Aurora Police Records Search

Police records in Aurora come from the Aurora Police Department and the Kane County Sheriff's Office. Aurora is the second-largest city in Illinois and sits across three counties, though most of the city falls in Kane County. Getting police records here depends on which agency handled the call. The Aurora PD covers incidents within city limits. The Kane County Sheriff handles cases in unincorporated areas around the city. This page walks through both routes and explains how to use the FOIA process to get the records you need.

Kane County and Aurora Police Records

Aurora mostly sits in Kane County, though parts of the city extend into DuPage and Will counties. For most police record requests, Kane County is the main county you will deal with. The Kane County Sheriff is at 37W755 Route 38, St. Charles, IL 60175. You can reach them at (630) 232-8400.

The Kane County Circuit Clerk handles court records tied to criminal cases that come out of Aurora arrests. Their office is at 540 South Randall Road, St. Charles, IL 60174. The Kane County Circuit Clerk website has an online case search tool. This can help you find case numbers and court dates, but it will not give you the actual police report.

If the incident took place in the DuPage or Will County portions of Aurora, you may need to contact those counties instead. But the vast majority of Aurora falls under Kane County jurisdiction. Start there unless you know the address was on the DuPage or Will side.

How to Get Police Reports from Aurora PD

The Aurora Police Department has a records counter in the lobby. It is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. You can walk in and ask for a copy of your report. For most requests, though, you will need to file through FOIA.

The Illinois Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140/) gives the city five business days to respond. The City of Aurora processes police report requests through its FOIA system. You can find details on the Aurora Police records page. This page explains what you need to include in your request and where to send it.

The screenshot below shows Aurora's police records request page.

When you submit your request, include your full name, a phone number or email, and a clear description of the record you want. A case number or report number speeds things up. If you do not have one, give the date, location, and names involved. Vague requests slow the process down and may get pushed back.

FOIA Process and Fees

Under Illinois FOIA, the first 50 pages of records are free. After that, copies cost $0.15 per page for black and white. Color copies cost more. The City of Aurora accepts payment by check or money order. No credit cards for FOIA fees.

Commercial requests must be disclosed. If you are making a request for a business purpose, say so when you file. This is a state rule, not just an Aurora thing. Failing to disclose commercial use can lead to fines.

Response time is five business days. The city can extend that to ten if they need more time. If they deny your request, you have the right to appeal. The denial letter will tell you how. You can also file a complaint with the Illinois Attorney General's Public Access Counselor if you think the denial was wrong.

One thing to note is that Aurora PD keeps its own records. The Kane County Sheriff keeps separate records. A request to one will not get you files from the other. If you are not sure which agency responded to the incident, try both.

Criminal Background Checks

Aurora PD does not run background checks for the public. Those go through the Illinois State Police. The ISP Bureau of Identification at 260 North Chicago Street, Joliet, IL handles all criminal history requests under the Uniform Conviction Information Act (20 ILCS 2635/).

Use CHIRP for name-based conviction checks. This is the state's online portal. You need to register an account. For fingerprint-based checks, go through a Live Scan vendor. Several are located in the Aurora area.

Only conviction data is public. The Criminal Identification Act (20 ILCS 2630/) limits what can be shared. Arrests that did not result in conviction are kept private. If you want to see your own record, the ISP Access and Review process is free.

State Police Coverage

ISP Troop 3 patrols state roads and highways near Aurora. If a state trooper wrote the report, it belongs to ISP, not Aurora PD. This happens most with crash reports on I-88 or Route 59.

ISP crash reports cost $5 each. Order at isp.illinois.gov/CrashReports or mail a check to the Patrol Records Unit, 801 South 7th Street, Suite 600-M, Springfield, IL 62703. For non-crash ISP records, contact FOIA Officer Sarah Wheeler at ISP.FOIA.Officer@illinois.gov. Standard FOIA rules apply. First 50 pages free, $0.15 per page after, check or money order only.

Nearby Cities

These cities near Aurora have their own police departments. Select one to learn about police records in that area.