Find Criminal Court Records in Peoria

Peoria criminal court records are held at the Peoria County Circuit Court, which serves as the main courthouse for all criminal cases filed in this city and the surrounding county. Peoria is one of the larger cities in Illinois, with a population just over 112,000. The court handles felonies, misdemeanors, traffic cases with criminal penalties, and other criminal matters. This page covers how to search Peoria criminal records online, in person, and through state-level databases.

Peoria County Circuit Court Clerk

The Peoria County Circuit Court Clerk's office is run by Robert Spears. The office is located at 324 Main Street, Room G22, Peoria, IL 61602. You can call 309/672-6989 to reach the clerk's office directly. Staff there can answer questions about case records, copy requests, and office hours.

The clerk's office keeps criminal case files from the point of first appearance through final judgment and any post-trial motions. Peoria is the county seat of Peoria County, so all county criminal filings go through this location. For a full look at Peoria County courts, visit the Peoria County page.

The Peoria County Circuit Clerk website lists services available, contact info for specific divisions, and instructions for getting copies of court documents. It is a good first stop if you have questions before visiting or calling.

Search Peoria Cases on Judici

Peoria County participates in Judici.com, which hosts online criminal case data for 82 Illinois counties. Judici lets you search by name, case number, or attorney. You can pull up case status, listed charges, court dates past and future, and final dispositions.

Most basic case information on Judici is free. Documents like motions, orders, and transcripts may require a paid subscription or separate copy request from the clerk's office. Judici is updated regularly but may not reflect same-day filings.

re:SearchIL: Free Statewide Search

Illinois opened a free statewide case search portal called re:SearchIL on May 1, 2025. It is at researchil.tylerhost.net. The portal gives access to participating circuit courts across the state. You do not need to log in for basic searches.

re:SearchIL is useful when you do not know the exact county, or when you want to check if someone has cases in multiple counties at once. The search covers both civil and criminal cases filed in participating courts.

In-Person Records at the Courthouse

The most direct way to get Peoria criminal court records is to go to the clerk's office at 324 Main Street, Room G22, Peoria. Walk-ins are generally accepted during business hours. You can view case files at the public terminal, ask staff to locate a file, or request copies.

Bring as much identifying information as you can. The defendant's full name and approximate case year help narrow searches. Case numbers speed things up further. You do not need to show ID or explain why you want the records. Public criminal records in Illinois are accessible under 705 ILCS 105, which outlines the duties of circuit court clerks and public access rights.

Copy fees apply. Standard pages are usually a set price per page. Certified copies carry an additional certification fee. Ask the clerk for the current fee schedule before ordering copies.

Peoria Police Department Records

Arrest records and incident reports from the Peoria Police Department are a related but separate source from court records. The department is located at 600 SW Adams, Peoria, IL 61602, and can be reached at (309) 494-8300. Their website is at peoriagov.org/police.

An arrest record shows that a person was taken into custody. It does not show what happened in court after the arrest. For court outcomes, including guilty pleas, acquittals, or dismissals, you need the circuit court record. Both types of records may be useful depending on your purpose.

Police reports are generally public unless an investigation is still active. You can submit a Freedom of Information Act request to the Peoria Police Department for incident reports and arrest logs. Response times vary, but FOIA law requires agencies to respond within five business days in most cases.

Illinois State Criminal History Database

The Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification (ISP BOI) keeps a statewide fingerprint-based criminal history system. This covers arrests, charges, and dispositions from all Illinois counties, including Peoria. The ISP BOI is at 260 N. Chicago Street, Joliet, IL 60432, phone 815/740-5160.

State law on criminal history record access is found in 20 ILCS 2635. This statute covers who can access criminal history records and under what conditions. Individuals can request their own records directly from the ISP BOI.

Types of Cases in Peoria Criminal Court

The Peoria County Circuit Court handles several categories of criminal cases. Felonies are the most serious, covering charges like aggravated battery, burglary, and drug offenses at higher levels. Misdemeanors are less severe but still criminal, covering things like simple assault, petty theft, and first-time DUI. Class A misdemeanors carry up to one year in jail. Felonies carry longer potential sentences.

Traffic cases with criminal components, such as DUI, driving on a suspended license, or reckless driving, are also part of the criminal court file. These are public records too. Petty offenses may be listed in traffic court rather than criminal court, so the search method may differ slightly depending on the charge type.

Felony case numbers in Illinois typically start with "CF." Misdemeanor cases start with "CM." Traffic-criminal cases use "TR." Knowing the case type helps when searching Judici or making a request at the clerk's office.

Legal Help and Record Assistance

Illinois Legal Aid Online at illinoislegalaid.org offers free legal information for people dealing with criminal cases, expungements, and court records. The site has plain-language guides on how the court process works in Illinois.

If you need to clear a criminal record, the expungement and sealing process in Illinois is handled through the circuit court. You file a petition with the clerk's office. Eligibility depends on the charge type and outcome. Illinois Legal Aid Online has tools to help you figure out if you qualify.

Nearby Illinois Cities

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