Search Jackson County Criminal Court Records
Jackson County criminal court records cover all criminal cases filed in the 1st Judicial Circuit, with records maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk in Murphysboro. This guide walks through how to find and get Jackson County criminal court records online, by mail, or in person at the courthouse.
Jackson County Criminal Court Records Quick Facts
Circuit Court Clerk Office in Murphysboro
The Jackson County Circuit Court Clerk's office is run by Christian Hale. It is the official keeper of all criminal court records for cases filed in Jackson County. The mailing address is P.O. Box 730, Murphysboro, IL 62966. The main phone number is 618/687-7300, and the fax line is 618/684-6378. The office website is at jacksoncounty-il.gov/circuit-clerk.
The clerk's office handles criminal case filings for charges ranging from petty offenses to felony matters heard in the 1st Judicial Circuit. Staff index each case and keep records of all filings, orders, and court actions. When a case ends, the final disposition becomes part of the permanent record. Certified copies of judgments, orders, or case dockets can be requested at the counter or by mail.
Walk-in requests are processed during regular business hours. If you go in person, bring the defendant's name and an approximate filing year if you don't have a case number. The clerk can search the index and pull up case information. Copy fees apply to each page you receive, and certified copies cost a bit more.
Finding Records Online
Jackson County uses Judici.com for online criminal case access. Judici is a private platform that partners with circuit court systems across Illinois, including all counties in the 1st Judicial Circuit. You can search by name or case number for free. The system returns charges, case status, upcoming hearings, and dispositions.
The screenshot below shows the Judici database interface used to search criminal records across Illinois counties.
Search Jackson County cases on Judici.com
Judici is useful for quick lookups, but the data is not always complete for older filings. For anything more than a case number or disposition date, you'll want to contact the clerk directly.
Illinois also offers re:SearchIL, the official statewide court records portal. It has been free for public use since May 1, 2025. You can reach it at researchil.tylerhost.net. No account is needed for a basic name or case search. re:SearchIL pulls case data from the official court management system, so it tends to be more current than third-party tools.
The screenshot below shows the re:SearchIL homepage, where you can begin a search for Jackson County criminal records.
Use both tools to cross-check results. If the case you're looking for doesn't appear online, call the clerk's office. Some older cases were filed before electronic indexing was in place and may not be in either system.
What Records Are Available
In Jackson County, as throughout Illinois, most adult criminal court records are open to the public. Case filings, indictments, warrants that have been served, pleas, sentencing documents, and appeal records are all part of the public file. Anyone can review these records without stating a reason.
Some records are closed. Juvenile cases are confidential under Illinois law. Records that a court has sealed or expunged are no longer visible in the public index. Parts of a file may be redacted to remove Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, or certain protected personal information before copies are given out. Victim names in some case types may also be withheld.
Worth knowing: Illinois courts are not subject to the state Freedom of Information Act. Under 5 ILCS 140, the judiciary is exempt from FOIA requests. Access to court records follows court rules and statutes, not FOIA. If you send a FOIA request to the clerk's office, it will not be processed under that law.
Statewide Criminal History: ISP Bureau of Identification
Circuit court records show what happened in a specific case filed in Jackson County. For a full criminal history that spans multiple counties or jurisdictions, the Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification maintains statewide records. Contact ISP BOI at 815/740-5160 or see their page at isp.illinois.gov/BureauOfIdentification.
The BOI handles fingerprint-based background checks used by employers and licensing bodies. For individuals, the CHIRP portal at chirp.isp.illinois.gov lets you view your own criminal history. Access to your own record is free under the Illinois Access and Review process. Third parties requesting records on someone else must go through a formal background check channel.
Illinois Court System Overview
Jackson County's circuit court operates within the Illinois court hierarchy overseen by the Illinois Courts administrative office. The courts site has information about how the circuit courts are organized, how judges are assigned, and what the general rules of court are for criminal matters.
The criminal procedure framework in Illinois is governed largely by 725 ILCS 5, the Code of Criminal Procedure. This statute covers how criminal cases move through the courts, from arrest through trial and sentencing. It also sets out the rules for bail, preliminary hearings, and appeals. When you're reading court filings in a criminal case, knowing this statute helps you understand what each document is for.
Getting Help with Criminal Records
Illinois Legal Aid Online at illinoislegalaid.org has free guides on how to read criminal case records, how to petition for expungement, and what your rights are when accessing court files. Illinois Court Help at ilcourthelp.gov provides plain-language information for people without legal representation.
Neither site provides legal advice for your specific case. But they are good starting points. For serious matters, consulting a licensed Illinois attorney is the best course.
If you need to file documents electronically in a Jackson County criminal case, the eFileIL portal at efile.illinoiscourts.gov handles mandatory e-filing for attorneys. Self-represented parties should ask the clerk whether e-filing applies to their case type before submitting anything online.
Nearby Counties
Other counties in southern Illinois maintain their own criminal court records through their circuit clerks.