Find Criminal Court Records in Cass County

Cass County criminal court records are maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk in Virginia and cover all criminal cases filed in the 8th Judicial Circuit. This page covers how to search and access criminal court records in Cass County, Illinois, including online tools like Judici and re:SearchIL and direct contact with the clerk's office in Virginia.

Cass County Circuit Court Clerk in Virginia

Brad Parlier is the Cass County Circuit Court Clerk. The mailing address is P.O. Box 203, Virginia, IL 62691. Call the clerk at 217/452-7225 or send a fax to 217/452-7552.

The Circuit Court Clerk in Virginia is the official custodian of all criminal court records filed in Cass County. That includes criminal complaints, indictments, charging informations, motions, hearing dockets, plea agreements, and sentencing orders. Staff can search the records index by defendant name or case number. Fees for certified copies are set by state law under 705 ILCS 105, which applies to all circuit courts in Illinois.

Visiting in person is the most direct option. For those who can't make it to Virginia, mail requests are accepted. Put the defendant's full name, the approximate year the case was filed, and any case number you have. Send a check or money order for the copy fee. The clerk will search and return what's available.

Searching Cass County Cases Online

Cass County participates in Judici.com, the third-party case search platform used by 82 of Illinois's 102 counties. Judici draws data from the circuit court system and lets you search Cass County criminal cases by name or case number at no charge. Results typically include charges, court dates, and final dispositions.

Below is a screenshot of the Judici.com interface, which covers Cass County and many other Illinois counties.

Search Cass County cases on Judici.com

Older cases may not be fully represented on Judici. Contact Brad Parlier's office directly when accuracy is essential.

The state's free re:SearchIL portal is another option. It has been open to the public since May 1, 2025, and covers both criminal and civil cases from Illinois courts, including Cass County. No account is needed for a basic name search. Access it at researchil.tylerhost.net.

Both tools are useful for locating a case. Neither provides certified copies, which must be obtained from the Cass County clerk in Virginia.

Public Records Access in Cass County

Adult criminal court records in Illinois are generally public. Criminal complaints, indictments, motion filings, dockets, plea agreements, and sentencing orders filed in Cass County Circuit Court are accessible to anyone without a stated reason.

Records that are not open include juvenile criminal cases, sealed or expunged records, and files where personal information like Social Security numbers has been redacted. Adoption cases are closed. If a Cass County case has been sealed, the clerk can confirm its existence but cannot provide access without a court order.

Illinois courts are exempt from the Freedom of Information Act under 5 ILCS 140. FOIA requests to the circuit court clerk will not result in records being produced. Access is governed by court rules and judicial statutes, not FOIA.

ISP Background Checks and Statewide History

The Cass County clerk holds records only for cases filed in Cass County. For a full Illinois criminal history, the Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification maintains statewide records. Contact the BOI at 815/740-5160 or visit isp.illinois.gov/BureauOfIdentification.

The ISP BOI handles fingerprint-based background checks for employers and licensing boards. Individuals can check their own criminal history for free through CHIRP at chirp.isp.illinois.gov. The Access and Review process requires no fee.

Below is a screenshot of the ISP background checks page, where you can find details on available check types and how to request them.

ISP background check information

Combining a Cass County clerk search with an ISP BOI check gives the most complete view of a person's Illinois criminal record.

Court System and Filing Information

Cass County is part of the 8th Judicial Circuit. Attorneys file criminal documents through eFileIL at efile.illinoiscourts.gov. The Illinois Courts website provides general information and the full circuit clerk directory at illinoiscourts.gov. Self-represented parties should call the clerk at 217/452-7225 to confirm which case types accept electronic filing.

Free legal information is available through Illinois Legal Aid Online at illinoislegalaid.org and Illinois Court Help at ilcourthelp.gov. Both sites explain criminal court procedures and expungement steps in plain language. For an active criminal case, consult a licensed attorney.

Nearby Counties

Counties near Cass each maintain their own criminal court records through separate circuit court clerks.