Access Jackson County Police Records
Jackson County police records are managed by the Sheriff's Office on Mulberry Street in Murphysboro. This page explains how to file FOIA requests, check court records, and search law enforcement data throughout the county.
Jackson County Quick Facts
Jackson County Sheriff's Office
The Jackson County Sheriff's Office is at 1001 Mulberry Street in Murphysboro. The administrative line is (618) 687-7292. Deputies patrol the unincorporated areas of the county and assist smaller communities. The sheriff also oversees the county jail and handles court-related duties like transporting inmates and serving legal papers.
Jackson County is the largest county by population on this page, with over 53,000 residents. Carbondale, home to Southern Illinois University, sits within the county. The sheriff's office and the Carbondale Police Department both handle reports, depending on where the incident took place. For incidents in unincorporated areas, go to the sheriff. For incidents in Carbondale or other cities, contact that city's police department.
The Jackson County Sheriff's website is shown here with office details and contact information.
Check this page for current hours, department contacts, and news from the sheriff's office.
| Address | 1001 Mulberry Street, Murphysboro, IL 62966 |
|---|---|
| Admin Phone | (618) 687-7292 |
| Website | jacksoncounty-il.gov/Sheriffs-Office |
FOIA Requests in Jackson County
Jackson County has a dedicated FOIA information page on the county website. The FOIA officer for the sheriff's office is Lt. Shauna Taylor. The Illinois Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140/) gives you the right to request records from any public body. Put your request in writing. Include dates, names, and a case number if you know it.
The Jackson County FOIA page shown below provides details on how to submit requests and what to expect.
Visit this page for forms, fee details, and contact information for the county's FOIA officers.
Fees in Jackson County follow state rules. The first 50 pages of black and white copies are free. After that, each page costs $0.15. Digital copies are charged at actual cost. The agency must respond to your request within five business days. An extension to ten days is allowed for large or complex requests.
Denied requests can be appealed. The agency must tell you which FOIA exemption applies. Open investigations and personal privacy are the most common reasons. Send your appeal to the Illinois Attorney General's Public Access Counselor at no charge. The PAC reviews the denial and issues a binding opinion. Most appeals wrap up in a few weeks. Always keep copies of your request and the agency's response.
Jackson County Circuit Clerk
Christian Hale is the Jackson County Circuit Clerk. The office is at 1001 Walnut Street in Murphysboro, with a mailing address of P.O. Box 730. Call (618) 687-7300 for court record inquiries. Visit the Circuit Clerk's website for case search tools and filing details.
The circuit clerk keeps all court records for criminal, civil, traffic, and family cases. When police make an arrest in Jackson County, the State's Attorney reviews the case and files charges. From that point, the clerk tracks every motion, hearing, bond, plea agreement, and sentencing.
Jackson County is part of the First Judicial Circuit. Cases are heard at the courthouse in Murphysboro. The circuit clerk's office also processes traffic tickets and handles fine payments. For criminal matters, you can look up case status, hearing dates, and disposition information. Court records complement police records by showing what happened after the arrest.
A police report is a snapshot of the incident. The court file is the legal story that follows. If you want to know how a case ended, the circuit clerk is where you go. Together, the two records give you the complete picture.
| Clerk | Christian Hale |
|---|---|
| Address | 1001 Walnut Street, Murphysboro, IL 62966 (P.O. Box 730) |
| Phone | (618) 687-7300 |
| Website | jacksoncoilcircuitclerk.gov |
ISP and Statewide Records
ISP Troop 10 covers Jackson County. Troopers patrol state highways and interstates in the area, including portions of I-57 and Route 13. If a state trooper wrote the report, you need to contact ISP directly. File at isp.illinois.gov/Foia or email ISP.FOIA.Officer@illinois.gov.
Criminal background checks go through the ISP Bureau of Identification in Joliet. The Uniform Conviction Information Act (20 ILCS 2635/) allows only conviction data to be shared with the public. Arrests without convictions are private. The Criminal Identification Act (20 ILCS 2630/) covers the rules for sealing and expunging criminal records in Illinois.
For your own criminal history, visit a Live Scan vendor for fingerprinting. ISP sends you a transcript at no charge. Crash reports from state troopers cost $5.00 each. Pay by check or money order to Illinois State Police. You can also order them through the ISP website.
Types of Police Records
Jackson County agencies keep a wide range of police records. What you can access depends on the incident and which agency responded.
- Incident and offense reports
- Arrest records and booking logs
- Traffic crash reports
- Dispatch and 911 call records
- Court case filings and dispositions
- Warrant information
- SIU campus police reports (separate agency)
Active case files may be partly redacted. Juvenile records are sealed under state law. Witness statements in open investigations are often held back. The ISP Sex Offender Registry is free and covers Jackson County. No FOIA request is needed to search it.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Jackson County in southern Illinois. Each has its own sheriff and court system for police records.