Jersey County Criminal Court Records Search

Jersey County criminal court records are held by Circuit Clerk Mitchell P. Reynolds in Jerseyville, covering roughly 22,000 residents in the river bluffs of southwestern Illinois near the Missouri border. This page explains how to search those records online through Judici, how to contact the clerk's office for in-person or mail requests, and what other Illinois agencies maintain supplemental criminal history data for Jersey County cases.

Jersey County Circuit Court Clerk

Circuit Clerk Mitchell P. Reynolds is the official records custodian for the Jersey County Circuit Court. The office is located at 201 West Pearl Street, Jerseyville, IL 62052-1852. The main phone line is 618/498-5571. The fax number is 618/498-6128. The clerk's office handles every type of case filed in Jersey County, and criminal matters make up a significant share of the docket.

Criminal case files in Jersey County can include the charging document, arraignment record, all motions and responses, court orders at each stage of the case, and the final judgment. If there was a plea, that agreement is in the file. Sentencing orders and any conditions of probation or supervision are included too. You can walk in during office hours and ask to see any public case file at no cost. Copies, including certified copies, carry a per-page fee set by statute.

Illinois law under 705 ILCS 105, the Clerks of Courts Act, says court records are public by default. You don't need to justify your interest in a record or have any particular status to request one. If a record has been sealed or expunged, the clerk will tell you it's not available without elaborating on why.

The Illinois Courts website provides background on how circuit courts work across Illinois, including guidance on accessing records and links to every county clerk office.

Online Access to Jersey County Criminal Cases

Jersey County uses Judici.com for online case search, one of 82 Illinois counties on this platform. You can search by defendant name, case number, or attorney. Results include the case type, charges listed, hearing schedule, and current status. No login is required and no fee is charged for basic searches.

The multi-county search in Judici is worth using when you need to check Jersey County alongside neighboring counties. Greene, Calhoun, Madison, Macoupin, Scott, and Cass counties are all nearby. If a case could have been filed in any of them, a single search across all can save a lot of time compared to checking each individually.

Judici.com gives online access to Jersey County criminal court records and supports multi-county searches covering the entire southwestern Illinois region.

When a Jersey County criminal case is appealed, it goes to the Fifth Judicial District Appellate Court. Use re:SearchIL for appellate-level records. This platform has been free since May 1, 2025, and covers Illinois appellate and supreme court filings. The Illinois Courts website explains the court structure and lists contact information for every circuit clerk statewide.

In-Person and Mail Access

The Jersey County courthouse in Jerseyville is the place to go for the most complete access to a case file. Go to 201 West Pearl Street during regular office hours. Bring the subject's full name and a case number if you have one. Staff will pull the file. You can review it there at no charge, and you can order copies or certified copies at the counter for a per-page fee.

Mail requests go to 201 West Pearl Street, Jerseyville, IL 62052-1852. Your letter should include the subject's name, the approximate year the case was filed, what type of record you need, and a way to reach you. If you don't have the case number, staff will do a manual name search. That can add a few business days. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope if you want documents returned by mail.

The fax line is 618/498-6128. Some basic requests can be sent by fax, but it's a good idea to call first to check what the office will process that way versus what needs to come in by mail or in person.

Illinois State Police Criminal History Records

The Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification holds a statewide conviction database that draws from all 102 Illinois counties, including Jersey. ISP BOI issues certified criminal history reports used for professional licensing, firearms checks, employment screening, and other official purposes. The main phone number for ISP BOI is 815/740-5160.

Background check requests are submitted through the ISP online portal at isp.illinois.gov/BureauOfIdentification/BackgroundChecks. The Uniform Conviction Information Act, 20 ILCS 2635, governs who can get these reports and what they can contain. Not every arrest is included. The database focuses on convictions and other qualifying dispositions rather than all arrests or charges.

If you want to see your own criminal history for free, use the CHIRP system at chirp.isp.illinois.gov. CHIRP is self-service and lets you view your own ISP record and challenge any errors in it without hiring a lawyer or paying a fee.

The ISP background check portal provides a way to request certified criminal history reports that include Jersey County and all other Illinois county conviction data.

What Records Are Open to the Public

Most Jersey County criminal court records are public. Charging documents, docket entries, orders, plea agreements, sentencing records, and probation conditions are accessible to any member of the public. Illinois law presumes court records are public unless a specific statute restricts them.

There are limits. Juvenile delinquency cases are sealed by law. Records that were expunged or sealed by court order are not available. Adoption cases are confidential. The Illinois Court Record and Document Accessibility Act, 705 ILCS 86, lays out what categories of records a court may restrict. Even in fully public cases, sensitive personal data is redacted before release. Social Security numbers, bank account details, and similar identifiers don't appear in documents provided to the public.

One thing worth knowing: the Illinois judiciary is exempt from the state Freedom of Information Act under 5 ILCS 140. Submitting a FOIA request to the Jersey County Circuit Clerk won't produce court records. Access comes from the Clerks of Courts Act, not from FOIA.

Electronic Filing and Federal Courts

Illinois circuit courts use eFileIL for electronic submissions. Attorneys and parties in Jersey County cases file documents through this system. Members of the public reviewing records still go through the clerk's office in Jerseyville or use Judici to see case information online.

Federal criminal cases are separate from the state court system. Jersey County is in the Southern District of Illinois for federal court purposes. If a matter involves federal charges, search PACER for U.S. District Court records. State and federal cases don't appear in each other's systems, so you may need to check both.

Legal Aid Resources

Illinois Legal Aid Online offers free, plain-language guidance on expungement, sealing, and other court matters that apply to Jersey County residents. Illinois Court Help provides live chat with court navigators who can explain procedures without giving legal advice. Both services are free with no appointment needed.

Nearby Counties

Jersey County borders several southwestern Illinois counties, each maintaining its own circuit court clerk and criminal case records.