Find Criminal Court Records in Evanston

Evanston criminal court records are filed with the Cook County Circuit Court, which serves all of Evanston. Cook County is one of the few counties in Illinois where criminal case records are not available online. You have to go in person to the courthouse where the case was filed. This page covers the courthouse that handles Evanston cases, how to reach the Circuit Clerk, and other ways to search for criminal record information tied to Evanston through state-level resources and law enforcement agencies.

Cook County Circuit Court and Evanston Cases

Evanston is entirely within Cook County. All criminal cases from Evanston go through the Cook County Circuit Court. The Circuit Clerk for Cook County is Mariyana T. Spyropoulos, whose main office is at 50 W. Washington, Suite 1001, Chicago, IL 60602. You can reach the clerk by phone at 312/603-5030, or visit cookcountyclerkofcourt.org.

The courthouse that typically handles criminal cases from the north suburban Cook County area, which includes Evanston, is the Skokie Courthouse at 5600 Old Orchard Rd., Skokie, IL 60077. Felony cases from Evanston are generally assigned to that facility. Misdemeanor and traffic cases may also be routed there, though it depends on the specific circumstances and case type. Call the Circuit Clerk to confirm which courthouse holds a particular case before you go.

Cook County does not participate in Judici or re:SearchIL for criminal records. Those tools cover 82 of Illinois's other counties but not Cook. If someone tells you to search online for Cook County criminal records, that is not possible through those platforms. The only way to review the actual case file is to show up at the relevant courthouse in person.

See the Cook County criminal court records page for full details on how the county system works and all courthouse locations.

How to Access Records at the Courthouse

When you arrive at the courthouse, go to the clerk's office and ask to look up a case. You can search by defendant name or case number. Staff will pull the docket entries. If you want to review the physical file, you may need to request it from storage, which can take some time depending on when the case was filed.

Bring a valid photo ID. Copies of records carry a fee. The clerk's office can tell you the current copying fee when you call ahead. Certified copies cost more than plain copies. If you need a certified copy for legal or official purposes, ask specifically for a certified version when you submit your request.

Records that are sealed or expunged will not appear in the system. Under 705 ILCS 105, Illinois court records are public documents. The clerk is required to make them available on request. But records that have been removed from public access by court order are not covered by that rule.

If you are not sure whether a case was sealed, you can ask the clerk to check. They will tell you if a case number exists but is restricted. They generally cannot tell you why it was sealed.

What You Will Find in a Criminal Court File

A criminal court file in Illinois contains a set of standard documents. You will find the charging document, which is either an indictment or a criminal information. The file also includes the defendant's name and date of birth, the specific charges, a record of all court dates, motions filed by both the defense and prosecution, any plea agreements, and the final disposition of the case.

If the case went to trial, the verdict is part of the record. If the defendant was sentenced, the sentencing order is there too. Probation terms, fines, and any special conditions of supervision are typically noted in the file as well.

Some items are not included in the court file. Police reports, body camera footage, and investigative records are held by the Evanston Police Department, not the Circuit Clerk. Those must be requested separately under the Freedom of Information Act. Mental health evaluations and certain documents related to victims may also be restricted. The clerk's staff can tell you which portions of a file are available for public review.

Illinois State Police Criminal History Records

The Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification keeps statewide criminal history records. These records are compiled from court convictions across all Illinois counties. A statewide check is broader than searching a single county because it covers every jurisdiction in the state that reports conviction data to ISP.

ISP BOI is located at 260 N. Chicago Street, Joliet, IL 60432. The phone number is 815/740-5160. You can request a name-based or fingerprint-based background check through that office. Fingerprint-based checks are more accurate. Results will include convictions from any Illinois county where a final disposition was reported to the state system.

The screenshot below shows the ISP Bureau of Identification agency page, where Illinois criminal history requests are submitted.

A statewide check is especially useful when you are not certain which county or counties may hold records on a particular person.

Judici and re:SearchIL: What They Cover

Judici and re:SearchIL are the two main free online tools for searching Illinois court records. Judici covers 82 counties. re:SearchIL became free to the public on May 1, 2025, and covers courts across the state. Both are good tools for looking up cases in most of Illinois.

Neither platform includes Cook County criminal cases. This is a key point for anyone researching Evanston records. You cannot use Judici or re:SearchIL to find Cook County criminal court records. If you try, the results will come back empty even if a case exists.

The image below shows the Judici public records portal, which serves 82 Illinois counties not including Cook.

For Evanston records, these tools are not the path forward. The in-person visit to the Skokie Courthouse or a call to the Cook County Circuit Clerk is the correct approach.

Legal Resources for Evanston Residents

Illinois Legal Aid Online at illinoislegalaid.org offers free legal information for Illinois residents. It can help you understand court processes and find local legal aid programs. The Cook County Public Defender's office serves those who qualify based on income and face criminal charges in Cook County court.

Private criminal defense attorneys who regularly appear in north suburban Cook County courts, including the Skokie Courthouse, are another option. The Illinois State Bar Association can provide referrals. Under 20 ILCS 2635, the Illinois Criminal Identification Act sets rules on how records are kept and who can access them. If you believe a record is wrong, contact the ISP BOI for statewide records or the Circuit Clerk for court file corrections.

Nearby Illinois Cities

These nearby cities also have criminal case records filed at the county level.