St. Clair County Arrest Records

An arrest record is an official document detailing when and why a person was taken into police custody. In St. Clair County, law enforcement officers can detain individuals suspected of criminal activity (under 725 ILCS 5 Sec. 107-2). When someone is arrested, the police create a record (called an arrest record) during the booking process. This record typically includes the person's details, the crime they are accused of, the charges against them, and specifics about the arrest, including mugshots and fingerprints.

The law enforcement agency that made the arrest is the custodian of the arrest records created following a person's arrest. This is typically the St. Clair County Sheriff's Department. However, local police departments, such as the Belleville Police Department, create and maintain arrest records within limits.

Interested individuals can obtain these records from law enforcement agencies in St. Clair County, or they may find them among St. Clair County court records (or criminal records).

Are Arrest Records Public in St. Clair County?

Yes. Arrest records in St. Clair County are public under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140/). This law stipulates that records created or maintained by government agencies, including law enforcement arrest records, are accessible to the public. As a result, anyone can request to view or obtain copies of arrest records from a local law enforcement agency in St. Clair County, such as the county sheriff's department.

However, the law allows certain arrest records to be exempt or restricted from public disclosure. These include arrest records or information that is part of an active investigation, records that may endanger a person's safety or violate their privacy, juvenile records, and expunged or sealed arrest records.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Per Section 2.15(a) of the FOIA (5 ILCS 140), a public St. Clair County typically contains the following information:

• Personal information of the arrestee, such as name, age, date of birth, and photograph
• Physical descriptors of the arrestee, such as height, eye/hair color, race, and gender
• The arresting agency
• The arresting officer
• Time and location of arrest
• Bail or bond information (if applicable)
• Booking information (date, time, and booking number)
• Date of release from custody (if applicable)
• Mugshot
• Alleged crime or charges related to the arrest.

St. Clair County Crime Rate

According to the 2023 offense distribution report for St. Clair County from Illinois NIBRS, the county recorded 7,386 crimes. The offenses committed were as follows: 9 recorded murders, 3 kidnappings, 89 rapes, 36 robberies, 353 aggravated assaults, 1,079 simple assaults, 118 intimidation cases, 6 extortion offenses, 31 arsons, 378 burglaries, 657 shoplifting cases, 287 thefts from motor vehicles, 711 all other larcenies, 468 motor vehicle thefts, 65 forgeries, 625 swindle cases, 60 impersonation cases, 7 wire frauds, 171 identity thefts, 6 stolen property offenses, 983 vandalism of property cases, 691 drug/narcotic violation cases, three incest cases, 7 animal cruelty cases, and others. The most common crimes in St. Clair County in 2023 were simple assault (1,079), vandalism of property (983), all other larceny (711), drug/narcotic violations (691), shoplifting (657), and motor vehicle theft (468).

St. Clair County Arrest Statistics

According to the 2023 arrest distribution report for St. Clair County, available on the Illinois NIBRS arrest distribution webpage, the county recorded 3,150 arrests. Of these, 115 were juvenile arrests, and 3,035 were adult arrests.

The crimes for which arrests were made include the following: murder (4), rape (7), robbery (16), aggravated assault (126), simple assault (337), intimidation (22), arson (11), burglary (34), shoplifting (267), theft from a motor vehicle (7), motor vehicle theft (36), forgery (12), impersonation (51), embezzlement (11), vandalism of property (87), drug/narcotics violations (555), disorderly conduct (91), weapons law violations (236), DUI (307), trespass on real property (188), and unclassified offenses (548). The highest arrest counts were recorded for drug/narcotic violations, simple assault, DUI, shoplifting, and weapons law violations.

Find St. Clair County Arrest Records

Individuals should contact the St. Clair County Sheriff's Department to obtain arrest records in St. Clair County. Subject to exemptions under the FOIA law, the sheriff's department will release its arrest records to individuals upon submitting a FOIA request. Requesters must complete a "FOIA request form" and submit it to the sheriff's office. The completed form can be submitted in person, via email, mail, or fax.

St. Clair County Sheriff's Department
700 North 5th Street
Belleville, Il 62220
Phone: (618) 277-3505
Email: sheriff@co.st-clair.il.us.

Alternatively, individuals can use the public online "inmate search" and "sex offender search" tools to look up information on individuals arrested by the sheriff's department and currently incarcerated in the county jail facility.

Interested individuals can also obtain arrest records from the municipal police departments in St. Clair County. For example, if the Belleville Police Department arrested someone, their arrest records can be requested through the FOIA options available on the BPD's Records Requests webpage.

Search the Federal Inmate Locator by name or number to find information on FBI arrests. For Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrests, use the Online Detainee Locator System or contact a local ICE field office.

Free Arrest Record Search in St. Clair County

Local law enforcement agencies in St. Clair County typically charge fees to grant access or provide copies of arrest records. Thus, in most cases, individuals may be unable to search St. Clair County arrest records from official sources for free. However, individuals can use the sheriff's office "inmate search" and "sex offender" search tools to look up incarcerated persons in St. Clair County, including those arrested for sex offenses, for free.

Alternatively, individuals can use third-party "unofficial" websites to conduct free searches for St. Clair County arrest records. These sites gather public information, including arrest records from St. Clair County law enforcement agencies, and make them publicly accessible. Individuals can use these sites to lookup basic arrest records for free.

Get St. Clair County Criminal Records

A criminal record (criminal history or rap sheet) is an official comprehensive record of an individual's criminal history, including arrest, warrant, incarceration, conviction, and post-conviction information. This record offers a comprehensive view of a person's encounters with the criminal justice system. The Illinois State Police maintains these records and allows public access to them through background checks (under 20 ILCS 2635/1 et seq.).

Individuals should submit criminal background check requests to the ISP to obtain St. Clair County criminal records. There are two types of requests: name-based and fingerprint-based. Both can be submitted electronically or by mail. For electronic name-based background checks, individuals must register, verify their identity, and use the Criminal History Information Response Process (CHIRP) site. For electronic fingerprint-based requests, they should visit the "Fingerprint Based Background Checks" webpage for instructions on submitting fingerprint requests through approved vendors within and outside Illinois.

To submit background check requests by mail, individuals should complete the "Uniform Conviction Information Form" request form. Upon receiving the completed e-form, the Illinois State Police (ISP) will deliver the UCIA form(s) by postal mail to the requester. The UCIA form(s), when received, should be completed and submitted by mail to the ISP:

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

The ISP's Bureau of Identification charges fees for criminal background checks. These fees are listed on the Bureau's fee schedule webpage.

St. Clair County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

An arrest record in St. Clair County is an official document that includes details about an individual's arrest, such as their personal information, the charges filed against them, the date, time, and location of the arrest, and the law enforcement agency involved. This record is created and maintained by the agency that made the arrest, the St. Clair County Sheriff's Office, or a local police department (such as the Belleville Police Department).

On the other hand, a criminal record is a comprehensive record of an individual's criminal history. It includes information about arrests, convictions, sentences, and the outcomes of the charges filed following the arrest. In Illinois, the State Police (ISP) maintains all criminal records, including those from St. Clair County.

In summary, St. Clair County arrest records document arrest instances, while criminal records detail an individual's entire history with the justice system, including arrests, convictions, and sentences served.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record in St. Clair County?

Indefinitely. Arrests in St. Clair County remain on a person's record indefinitely unless they are expunged or sealed. A person's arrest record is typically eligible for expungement or sealing if no charges were filed following the arrest, the arrest charges were dismissed, or the case ended in non-conviction.

Expunge St. Clair County Arrest Records

Individuals who meet the state's eligibility requirements may file petitions to the St. Clair County Circuit Court to expunge or seal their arrest records. An arrest record is expunged when it is legally erased, deleted, or removed from a person's criminal history. This means the record is no longer accessible to the public, and the individual can often legally say they were never arrested for that offense.

Illinois Compiled Statutes, 20 ILCS 2630/5.2, governs the expungement of arrest records in Illinois. The law outlines who may apply for expungement, which records qualify, and how to petition the court to erase or seal an arrest record.

Per 20 ILCS 2630/5.2, a person may qualify to have their arrest records expunged or sealed if:

• They were arrested but not charged.
• They were acquitted – If the court found them not guilty of the charges.
• They completed a court-ordered supervision or probation for certain offenses.
• They received an executive pardon from the Governor.
• Their conviction was reversed or vacated by an appeal court.
• Charges following the arrest were dismissed in court.
• The arrestee is a minor – Juvenile arrest records are automatically expunged per Section 5-915 of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987.

Note: in some instances, periods may apply based on the nature of the offense and the individual criminal history.

To delete or seal arrest records in St. Clair County, individuals must first obtain their criminal or arrest records and identify which arrests qualify for expungement or sealing. After identifying eligible arrests, they should fill out the "Request to Expunge or Seal Criminal Records" form. The completed form(s) should be filed with the St. Clair County Circuit Court clerk.

If required, individuals may need to attach copies of court dispositions to their petitions. Filing can be completed in person, by mail, or by e-filing (or contact the Circuit Clerk to determine the best filing method). To complete the filing, the petitioner must pay a filing fee. If a person cannot afford the fee, they can request a fee waiver by filing an Application for Waiver of Court Fees.

The court may grant or deny the request to delete or seal arrest records with or without a hearing. If the court schedules a hearing before ruling on the petition, the petitioner is typically informed. If the petition to expunge or seal an arrest record is granted, the court issues an expungement or sealing order. This order must be sent to law enforcement agencies or criminal record custodians to remove the expunged or sealed records from public access.

Note: Individuals may visit the official Illinois Courts website to find information on expunging or sealing arrest records in St. Clair County, including forms needed to petition the court.

St. Clair County Arrest Warrants

A St. Clair County arrest warrant is a written order authorizing the arrest and detention of a named individual for offenses, such as committing a crime, contempt of court, failure to honor summons, etc.

Under Illinois law (725 ILCS 5/107-9), a judge may issue an arrest warrant if there's probable cause to believe the named person has committed an offense. This determination typically relies on a complaint, information, or affidavit. The warrant must specify the person's name (or description if unknown), the offense, and a command for law enforcement to arrest, detain, or bring the individual before the court.

Per 725 ILCS 5/107-9, a valid arrest warrant in St. Clair County must include:

• The subject's personal information (name, sex, age, and physical descriptors).
• The alleged offense.
• The issuing judge's name and signature.
• Bail or bond information.
• County of issuance.

St. Clair County Arrest Warrant Search

Individuals seeking information about active arrest warrants in St. Clair County should contact the St. Clair County Sheriff's Office.

St. Clair County Sheriff's Department
700 North 5th Street
Belleville, Il 62220
Phone: (618) 277-3505
Email: sheriff@co.st-clair.il.us.

Alternatively, interested individuals can use the "Illinois Wanted Persons List" to find information on St. Clair residents with active warrants, as those whose names appear on the list likely have a warrant of arrest against them.

Additionally, individuals may contact municipal police departments in St. Clair County to find information on active arrest warrants within their jurisdiction. To facilitate a warrant information lookup, requesters must provide details such as the individual's name on the warrant. A photo ID may be required, and arrest warrants not yet executed may be sequestered from public disclosure.

Do St. Clair County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No. Arrest warrants in St. Clair County have no expiration date. Once issued, St. Clair County arrest warrants remain valid indefinitely until they are executed or legally nullified. Arrest warrants are nullified when the court recalls or quashes the warrant. This may happen if a motion is filed challenging the legality or validity of an arrest warrant on several grounds, including lack of probable cause, insufficient affidavit (if the affidavit supporting the warrant is inadequate or contains false information), violation of constitutional rights, etc., and the court reviews and approves this motion.