Effingham County Police Records Lookup

Effingham County police records are maintained by the Sheriff's Office at 101 N. 4th Street in Effingham. This page walks through how to request reports, look up court case data, and access records from law enforcement in the county.

Effingham County Sheriff's Office

The Effingham County Sheriff's Office is at 101 N. 4th Street, Suite 101, in Effingham. Call (217) 342-2101 to reach the office. Deputies handle law enforcement in the unincorporated areas and run the county jail. The sheriff also assists with serving court papers and transporting inmates.

Police records from the sheriff are public under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140/). To get a report, submit a written FOIA request. You can email your request to foia@effinghamcountyil.gov. The county also has a downloadable FOIA Request Form on the county website. Include the date, names, and any case number you have. The more detail, the faster the turnaround.

The Effingham County Sheriff's Office website is shown here, which provides contact details and department news.

Check this site for current hours, staff contacts, and any updates to the FOIA process.

FOIA Fees and Process

Effingham County follows state FOIA fee rules with some specifics worth knowing. The first 50 pages of black and white copies are free. After that, pages are $0.15 each. A copy on DVD or CD costs $0.75 per disc. Certified mail costs $8.15 if you want records sent that way. These fees are spelled out on the county website.

Agencies must respond within five business days. They can extend to ten days for large or complex requests. If the agency denies your request, they must cite a specific exemption from the FOIA law. Open investigations and personal privacy are the most common reasons for denial.

You have the right to appeal any denial. Send your appeal to the Illinois Attorney General's Public Access Counselor. The process is free and the PAC issues a binding opinion. If the denial was wrong, the PAC can order the agency to hand over the records. The appeal usually wraps up in a few weeks, though complicated cases take longer. Keep a copy of your original request and the denial letter for the appeal.

Effingham County Circuit Clerk

Tammy Kreke is the Effingham County Circuit Clerk. Her office is at 120 W. Jefferson Avenue, Suite 101, in Effingham. Call (217) 342-4065 for court record questions. Visit the Circuit Clerk's website for more information about case lookups and filing procedures.

The Circuit Clerk's online presence is shown below, which has details about accessing court records tied to police cases in the county.

Use this resource to find case numbers, hearing dates, and disposition information for criminal matters in Effingham County.

The circuit clerk holds all court files. After police arrest someone in Effingham County, the State's Attorney reviews the evidence and decides on charges. Once charges are filed, the case enters the court system. The clerk tracks filings, plea agreements, trial outcomes, and sentencing. Effingham County is part of the Fourth Judicial Circuit. Criminal cases are heard at the courthouse in Effingham.

Court records and police records tell different parts of the same story. The police report covers what happened at the scene. The court file shows what came next. If you want the full picture, request records from both the sheriff and the circuit clerk.

State Police Records for Effingham County

ISP Troop 9 patrols Effingham County. State troopers cover the interstates and state highways in the area, including the busy I-57 and I-70 interchange. If a state trooper wrote the report, the request must go to ISP. File at isp.illinois.gov/Foia or email ISP.FOIA.Officer@illinois.gov.

Criminal background checks run through the ISP Bureau of Identification. The Uniform Conviction Information Act (20 ILCS 2635/) allows only conviction data to be released to the public. Arrest records that did not lead to a conviction stay sealed. The Criminal Identification Act (20 ILCS 2630/) sets the rules for sealing and expunging records in Illinois.

For your own criminal history, visit a Live Scan vendor for fingerprinting. ISP sends the transcript to you free of charge. Crash reports from ISP cost $5.00 each. Pay by check or money order made out to Illinois State Police.

Available Record Types

Effingham County agencies hold several types of police records. The kind you need depends on the incident and which agency responded.

• Incident and offense reports
• Arrest records and booking information
• Traffic crash reports
• Dispatch logs and 911 call records
• Court filings and case dispositions
• Warrant information

Active case files may be partly redacted. Juvenile records stay sealed by state law. The ISP Sex Offender Registry is a free public tool that covers Effingham County. No FOIA request needed.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Effingham County in south-central Illinois. Each handles police records through its own sheriff and court system.