Criminal records in McLean County, Illinois, are available through several channels. McLeanCourt.us allows quick access to publicly available information about criminal cases in the county. Additionally, the county's official court systems, the Circuit Clerk's office, law enforcement agencies, and Illinois state online portals provide access to court records, arrest reports, and inmate information.
How to Search Criminal Records in McLean
There are several ways to search for criminal records in McLean County. To begin, you will need at least one of the following:
- The person's full name (last name is mandatory)
- Date of birth
- Case number
Online Search
- McLeanCourt.us — use this resource to search for publicly available information about county criminal cases.
- Public Access Criminal/Traffic Search — the official Circuit Clerk system for searching criminal and traffic violation cases. Data is available from 1991 to the present. Searches can be conducted by last name, case number, or date of birth. Note: if a person's name changed during the case proceedings, the system may not display all related records under the new name.
- Sheriff Blotter — the sheriff's office publishes arrest and incident reports online. You can view recent arrests here.
- Illinois Department of Corrections — search for individuals in custody in state correctional facilities by last name.
- Year — a two-digit number indicating the year the case was filed (e.g., 24 for 2024)
- Case Type Code — a letter designation of the category. In the criminal division, the following are used, among others:
- CF — criminal felony
- CM — criminal misdemeanor
- DT — traffic violation
- TR — traffic cases
- Sequential Number — a numerical identifier of the specific case within the year and category
- Pending — the case is open, and a decision has not yet been made
- Active — the case is in the active review stage
- Disposed — the court has rendered a final decision
- Closed — the case is closed, and all procedures are completed
- Arraignment — the first court session where the charges are read to the accused
- Preliminary Hearing — the court determines whether there is enough evidence to proceed with the case
- Pre-trial — preparatory sessions before the main court hearing
- Sentencing — a session for announcing the sentence after a guilty plea
- Review — a control session to check compliance with court conditions
- In Person — visit the Circuit Clerk's office in the courthouse. Bring a valid photo ID.
- By Mail — send a written request including the person's full name, case number (if known), your name, and contact information. Include payment in the form of a money order.
- Valid photo ID (driver's license, passport)
- Case number or full name and date of birth of the person
- Payment of established fees
- In Person — copies are usually issued the same day or the next business day
- By Mail — processing takes 5 to 10 business days, depending on the volume of the request
- FOIA Requests — law enforcement agencies are required to respond within 5 business days according to Illinois FOIA (5 ILCS 140)
In-Person Visit
The Circuit Clerk's office in the McLean County courthouse provides access to court records. You can use public access terminals directly in the building or ask a clerk to assist with finding a specific case.
Request by Mail or Through FOIA
Police reports can be obtained through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. The Police Records page contains links to FOIA forms for the City of Bloomington, Town of Normal, and McLean County Sheriff. Court records, however, are exempt from FOIA under the precedent Copley Press, Inc. v. Administrative Office of the Courts — they should be requested directly through the Circuit Clerk.
To obtain an official state-level criminal history, contact the Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification.
Search McLean Criminal Cases by Case Number
Every case in Illinois is assigned a unique number consisting of several parts. Understanding the format will help expedite the search.
Typical case number structure:
For example, the number 2024-CF-000123 means: a felony case filed in 2024, sequential number 123. Enter this number into the court records search system for details.
Charges, Case Status, Hearings, and Court Results in McLean
Search results in the Circuit Clerk system contain several key elements. Here's what each of them means.
Charges
| Element | Description |
|---|---|
| Statute Code | Reference to the specific article of the Illinois Compiled Statutes under which the charges are brought |
| Severity Level | Felony (punishable by imprisonment in a state correctional facility), Misdemeanor (punishable by a fine or imprisonment in a county jail), or petty offense |
| Amended Charges | The prosecutor may change or add to the initial charges during the case proceedings |
Case Status
Hearings
Types of hearings you will see in the records:
Court Results
| Result | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Guilty | Found guilty |
| Not Guilty | Found not guilty after review |
| Dismissed | The case is closed without a verdict |
| Nolle Prosequi | The prosecutor declined further prosecution |
| Acquitted | Acquitted by the court or jury |
How to Request Certified Criminal Records in McLean
Certified copies of court records are issued exclusively by the Circuit Clerk's office. These documents bear the official stamp and signature of the clerk, confirming their authenticity.
How to Submit a Request
For police reports, contact the relevant law enforcement agency through a FOIA request. The McLean County Sheriff's Office processes requests for reports compiled by its divisions.
If you need a complete state-level criminal history, submit a request to the Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification. This usually requires providing fingerprints and completing the appropriate form.
Required Documents
Fees, Copy Costs, and Processing Times for Criminal Records in McLean
Fees for copies of court documents in Illinois are set according to 705 ILCS 105/27.2. Below are approximate rates for the McLean County Circuit Clerk.
| Service | Cost |
|---|---|
| Regular document copy (per page) | $0.50 – $2.00 |
| Document certification | $6.00 – $10.00 |
| Record search (by name) | An additional fee may be charged |
Exact amounts may vary depending on the type of document and the number of pages. Check the current price list directly with the Circuit Clerk's office before submitting a request.
Processing Times
Individuals unable to pay court fees may file a petition for fee waiver. Relevant standardized forms are available on the Office of the Illinois Courts website.