Fulton County Police Records
Fulton County police records are kept by the Sheriff's Office on West Washington Avenue in Lewistown. This page covers how to file FOIA requests, search court case data, and find law enforcement records in the county.
Fulton County Quick Facts
Fulton County Sheriff's Office
The Fulton County Sheriff's Office is at 268 W. Washington Avenue in Lewistown. The mailing address is P.O. Box 269, Lewistown, IL 61542. Call (309) 547-2277 or email sheriff@fultonco.org to reach the office. Deputies patrol the rural areas and handle calls outside city limits. The sheriff also manages the county jail.
To get a police report, you must file a written FOIA request. The Illinois Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140/) gives you the right to request records from any public body in the state. Put your request in writing. Include the date, names, location, and a case number if you have one. The more specific you are, the faster staff can locate the records. You can mail, email, or drop off your request in person.
The Fulton County Sheriff's website provides contact details and staff information for the department.
Visit the site for current hours and to confirm the best method for submitting records requests to the sheriff.
| Address | 268 W. Washington Avenue, P.O. Box 269, Lewistown, IL 61542 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (309) 547-2277 |
| sheriff@fultonco.org | |
| Website | fultoncountyil.gov/sheriff |
FOIA Rules and Fees in Fulton County
Every agency in Fulton County must follow the same FOIA rules. Write your request. Be specific. Give dates and names. The agency gets five business days to respond. An extension to ten days is allowed for large or complex requests. The response will either include the records, state the cost, or explain why the request was denied.
Copy fees come from state law. The first 50 pages of black and white copies are free. Each page after that costs $0.15 for standard sizes. Digital copies on CD or DVD are generally under a dollar per disc. Certified copies and special formats may cost more. You can ask for a fee waiver if the records serve the public interest. The agency decides, but asking is always worth a try.
If your FOIA request is denied, the agency must cite the specific exemption. Open investigations, personal privacy, and law enforcement safety are common reasons. Appeal any denial to the Illinois Attorney General's Public Access Counselor. It costs nothing to file an appeal. The PAC issues a binding opinion, and the process usually takes a few weeks. Keep all correspondence. It matters if you need to take the next step.
Fulton County Circuit Clerk
Charlene Markley is the Fulton County Circuit Clerk. Her office is at 100 N. Main Street in Lewistown. Call (309) 547-3041 ext. 206 or email cmarkley@9thjudicial.org for court record questions. The Circuit Clerk's website has details about filing and case searches.
The Fulton County Circuit Clerk's page is shown below with information about the office and court services.
Use this resource to find case numbers, hearing schedules, and criminal case dispositions.
The circuit clerk holds all court files. When police make an arrest in Fulton County, the State's Attorney reviews the case and files charges if warranted. From there, the circuit clerk tracks every motion, hearing, plea, and sentencing. Fulton County is part of the Ninth Judicial Circuit. Cases are heard at the courthouse in Lewistown.
Police reports and court records go hand in hand. The police report covers what happened. The court file shows what the justice system did about it. For a complete view, contact both the sheriff and the circuit clerk.
| Clerk | Charlene Markley |
|---|---|
| Address | 100 N. Main Street, Lewistown, IL 61542 |
| Phone | (309) 547-3041 ext. 206 |
| cmarkley@9thjudicial.org | |
| Website | fultoncountyil.gov/circuit-clerk |
ISP and Statewide Records
ISP Troop 4 covers Fulton County. State troopers patrol the highways and state routes in the area. If a trooper wrote the report, you need to go through ISP. File at isp.illinois.gov/Foia or email ISP.FOIA.Officer@illinois.gov. The county sheriff cannot provide state police reports.
Criminal history checks use the ISP Bureau of Identification in Joliet. The Uniform Conviction Information Act (20 ILCS 2635/) limits public access to conviction records only. Arrests without convictions stay private. The Criminal Identification Act (20 ILCS 2630/) outlines the process for sealing and expunging criminal records.
Want your own criminal history? Go to a Live Scan vendor for fingerprinting. ISP sends the transcript to you at no charge. Crash reports from state police cost $5.00. Pay by check or money order to Illinois State Police.
Available Police Record Types
Fulton County law enforcement agencies keep multiple types of records. The kind you need depends on the incident and the responding agency.
- Incident and offense reports
- Arrest records and booking logs
- Traffic crash reports
- Dispatch and call logs
- Court filings and case dispositions
- Active warrant lists
Some records have restrictions. Active case files may be partly withheld. Juvenile records are sealed under state law. Witness statements in open investigations are often redacted. The ISP Sex Offender Registry is free and covers Fulton County. No FOIA request is needed to search it.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Fulton County in west-central Illinois. Each has its own sheriff and court system for police records.