Authorized agencies
• Landlords
• Employers.

However, the accessible records or information depends on the requesters' identities. For instance, the courts and law enforcement agencies have legal rights to access sealed and public criminal records. In contrast, other entities may require judicial orders to access non-public records. Also, access to criminal records for background checks, employment, licensing, or personal use requires the record owner's consent.

How to Request Criminal Records in Cook County

Cook County criminal records are accessible through the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County and the Illinois State Police. Requesters seeking criminal records should:

• Make official requests for local criminal records through the County Clerk of the Circuit Court Office at:
  50 W. Washington Street, Room 1006,
  Chicago,
  IL 60602
  Phone: (312) 603-5030
• Visit the Illinois State Police Criminal History Information Response Process and Circuit Clerk Web Interface Portal:
  • Register for the State of Illinois Digital ID
  • Log into the web portal and request Cook County criminal records. Alternatively, fill out the Illinois State Police Uniform Conviction Information Form (ISP 6-405B) and submit it.

Also, interested individuals may be able to request public records online through third-party platforms like Illinoiscourtrecords.us and other private websites.

What Information Is Contained in Cook County Criminal Records?

Cook County criminal records are details of the criminal histories of convicts under the Cook County criminal justice system. These documents comprise arrest histories and case files on criminal prosecutions within the criminal and municipal departments of the Cook County Circuit Court. A typical Cook County criminal record contains:

• Personal details:
  • Name and known aliases of the convict
  • Date of birth
  • Gender
  • Ethnicity
• Arrest information:
  • Dates, times, and locations of arrests
  • Mugshots
  • Booking numbers
  • Bail/bond details
• Criminal charges:
  • Case numbers
  • Charge classifications
  • Offense descriptions
  • Illinois Status violated
• Case prosecution details:
  • Names of attorneys and prosecutors
  • Court name and jurisdiction
  • Names of the judges assigned to the cases
  • Plea entered
  • Trial dates
• Case outcomes:
  • Final disposition
  • sentencing details
• Outstanding warrants
• Probation and parole violations (if any).

Requesters should note that they cannot access sealed or expunged Cook County criminal records or documents relating to juvenile crimes or ongoing investigations. Also, the Cook County Clerk of the Circuit Court Office and the Illinois State Police will redact information that may compromise safety or violate privacy rights.

Are There Restrictions on Accessing Criminal Records in Cook County?

Yes, there are limitations to public access to some Cook County criminal records. Under Illinois and federal laws, there is an exemption to sealed and expunged criminal records. Also, for privacy and safety reasons, requesters cannot access Cook County criminal records relating to minors, ongoing law enforcement or judicial investigations, or victim information without legal or judicial authorization. However, these documents are accessible to law enforcement agencies and the courts to fulfill their official duties.

What Happens if My Request for Criminal Records is Denied in Cook County?

The Cook County Clerk of Court Office and the Illinois State Police may deny a request for a county criminal record for any of the following reasons:

• The agency does not have the record
• The record is sealed or expunged or relates to an ongoing investigation
• The requester did not fulfill the procedural requirements for accessing the documents
• The request is for a juvenile record
• Public access to the criminal record will violate Illinois and federal privacy laws.

If the Cook County Clerk of Court Office or the Illinois State Police deny requesters access to county criminal records, the requester should:

• Ask the agency to explain the reasons for the denial
• Determine eligibility to access the requested criminal records. If eligible, appeal the agency to reconsider the denial
• Modify the request and resubmit it
• If the agency still refuses to grant access and there are reasons to believe that the denial is wrongful, petition the Illinois Attorney General’s Public Access Counselor (PAC) at:
  The Public Access Bureau
  500 S. 2nd Street,
  Office of the Attorney General
  Springfield,
  IL 62701
  Phone: (877) 299-3642
  Email: public.access@ilag
• Consider legal action if the agency still denies access to the criminal records after petitioning the PAC.

How to Expunge or Seal Cook County Criminal Records

Illinois Statutes grant owners of criminal records the opportunity to seal or expunge their criminal records if:

• The court dismisses the charges, or the underlying criminal act did not result in a conviction
• The criminal records are for an eligible crime
• The owner of the record completes the sentence for the crime
• The owner of the record completes a court-mandated program
• The convict receives a pardon from the Illinois governor
• The owner of the record observes the applicable waiting period and does not have pending criminal trials.

Individuals seeking to seal or remove criminal records in Cook County should apply the following steps:

• Obtain the applicable rap sheets from the Illinois State Police
• Download the following forms;
  • Request to Expunge & Impound and/or Seal Criminal Records Forms
  • Notice of Filing for Expungement and/or Sealing
  • Order to Expunge & Impound and/or Seal Criminal Records
• Complete the expungement forms and submit them to the Cook County Clerk of Court Office
• Pay all applicable fees relating to the petition
• Notify the Illinois State Police, the State Attorney's Office for Cook County, and the arresting agencies
• Attend court hearings to provide answers or counter objections from interested parties
• Wait for the court to decide on the petition.