Search Clark County Police Records

Clark County police records are maintained by the Sheriff's Office and Circuit Clerk in Marshall. Below you will find how to request reports, what fees to expect, and where to search for court cases.

Clark County Sheriff's Office Records

The Clark County Sheriff's Office is at 207 N 5th in Marshall, IL 62441. Phone: (217) 826-6393. You can find more details on the Clark County Sheriff's website. The sheriff serves as the primary law enforcement for unincorporated areas of the county.

Police records from the sheriff include incident reports, arrest logs, and crash reports from county roads. To get a copy of a report, you need to file a written FOIA request under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140/). You can mail your request or drop it off at the office in Marshall.

One thing to know about Clark County: a copy of a police report costs $5.00. That is a flat fee set by the sheriff's office. This is separate from the standard FOIA copy charges. So if you want an incident report, expect to pay $5 up front. It is a straightforward fee, and most people find it reasonable for a small county office like this.

The screenshot below shows the Clark County Sheriff's page on the county website.

Visit the Clark County Sheriff's website for department contact details and records information.

The sheriff's page provides the basics you need to submit a records request in Clark County.

Clark County Circuit Clerk Court Records

Ami Shaw is the Clark County Circuit Clerk. The office is at 501 Archer Ave., Marshall, IL 62441. Phone: (217) 826-8311. You can learn more at the Clark County Circuit Clerk website.

The circuit clerk holds court records for criminal cases, civil suits, traffic matters, and family court filings in Clark County. These records are separate from police reports. A court record tracks what happened after charges were filed. It shows the charges, hearings, plea agreements, trial results, and any sentence handed down. If you want to know how a case ended, the circuit clerk is where you look.

The Clark County Circuit Clerk's website is shown in the screenshot below.

Check the Clark County Circuit Clerk page for court record services and contact information.

The clerk's site lists services, office hours, and how to request copies of court documents in Clark County.

Visit the office in person or send a written request for copies. Having a case number speeds things up. Certified copies cost more than standard prints. Ask the clerk's staff about current fees when you call or visit.

Getting Police Records in Clark County

The first step is always figuring out who has the record. County incidents go to the sheriff. City police handle their own calls. State troopers report to ISP. Send your request to the right place on the first try. It saves time.

Write a clear request. Include the full name of the person involved, the date of the incident, and the report number if you have it. If you are not sure of the exact date, give a range. The more detail you include, the easier it is for the Clark County staff to pull the right file. Broad requests that ask for "all records" tend to get delayed or denied as unduly burdensome.

Under state law, the office has five business days to respond to your request. They can extend that to ten days if needed. If they do not respond at all, it counts as a denial. You can then appeal to the Illinois Attorney General's Public Access Counselor. That process is free and fairly straightforward under 5 ILCS 140/.

Remember the $5 report fee for sheriff's office police reports. Beyond that, the standard FOIA copy fees apply: first 50 pages free, then $0.15 per page for black and white. The Criminal Identification Act (20 ILCS 2630/) may block access to some arrest records where no conviction occurred, so not every request results in a full release of all documents.

Illinois State Police Resources for Clark County

ISP Troop 9 covers Clark County. If a state trooper responded to an incident here, the report comes from ISP. Request it through the ISP FOIA page. You can email your request to ISP.FOIA.Officer@illinois.gov or mail it to 801 South 7th Street, Suite 1000-S, Springfield, IL 62703.

Criminal history checks at the state level use the CHIRP system. This is a name-based search that only shows convictions. The Uniform Conviction Information Act (20 ILCS 2635/) governs what comes back. The fee is $16. Arrests without convictions are not included.

The Illinois Sex Offender Registry is free and public. Search by name, address, or county to find registered offenders in Clark County. The registry operates under the Sex Offender Registration Act (730 ILCS 150/).

ISP crash reports from state highways in Clark County cost $5 each. Pay by check or money order made out to the Illinois State Police.

Types of Clark County Police Records

Clark County holds several categories of police records:

• Incident reports from the Sheriff's Office ($5 per copy)
• Arrest records and booking information
• Traffic crash reports from county roads
• Criminal court files from the Circuit Clerk
• Civil and traffic court records
• Sex offender registration data (state level)

Most records are public. There are exceptions. Active investigation files can be withheld. Juvenile records are sealed. Expunged and sealed adult records are not available. If you run into a denial, the office must tell you why in writing. You have the right to appeal through the Illinois Attorney General.

Cities in Clark County

Marshall is the county seat and the largest city in Clark County. Other communities include Martinsville, Casey, and Westfield. Some of these towns have their own police departments. For unincorporated areas, the Clark County Sheriff provides law enforcement. All court cases in the county go through the Circuit Clerk in Marshall.

Nearby Counties

Clark County sits along the Indiana border in eastern Illinois. These neighboring counties each handle their own police records.