Access Brown County Criminal Court Records

Brown County criminal court records are maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk in Mt. Sterling and cover all criminal cases filed in the 8th Judicial Circuit. This page covers how to search, access, and request copies of criminal court records in Brown County, Illinois, including online options and in-person access through the Mt. Sterling courthouse.

Brown County Circuit Court Clerk

Brooke Robinson serves as the Brown County Circuit Court Clerk. The office is at 200 Court Street, Room 5, Mt. Sterling, IL 62353. Call the clerk at 217/773-2713 or fax at 217/773-3648.

Brown County is one of Illinois's smaller counties, but the circuit court clerk still handles a full range of criminal records. This includes criminal complaints, indictments, motion filings, hearing dockets, plea agreements, and final sentencing orders. Staff can search by defendant name or case number and pull documents from the file. Certified copy fees are set by state statute under 705 ILCS 105, which applies uniformly across all Illinois circuit courts.

Walk-in visits are best for quick results. If you are not near Mt. Sterling, a mail request is accepted. Send the defendant's full name, the approximate year the case was filed, and the case number if available, along with a check or money order for copy fees. The office will search and mail back what it finds.

Searching Brown County Cases Online

Brown County is one of the 82 Illinois counties that participates in Judici.com. The platform lets you search Brown County criminal cases by name or case number for free. It draws data directly from the circuit court system and typically shows charges, court dates, and dispositions. Judici is not a government site, but it's a useful first step when you need to locate a case number.

The screenshot below shows the Judici.com interface, which covers Brown County along with many other Illinois counties.

Search Brown County criminal cases on Judici.com

Judici may not have complete data for older cases. Always verify with the clerk in Mt. Sterling if the result matters.

The Illinois Courts system also runs re:SearchIL, a free statewide portal open to the public since May 1, 2025. It covers criminal and civil cases from courts across Illinois, including Brown County. No account needed. Find it at researchil.tylerhost.net.

Neither Judici nor re:SearchIL provides certified copies. Those come from Brooke Robinson's office in Mt. Sterling.

Which Records Are Open to the Public

Most adult criminal court records in Illinois are public. This includes criminal complaints, indictments, charging informations, motion filings, dockets, plea agreements, and sentencing orders from Brown County Circuit Court. Anyone can access these without giving a reason.

Some records are not open. Juvenile criminal records are confidential under Illinois law. Records that have been sealed or expunged are no longer public. Social Security numbers and financial details are redacted from copies. Cases involving adoptions are closed. The clerk can confirm a sealed case exists but won't show the file without a court order. Illinois courts are also exempt from the Freedom of Information Act under 5 ILCS 140, so FOIA requests sent to the clerk will not be processed.

Statewide Criminal History Through ISP

Brown County's clerk only keeps records from that county. For a complete Illinois criminal history, the Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification handles statewide records. You can reach the BOI at 815/740-5160 or visit isp.illinois.gov/BureauOfIdentification. The ISP offers fingerprint-based background checks for employers and licensing agencies.

Individuals who want to review their own criminal history can use CHIRP, the Criminal History Information Request Portal at chirp.isp.illinois.gov. Reviewing your own record is free under the Access and Review process. Combining a county clerk search with an ISP check gives the most complete picture.

Court System and Filing Information

Brown County is part of the 8th Judicial Circuit. The Illinois Courts website has information on the state court system, including the full circuit clerk directory at illinoiscourts.gov. Attorneys file criminal documents in Brown County through eFileIL at efile.illinoiscourts.gov.

If you're self-represented, call the clerk at 217/773-2713 before filing electronically. Some criminal filings still require in-person submission at the Mt. Sterling courthouse.

Illinois Legal Aid Online at illinoislegalaid.org and Illinois Court Help at ilcourthelp.gov offer free, plain-language guidance on criminal procedures and expungement. These sites provide information, not legal advice. For an active criminal matter, consult a licensed attorney.

Nearby Counties

Each county near Brown handles its own criminal court records through a separate circuit court clerk.