Fulton County Arrest Records

Fulton County arrest records refer to official documents created by the Fulton County Sheriff's Office and other local and state law enforcement agencies to detail arrests and detentions within the county. These documents may be publicly accessible through the arresting law enforcement agencies, the Fulton County Sheriff's Office, and as part of Fulton County court records.

The Illinois Criminal Code and Illinois Vehicle Code authorize law officers to arrest individuals who commit criminal acts or violate traffic laws. Also, law officers must arrest subjects of arrest warrants.

After processing arrestees, Fulton County law enforcement agencies may detain them at the Fulton County Jail, local police departments holding cells, or regional juvenile detention centers (for minors). Convicts serving long-term sentences for serious offenses may be transferred to the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) facilities or federal prisons.

Are Arrest Records Public in Fulton County?

Yes, Fulton County arrest records are public. The Illinois Freedom of Information Act guarantees public access to Fulton County arrest records and other local and state government documents in possession of custodian agencies. However, Illinois laws exempt public access to Fulton County arrest information relating to minors, sealed or expunged records, active law enforcement investigations, national security and public safety, and information protected by federal or state laws.

Access to exempted Fulton County arrest records is limited to the owners of the documents and legally authorized entities. For information relating to Fulton County arrests, interested members of the public should contact the arresting agencies or call, email, visit, or mail the Fulton County Sheriff's Office at:

268 W Washington Avenue,
P.O. Box 269,
Lewistown,
IL 61542
Phone: (309) 547-2277
Email: sheriff@fultonco.org.

Fulton County Arrest Statistics

Data from the Illinois UCR repository show 18 arrest reports from Fulton County law enforcement agencies in 2024. By comparison, 18, 23, and 211 reported arrest incidents in Fulton County in 2023, 2022, and 2021. Drug/narcotic violations account for the most arrests in Fulton County. Drug-related arrests accounted for 55.6% of reported arrests in Fulton County in 2024 and 2023, 65.2% in 2022, and 68.2% in 2021.

Find Fulton County Arrest Records

Fulton County public arrest records are accessible through local law enforcement agency offices and the Fulton County Circuit Clerk Office. Individuals seeking access to Fulton County arrest records should:

• Contact the law enforcement agencies responsible for the specific arrests or the Fulton County Sheriff's Office and submit formal requests to access arrest records.
• Make official requests to access court-related arrest records through the Fulton County Circuit Clerk's Office at:

The Fulton County Courthouse
100 N. Main, Room 207,
P.O. Box 152,
Lewistown,
IL 61542
Phone: (309) 547-3041 ext. 206.

• Call the Fulton County Jail at (309) 547-2277 or visit the jailhouse at:

268 W Washington Avenue,
Lewistown,
IL 61542.

Also, inquirers can access Fulton County criminal case-related arrest records online through Illinois Courts affiliated websites, or they should log into the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) Individual in Custody Search Portal and use the search tools to access arrest information about Fulton County arrestees serving terms in state correctional facilities.

Fulton County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Fulton County arrests and criminal records play crucial roles in criminal investigations and law enforcement. However, both documents differ in content, legal implications, and impacts on their owners.

Fulton county arrest records are law enforcement-created documents detailing the apprehending and detaining of offenders within the county. These documents contain personal information of arrestees and provide insights into the circumstances leading to their arrests. Arrest records do not confirm guilt or innocence of criminal acts. Illinois and federal laws stipulate the innocence of the accused until the court finds guilty. Also, Fulton County arrest records may not have significant impacts unless there are convictions for the associated crimes.

Fulton County criminal records are case files on criminal trials within the Fulton County Circuit Court. These documents encompass Fulton County arrest records and other files relating to trials, convictions, and incarceration of criminals under the Fulton County criminal justice system.

Fulton County criminal records provide more comprehensive details of criminal acts than Fulton County arrest records. A criminal record is a legal confirmation of criminal acts, and it may negatively impact employment, housing, personal relationships, and social status.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Arrest records may remain permanently on file unless the courts seal or remove them. In Illinois, the sealing and removal of arrest records depend on the nature of the underlying crimes and the outcome of the arrests.

The Illinois Criminal Identification Act (20 ILCS 2630/) grants owners of eligible Fulton County arrest records the right to petition the Fulton County Circuit Court to seal or remove them if:

• The arrests did not result in convictions
• The arrest records are for eligible misdemeanors (for instance, retail theft or drug possession)
• The record owners complete supervision or probation sentences.

Also, aspiring petitioners must observe the applicable waiting periods for the offenses. Typically, there is an immediate expungement for a non-conviction record, 2 to 5 years for sealing of arrest information after completing supervision and probation, and a 3-year waiting period after completing the sentences for misdemeanors and felonies.

Fulton County Arrest Warrants

Fulton County arrest warrants are legal orders by the Fulton County Circuit Court authorizing law enforcement to arrest individuals for arrestable offenses. Judges of the Fulton County Circuit Court issue arrest warrants to law enforcement and prosecutors when they provide evidence of criminal or arrestable acts. The court may also issue warrants against individuals who disregard court orders, violate probations or paroles, engage in domestic violence, or show contempt for the court.

In Illinois, an arrest warrant must contain the following information or more:

• Full name and physical description of the subject/defendant
• Description of the charges against the subject and sections of the Illinois laws allegedly broken
• Date of issuance
• A probable cause statement or affidavit from law enforcement
• Orders by the courts to law enforcement to arrest the subject
• Name and signature of the issuing judge
• Instructions on the execution of the warrant
• Name and location of the authorizing court
• The geographical jurisdiction of the warrant.

Do Fulton County Arrest Warrants Expire?

In Fulton County and other Illinois jurisdictions, arrest records do not expire. They remain active until law enforcement executes the warrants or the courts revoke them. Nonetheless, arrest warrants become dormant at the subjects' deaths.

Notwithstanding the active nature of arrest warrants, several factors may affect their validity. If a crime has a statute of limitation, prosecutors must file charges within the window period. Otherwise, its associated arrest warrant becomes invalid. Also, clerical errors, lack of sufficient details about the subject, and constitutional rights violations may invalidate Fulton County arrest warrants.