Kankakee County Criminal Court Records

Kankakee County criminal court records are maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk at 450 East Court Street in Kankakee, serving more than 106,000 residents in northeastern Illinois. This page covers how to search, request, and access criminal case records in Kankakee County, including online tools, in-person visits, and statewide databases that cover this county.

Kankakee County Circuit Court Clerk

Circuit Clerk Sandra Cianci runs the clerk's office at 450 East Court Street, Kankakee, IL 60901-3917. The phone number is 815/936-5700. Fax requests go to 815/939-8830. The office website at kankakeecountycircuitclerk.com lists current office hours, forms, and guidance on how to get copies of case records.

The clerk's office is the main keeper of all court records filed in Kankakee County. That includes criminal filings, civil cases, family matters, and traffic charges. For criminal court records specifically, the clerk holds the original charging documents, court orders, plea agreements, sentencing records, and any motions filed during the case. Staff can answer questions about what records are available and what the copy fees are.

Under 705 ILCS 105, the Clerks of Courts Act, court records in Illinois are open to public inspection. You can view any public case record for free at the clerk's office. If you want a physical copy, a per-page fee applies. You do not need to give a reason when you ask to see a public record.

The Kankakee County Circuit Court Clerk website gives access to court forms, hours, and online case search tools for Kankakee County criminal court records.

Online Criminal Court Records Search

Kankakee County participates in Judici.com, the primary online case search tool for Kankakee County criminal court records. Judici lets you search by party name, case number, or attorney. Results include the case type, charges filed, hearing dates, and current status. The service is free for basic searches and does not require an account.

Judici covers 82 of Illinois' 102 counties. If you need to search for someone who may have cases in more than one county, Judici lets you run a name across multiple counties at once. That can save time compared to checking each county's local portal individually.

Judici.com provides online access to Kankakee County criminal court records alongside 81 other Illinois county court databases in a single search interface.

For cases that were appealed to reviewing courts, use re:SearchIL, which has offered free access to appellate court records since May 1, 2025. If a Kankakee County conviction was challenged at the appellate or supreme court level, re:SearchIL is where you would look for those filings.

The Illinois Courts website also provides general guidance on the circuit court system and links to clerk offices statewide. It is a good starting point if you are unsure which court handled a specific case.

In-Person and Mail Access

To view records in person, go to 450 East Court Street, Kankakee during regular business hours. Bring a full name and, if you have it, a case number. Staff will pull up the record. If you need certified copies, request them at the counter and pay the fee at that time.

Mail requests should be sent to the same address: 450 East Court Street, Kankakee, IL 60901-3917. Include the subject's name, approximate filing dates, and the type of record you need. If there is no case number, the clerk's office will need more time to do a manual search. Enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope if you want documents mailed back.

Statewide Criminal History Records

The Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification (ISP BOI) keeps a statewide criminal history record system. This is separate from the Kankakee County Circuit Court records. ISP BOI pulls conviction data from courts across all 102 Illinois counties and issues certified criminal history reports. The office is at 260 N. Chicago Street, Joliet, IL 60432, phone 815/740-5160.

Background checks through ISP BOI can be requested online at isp.illinois.gov/BureauOfIdentification/BackgroundChecks. These reports are commonly used for employment screening, professional licensing, and volunteer clearances. The Uniform Conviction Information Act (20 ILCS 2635) sets out the rules for what conviction data ISP can share and with whom.

Individuals who want to see their own criminal history can use the CHIRP system at chirp.isp.illinois.gov. This self-review is free. If you see an error in your record, CHIRP lets you challenge the accuracy of the data.

The ISP Bureau of Identification maintains a statewide database of conviction records that complements Kankakee County criminal court records for comprehensive background searches.

What Records Are and Are Not Public

Most Kankakee County criminal court records are public. Charging documents, court orders, sentencing records, and docket entries are all accessible. The presumption under Illinois law is that court records are open unless a specific statute requires otherwise.

Some records are not available to the public. Juvenile delinquency cases are sealed by default. Cases that were expunged or sealed by court order are removed from public access. Adoption records are confidential. The Illinois Court Record and Document Accessibility Act, 705 ILCS 86, governs which records the court can restrict. Even for public cases, certain data is redacted, including Social Security numbers and financial account information.

Note that the Illinois judiciary is exempt from the state Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140. You cannot file a FOIA request to get court records. The right to access comes from the Clerks of Courts Act and court rules, not FOIA.

Legal Aid and Self-Help Resources

Illinois Legal Aid Online is a free resource covering criminal records, expungement eligibility, sealing procedures, and how to navigate the court system. It is written in plain language and covers Kankakee County specifically within its statewide guidance. Illinois Court Help offers live chat with court navigators who can explain procedures without giving legal advice.

The Illinois Courts Circuit Clerk Directory lists all 102 county circuit clerks. If you need records from a neighboring county or want to compare procedures, the directory has the phone, address, and website for each clerk office in the state.

Nearby Counties

Kankakee County borders several other Illinois counties, each with its own circuit court and clerk office.