Search DeKalb County Criminal Court Records

DeKalb County criminal court records are filed with the Circuit Court Clerk at 133 West State Street in Sycamore, Illinois, serving over 101,000 residents in the 23rd Judicial Circuit. This page explains every method available to search and access criminal case records in DeKalb County, from the Judici online portal to in-person visits at the courthouse to statewide background check systems.

DeKalb County Circuit Court Clerk

Circuit Clerk Lori Grubbs oversees the clerk's office at 133 West State Street, Sycamore, IL 60178-1416. The main phone line is 815/895-7131. Fax is 815/895-7140. The clerk's website is at dekalbcounty.org/circuit-clerk, where you can find current hours, forms, fee schedules, and information on how to request records.

The Circuit Court Clerk in DeKalb County is the official custodian of all court records filed in the county. For criminal cases, that means the clerk holds felony and misdemeanor filings, information and indictments, court orders, plea records, sentencing documents, and case dockets. If you want to see a specific case file, the clerk's office is the right place to start.

Public access to court records is grounded in 705 ILCS 105, the Clerks of Courts Act. Under this statute, court records are open to the public for inspection. Viewing a record is free. Copies cost a per-page fee set by the clerk's office. You do not need to explain why you are asking for a record.

DeKalb County Criminal Court Records Online

DeKalb County uses Judici.com for online case search. Judici is a third-party platform used by 82 of Illinois' 102 counties. You can search DeKalb County criminal court records by party name, case number, or attorney name. The system shows case type, charges, hearing dates, and case status. Basic search results are free. No account is needed.

Judici also allows multi-county name searches. If you think a person may have filed cases or faced charges in more than one county, you can run a single search across multiple counties at once. That is a useful feature for anyone researching a person's broader court history in northern Illinois.

The Illinois Courts website provides information on circuit court operations statewide, including links to county-level resources like the DeKalb County clerk office.

For reviewing court decisions, the statewide re:SearchIL portal offers free access to appellate and supreme court records as of May 1, 2025. If a DeKalb County criminal conviction was appealed, records from the appeal are available there.

In-Person and Mail Requests

Go to 133 West State Street, Sycamore during business hours to view records in person. Bring the full name of the subject and any case number you already have. Staff will locate the record and let you inspect it. Certified copies are available at the counter for a fee.

For mail requests, write to the clerk at 133 West State Street, Sycamore, IL 60178-1416. State the subject's full name, approximate dates, and what type of record you need. Without a case number, the search takes longer since staff must do a manual lookup. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope so the clerk can return documents or a fee notice to you.

The fax number 815/895-7140 can be used for some administrative inquiries, but actual record copies must generally be handled by mail or in person.

Statewide Criminal History Through ISP

Circuit court records in DeKalb County cover cases filed in this county only. For a broader picture of someone's criminal history across Illinois, the Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification maintains a statewide conviction record database. ISP BOI is at 260 N. Chicago Street, Joliet, IL 60432, phone 815/740-5160.

Online background checks are available at isp.illinois.gov/BureauOfIdentification/BackgroundChecks. These certified reports are used for employment, licensing, and similar purposes. The rules for what conviction data can be disclosed are set by the Uniform Conviction Information Act, 20 ILCS 2635.

Background check requests through the ISP online portal give access to conviction records across all Illinois counties, including DeKalb County criminal court records that have been reported to the state system.

If you want to review your own criminal history record, use the CHIRP system at chirp.isp.illinois.gov. It is free for self-review. If the record has an error, CHIRP also provides a way to dispute inaccurate data.

What the Public Can and Cannot See

Most DeKalb County criminal court records are available to the public. Charging documents, indictments, plea records, sentencing orders, and docket history are all accessible. The court presumes records are public unless a statute says otherwise.

Records that are not public include juvenile cases, adoptions, sealed criminal records, and expunged cases. The Court Record and Document Accessibility Act, 705 ILCS 86, defines the exceptions. Even within public cases, some data is redacted from copies the clerk provides, including Social Security numbers and bank account information.

Illinois courts are exempt from FOIA. You cannot file a Freedom of Information Act request for court records under 5 ILCS 140. Access is governed instead by the Clerks of Courts Act and standing court rules. The clerk's public access procedure is the correct channel, not a FOIA request.

Help and Self-Representation Resources

Illinois Legal Aid Online covers expungement, sealing, and criminal record questions in plain language, at no cost. Illinois Court Help has a live chat option with court navigators who can walk you through court procedures. Neither site gives legal advice, but both provide solid step-by-step guidance for people navigating the courts on their own.

The full list of Illinois circuit court clerks, including DeKalb County, is at the Illinois Courts Circuit Clerk Directory. Use it to find clerk contact information for any county in the state.

Nearby Counties

DeKalb County is surrounded by several other Illinois counties with their own circuit courts and criminal records systems.