Alexander County Criminal Court Records

Alexander County criminal court records are maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk in Cairo and cover all criminal cases filed in the 1st Judicial Circuit. This page explains how to search, access, and request copies of criminal court records in Alexander County, Illinois, whether you need case filings, docket information, or disposition records from the Cairo courthouse.

Alexander County Circuit Court Clerk in Cairo

Carey Simmons serves as the Alexander County Circuit Court Clerk. The office is at 2000 Washington, Cairo, IL 62914. Reach the clerk by phone at 618/734-0107 or by fax at 618/734-7003.

As one of Illinois's smaller counties, Alexander County's Circuit Court Clerk handles all criminal court records filed in the county. That covers criminal complaints, charging informations, indictments, motions, hearing dockets, plea agreements, and sentencing orders. The clerk's office can search by defendant name or case number and pull documents from the file. Certified copies are available for fees set by state law under 705 ILCS 105.

Walk-in visits are the most direct option. If you're not near Cairo, a written mail request works. Send the defendant's name, the approximate case year, and any case number you have, along with a check or money order for copy fees. The clerk will search and send back whatever is on file.

Searching Alexander County Cases Online

Alexander County participates in Judici.com, the third-party case search platform used by 82 of Illinois's 102 counties. Judici lets you search Alexander County criminal cases by name or case number at no charge. It pulls data directly from the circuit court and typically shows charges, court dates, and dispositions for cases in the system.

The screenshot below shows the Judici.com interface, which includes Alexander County along with dozens of other Illinois counties.

Search Alexander County cases on Judici.com

Older cases may not appear. For a complete record, the clerk in Cairo is the definitive source.

The state's re:SearchIL portal, free since May 1, 2025, also covers Alexander County. Search criminal and civil cases by name without creating an account at researchil.tylerhost.net. Neither tool replaces a certified copy, but both are useful for locating a case number before contacting the clerk.

Below is a screenshot of the re:SearchIL portal showing its search interface for Illinois court cases.

Search Alexander County records on re:SearchIL

Once you find a case number, the clerk's office in Cairo can pull the file and tell you what certified documents are available and what they cost.

Which Records Are Public

Adult criminal court records in Illinois are open to the public. Anyone can access criminal complaints, indictments, dockets, motion filings, plea agreements, and sentencing orders filed in Alexander County Circuit Court. No reason is needed to view these records.

Some records are not open. Juvenile criminal records are confidential. Sealed or expunged records are removed from public access. Social Security numbers and financial data are redacted from public copies. Adoption cases are closed. If a case in Alexander County has been sealed, the clerk can confirm it exists but won't provide access without a court order.

Illinois courts are exempt from the state Freedom of Information Act under 5 ILCS 140. A FOIA request to the circuit clerk will not be processed. Court records are governed by judicial rules, not FOIA.

Statewide Criminal History Through ISP

Alexander County's clerk covers only cases from that county. For a full Illinois criminal history, the Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification maintains statewide records. The BOI can be reached at 815/740-5160 or at isp.illinois.gov/BureauOfIdentification. The ISP provides fingerprint-based background checks for employers, licensing boards, and others.

Individuals can review their own criminal history for free through CHIRP, the Criminal History Information Request Portal at chirp.isp.illinois.gov. The Access and Review process requires no fee. For a broader check that covers all Illinois counties, including Alexander, the ISP is the right place to start.

Court System and Legal Resources

Alexander County is part of the 1st Judicial Circuit, which covers the far southern tip of Illinois. The Illinois Courts website provides general information about the state court structure, including contact details for every circuit court clerk at illinoiscourts.gov.

Attorneys in Alexander County file criminal documents through eFileIL at efile.illinoiscourts.gov. If you are self-represented, call the clerk at 618/734-0107 before filing to confirm which case types accept electronic submissions and which require in-person filing.

Free legal guidance is available through Illinois Legal Aid Online at illinoislegalaid.org and Illinois Court Help at ilcourthelp.gov. Both sites have plain-language information on criminal procedures, expungement, and how to read court documents. They do not provide legal advice. For an active criminal case, consult a licensed attorney.

Nearby Counties

Neighboring counties each handle their own criminal court records through separate circuit court clerks.