Union County Police Records

Union County police records come from the Sheriff's Office in Jonesboro. This page covers how to request reports, look up court cases, and use state tools for records in Union County.

Union County Sheriff Police Records

The Union County Sheriff's Office is at 210 W. Market Street, Jonesboro, IL 62952. The phone number is (618) 833-5500. The sheriff handles all law enforcement outside of incorporated towns in the county. With a population under 17,000, Union County is small. The sheriff's office manages a modest caseload but still follows the same state laws as every other county in Illinois.

To get police records from the sheriff, you need to file a FOIA request. Put your request in writing. Include the date of the incident, names of people involved, and the type of report you want. A case number helps if you have one. The Illinois Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140/) gives you the right to access public records. The sheriff has five business days to respond. That can stretch to ten if they need more time.

Union County handles FOIA through the State's Attorney's Office. The contact for FOIA requests is the State's Attorney at rhawk@unioncountyil.gov. The mailing address is 309 West Market Room 239, Jonesboro, IL 62952. Send your written request there. This setup is common in smaller Illinois counties where the state's attorney also serves as the FOIA officer for multiple county departments.

Fees follow state guidelines. The first 50 pages of black and white copies are free. Pages beyond that cost $0.15 each. Color copies run higher. Electronic records sent via email may be free, but check with the office first. If the records you want are not available, you will get a written denial letter citing the specific exemption under state law.

Union County Circuit Clerk Records

Keri Clark is the Union County Circuit Clerk. The office is at 309 West Market Street, Room 101, Jonesboro, IL 62952. Phone: (618) 833-5913. The circuit clerk keeps all court records for the county, including criminal cases, civil filings, traffic violations, and small claims.

Court records are different from police reports. A police report describes what happened at the scene. A court record tracks what happened after charges were filed. It shows the charges, court dates, plea agreements, trial outcomes, and sentencing. If someone was arrested and prosecuted in Union County, the case file is at the circuit clerk's office.

To get copies of court records, visit the office in person or send a written request. Bring a case number if you have one. The clerk can search by name too, but a case number makes it faster. Certified copies cost more than regular ones. If you need a record for legal purposes, get it certified.

Union County is part of the 1st Judicial Circuit. This circuit covers several counties in southern Illinois. Judges may hear cases across multiple counties in the circuit, but the clerk in each county keeps its own records.

How to Get Police Records in Union County

Start by figuring out who has the record. If a sheriff's deputy responded to the call, the report is with the sheriff. If it was a state trooper, the report is with the Illinois State Police. Small town police departments in Union County keep their own records for calls within their limits.

Write a clear request. State exactly what you want. Give names, dates, and locations. Do not ask for "any and all records" because agencies can deny broad requests as unduly burdensome. The more specific your request, the better your chances of getting what you need on the first try.

Under the Criminal Identification Act (20 ILCS 2630/), some records are not public. Arrest records that did not lead to a conviction can be restricted. Sealed and expunged records are off limits. Juvenile records are generally not available to the public. The FOIA officer will tell you in writing if any part of your request is denied and cite the legal reason.

The Illinois Sex Offender Registry is one resource that does not require a FOIA request. The screenshot below shows the state registry search page maintained by the Illinois State Police.

You can search the Illinois Sex Offender Registry to find registered offenders in Union County.

This free tool lets you look up offenders by name, address, or zip code in any Illinois county.

State Police and Criminal History Resources

ISP Troop 10 covers Union County. The troop handles highway patrols and incidents on state routes. If a state trooper wrote a report in Union County, request it from ISP directly. The local sheriff's office will not have it.

For crash reports from ISP, send a request to the Patrol Records Unit at 801 South 7th Street, Suite 600-M, Springfield, IL 62703. Reports cost $5 by mail. You can also check the ISP website for online options. For crashes on county roads, contact the sheriff instead.

State-level criminal background checks use the CHIRP system. It is a name-based search through the ISP Bureau of Identification. The fee is $16. It returns only conviction data under the Uniform Conviction Information Act (20 ILCS 2635/). If you need your own criminal history for review, the Access and Review process through ISP is free. A local FOIA request to the sheriff will not get you a full background check.

For fingerprint-based checks, use a Live Scan vendor. These provide a more complete criminal history and are often needed for licensing or professional purposes. Vendors charge their own fees on top of the state processing cost.

Records Available in Union County

Union County agencies keep several types of records:

• Incident and offense reports from the sheriff
• Arrest records and booking data
• Crash reports from local roads
• Criminal case files at the circuit clerk
• Traffic cases and citations
• Civil filings and small claims

Most are public. Active cases under investigation can be withheld. Juvenile records stay sealed. Expunged and sealed adult records are not available. If a request is denied, you can appeal to the Illinois Attorney General's Public Access Counselor at no cost.

Nearby Counties

Union County is in southern Illinois. These neighboring counties may have records for incidents near county borders.

Jackson County also borders Union County to the west.