Find Criminal Court Records in Montgomery County

Montgomery County criminal court records are maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk in Hillsboro and cover all criminal cases filed in the 4th Judicial Circuit. This page explains how to search, access, and get copies of criminal court records in Montgomery County, Illinois, whether you're looking for information about a specific case, a person's record, or court filings from the Hillsboro courthouse.

Circuit Court Clerk in Hillsboro

Daniel Robbins is the Montgomery County Circuit Court Clerk. The office is at 120 N. Main Street, Room 125, Hillsboro, IL 62049. Reach the clerk at 217/532-9546 or fax at 217/532-2142. The official website for the clerk's office is at montgomerycounty-il.gov/circuit-clerk.

The Montgomery County Circuit Court Clerk keeps all official criminal court records filed in the county. This includes criminal complaints, informations, indictments, motion filings, docket entries, plea agreements, and final sentencing orders. Fees for certified copies are set by state law under 705 ILCS 105, which applies to every circuit court clerk in Illinois. Staff can search by defendant name or case number and pull whatever is on file.

Coming in person is the fastest way to get records. If you live outside Hillsboro, mail requests work. Put the defendant's full name, the approximate year of the case, and any case number you have. Send a check or money order for copy fees. The clerk will search and mail back the documents.

Online Case Search for Montgomery County

Montgomery County participates in Judici.com, the third-party case search platform used by 82 of Illinois's 102 counties. Judici is free to search. It pulls data from the circuit court system and lets you look up criminal cases by name or case number. Typical results include charges, court dates, and dispositions.

The screenshot below shows the Judici interface used to access Montgomery County criminal case records and those from other participating counties.

Search Montgomery County cases on Judici.com

Keep in mind that Judici may not show all older cases. For complete records, go directly to the clerk in Hillsboro.

The Illinois Courts system runs re:SearchIL, a free statewide case search portal open to the public since May 1, 2025. It covers criminal and civil cases from courts across Illinois, including Montgomery County. You can search by name without logging in. The portal is at researchil.tylerhost.net.

Both tools help you locate case numbers and basic case information. Neither produces certified copies. For certified documents, contact Daniel Robbins's office directly at 217/532-9546.

What Is Public in Montgomery County Court Records

Illinois law makes most adult criminal court records available to the public. Case filings, dockets, hearing dates, motions, plea agreements, and sentencing orders are all open. You don't need to explain why you want them. Walk into the Hillsboro courthouse or search online and the records are there.

Some things are not open. Juvenile records are closed. Sealed and expunged records are removed from public access. Certain personal details like Social Security numbers are redacted. Cases involving adoptions are restricted. If a Montgomery County case has been sealed, the clerk can tell you the case exists but cannot let you see the file without a court order.

Illinois courts are also exempt from the Freedom of Information Act under 5 ILCS 140. FOIA requests sent to the circuit court clerk won't be processed. Records access is governed by court rules and judicial statutes, not FOIA.

ISP Background Checks and Criminal History

The Montgomery County Circuit Court Clerk only keeps records for cases filed in Montgomery County. For a complete Illinois criminal history, the Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification maintains statewide records. Contact the BOI at 815/740-5160 or visit isp.illinois.gov/BureauOfIdentification.

The ISP provides fingerprint-based background checks for employers, licensing boards, and other entities. Individuals who want to check their own criminal history can do so for free through the CHIRP portal at chirp.isp.illinois.gov. The Access and Review process lets you see your own record without a fee.

The screenshot below shows the ISP BOI agency page, where you can find background check forms and additional information.

Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification

For the most complete picture of a person's criminal record, combine a county clerk search with an ISP BOI check.

E-Filing and Court System Information

Attorneys in Montgomery County file criminal documents through eFileIL, the Illinois e-filing system at efile.illinoiscourts.gov. If you are representing yourself, call the clerk's office at 217/532-9546 before trying to e-file. Some criminal case types still require in-person filing at the Hillsboro courthouse.

The Illinois Courts website offers general information about the state judiciary. The circuit clerk directory at illinoiscourts.gov lists contact information for all 102 Illinois counties. Montgomery County sits in the 4th Judicial Circuit.

Legal Aid Resources in Montgomery County

Free help is available if you need assistance understanding Montgomery County criminal court records. Illinois Legal Aid Online at illinoislegalaid.org has guides on criminal procedures, expungement eligibility, and how to read court documents. Illinois Court Help at ilcourthelp.gov walks people through common court tasks in plain language.

Both sites are informational. They don't provide legal advice. For anything involving an active criminal case, speaking with a licensed attorney is the right move.

Nearby Counties

Counties near Montgomery each maintain their own criminal court records through separate circuit court clerks.