Search Joliet Police Records

Police records in Joliet are kept by two main agencies: the Joliet Police Department and the Will County Sheriff's Office. Which one you contact depends on where the incident took place. Events inside Joliet city limits go through Joliet PD. Incidents outside the city but within Joliet Township fall under the Will County Sheriff. This is a key distinction that catches many people off guard. This page covers how to request records from both agencies and explains the FOIA process, fees, and where to get criminal background data.

Will County and Joliet Police Records

Joliet is the county seat of Will County. The Will County Sheriff's Office sits at 14 W Jefferson Street, Joliet, IL 60432. You can learn more on the Will County Sheriff website. The sheriff covers unincorporated Will County and provides court security.

This is where it gets confusing. The Joliet PD and the Will County Sheriff are two completely separate agencies. They share the same city, but they keep different records. A police report from inside Joliet city limits belongs to Joliet PD. A report from an unincorporated area near Joliet belongs to the sheriff. You need to know which agency responded to the call before you file your request.

The Will County Circuit Clerk handles court records for criminal cases in the county. If someone was arrested in Joliet and charged, the case file ends up with the circuit clerk. That is a third place you might need to look, depending on what you are after.

How to Request Records from Joliet PD

Joliet PD accepts FOIA requests several ways. You can go in person. You can send a letter. Fax works. Email works too. The Illinois Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140/) requires the city to respond within five business days. They can extend to ten if things are complicated.

Put your request in writing. Include your name, contact info, and a detailed description of what records you want. Dates matter. Addresses matter. Names of the people involved matter. If you have a case number, include that. The department handles a high volume of requests, so being specific helps them find your records faster.

The screenshot below shows the Illinois State Police homepage, which links to FOIA resources that apply to all agencies in the state, including Joliet.

Remember that Joliet PD is separate from the Will County Sheriff. A request sent to one agency will not pull records from the other. If you are not sure who handled the call, you may want to contact both.

Fees and Timelines

The first 50 pages are free. State law sets this. After 50 pages, copies run $0.15 each for black and white. Color copies cost more. Payment goes by check or money order. Joliet PD does not accept credit cards for FOIA requests.

There is no charge to file a request. You pay only when records are ready. The city will tell you the cost before releasing anything. If the total is more than you expected, you can narrow your request to bring the cost down.

Most routine requests get turned around within a week. Larger requests or records that need legal review take longer. If the city denies your request, the denial must be in writing and must cite the specific FOIA exemption. You can appeal to the Illinois Attorney General.

Criminal Background Checks in Joliet

For criminal history, go to the state. The Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification is right here in Joliet at 260 North Chicago Street. Call (815) 740-5160. This office runs criminal background checks for the entire state.

Public access to criminal records is limited under the Uniform Conviction Information Act (20 ILCS 2635/). Only convictions are shared. Arrest records without a conviction are sealed. The Criminal Identification Act (20 ILCS 2630/) lays out who gets access and under what terms.

Use CHIRP for name-based checks. Fingerprint checks require a Live Scan vendor. Results go through the Bureau of Identification. Want your own record? The Access and Review process is free through ISP. Use it to check what shows up before someone else does.

Illinois State Police in Joliet

ISP Troop 3 covers Will County and the Joliet area. Troopers patrol I-80, I-55, and Route 53 near Joliet. If a state trooper took the report, it goes to ISP, not Joliet PD.

Joliet has a unique connection to the ISP since the Bureau of Identification is located in the city. But the BOI handles criminal history data, not patrol reports. For crash reports from state troopers, go to isp.illinois.gov/CrashReports. Each report costs $5. Mail orders go to 801 South 7th Street, Suite 600-M, Springfield, IL 62703.

FOIA Officer Sarah Wheeler handles other ISP record requests. Reach her at ISP.FOIA.Officer@illinois.gov. The ISP office is at 801 South 7th Street, Springfield, IL 62703. Standard fees apply. First 50 pages free, $0.15 per page after that, check or money order only.

Nearby Cities

These cities near Joliet have their own police departments and FOIA processes. Select one for details.