Madison County Arrest Records

Madison County arrest records are the official documentation of arrests in the county. They include details such as the arrestee's personal information, circumstances surrounding an arrest, the alleged crime the arrestee committed, charges filed, etc. Local law enforcement agencies in Madison County create these records when persons are apprehended and booked into custody for criminal offenses.

Under 725 ILCS 5 Sec. 107-2, law enforcement officers can arrest someone if they have probable cause, catch them committing a crime, or have a valid warrant. When this happens, the arrestee is booked into the local detention facility or jail, where their personal information, arrest details, mugshots, and fingerprints are recorded, creating an official arrest record.

The Madison County Sheriff's Office maintains local arrest records for arrests in the county. The office also manages the county jail, where arrested offenders are incarcerated pending their first appearance in court or release on bail. Madison County arrest records, while they can stand alone, can also be found as part of other records from the local criminal justice system, like Madison County court records and Madison County criminal records.

Are Arrest Records Public in Madison County?

Yes. Per the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140/), arrest records are deemed public records in Madison County. This means individuals can submit requests to the custodian(s) of these records to inspect or copy them. However, some arrest record information may be restricted from public disclosure. For instance, law enforcement can withhold records if they are part of an active investigation, could compromise security and privacy, or if they contain sensitive information (such as SSNs, bank information, etc.). Under 5 ILCS 140/7, exempt information includes:

• Identity of child abuse or human trafficking victims
• Identity of victims of certain crimes or witnesses
• Information on juvenile offenders.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Per Section 2.15(a) of FOIA (5 ILCS 140), a public arrest record in Madison County contains the following information:

• Information that identifies the arrested individual (name, age, address, and photograph)
• Information detailing any charges relating to the arrest
• The time and location of the arrest
• The name of the arresting law enforcement agency
• Bail or bond amount if the arrestee is in detention
• The date and time the arrested individual was booked into custody if incarcerated, discharged from, or transferred from the arresting agency's custody.

Madison County Crime Rate

According to the Madison County Sheriff's 2023 annual report, the Sheriff's Office recorded 2,253 crimes in 2023. This represents a 9.92% reduction compared to 2022. The breakdown of these crimes is as follows:

• Crimes against persons: 421 cases, a decrease of 8.68% from 461 in 2022. This included 286 simple assaults, 54 aggravated assaults, 46 intimidation cases, 23 rape cases, 4 kidnapping and abduction cases, 1 murder, and 6 fondling offenses.
• Crimes against property: 1,290 cases, down 11.58% from 1,459 in 2022. This included 441 larceny/theft offenses, 331 fraud offenses, 216 destructions of property cases, 204 burglary/breaking & entering incidents, 70 motor vehicle thefts, 10 arson, and 5 robbery cases.
• Crimes against society: 542 cases, a 6.71% decrease from 581 in 2022. This included 293 drug/narcotic violations, 173 drug equipment violations, 62 weapons law violations, and 11 pornography/obscene material offenses.

Madison County Arrest Statistics

The 2023 arrest distribution report by the Illinois NIBRS shows that Madison County recorded 6,997 arrests, including 380 juvenile arrests and 6,617 adult arrests. Of these, 1,422 were for all other offenses (unclassified), as well as 24 murder, 12 kidnapping/abduction, 7 rape, 27 robbery, 222 aggravated assault, 722 simple assault, 12 arson, 26 counterfeiting/forgery, 470 shoplifting, 66 motor vehicle theft, 83 intimidation, two statutory rape, 19 theft from motor vehicle parts/accessories, 96 impersonation, and 821 driving under the influence.

Find Madison County Arrest Records

To obtain or look up arrest records in Madison County, interested individuals should reach out to the Madison County Sheriff's Office. The office creates, maintains, and provides access to these records, which include arrest reports, mugshots, and local criminal history information. Requests can be made in person during office hours, Monday through Friday, at:

Madison County Sheriff's Office
405 Randle Street
Edwardsville, IL 62025
Phone: (618) 692-6087 (administration)
Phone: (618) 692-1064 (county jail)
Fax: (618) 656-1210

Information such as the arrestee's name, arrest date and location, and booking number is typically required to facilitate FOIA requests for arrest records in Madison County.

Alternatively, individuals may contact a municipal police department in Madison County to request arrest reports of arrests made by the police department within their municipal limits. For instance, individuals can submit a completed FOIA Freedom of Information Request form to the Edwardsville Police Department by mail (333 South Main Street, P.O. Box 336, Edwardsville, IL 62025-0336) or Fax: ((618) 692-7575) to obtain the department's arrest records.

For arrest records related to individuals detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), interested parties can search the Online Detainee Locator System. Additionally, arrest information can be requested by contacting a local ICE field office by phone or in person.

Free Arrest Record Search in Madison County

While the public can submit FOIA requests to inspect or copy arrest records from law enforcement agencies in Madison County, fees are generally associated with these requests. However, some local law enforcement agencies may allow free inspection or lookup of their arrest records or inmate information. Individuals should contact the arresting agency to determine if they offer free access to these records. Additionally, individuals can contact the Madison County Sheriff's Office jail division at (618) 692-1064 to obtain information on persons currently incarcerated at the county jail at no cost.

Alternatively, individuals can search Madison County arrest records for free through third-party aggregate websites. These sites collect and compile public records, including arrest records from law enforcement agencies, and make them publicly available. Individuals can typically conduct searches on these websites to access arrest records, including those from Madison County. Some third-party sites allow free searches of public records, while others may charge fees, particularly for detailed reports.

Get Madison County Criminal Records

Madison County criminal records, or rap sheets, are official documents that detail an individual's interaction with the criminal justice system, including arrests, convictions, sentences, warrants, and more.

The Illinois State Police (ISP) is the custodian of criminal records in the state. They maintain a central repository of criminal history record information and manage the Criminal History Information Response Process (CHIRP) database. The ISP collects and maintains fingerprint records associated with arrests, provides access to criminal records for authorized agencies and individuals, and handles Freedom of Information Act requests for statewide criminal records (under 20 ILCS 2635/1 et seq.).

These records can be accessed from the ISP through name-based or fingerprint-based background check requests. These requests may be submitted online via CHIRP or by mail (especially by those outside the state) to the ISP. For mail-in name-based or fingerprint-based requests, individuals should complete the "Uniform Conviction Information Form" request form. The Illinois State Police (ISP) will send the UCIA forms to the address provided. Once received, complete the form and mail it along with all requirements and processing fees to the ISP at the address below:

Illinois State Police
Bureau of Identification
260 North Chicago Street
Joliet, IL 60432-4072
Phone: (815) 740-5160
Fax: (815) 740-4401

To conduct online name-based searches, requestors must create an account on the Criminal History Information Response Process (CHIRP) and verify their identity. Fingerprint-based requests must be submitted electronically through licensed fingerprint vendors. Further instructions and approved vendor lists are available on the fingerprint-based background checks page.

Note: The state's law only permits the public disclosure of conviction information.

Madison County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Madison County arrest records and criminal records are different but related terms. Arrest records show when an individual was taken into custody for crimes and include information like dates and place of arrests, alleged crimes, circumstances of the arrests, arresting officer(s) and agency, and personal data of the arrestee. Madison County arrest records are created by the arresting agency (i.e., the Madison County Sheriff's Office).

In contrast, Madison County criminal records document a person's history of crimes, court trials for those, and their outcomes. They basically cover a person's history of interaction with the law in and outside Madison County, including arrests, criminal trials, convictions, and jail time. In Illinois, the criminal records of individuals are managed by the Illinois State Police (and the courts). While criminal records can prove guilt (based on court decisions and convictions), arrest records cannot (as they only show apprehension and detention, not guilt).

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Indefinitely. Arrest records remain on a person's file permanently in Madison County. However, under Illinois law, arrests that end in non-conviction or dismissed charges can be sealed or expunged from a person's record. Sealing or expungement is not automatic; the individual must file a petition to seal or expunge their arrest record if they qualify.

Expunge Madison County Arrest Records

Under ILCS 2630/5.2, individuals with arrest records in Madison County can file petitions to expunge their arrests if they qualify or meet the eligibility requirements to seal or expunge these records in the state. Expunging an arrest record in Madison County means the arrest record is destroyed or erased as if the arrest never happened.

The nature of the offense, case outcome, and time since arrest or conviction determine an arrest record's eligibility for expungement. Per ILCS 2630/5.2, the criteria for expungement include:

• Charges following the arrest were dismissed in court
• The arrestee was acquitted of the alleged crime
• No charges were filed following the arrest
• The arrestee's conviction after the arrest was vacated or reversed
• The arrestee successfully completed an ordered supervised program
• The arrestee was granted an executive pardon
• The arrestee is a minor (juvenile arrest records are automatically expunged per Section 5-915 of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987).

To expunge their arrest records in Madison County, arrested individuals must first obtain copies of their criminal records. After reviewing these records, they should select the case they wish to expunge and confirm its eligibility.

The next step is to complete the appropriate petition form and file it with the Madison County Circuit Clerk's Office. Filing can be done in person, by mail, or electronically if required, and must include a stamped, self-addressed envelope. The individual must also pay the filing fee or, if unable to afford it, submit an Application for Waiver of the fee.

Once the petition is received, the court may choose to rule on it with or without a hearing. If a hearing is scheduled, the petitioner must attend. After reviewing the petition, the court will decide whether to grant the request.

If approved, the court will issue an order to expunge or seal the record. The clerk of court or the petitioner must then forward the order to law enforcement agencies or repositories that hold the records to ensure they are erased from public access.

Note: Even after arrest records are expunged or sealed, they may still be accessible to authorized agencies, such as law enforcement.

Madison County Arrest Warrants

Madison County arrest warrants are judicial orders authorizing law enforcement officers to arrest crime suspects. A written affidavit demonstrating probable cause must be submitted to a magistrate or judge by law enforcement for a warrant to be issued for a person's arrest.

A Madison County arrest warrant is typically issued against a person for committing a crime, failing to honor court summons, contempt of court (disobeying a court order), or when an individual breaches the terms of their supervised release (probation or parole).

Per 725 ILCS 5/107-9, a Madison County arrest warrant must be based on a sworn complaint or affidavit and must include the subject's name, sex, and age, the alleged crime, the name, signature, and title of the issuing magistrate or judge, conditions for release (if any), and the county of issuance.

Madison County Arrest Warrant Search

The Madison County Sheriff's Office maintains and provides information on arrest warrants issued in Madison County. To obtain information about inmates and warrants, individuals should contact the Madison County Sheriff's Office in person, by phone, or by fax. Details such as the record subject's full name should be provided to facilitate a request.

Madison County Sheriff's Office
405 Randle Street
Edwardsville, IL 62025
Phone: (618) 692-6087
Fax: (618) 656-1210

Note: Requesters may be required to provide a photo I.D., and access to unexecuted arrest warrants may be limited.

Alternatively, persons seeking information on active Madison County arrest warrants can look up the Illinois Wanted Persons list. Those whose names appear on the list likely have a warrant for their apprehension by law enforcement.

Do Madison County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No. Madison County arrest warrants do not expire. They remain active until the warrant's subject is arrested or the court quashes or cancels it. However, while arrest warrants in Madison County do not have an expiration date, their execution, and validity can be affected by the statute of limitations on the underlying crime, jurisdictional restrictions, or new developments in the case, such as a case dismissal or the death of the warrant's subject.