Tazewell County Arrest Records

Tazewell County arrest records are documentation about an arrest that contain information about the suspect, circumstances leading up to the arrest, and the arrest charge. They are prepared by law enforcement agencies after an arrest and made available to interested individuals as records of justice and the maintenance of public safety.

When an individual is arrested, they are taken to the Tazewell County Detention Center for processing into the local jail. At the jail, the individual is booked, and arrest records containing their personal details and offense details are created. Information collected during booking includes the arrestee’s fingerprint, photograph, and charges.

The Tazewell County Sheriff’s Office oversees the management of the detention center and maintenance of local arrest records. Arrest records can be found with other documents generated by agencies in the criminal justice system, e.g., Tazewell County court records.

Are Arrest Records Public in Tazewell County?

Yes. (5 ILCS 140/) The Illinois Freedom of Information Act mandates that official record custodians make public records, including arrest records, available for inspection and copying upon citizen request. If a case is ongoing or if the safety of the parties involved may be at risk, some information may be restricted from the arrest record. Individuals with a court order and authorized government agencies may still be eligible to view these restricted records.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Publicly available arrest records contain the following information:

• Arrest details (Date and time of arrest)
• The detainee's personal information (full name, physical description, gender, race, and birth date),
• The arresting agency and officer
• Description of the alleged offense
• Detainee’s mugshots
• Booking information (booking number, time, and date)
• Bail or bond information
• Court date, name, and location).

Tazewell County Crime Rate

The Illinois Uniform Crime Reporting (I-UCR) Program reported a crime rate of 50.3 in 2023, an increase from the 2022 record of 42.27. The most popular crimes in the county in 2023 were larceny (1625, an increase from 1,622 in 2022), Assault (1,549, an increase from 1,341 in 2022), drug and narcotics (1088, an increase from 770 in 2022), and fraud (712, an increase from 480 in 2022).

Tazewell County Arrest Statistics

Per the 2023 arrest distribution report by the Illinois State Police, there were 3894 arrests in Tazewell County. There were 752 arrests for all other offenses, as well as shoplifting (545), simple assault (535), drug or narcotic violations (454), and driving under the influence (296).

In comparison to the 2022 report, there was a marked increase in crime. Arrests for all other offenses increased by 69%, as did arrests for shoplifting (+91%), simple assault (+14%), drug and narcotics violations (+31%), and driving under the influence (+63%).

Find Tazewell County Arrest Records

The Tazewell County Sheriff’s Office, along with police departments in the county, manages arrest records. The Sheriff's Office makes these records available online through their inmate lookup tool, by phone, or in person.

Free Arrest Record Search in Tazewell County

Interested individuals can find free arrest records in Tazewell County using one of the following sources:

• Tazewell County Sheriff's Office: The Tazewell Sheriff's Office manages the free inmate lookup tool that lists individuals in custody at the county jail. Individuals can also get more exact results by conducting a name-based search.
• Third-party websites: Some third-party websites offer public records, including arrest records for free. A search can be conducted using keywords such as the arrestee’s first and last name. The availability and completeness of records from third-party websites may differ from government sources as they are not the original custodians of the record.

Get Tazewell County Criminal Records

Tazewell criminal records, also called rap sheets, are detailed documentation of a person’s involvement with the criminal justice system. They typically include arrest records, convictions, sentencing information, and all other information relevant to their case, such as warrant information and restraining orders.

Interested individuals can obtain criminal records from the Illinois State Police. The agency is the official custodian of statewide criminal records and makes these records available on request to individuals through a name-based or fingerprint-based background check.

For name-based searches, requestors must create an account on the Criminal History Information Response Process (CHIRP) and verify their identity with a digital ID. For fingerprint searches, individuals must obtain and submit fingerprint cards from their local law enforcement agencies. Per 20 ILCS 2635/1 et seq, only conviction information is available to the public. To obtain these records, contact the Bureau of Investigation and pay the applicable fees for processing the background check.

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

Tazewell County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Tazewell County arrest records show all offenses a person has been arrested for and the circumstances surrounding the arrest. They are prepared by law enforcement agencies and contain information, such as the alleged crime, the arresting agency, and the officer. Criminal records are comprehensive documentation of a person’s criminal court cases and the court’s decision concerning those cases. They are created as the case progresses through the legal system and are kept by courts.

The distinction between criminal records and arrest records is that criminal records can be used as evidence of culpability while arrest records can not. If an individual has an arrest record, it does not mean they were convicted of the charge. Criminal records on the other hand contain the court's decision, and whether the individual is guilty or not.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Indefinitely. Arrest records stay on your criminal history in Tazewell County forever unless they are expunged or sealed. It is important to note that this process is not automatic. The arrestee still has to apply for expungement or sealing even if their charges were dismissed in court.

Expunge Tazewell County Arrest Records

An expunction is the authorized destruction of arrest records on a person’s criminal history and other public records or a return of their records to them by the arresting law enforcement agency. Eligible records can also be sealed meaning they are not publicly available but these records are not destroyed.

Per ILCS 2630/5.2, a person is eligible to petition a circuit court to expunge their records under certain conditions. The statute also specifies that some crimes must complete a statutory waiting period to become eligible for expungement. Some of the eligibility criteria for expungement include the following:

• If the arrest ended in an acquittal
• If the charge was dismissal
• If the petitioner was released without being charged
• If the petitioner’s conviction was vacated or reversed,
• If the petitioner completes an order of supervision
• If the petitioner completes an order of qualified probation
• Juvenile cases (This is done automatically as specified in Section 5-915 of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987)
• If the arrestee successfully petitions for executive clemency (Governor’s pardon).

Examples of offenses that are not eligible for expungement or sealing include the following:

• Arrest records for sex crimes
• Arrest records for violent crimes (e.g. domestic violence, homicide, kidnapping)
• Driving under the Influence (i.e) if it resulted in bodily harm or death
• Traffic offenses (unless the arrestee is under 25 years at the time of the arrest)
• Arrest records for felonies
• Arrest records for new felony convictions if the individual has previously sealed a felony record.

The steps for expungement in Tazewell County include the following:

• The petitioner gets copies of their criminal records including the outcome of the case
• Review your criminal records, choose the case you want expunged, and check if it is eligible for expunction
• Complete the appropriate expunction request to expunge or seal your record
• File your request with the Tazewell County Circuit Clerk’s Office. Filing can be done in person, by mail, or electronically if required and should include a stamped envelope addressed to the petitioner
• Pay the $144.00 filing fee or fill out the Application for Waiver from
• If a court date is fixed by the court, the petitioner must attend the hearing, or else their case will be dismissed
• The Circuit Clerk mails the petitioner a copy of the Order stating whether their request was approved or denied.

Even after the expunction, some government agencies may still have access to these records. These include the military, the Department of Corrections, and law enforcement agencies.

Tazewell County Arrest Warrants

Tazewell County arrest warrants are judge or magistrate-issued orders that authorize law enforcement officers to arrest a named individual suspected of committing a crime. To obtain an arrest warrant, the law enforcement officer submits an affidavit that establishes probable cause that the person broke the law. 725 ILCS 5/107-9 specifies that an arrest warrant must be applied for in writing and should contain the following information:

• The subject's name, sex, and birth date
• The offense
• Issue date of the warrant and municipality or county where issued;
• Signature of the judge issuing the warrant and the title of their office
• Conditions of prerelease
• Jurisdiction of the warrant
• An oath sworn by the complainant (law enforcement officer)
• Limitations of the warrant include the peace officer or private individual authorized to execute the warrant.

Arrest warrants can be issued on an individual for various reasons:

• A criminal offense was committed
• If a person fails to respond to a court summons
• For failing to pay child support
• For breaking probation.

Arrest warrants in Illinois can also be issued electronically or electromagnetically using electronic mail or a fax machine.

Tazewell County Arrest Warrant Search

The Sheriff's Office maintains the Inmates Warrants Lookup tool for interested individuals to find warrants online. Using this resource, a person can find out information, including the arrestee's full name, the warrant ID, the charge, the warrant type, and the bail amount to post for them.

Individuals can also contact the Sheriff's Office in person or by phone to conduct a warrant search. They must have information like the arrestee's name or other case details. It is not encouraged for a person to inquire about their warrant in person as they may be arrested on the spot if they have an active warrant.

Tazewell County Sheriff's Office
101 South Capitol Street
Pekin, IL 61554
Dispatch: (309) 346-4141
Phone: (309) 477-2250

Do Tazewell County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No. Arrest warrants do not expire in Tazewell County. If an arrest warrant is not executed, quashed, or recalled, the named individual may be arrested at any time. Regardless of their lack of expiration date, factors such as the severity of the crime, recent developments in the case, and the jurisdiction of the warrant can delay the execution of the warrant.