Woodford County Arrest Records

An arrest record is an official document detailing an arrest made by a Woodford County law enforcement agency, including any related detention or confinement and the resulting charge. Within 3 days of an arrest, the Woodford County Sheriff's Office provides publicly accessible information on the arrestee, charges, arrest location, date, arresting agency's name, and incarceration details. The Sheriff's Office also forwards these details to the court handling the case, ensuring their inclusion in Woodford County court records.

Are Arrest Records Public in Woodford County?

Yes. The Illinois Freedom of Information Act mandates that all law enforcement agencies in Illinois make arrest records publicly available within 72 hours of an arrest. Consequently, anyone can request these records online or in person at the Woodford County Sheriff's Office. However, this agency may withhold certain information if disclosing it would:

• Interfere with pending criminal proceedings.
• Compromise the security of any correctional facility.
• Endanger the life or physical safety of anyone, including law enforcement officers.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Public arrest records maintained by the county's law enforcement agencies typically contain the following information:

• The arrestee's mugshot, name, gender, date of birth, height, weight, race, hair and eye colors, skin tone, build, and nationality.
• Charges (code, description, type, disposition, case number, OTN number, and offense date)
• Bond agency, type, amount, and status
• Incarceration information (building, pod, cell, bed, booking date, release date, and arresting agency)
• Court information (court's name, date and time, room, and hearing type)

Woodford County Arrest Statistics

The Illinois Uniform Crime Reporting (I-UCR) Program serves as the state's repository for arrest statistics from law enforcement agencies. According to the I-UCR Program's NIBRS Arrest Trend Analysis, Woodford County reported approximately 451 arrests as of October 2024, including about 157 Group A arrests and 294 Group B arrests.

Find Woodford County Arrest Records

Woodford County arrest records can be found online or in person at the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC). The IDOC makes its records publicly available through its Individual in Custody Search portal. The search criteria for using this portal are the offender's last name, IDOC number, and birth date. Individuals may also visit any IDOC facility across the state to obtain copies of arrest records.

Record seekers can also visit federal law enforcement agencies to obtain Woodford County arrest records. However, not all agencies make their records available to members of the public. For example, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) only issues its arrest records online, by mail, or through approved channelers to subjects of records for a fee of $18. Other agencies like the United States Capitol Police (USCP), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) have online databases where anyone can view arrest records without charges.

Free Arrest Record Search in Woodford County

The Woodford County Sheriff's Office Corrections Division publishes the arrest information of current and past inmates on its Online Portal. Users can enter the offender's first or last name into the search box or scroll through the available list of names to locate the record of interest.

Additionally, some third-party websites offer free arrest record searches. While these sites typically only provide limited information at no cost, users are typically required to pay a small fee for a more detailed report.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

In Woodford County, an arrest remains on a person's record indefinitely. However, the record can be physically destroyed through the expungement process, provided the arrest meets all the criteria for expungement.

Expunge Woodford County Arrest Records

Under 20 ILCS 2630/5.2(E), an expungement involves the physical destruction of arrest records, the return of such records to the petitioner, and the removal of the petitioner's name from any official index or public record. An individual may be eligible for expungement if the arrest resulted in:

• A conviction that was vacated or reversed
• An acquittal, dismissal, or release without charging
• An order of supervision and probation, which the petitioner has successfully completed

To request an expungement, eligible individuals must file a Request to Expunge & Impound and/or Seal Criminal Records Form with the Woodford County Clerk of the Court and a filing fee of $124. The Clerk will distribute copies of the expungement request to all law enforcement agencies holding arrest records. These agencies have 60 days to object. If a judge grants the request, they will sign the Order To Expunge & Impound and/or Seal Criminal Records Form. The Clerk will send copies of the order to the Illinois State Police, the petitioner, the arresting agency, the relevant local government's chief legal officer, the State's Attorney or prosecutor, and other criminal justice agencies. Each agency must remove the petitioner's arrest records from its database within 60 days.

Woodford County Arrest Warrants

Under 725 ILCS 5/107-1, an arrest warrant is a written order from a court directing an officer to arrest a person. Warrants are issued only after a complaint alleges that an offense was committed and identifies the person believed to have committed it (725 ILCS 5/107-9). An arrest warrant typically includes:

• The specific name, sex, and date of birth of the defendant (or any known identifying description)
• A description of the offense
• The date and county of issuance
• The judge's signature and official title
• An order for law enforcement to arrest the defendant and bring them before the court

The primary method to check for any active arrest warrant in Woodford County is to contact the Sheriff's Office, which maintains and serves warrants. Individuals can also consult the local Circuit Clerk's Office, as warrants originate from court orders. The Clerk may also provide an online database or in-person records search options. For statewide information, contact the Illinois State Police or send its Records Division a Freedom of Information Act request containing details of the individual for whom there might be an active warrant.

Do Woodford County Arrest Warrants Expire?

In Woodford County, arrest warrants do not have an expiration date. This means they can remain active indefinitely until the defendant is arrested or they turn themselves in to address the warrant. An unexecuted arrest warrant will remain valid regardless of the time that has passed.