St. Clair County Public Records / St. Clair County Arrest Records

St. Clair County Arrest Records

Are Arrest Records Public in St. Clair County

Arrest records in St. Clair County, Illinois, are generally accessible to members of the public under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), codified at 5 ILCS 140. Under current law, law enforcement agencies are required to make certain records available upon written request, including basic arrest information such as the name of the person arrested, the time and location of the arrest, and the charges filed. The St. Clair County Illinois government administers public records access through multiple county offices, including the Sheriff's Office and the Circuit Clerk.

It is important to distinguish between an arrest record and a conviction record. An arrest record documents that an individual was taken into custody by law enforcement; it does not indicate guilt or a finding of criminal liability. A conviction record, by contrast, reflects a formal judicial determination of guilt following a plea or trial. Under 5 ILCS 140/7, certain information within arrest records may be withheld if disclosure would interfere with an ongoing investigation or endanger a witness. Members of the public seeking arrest records should be aware that juvenile arrest records are subject to additional confidentiality protections under Illinois law.

What's in St. Clair County Arrest Records

A standard arrest record maintained by St. Clair County law enforcement agencies contains multiple categories of documented information. The specific contents may vary depending on the arresting agency and the nature of the incident.

Arrestee Identifying Information:

Full legal name and known aliases
Date of birth and age at time of arrest
Physical description, including height, weight, hair color, and eye color
Race and gender
Last known residential address

Arrest Details:

Date, time, and location of the arrest
Name and badge number of the arresting officer
Arresting agency (e.g., St. Clair County Sheriff's Office, Belleville Police Department)
Circumstances and narrative summary of the arrest

Charge Information:

Specific criminal charges filed, including Illinois statute references
Classification of each charge (felony, misdemeanor, or petty offense)
Case or incident report number

Warrant Information (if applicable):

Warrant number and issuing court
Date warrant was issued
Jurisdiction of the warrant

Booking Information:

Booking number and date
Facility where the individual was processed
Fingerprint and photograph (mugshot) notation

Bond/Bail Information:

Bond type (personal recognizance, cash, or surety)
Bond amount set by the court
Bond conditions, if any

Court Information:

Assigned court case number
Scheduled court appearance dates
Presiding judge or division assignment within the 20th Judicial Circuit Court

Custody Status:

Current custody status (held, released, transferred)
Facility of detention, if applicable
Release date and conditions of release

Additional Information May Include:

Prior arrest history referenced in the booking record
Detainer or hold notices from other jurisdictions
Notation of any protective orders in effect

How To Look Up Arrest Records in St. Clair County in 2026

Members of the public may obtain arrest records in St. Clair County through several official channels. Requests should be submitted in writing and directed to the appropriate custodial agency.

St. Clair County Sheriff's Office: Submit a written FOIA request to the Sheriff's Office Records Division. Requests may be submitted in person, by mail, or by email. The requester should include the full name of the subject, date of birth, and approximate date of arrest to facilitate the search.
Belleville Police Department: For arrests made within the City of Belleville, requests are directed to the Belleville Police Department Records Unit.
St. Clair County Circuit Clerk's Office: Court-related arrest and case records are maintained by the Circuit Clerk. Members of the public may inspect available records at the public counter during regular business hours.
Illinois State Police (ISP): Statewide criminal history records, which include arrest data, are maintained by the ISP Bureau of Identification. Requests for certified criminal history transcripts require submission of a completed form and applicable fee.

Fees for copies of records are governed by 5 ILCS 140/6, which permits agencies to charge actual costs for reproduction. Agencies are required to respond to FOIA requests within five business days of receipt.

St. Clair County Sheriff's Office 311 N. Seventh St., Belleville, IL 62220 (618) 277-3505 St. Clair County Sheriff's Office

St. Clair County Circuit Clerk's Office 10 Public Square, Belleville, IL 62220 (618) 277-6900 Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. St. Clair County Circuit Clerk

Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification 260 N. Chicago St., Joliet, IL 60432 (815) 740-5160 Illinois State Police

How To Find St. Clair County Arrest Records Online

Several official online platforms currently provide access to arrest-related information for St. Clair County.

St. Clair County Official Website: The St. Clair County government portal provides links to county departments, including the Sheriff's Office and Circuit Clerk, where online records access tools may be available.
Illinois Courts Online: Case information, including charges arising from arrests, may be searched through the Illinois Courts public access portal at illinoiscourts.gov. The St. Clair County Courthouse directory provides direct links to court calendars and case information.
Illinois Department of Corrections Inmate Search: Members of the public may search for individuals currently in state custody through the IDOC individuals in custody search, which reflects transfers from county jail to state correctional facilities following sentencing.
Illinois State Police Sex Offender Registry: The Illinois sex offender and violent offender registry maintained by the Illinois State Police provides searchable public information on registered offenders, including those with St. Clair County addresses.
ISP News Releases: The Illinois State Police news releases page publishes press releases related to significant arrests and investigations, including those involving St. Clair County.

How To Search St. Clair County Arrest Records for Free?

Members of the public may access certain arrest record information at no cost through the following methods.

In-Person Inspection at the Circuit Clerk's Office: Under 5 ILCS 140/3, members of the public have the right to inspect public records without charge. Visiting the Circuit Clerk's public counter at 10 Public Square, Belleville, IL 62220, during business hours allows inspection of court case records linked to arrests at no cost.
Illinois Courts Case Search Portal: The Illinois Courts online case search tool provides free access to case numbers, charge descriptions, and court dates associated with arrests processed through the St. Clair County court system.
IDOC Inmate Search: The Illinois Department of Corrections provides free online searches for individuals currently in state custody, accessible through the IDOC inmate search tool.
ISP Offender Registry: The Illinois State Police offender registry is freely accessible online and includes registration information for qualifying offenders residing in St. Clair County.
Sheriff's Office Jail Roster: The St. Clair County Sheriff's Office may maintain a publicly accessible jail roster on its website, listing individuals currently held in the county detention facility.

How To Delete Arrest Records in St. Clair County

Illinois law provides two primary legal mechanisms for limiting public access to arrest records: expungement and sealing. These are distinct legal remedies with different eligibility requirements and effects.

Expungement results in the physical destruction or obliteration of arrest records, removing them from law enforcement databases. Sealing restricts public access to records without destroying them; sealed records remain accessible to law enforcement and certain licensing agencies but are not available to the general public or most employers.

Eligibility for expungement or sealing is governed by the Illinois Criminal Identification Act, 20 ILCS 2630/5.2. Under current law, the following circumstances may qualify an individual for expungement:

Arrests that did not result in charges being filed
Charges that were dismissed or resulted in acquittal
Arrests where the individual successfully completed a qualified supervision or diversion program
Certain misdemeanor and felony convictions after the required waiting period, subject to offense-specific restrictions

The process for seeking expungement or sealing in St. Clair County involves the following steps:

Obtain a copy of the individual's criminal history from the Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification to identify all eligible records.
Complete the Illinois State Police Expungement/Sealing Petition forms, available through the ISP or the Circuit Clerk's Office.
File the completed petition with the St. Clair County Circuit Clerk's Office at 10 Public Square, Belleville, IL 62220, along with the applicable filing fee (fee waivers may be available for qualifying individuals).
Serve copies of the petition on all relevant agencies, including the arresting agency and the State's Attorney's Office.
Attend the scheduled court hearing before a judge of the 20th Judicial Circuit Court.
If the petition is granted, the court order is transmitted to all relevant agencies for compliance.

The Illinois Legal Aid Online platform and the St. Clair County State's Attorney's Office provide additional guidance on eligibility and procedures.

St. Clair County State's Attorney's Office 10 Public Square, Belleville, IL 62220 (618) 277-4872 St. Clair County State's Attorney

What Happens After Arrest in St. Clair County?

The criminal justice process in St. Clair County follows a structured sequence from the point of arrest through final case disposition.

Arrest and Booking: Following an arrest, the individual is transported to the St. Clair County Jail for booking. Booking involves recording personal information, photographing, fingerprinting, and entering charges into the law enforcement database.
Initial Appearance: Within 48 hours of arrest, the individual is brought before a judge of the 20th Judicial Circuit Court for an initial appearance. The judge advises the individual of the charges and sets bond conditions.
Preliminary Hearing or Grand Jury: For felony charges, the State's Attorney's Office presents evidence at a preliminary hearing or before a grand jury to establish probable cause for prosecution.
Arraignment: The defendant formally enters a plea of guilty, not guilty, or no contest before the assigned judge.
Pre-Trial Proceedings: Both parties engage in discovery, motions practice, and potential plea negotiations.
Trial or Plea Disposition: The case is resolved through a jury or bench trial, or through a negotiated guilty plea.
Sentencing: Upon conviction, the court imposes a sentence in accordance with Illinois sentencing guidelines. Individuals sentenced to state prison are transferred to the Illinois Department of Corrections, and their custody status becomes searchable through the IDOC individuals in custody database.

How Long Are Arrest Records Kept in St. Clair County?

Retention periods for arrest records in St. Clair County are governed by state law and applicable records retention schedules. Under the Illinois Local Records Act, 50 ILCS 205, local government agencies, including law enforcement, are required to maintain records in accordance with schedules approved by the Local Records Commission.

Arrest records resulting in conviction are generally retained permanently or for extended periods, as they form part of the official criminal history.
Arrest records not resulting in conviction may be subject to shorter retention periods, though they are typically maintained for a minimum of several years pending any legal proceedings or appeals.
Fingerprint cards and booking photographs are retained by the Illinois State Police as part of the statewide criminal history repository, often indefinitely unless expunged by court order.
Different agencies maintain separate retention schedules: the Sheriff's Office, the Circuit Clerk, and the Illinois State Police each operate under distinct retention requirements.
Records retention serves the dual purpose of preserving evidence for potential future proceedings and maintaining accountability within the criminal justice system.

Members of the public seeking information on specific retention schedules may submit inquiries to the St. Clair County Records Management Office or the Illinois State Archives.

How to Find Mugshots in St. Clair County

What Mugshots Are A mugshot is a standardized photographic record taken at the time of booking, capturing the front and profile views of an arrested individual. Mugshots are created as part of the official booking process and constitute a component of the arrest record.

Where Mugshots Are Maintained Mugshots taken in St. Clair County are maintained by the St. Clair County Sheriff's Office Jail Division, the arresting municipal police department, and the Illinois State Police criminal history repository. Digital copies are stored within law enforcement records management systems.

Finding Mugshots Members of the public may request mugshots through a written FOIA request submitted to the St. Clair County Sheriff's Office or the relevant municipal police department. Requests should identify the subject by full name, date of birth, and approximate date of arrest.

Can They Be Found Online At present, St. Clair County does not operate a publicly accessible online mugshot database through official government channels. Third-party commercial websites may publish mugshots obtained from public records, though the accuracy and currency of such information cannot be verified by government agencies.

Obtaining Mugshots Officially Official copies of booking photographs may be obtained by submitting a FOIA request to:

St. Clair County Sheriff's Office Records Division 311 N. Seventh St., Belleville, IL 62220 (618) 277-3505 Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. St. Clair County Sheriff's Office

Restrictions on Mugshot Access Mugshots of juvenile arrestees are confidential under Illinois law and are not subject to public disclosure. Additionally, if a court has granted an expungement order under 20 ILCS 2630/5.2, the associated booking photograph must be destroyed or returned to the subject in accordance with the order. Law enforcement agencies retain discretion to withhold mugshots when release would compromise an active investigation.