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Effingham County Arrest Records

Effingham County law enforcement is statutorily authorized to seize and detain anyone reported or caught violating state laws. The law provides appropriate procedures for such scenarios, including booking the arrested person to create an official document termed "arrest record". An arrest may occur without a warrant, provided reasonable evidence exists. Otherwise, the arresting officer is expected to provide a warrant before the arrest.

Booking involves documenting the arrestee's biodata and circumstances leading to the arrest incidents, such as the offense for which the person was arrested, charges, the violation of the statutory code, the holding facility, and other vital information. People can access this information and track a person's journey through the criminal justice system by querying the county sheriff's office or the police department that conducted the arrest. Additionally, the court clerk's office maintains details of a person's arrest as part of the Effingham County court records if the suspect is eventually arraigned or prosecuted for the said crime.

Are Arrest Records Public in Effingham County?

Yes. Under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140/), members of the public have the statutory right to request access to arrest data or make appropriate copies of incident reports in the law enforcement database.

However, there is a limit to how much information the public may handle. Per the F.O.I.A. and 7O5 ILCS 86/ (Illinois Court Record and Document Accessibility Act), certain records maintained by the court and corresponding arresting agencies are not publicly accessible. A custodian of record may limit access to arrest information through the use of access codes restricting access.

A few confidential records include arrest records containing active investigation of cases where disclosure may affect a person's chances at a fair trial, mental health records, records containing identifying information of minors, personal information of crime victims and witnesses, sensitive details such as social security driver's license and passport numbers, and expunged or sealed arrest records. Still, records labeled as "impounded" are primarily accessible only to the parties of record, their legal attorneys, and anyone with an admissible court order.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

5 ILCS 140/2.15 lists the following information documented in the arresting agency's database as components of a public arrest record in Effingham County:

  • The arrestee's personal information: For example, name, sex, date of birth, mugshot, and last known address
  • Information detailing the arrest: The arrest date, time, and location. The arresting or investigating law enforcement agency
  • Information detailing charges related to the apprehension: This includes the violated penal code, alleged criminal offense, and charges
  • Booking details: The arrested person's booking number and date
  • Bond information: Bond amount or type (if applicable)
  • Incarceration information: If the person is incarcerated, the date and time that the suspect was received into, discharged from, or transferred from the arresting agency's custody

Effingham County Arrest Statistics

The Illinois State Police provides a Uniform Annual Crime in Illinois Online Report detailing arrest trends and figures in Illinois counties, including Effingham. Statistics extracted from the 2024 Arrest Distribution Report show that law enforcement recorded 941 total arrests in 2024.

Effingham County's prominent criminal offense leading to an arrest was Drug/Narcotic Violations, with 294 incidents. DUI (Driving Under the Influence) and simple assault followed closely with 135 and 96 occurrences, respectively.

Find Effingham County Arrest Records

Finding arrest records in Effingham County generally involves querying the local law enforcement agencies that may have conducted and documented the incident. Researchers may also access the sheriff's Inmate Inquiries Database to track the whereabouts of a loved one incarcerated in the county jail. Available documentation and information include arrest records, offense reports, inmate/detainee reports, 911/dispatch records, and warrants.

The Sheriff's Department provides a Freedom of Information Act Request Form that can be filled and hand-delivered, mailed to the sheriff's office, or submitted electronically to the following addresses:

foia@effinghamcountyil.gov

Or

Effingham County Sheriff's Office
Attention – F.O.I.A. Officer
101 North 4th Street
Effingham, IL 62401

To ensure that the F.O.I.A. request is acted upon promptly, one should clearly provide the following information:

  • A description of the public record being sought
  • The requestor's name, address, and signature
  • The incident date and time
  • Report number and incident type
  • The investigating officer's name
  • All other associated information relevant to the document being requested

The office does not charge anything for inspecting arrest records, and the first 50 pages of printed copies are free. However, applicable fees exist for certified mailings at $8, 15 cents for the first ounce, and 20 cents for each additional ounce. The requested DVD or CD costs 75 cents. Each additional page is billed at 15 cents. Interested requestors can call (217) 342-8464 for more details about the F.O.I.A. request.

Local law enforcement does not maintain records of state or federal inmates. So, people interested in tracking an offender's activity in state prison should utilize the Offender Search system provided by the Illinois Department of Corrections. Basic search parameters include the offender's name, inmate ID, Illinois Department of Correction number, or birth date.

One should expect to find the offender's offenses, mugshot, personal identifying information, date of custody, admission date, parole date, county of commitment, and scheduled release date. Records not available in the portal can be received by sending an F.O.I.A. request to the Department of Corrections.

Conversely, the Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator can be explored to know where a federal detainee is being held and the surrounding circumstances leading to the apprehension.

Free Arrest Record Search in Effingham County

The most obvious free option for an arrest record search in Effingham County is submitting a F.O.I.A. request form to the county sheriff's office during official business hours. The office does not charge requestors for this service (unless the copies exceed 50 pages). People who believe their loved one is incarcerated in the county jail may also contact the jail administrator by phone or email at (217) 342-3866 or jailadministrator@effinghamcountyil.gov.

Several third-party service platforms provide free arrest record searches to inquirers. Anyone using these independent providers should possess the arrestee's name and county of commitment. While one can conduct basic searches, retrieving a comprehensive account of a person's criminal involvement may incur additional nominal fees.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

It depends. Most arrests are permanently included in a person's criminal history record the minute they are booked into the system. Nonetheless, the state makes provisions for the expungement or sealing of arrest records. If granted, the subject of record may claim they have never been apprehended or incarcerated for the offense.

Expunge Effingham County Arrest Records

The Illinois judicial system provides three alternative methods of erasing an arrest record: expungement, sealing, and executive clemency. An expungement (or expunction) destroys arrest histories as if they never happened. Qualified probations are sealed by the state but are erased by arresting agencies.

On the other hand, sealing hides the arrest record from public view but not from law enforcement agencies. Employers required by law are also authorized to check felony convictions. People who do not qualify for expungement or sealing can request a pardon from the Governor. However, executive clemency does not hide or erase conviction automatically. The applicant must apply to have their record expunged.

Anyone eligible for expungement of an arrest record in Effingham County should petition the local circuit court using the provided expungement/sealing forms. The first step is to get and review copies of criminal records and court dispositions from the Illinois State Police and circuit court clerk. Then, review them to determine which arrests are eligible for expungement.

Eligible arrests, charges, or sentences for expungement include misdemeanors and felonies that did not result in a conviction or pardon by the Governor. Honorably Discharged Veterans with a Certificate of Eligibility for Expungement from the Prisoner Review Board may apply for an expungement of all convictions on their record.

Courts may also approve the expungement/sealing of records for applicants sentenced to court supervision programs, provided they meet the required criteria. Offenders arrested and convicted of specific cannabis class 4 or tax misdemeanors under the Illinois Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act, 410 ILCS 70,5, whose convictions were vacated or reversed, are also eligible. Ineligible applicants may apply for record sealing if they meet the 20 ILCS 2630/5.2 requirements.

Once an expungement/sealing petition is submitted at the court, the clerk will file the original copy and offer a duplicate to the petitioner. Petitions may be hand-delivered, submitted by mail, or electronically. It is important to check with the court clerk for better alternatives and applicable fees.

Effingham County Arrest Warrants

An Effingham County arrest warrant is a written directive to a law enforcement agency to immediately seize and detain an identified suspect. Warrants are generally issued by a judge of a reputable court upon an investigating officer's official complaint stating obvious grounds for a person's apprehension. This directive also involves offenders who violated conditions of parole/probation or failed to attend a scheduled court hearing.

725 ILCS 5/107-9 recognizes the necessary components of an arrest warrant, including the name of the subject to be arrested, the accused offense, county of issuance, date of issuance, pretrial release conditions, geographical limitations specified in the warrant, and the issuing officer's signature and title of office.

Do Effingham County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No. To ensure accurate adherence to state law and county ordinances, an arrest warrant remains active until executed or quashed by the court. The subject of the record is advised to surrender at the court or law enforcement agency's office for appropriate settlement in the company of a legal representative.

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