McLean County Arrest Records

Per 725 ILCS 5/107-2, McLean County peace officers may arrest a person when:

• They have a warrant commanding the arrest of the person
• They have sufficient reason to suspect that the person is involved in or has been involved in a crime or
• They have reasonable grounds to believe that an arrest warrant has been issued in the person's name in the State of Illinois or another jurisdiction.

After the arrest, the person is brought to the McLean County jail. The Sheriff’s Office or City Police Departments generate an arrest record every time someone is arrested, even if they are ultimately not convicted. Like McLean County court records, all arrest records are available for public perusal. Typically, arrest records are made publicly available for inspection and copying within 72 hours of the arrest (5 ILCS 160/4a(b)).

Are Arrest Records Public in McLean County?

Yes. The Illinois Freedom of Information Act authorizes all arrest records in the custody or possession of a law enforcement agency to be open to inspection or copying. Therefore, anyone can access arrest records from any law enforcement agency in McLean County. The Illinois FOIA prohibits the public disclosure of some arrest records. Per 5 ILCS 140/7, the following arrest records are exempted from inspection and copying:

• Juvenile arrest records
• Arrest records whose disclosure would:
• Compromise the security of any correctional facility
• Deprive an arrested person of a fair trial or impartial hearing
• Interfere with pending proceedings conducted by any law enforcement agency
• Disclose the identity of a person who file a complaint or a confidential source
• Disclosure unique or specialized investigative techniques
• Interfere with active administrative enforcement proceedings or criminal investigation
• Endanger the physical safety or life of a person, including law enforcement or correctional personnel
• Records that relate to or affect the correctional institution and detention facility’s security
• Any data, including files or documents, of one or more law enforcement agencies that were designed to provide information to another agency or agencies regarding an arrested person's physical or mental status
• A law enforcement record contained in a shared electronic record management system created for law enforcement purposes where the recipient did not create the record or participate in the events that lead to the record and only has access to the record because it was shared.
• Records contained in the Officer Professional Conduct Database, including documents sent from the Illinois State Police Merit Board and Illinois State Police to the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board.
• Records requested by persons housed in the county jail, Department of Corrections, or Department of Human Service Division of Mental Health:
  • If those materials are available in the correctional institution, facility, or jail’s library where the inmate is confined.
  • If those materials include records from staff members' personnel files, staff rosters, or other staffing assignment information.
  • The disclosure of which would result in the risk of harm to anyone or the risk of an escape from a jail, correctional institution, or facility.
  • If those materials are available through an administrative request to the Department of Human Services Division of Mental Health or Corrections.
  • Including arrest and booking records, mug shots, and crime scene photographs, except if the records are currently or will be relevant to the requester's case.
  • Containing personal information pertaining to a victim or their family, including a victim's home, work, or school address, home or work telephone number, or social security number, except if the records are currently or will be relevant to the requester's case.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

The following arrest record and report information is available for public perusal (5 ILCS 160/4a):

• The arrestee’s personal identifying information such as name, age, address, and mugshot.
• Charge information relating to the arrest
• Arresy time and location
• The investigating or arresting law enforcement agency’s name
• If the individual is incarcerated, the bail or bond amount
• The time and date that the arrested person was received into, discharged from, or transferred from the arresting agency's custody.

McLean County Crime Rate

The Illinois State Police publishes crime rates by county in its Annual Uniform Crime Reports. The report of 2021 reveals that approximately 7,092 crimes were committed in McLean County. All these crimes were Group A offenses, with the top three being simple assault (1,962), larceny (1,432), and vandalism (972). That same year, the McLean County Sheriff’s Office reported about 535 crimes, all Group A crimes.

McLean County Arrest Statistics

The Crime in Illinois 2021 report shows that about 3,294 arrests were made in McLean County. About 3,124 of the arrested persons were adults, 167 were juveniles, and 3 were unknown. Group A arrests totaled 1,555, with 1,431 adults, 122 juveniles, and 2 unknown. Group B arrests totaled 1,739, of which 1,693 of the arrested persons were adults and 45 juveniles. That same year, the McLean County Sheriff’s Office reported about 557 arrests, with Group A arrests totaling 146 and Group B arrests totaling 411.

Find McLean County Arrest Records

The Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) is in charge of the incarceration of felons assigned to the state's prison system by court order. Record seekers can find arrested records of McLean County offenders maintained by the IDOC online, by phone, or at any of its facilities. Online requests can be made through the Individual in Custody Search portal. The search criteria include name, IDOC number, and birthdate. The general public and private organizations (non-state and governmental) can retrieve arrest records from the IDOC by phone at (217) 558-2200, while government and law enforcement agencies/officials can request by calling (888) 446-9103.

Federal law enforcement agencies disseminate arrest records of McLean County offenders sentenced by courts to federal prisons. Each agency has unique methods of making arrest records available to the public. For example:

• The United States Capitol Police (USCP): Individuals can view or copy arrest summary reports online using a CFN number, crime date, crime summary, or crime type. Requesters can also mail a completed Request Form to the USCP. The processing time is between 7 and 10 days. The form will be delivered by fax, mail, or email, or the requester can pick it up in person at the office. The mailing address is:

United States Capitol Police
Reports Processing Section
119 D Street, Ne
Washington, DC 20510

• The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI): Record seekers can get arrest information from the FBI by requesting their criminal records. Requests can be made online, by mail, or through approved channelers. A $18 fee payable by credit card using the Credit Card Payment Form, money order, or certified check is required to process the request. Mail applicants must submit a completed Applicant Information Form to:

FBI CJIS Division – Summary Request
1000 Custer Hollow Road
Clarksburg, WV 26306

• The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE): The ICE issues arrest records online through the Online Detainee Locator System and in person at its local field offices and detention facilities. The search criteria are by an A-Number or biographical information.
• The Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP): The Bureau provides access to arrest records online and in person at BOP facilities. The search parameters are by number or name.

Free Arrest Record Search in McLean County

The best way to find arrest records for free is online on local law enforcement agencies’ websites. For example, the McLean County Sheriff’s Office has a Daily Blotter where members of the public can conduct an arrest search without charges. The City of Bloomington Police Department publishes arrest information on its website for public perusal at no cost. Alternatively, can use third-party platforms to find arrest information. Most of these sites permit arrest record searches by name. The search will return a list of arrest records on individuals bearing the searched name. Access to basic information about the arrestee is free, but an extensive report on any issue comes with a small fee.

Get McLean County Criminal Records

Individuals can get criminal records from law enforcement agencies. The easiest place to get criminal records is at the Police Department in the city where the arrest was made. For example, the Normal Police Department provides criminal records in person for a fee at the Records Division from Monday to Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Requesters must provide a valid government-issued photo ID.

The McLean County Circuit Clerk’s Criminal Division permits written requests for criminal records. This service costs $6 per year per person, payable by check or money order. The request must contain the record division to be searched (Criminal or Traffic), years to be searched, and the record holder’s full name (first, middle name or initial, and last), aliases (nicknames or maiden), and date of birth. It must also contain a mailing address or fax number to return the criminal record result and the requestor’s daytime phone number or email address. The processing time is about ten (10) business days unless the file has to be retrieved from storage. The written request, along with payment, should be sent to:

McLean County Circuit Clerk
Attn: Record Check
P.O. Box 2400
Bloomington IL 61702-2400

Individuals requesting statewide criminal records can do so online at the Illinois State Police’s Bureau of Identification. Customers can search name-based criminal records through the Criminal History Information Response Process (CHIRP). Users must get a Digital ID to access the database. Requesters can also search fingerprint-based criminal records through a licensed live scan fingerprint vendor. The ISP charges $20 for manual/paper form state criminal records and $15 for electronic/live scans.

McLean County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

What distinguishes an arrest record from a criminal record is the content of each document. An arrest record is a document generated when a person is booked at the police station, and it contains the arrested person’s name and address and the alleged offenses. Per Ill. Admin. Code tit. 20, § 1210.10, criminal history records refers to any data identifiable to an individual. It consists of descriptions or notations of arrests, detentions, indictments, information, pretrial proceedings, trials, criminal charges, and dispositions such as sentencing, court of correctional supervision, rehabilitation, and release.m

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Arrests remain permanently on a person’s record in McLean County. However, the record holder can restrict access to their arrest records through expungement. Illinois State has a Law Enforcement Records Retention Schedule, which provides a period in which an arrest record must be kept until deleted, destroyed, or transferred to the Archives. For example:

• All misdemeanor crime records are kept for three (3) years
• All other felony files are retained for seven (7) years and then disposed of.
• All protection of minors' records is retained for 38 years after the creation date
• All property incident reports are retained for two (2) years
• All criminal history records are kept for a year after the 80th birthday or death of the subject, whichever is first
• All asset forfeiture and seizure records are kept for seven (7) years after closure of the case
• Traffic accident records involving serious injury or death are retained for seven (7) years
• Traffic accident records with no serious injury or death are retained for two (2) years
• Felony files for first-degree murder are retained for 100 years and then transferred to the archives.
• Felony files for crimes against a minor that doesn’t have DNA are retained for 20 years past the victim’s 18th birthday.
• Felony files for sex crimes that don’t have DNA and were reported within three (3) years of the occurrence are retained for ten (10) years.
• Felony files involving death, including attempted murder, concealment of a homicide, and solicitation for murder, are retained for 80 years.
• Felony files for arson, child pornography, forgery, breach of fiduciary obligation of a disabled victim, sex crimes with DNA evidence where the defendant was a fiduciary, and treason

Expunge McLean County Arrest Records

Per 20 ILCS 2630/5.2, expungement is the physical destruction of records or returning them to the petitioner and the obliterating of the applicant's name from any official index or public record, or both. A person can petition the Circuit Court to expunge their arrest records if when the arrest or charge resulted in:

• acquittal, dismissal, or the petitioner's release without charging
• A conviction which was vacated or reversed
• an order of supervision, and
  • Two (2) years have passed since the petitioner successfully completed supervision
  • Five (5) years have passed since the successful completion of court supervision for domestic battery, operation of an uninsured motor vehicle, criminal sexual abuse (victim was 18 or older), display of false insurance card, or operation of a motor vehicle when registration is suspended for no insurance.
• An order of qualified probation has been issued, and five (5) years have passed since the petitioner successfully completed the probation.

Eligible applicants send a completed and signed original and four copies of each Expungement Request and Notice Form to the McLean Couty Circuit Clerk’s office. The Form must be accompanied by a fee of $136, payable by check or money order for each Request. In-person requesters can pay by cash or credit card. The applicant must also provide an Order with complete arrest information when the form is filed. Applicants who can't afford the filing or processing fee can request a fee waiver by completing the civil fee waiver form. Once the request is received, the Clerk will forward it to the relevant agencies. These agencies have 60 days to file any objections. The court will review the request if no objections are received within this timeframe. If approved, a certified copy will be sent to the defendant or the attorney who filed the request. Should any agency file an objection within 60 days, a hearing will be scheduled at least 30 days after the objection. Attendance by the defendant or their attorney at the hearing is mandatory.

McLean County Arrest Warrants

Per 725 ILCS 5/107-1, an arrest warrant is an official written order issued by a court directed to a peace offer commanding them to arrest a person. An arrest warrant is issued when it appears from the content of a complaint presented to a court and examination of witnesses that a person has committed a crime (725 ILCS 5). An arrest warrant is usually in writing, and it:

• Set forth the nature of the offense
• State the issuing date and the municipality or county where it was issued
• Must carry the judge’s signature and the title of the judge's office
• Command that the accused person be arrested and brought before the issuing court or the nearest court in the same county or come before the court at a certain time and place
• It specifies the arrested person’s name, sex, and birth date. If these identifying details are unknown, a designated name or specific description by which the person can be identified will be provided.

An arrest is made by actual restraint of the suspect or by submission to custody. It may be made anywhere in Illinois at any time, day or night.

McLean County Arrest Warrant Search

Individuals can visit the issuing court or the executing agency to conduct a warrant search. Requests should be made during business hours. The record staff will require a name or warrant number to process the request. Although the staff might not charge fees for viewing warrant records, copies of such records attract a small fee.

Do McLean County Arrest Warrants Expire?

In McLean County, arrest warrants do not expire. They only become inactive when the person against whom the complaint was made is arrested. An arrest warrant can also become inactive when quashed or recalled by the court.