Find Lawrence County Criminal Court Records

Lawrence County criminal court records are held by Circuit Clerk Cheryl Winkles in Lawrenceville, serving roughly 16,000 residents along the Wabash River on Illinois' eastern border with Indiana. This page explains how to search those records through Judici's online portal, how to contact the clerk's office for in-person or mail requests, and what statewide Illinois databases also contain Lawrence County criminal case data.

Lawrence County Circuit Court Clerk

Circuit Clerk Cheryl Winkles is the official records custodian for the Lawrence County Circuit Court. The office is at 1100 State Street, Lawrenceville, IL 62439-2390. The main phone is 618/943-2815. The fax is 618/943-5205. Lawrence County sits on the Illinois-Indiana border along the Wabash River, and the circuit court handles the full range of criminal cases filed in the county.

The clerk holds the original case file for every matter filed in Lawrence County courts. Criminal files include the charging document, arraignment records, docket entries for each hearing and order, all motions, court orders, and the final judgment. Whether a case ended in a conviction, dismissal, or plea, the complete record stays with the clerk. If probation or supervision was part of the sentence, those conditions are in the file as well. You can review any public case file at no charge during office hours. Copies are available for a per-page fee established by state statute.

The right to see court records in Illinois is grounded in 705 ILCS 105, the Clerks of Courts Act. Court records are public by default. You don't need to explain why you want to see a file or have any special standing. If a record is restricted, the clerk will let you know it's unavailable without disclosing what triggered the restriction.

The Illinois Courts Circuit Clerk Directory includes Lawrence County and all 102 Illinois county clerks with current contact information.

Search Lawrence County Criminal Cases Online

Lawrence County participates in Judici.com, the online case search platform used by 82 of Illinois' 102 counties. You can search by defendant name, case number, or attorney name. Results show the charge description, case type, hearing schedule, and current status. No login and no fee for a basic search.

Lawrence County borders Crawford County to the north, Richland to the west, Wabash to the south, and Edwards to the southwest. If you're not sure which of these counties handled a case, Judici's multi-county search lets you check all of them in one pass. Lawrence County also borders Indiana, but Indiana cases are in Indiana's separate court system and won't appear on Judici or any other Illinois tool.

Judici.com gives free online access to Lawrence County criminal case data and supports multi-county searches across southeastern Illinois.

When a Lawrence County case is appealed, it goes to the Fifth Judicial District Appellate Court. Those appellate records are available on re:SearchIL, which has been free since May 1, 2025. The Illinois Courts website explains how circuit and appellate courts connect and provides links to every county clerk in the state.

In-Person and Mail Requests

Visiting the Lawrence County courthouse in Lawrenceville is the most direct way to access case files. The address is 1100 State Street. Go during regular business hours, bring the subject's full name and a case number if available, and staff will retrieve the file. Certified copies can be ordered at the counter and paid for on the spot.

Mail requests go to 1100 State Street, Lawrenceville, IL 62439-2390. Your letter should include the subject's full name, the approximate year the case was filed, the type of record you need, and a phone number or email address for follow-up. Without a case number, the office will do a manual search, which can add a few days. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope if you want documents returned by mail. If you have questions before sending a request, call 618/943-2815.

The fax is 618/943-5205. Check with the office first to confirm what request types they process by fax rather than requiring mail or in-person submission.

Statewide Criminal History Records

The Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification maintains a statewide conviction database that includes records from all 102 Illinois counties, Lawrence included. ISP BOI produces certified criminal history reports used in professional licensing, employment, volunteer screening, and firearms background checks. The main phone for ISP BOI is 815/740-5160.

Online background check requests are submitted through isp.illinois.gov/BureauOfIdentification/BackgroundChecks. The Uniform Conviction Information Act, 20 ILCS 2635, controls what ISP can release and to whom. Reports include convictions and certain qualifying dispositions; they don't show every arrest or charge that was ever filed. If you want to view your own record at no cost, use the CHIRP portal at chirp.isp.illinois.gov. CHIRP also has a dispute process for correcting errors without needing a lawyer.

The ISP Bureau of Identification holds conviction data from all Illinois counties including Lawrence, providing a broader view than searching only the local circuit court records.

Which Records Are Public

Most Lawrence County criminal court records are open for public inspection. Charging documents, docket entries, court orders, plea terms, and sentencing records are all accessible. Illinois law treats court records as public by default, with exceptions set out in specific statutes.

Several categories are restricted. Juvenile delinquency cases are sealed by law. Records that have been expunged or sealed by court order are removed from public access. Adoption cases are confidential. The Illinois Court Record and Document Accessibility Act, 705 ILCS 86, identifies what a court can restrict and under what conditions. Even in fully public cases, certain personal data is redacted before documents are released. Social Security numbers, financial account details, and similar identifiers don't appear in what the clerk provides.

One distinction worth knowing: Illinois courts are exempt from the state Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140. A FOIA request to the Lawrence County clerk won't produce court documents. Public access to court records comes from the Clerks of Courts Act, not from FOIA. This is a common point of confusion, especially for people familiar with FOIA requests in other government contexts.

Electronic Filing and Federal Courts

Illinois circuit courts use eFileIL for electronic submissions. Attorneys and parties in Lawrence County cases file through this platform. If you're a member of the public seeking to review case documents, you go through the clerk's office in Lawrenceville or search Judici for publicly available case information.

Lawrence County's location on the Indiana border can lead to questions about which state's courts have jurisdiction. Criminal cases involving conduct in Lawrence County are handled by the Illinois circuit court system. If a matter involves federal charges, Lawrence County falls within the Southern District of Illinois. Use PACER for U.S. District Court records. State and federal cases are independent systems and won't appear in each other's searches.

Legal Aid and Self-Help

Illinois Legal Aid Online offers free, plain-language guidance on expungement eligibility, the sealing process, and other court procedures relevant to Lawrence County residents. Illinois Court Help has live chat with court navigators who can explain court processes without giving legal advice. No appointment is needed for either resource.

Nearby Counties

Lawrence County shares borders with several Illinois counties along the Wabash River corridor, each with its own circuit court clerk.