Madison County Criminal Court Records

Madison County criminal court records are filed and maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk in Edwardsville, covering the 3rd Judicial Circuit in southwestern Illinois across the Mississippi River from St. Louis, with over 265,000 residents. This page explains every method for searching, requesting, and accessing those case records through online tools, the clerk's office, and statewide Illinois databases.

Madison County Circuit Court Clerk Office

Patrick McRae is the Madison County Circuit Court Clerk. The office is located at 155 North Main Street, Edwardsville, IL 62025-1955. Call 618/692-6240 or fax 618/692-0676. The clerk's website is madisoncountyil.gov/departments/circuit_clerk. All criminal cases filed in Madison County go through this office, from initial charging to final judgment and any post-conviction proceedings.

The 3rd Judicial Circuit handles Madison County cases. The courthouse in Edwardsville is the central location for all circuit court filings. The clerk's staff manages case records for felony and misdemeanor criminal matters, traffic violations, civil suits, and family law cases. For criminal court records specifically, the clerk's office is the primary keeper of all related documents, orders, and case history.

Illinois law ensures public access to these records. Under 705 ILCS 105, the Clerks of Courts Act, court records are open for inspection at no cost. Copies have a per-page fee, but viewing is free. No explanation is required to access a public record.

The clerk's website includes office hours, a list of fees for copies and certifications, and forms for common court processes. Before visiting in person, checking the website can save time and help you bring the right documents or payment method.

Online Case Search for Madison County

Madison County participates in Judici.com, part of the network covering 82 of Illinois' 102 counties. Through Judici you can search Madison County criminal court records by party name or case number. Results show charges, hearing dates, case status, and disposition data without any account or fee. Judici pulls directly from the clerk's case management system, so the information is reasonably current.

The Madison County Circuit Clerk's homepage gives a direct look at the office's services and how the county handles public record access. The screenshot below is from the official clerk website and reflects how the county presents its criminal court records services to the public.

The Madison County Circuit Clerk website provides direct access to office contact information, available services, and guidance on requesting criminal court records from the Edwardsville courthouse.

For records from cases that were appealed, the re:SearchIL portal is the right tool. It went live as a free public resource on May 1, 2025 and covers all Illinois reviewing court records. Madison County appeals go to the Fifth Appellate District. Those records are searchable through re:SearchIL without a fee.

Requesting Records In Person or by Mail

The clerk's office at 155 North Main Street in Edwardsville is open to the public during regular courthouse hours. Bring the subject's full name and date of birth. If you have a case number, that helps staff pull the record faster. You can review the case at the counter or at a public terminal, and if you need copies, staff will prepare them and collect the per-page fee.

Mail requests go to the same address: 155 North Main Street, Edwardsville, IL 62025-1955. Fax: 618/692-0676. Include the subject's name, date of birth, approximate case date, and any case number you have. The clerk's office will confirm what they found and provide a cost estimate before sending copies. Allow one to two weeks for most mail requests, longer if you have limited identifying information.

Note: For cases with no case number and limited identifying information, the clerk may require more time to search records manually. Calling 618/692-6240 before sending a mail request can help you understand what's needed upfront.

Statewide Criminal History Records

A Madison County court record search only reflects what was filed in that county. For a complete Illinois criminal history, the Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification maintains the statewide conviction database. ISP BOI compiles records from all 102 Illinois counties and provides certified background check reports for employment, licensing, and personal review.

Order a conviction check online at isp.illinois.gov/BureauOfIdentification/BackgroundChecks. Individuals checking their own record can do so free through ISP's Access and Review program or the CHIRP portal. The Uniform Conviction Information Act (20 ILCS 2635) sets out the rules for who can access what, and on what terms. ISP BOI is located at 260 N. Chicago St., Joliet, IL 60432, phone 815/740-5160, though records requests go through the online portal or approved fingerprint vendors.

What Records Are Public in Madison County

Most Madison County criminal court records are open to the public. Charging instruments, court orders, plea records, jury verdicts, and sentencing judgments are all accessible. The Illinois Code of Criminal Procedure, 725 ILCS 5, governs how criminal cases unfold in Illinois courts, and those proceedings generate a public record by default.

Some records are off-limits. Juvenile delinquency cases are sealed. Adoption records are closed. If a court has entered a sealing or expungement order, the record drops from public access. This applies to the clerk's own systems, Judici, and any other public tool. Social Security numbers and financial account data are redacted from public copies even when the underlying case is public.

Illinois courts are exempt from FOIA (5 ILCS 140). You cannot use a FOIA request to obtain Madison County criminal court records. The proper channel is the clerk's public records process. The same right-to-access rules apply, but they come from court rules and the Clerks of Courts Act rather than FOIA.

The eFileIL system handles electronic case filings for Madison County and all other participating Illinois circuit courts, though it is a submission platform rather than a public records search tool.

Electronic Filing and Court Services

Madison County uses eFileIL for electronic case submissions. Attorneys in most case types must e-file. Self-represented parties in criminal cases should confirm requirements with the clerk's office before submitting anything. EFileIL is maintained by the Illinois Courts as a uniform platform across the state, so the experience in Madison County matches what you'd find in any other participating county.

Free Legal Help and Support Resources

Illinois Legal Aid Online covers Madison County court procedures, criminal records, and expungement eligibility in plain language with no charge. If you're trying to figure out whether a Madison County criminal record can be sealed or expunged, their screening tool is a practical first step. Illinois Court Help has a live chat option staffed by court navigators who can help you understand the court process without providing legal advice. Both services are free.

For federal cases connected to Madison County, the Southern District of Illinois is the relevant federal court. Use PACER to search federal records. There's a small per-page fee for documents, with a quarterly exemption for low-volume accounts.

Nearby Counties

Madison County borders five other Illinois counties in the southwestern part of the state.