Search Macoupin County Criminal Court Records

Macoupin County criminal court records are filed with and kept by the Circuit Court Clerk in Carlinville, covering criminal cases processed in the 4th Judicial Circuit. This page explains where to find Macoupin County criminal court records, how to search online, and how to get copies of documents you need.

Circuit Court Clerk in Carlinville

Amy J. Ashby serves as the Macoupin County Circuit Court Clerk. The mailing address is P.O. Box 197, Carlinville, IL 62626. Call the office at 217/854-3211 or fax at 217/854-7361. The clerk's website is at macoupincountyil.gov/circuit-clerk.

The clerk's office is the official custodian of criminal court records for Macoupin County. Every criminal case filed in the circuit court, from traffic misdemeanors to felony prosecutions, generates a case file the clerk maintains. The file includes the initial filing, any motions by either party, orders from the judge, plea documents if the case settled, and the final disposition. After a case is resolved, the record stays in the system permanently unless a court later orders it sealed or expunged.

Walk-in requests are handled during regular business hours at the courthouse in Carlinville. Bring the defendant's name and approximate filing year if you don't have the case number. Copy fees apply per page, with certified copies costing a bit more. State law under 705 ILCS 105 sets the fee rules and service requirements that circuit clerks must follow statewide.

Mail requests are also accepted. Write a letter identifying the case by name and approximate year, enclose payment for estimated fees, and mail to the P.O. Box address. The clerk's office will search, copy, and mail records back or contact you if more information is needed.

Online Case Search

Macoupin County participates in Judici.com, which supports free name and case number searches for criminal records. Judici is used by 82 of Illinois's 102 counties and is one of the most common ways to do a first-pass search. Case charge information, hearing dates, and dispositions appear in the results. No account is needed.

The screenshot below shows the Judici database interface, which is used to search criminal case records in Macoupin County and other counties across Illinois.

Search Macoupin County cases on Judici.com

Judici pulls data from the county court system but is not an official government site. Data for older or less recent cases may be incomplete. Always confirm with the clerk's office when the record matters legally.

The state's own portal, re:SearchIL, is available at researchil.tylerhost.net and has been free since May 1, 2025. It covers both criminal and civil cases from courts throughout Illinois. Because it links to the official case management system, it often reflects new filings more quickly than Judici.

Public and Confidential Records

Most adult criminal court records in Macoupin County are public. The public record includes the initial criminal complaint or indictment, all motions and orders filed during the case, plea agreements, sentencing orders, and the final disposition. Anyone can request access to these records. You don't have to explain why you want them.

Certain records are kept confidential. Juvenile cases are sealed by law. Records expunged or sealed by a court order are no longer visible in the public index. Social Security numbers, financial account details, and protected victim information are removed from copies before they are provided. Even if a case is visible in the index, some documents within the file may be restricted by court order.

Illinois courts operate outside the Illinois Freedom of Information Act. The judiciary is exempt under 5 ILCS 140. Court record access is governed by court rules and judicial statutes, not FOIA. Sending a FOIA request to the circuit clerk will not result in records being produced under that process.

ISP Bureau of Identification and Background Checks

For a statewide criminal history check beyond Macoupin County, contact the Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification. The BOI keeps records of arrests and dispositions from across Illinois. Their number is 815/740-5160, and their page is at isp.illinois.gov/BureauOfIdentification.

The Illinois criminal history record system is governed by 20 ILCS 2635, the Criminal Identification Act. This statute defines what a criminal history record is, who can access it, and under what conditions. Employers and licensing bodies use the BOI for fingerprint-based checks. Individuals can access their own history for free through the CHIRP portal.

The screenshot below shows the ISP BOI background check page, which provides forms and information for different types of background check requests.

ISP Bureau of Identification - Background Checks

Remember that ISP records and circuit court case files are separate things. The BOI gives you a statewide history summary. The court file gives you the details of a specific case.

Court System and Legal Resources

The Illinois Courts website covers how circuit courts are organized and provides a clerk contact directory at illinoiscourts.gov. It is the right starting point for understanding how criminal cases flow through the Illinois court system.

For free legal help, Illinois Legal Aid Online at illinoislegalaid.org has plain-language guides on criminal court procedures, expungement eligibility, and how to request records. Illinois Court Help at ilcourthelp.gov is aimed at self-represented people who need to navigate court matters without a lawyer.

Attorneys handling cases in Macoupin County circuit court use the eFileIL system at efile.illinoiscourts.gov for electronic filing. Self-represented people should check with the clerk's office before attempting to file online, as some criminal case types still require in-person submission.

Nearby Counties

Counties bordering Macoupin maintain their own criminal court records through their circuit clerks.