Search Illinois Police Records
Illinois police records are public documents held by law enforcement agencies across the state. The Illinois State Police keeps criminal history files, crash reports, and sex offender data at the state level. County sheriff offices and local police departments hold their own incident reports, arrest records, and case logs. You can request these police records under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act. Search online through the CHIRP system, visit a local sheriff's office, or file a written FOIA request. This guide walks you through each way to find and get police records in Illinois.
Illinois Police Records Quick Facts
Illinois Police Records Through FOIA
The Illinois Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140) gives everyone the right to request police records from any public body in the state. All records are presumed open. The agency has the burden of proving why something should stay sealed. Most FOIA requests for Illinois police records get a response within five business days. The agency can take up to ten days if it needs more time. Commercial requests take up to 21 business days. You do not need to give a reason for your request, and you do not need to be an Illinois resident to ask for police records.
The Illinois State Police is the main state agency for police records. ISP handles FOIA requests through its Springfield office at 801 South 7th Street, Suite 1000-S, Springfield, IL 62703. You can also email your request to ISP.FOIA.Officer@illinois.gov. Sarah Wheeler serves as the current FOIA Officer. ISP offers both a document request form and a video request form on its site, though using the forms is not required.
The ISP FOIA page at isp.illinois.gov/Foia explains how to submit a request for police records in Illinois.
Be specific when you write your request. ISP warns that broad language like "any and all records" may cause delays or a denial due to undue burden.
The ISP homepage at isp.illinois.gov links to all major police record services in Illinois.
Quick links on the site lead to the sex offender registry, crash reports, crime stats, and the FOIA request portal.
Types of Police Records in Illinois
Illinois police records fall into two groups. Some are free to view online right now. Others need a FOIA request. Records you can find online without filing FOIA include the sex offender registry, criminal background check results, traffic crash reports, crime stats, and police accountability data. Records that need a FOIA request include investigative files, field reports, forensic lab case reports, crime scene photos, and training records. Only final approved documents get released. Preliminary drafts, notes, and memos are generally exempt under Section 7(f) of the FOIA law.
ISP lists all the types of police records it holds at isp.illinois.gov/Foia/TypesOfRecords.
Check this page before you submit a request. The record you need may already be online for free.
The FOIA FAQ page at isp.illinois.gov/Foia/FAQ answers common questions about getting police records in Illinois.
It covers fees, payment methods, and response times for police record requests.
Note: If an investigation is still open, police records tied to that case may be withheld until the case closes.
Illinois Criminal History Checks
The Uniform Conviction Information Act (20 ILCS 2635) controls public access to criminal history police records in Illinois. Only conviction data is public. Arrest records that did not lead to a conviction are not open to the public. The ISP Bureau of Identification in Joliet collects and maintains all criminal history records for the state. The bureau holds over five million fingerprint files using its Automated Biometric Identification System.
The Bureau of Identification at isp.illinois.gov/BureauOfIdentification is the central hub for criminal history police records in Illinois.
Contact them at 260 North Chicago Street, Joliet, IL or call 815-740-5160. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Appointments are required.
Background check details are at isp.illinois.gov/BureauOfIdentification/BackgroundChecks.
The UCIA took effect January 1, 1991 and limits public results to convictions only.
CHIRP Name-Based Searches
CHIRP stands for Criminal History Information Response Process. It lets you run name-based criminal history checks without fingerprints. This is quicker than a fingerprint search but may be less precise since it relies on name and date of birth matching. You need to register for an account to use the system. Once you submit a search, you get a Transaction Control Number to retrieve your results later.
Learn about CHIRP at isp.illinois.gov/BureauOfIdentification/NameBased.
Registration and a troubleshooting guide are on this page.
The CHIRP login portal is at chirp.isp.illinois.gov.
Enhanced authentication is required to access this system for criminal history police records.
Review Your Own Police Record in Illinois
The Criminal Identification Act (20 ILCS 2630) gives you the right to see your own full criminal history transcript through the Access and Review process. Visit any Illinois law enforcement facility or licensed fingerprint vendor during business hours. They take your fingerprints and send them to ISP for processing. ISP then mails you a transcript with a Record Challenge form, or a letter saying no record was found. ISP does not charge a fee for this. Fingerprint vendors may charge their own processing fees. If your transcript goes to a facility, you have 45 days to pick it up before it gets destroyed.
Full details on the Access and Review process are at isp.illinois.gov/BureauOfIdentification/MyRecord.
You can challenge errors on your police record using the form included with your results.
The Criminal Identification Act sets the rules for expungement and sealing of police records in Illinois.
For expungement questions, email ISP.Expungement.Unit@illinois.gov.
Illinois Crash Reports
Crash reports are a common type of police record in Illinois. Each driver in an Illinois crash must file a report if the crash caused death or injury, or if property damage exceeds $1,500 when all drivers are insured ($500 if any driver is uninsured). If no officer shows up at the scene, you must file with ISP within 10 days. Online filing is available but only for single vehicle, property-damage-only crashes on interstates or state routes.
The crash report system is at isp.illinois.gov/CrashReports.
You can file a report online or find a local Troop office for desk reports.
To get copies of crash police records by mail, the process is at isp.illinois.gov/CrashReports/Mail.
It costs $5 per report. Pay by check or money order made out to Illinois State Police. Standard requests get a redacted copy. For an unredacted version, you need a subpoena or court order signed by a judge, plus a $20 processing fee.
Sex Offender Registry in Illinois
The Illinois Sex Offender Registry is a free public database of police records maintained by ISP. It includes the Sex Offender Registry, the Murderer and Violent Offender Against Youth Registry, and a Missing Sex Offenders list. You can search by name, address, or area. The Sex Offender Registration Act (730 ILCS 150) requires all convicted sex offenders to register with local law enforcement. ISP extends the registration period by 10 years for non-compliance.
Search the registry at sor.isp.illinois.gov.
Contact ISP.SOR.Unit@illinois.gov for registration questions, or reach out to your local law enforcement agency.
The Sex Offender Registration Act is the law behind this police records database.
A related law, the Murderer and Violent Offender Against Youth Registration Act (730 ILCS 154), covers a separate registry.
Both registries are free to search online through ISP.
Illinois Police Records Fees
Most FOIA requests for police records in Illinois start free. The first 50 pages of black and white copies cost nothing. After that, you pay 15 cents per page. Color copies and non-standard sizes cost more. ISP cannot accept credit or debit cards. You must pay by check or money order made out to Illinois State Police. No documents ship until payment clears. Crash reports cost $5 each. The Access and Review process for your own criminal history has no ISP fee, but the fingerprint vendor may charge a processing fee.
The FOIA statute sets the fee structure for police records across all Illinois agencies.
County sheriff offices follow the same fee rules. Most charge nothing for the first 50 pages.
The Uniform Conviction Information Act governs what criminal history police records can be shared with the public.
Only convictions are public. Arrest records without a conviction stay sealed under this law.
Contact ISP for Police Records
ISP has several contact points for police records. For FOIA requests, email ISP.FOIA.Officer@illinois.gov. For fingerprint and CHIRP questions, email ISP.BOI.Customer.Support@illinois.gov. For expungement, reach ISP.Expungement.Unit@illinois.gov. For subpoenas, use ISP.subpoenas@illinois.gov. The general contact email is ISP.Contact@illinois.gov. You can also call or visit the Springfield headquarters at 801 South 7th Street.
The ISP contact directory at isp.illinois.gov/Home/ContactISP lists every department.
Use this page to find the right email or phone number for your police record request.
ISP reorganized from districts to 10 troops on January 1, 2023. The troop map at isp.illinois.gov/Patrol/TroopMap shows which troop covers your county.
Contact the troop office for your area when you need local ISP police records or crash report help.
Note: County sheriff offices and local police departments are separate from ISP and handle their own FOIA requests for police records.
Browse Illinois Police Records by County
Each county in Illinois has a sheriff's office that keeps its own police records. Pick a county below to find local contact info, FOIA details, and resources for police records in that area.
Police Records in Major Illinois Cities
Residents of major cities can request police records from their local police department or the county sheriff. Pick a city to learn about police records access in that area.