Lee County Criminal Court Records Search

Lee County criminal court records are held by the Circuit Court Clerk in Dixon, serving about 33,500 residents in north-central Illinois. This page covers the main ways to access criminal case records in Lee County, including the Judici online database, in-person visits to the clerk's office in Dixon, mail-in requests, and the Illinois State Police statewide criminal history system used for background checks.

Lee County Circuit Court Clerk

Circuit Clerk Amy Johnson manages the Lee County clerk's office in Dixon. The address is 309 S. Galena, Suite 320, Dixon, IL 61021-0325. The phone is 815/284-5234 and the fax is 815/288-5615. Current office hours, forms, and record request guidance are available at the clerk's website: leecountyil.com/circuit-clerk.

The clerk's office is the official custodian of all case records filed in Lee County circuit courts. Criminal court records held by this office include charging documents, docket entries, court orders, plea agreements, sentencing records, and all filings made in the course of a case. Staff can answer questions about what documents are in a file and what any copy fees might be.

Illinois law under 705 ILCS 105, the Clerks of Courts Act, makes court records public by default. Viewing a public case file at the clerk's office is free. Per-page copy fees apply if you want documents. No reason is required when you ask to see a public record.

The Illinois Courts Circuit Clerk Directory includes Lee County along with all other Illinois circuit clerks, with address, phone, and website for each.

Lee County Criminal Records Online

Lee County participates in Judici.com, the primary online tool for searching Lee County criminal court records. Search options include party name, case number, and attorney. Results show the case type, charges, hearing dates, and current status. The service is free for basic searches and does not require an account or registration.

Judici covers 82 of Illinois' 102 counties. If you want to check whether someone has cases in other nearby counties, a single search can pull results from multiple counties at once. This is useful when you are not certain which county a case was filed in.

Judici.com gives online access to Lee County criminal court records as part of a statewide Illinois case search system covering 82 counties.

For cases taken to appellate court, use re:SearchIL, which became free on May 1, 2025. This platform holds filings from Illinois appellate and supreme courts. If a Lee County case was appealed, those records are in re:SearchIL. Federal cases in Lee County would fall under the Northern District of Illinois and can be searched through PACER.

In-Person and Mail Requests

To view a record in person, go to 309 S. Galena, Suite 320 in Dixon during regular business hours. A full name and case number (if available) will help staff locate the file quickly. Certified copies can be ordered and paid for at the counter during your visit.

Mail requests should be addressed to 309 S. Galena, Suite 320, Dixon, IL 61021-0325. Include the subject's name, an approximate date range for the case, the type of document, and a contact number or email. If you do not have a case number, expect some delay. Send a self-addressed stamped envelope if you want documents mailed back. The fax number is 815/288-5615 for requests the office can handle that way. Calling ahead at 815/284-5234 is always a good idea before sending anything by fax.

Illinois State Police Criminal History Database

The Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification (ISP BOI) runs a statewide criminal history database built from conviction data submitted by courts in all 102 Illinois counties, including Lee. ISP BOI issues certified criminal history reports used for background checks in many situations. The office phone number is 815/740-5160.

Background check requests can be submitted online at isp.illinois.gov/BureauOfIdentification/BackgroundChecks. The Uniform Conviction Information Act, 20 ILCS 2635, sets out what ISP may share and with whom. These statewide reports are different from the case-level documents held by the Lee County circuit clerk.

People who want to see their own criminal history can do so for free at chirp.isp.illinois.gov using the CHIRP system. CHIRP also provides a dispute process if you find an error in your record.

The ISP Bureau of Identification compiles conviction data from all Illinois counties into a single statewide resource that supplements Lee County criminal court records for background searches.

What Records Are Public

Most Lee County criminal court records are public. Charging documents, court orders, docket entries, plea agreements, and sentencing records are all accessible. Illinois law treats court records as open by default unless a statute closes a specific category.

Certain records are restricted. Juvenile delinquency cases are sealed. Records expunged or sealed by court order are not available. Adoption files are confidential. The Illinois Court Record and Document Accessibility Act, 705 ILCS 86, defines which records the court can withhold. Social Security numbers and financial account information are also redacted from public records.

Illinois courts are exempt from the Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140. You cannot file a FOIA request with the clerk's office to get court records. Access rights come from the Clerks of Courts Act and court rules, not FOIA.

Electronic Filing

Lee County courts use eFileIL for electronic case filings. Attorneys and parties submit documents through that system. Members of the public who want to view filed documents access them through the clerk's office or Judici, not through eFileIL.

Legal Aid and Self-Help

Illinois Legal Aid Online offers free plain-language guidance on expungement, record sealing, and court processes. Lee County is covered within its statewide content. Illinois Court Help has live chat with court navigators who explain what steps to take without providing legal advice. Neither service requires an appointment or payment.

Nearby Counties

Lee County is in north-central Illinois and borders several other counties with their own circuit court clerks and records offices.