Access Stark County Criminal Court Records

Stark County criminal court records are kept by the Circuit Court Clerk in Toulon, covering all criminal cases filed in this small north-central Illinois county of about 5,400 residents. This page covers how to search those records through Judici.com, how to contact the Toulon courthouse directly, what statewide criminal history resources the Illinois State Police provides, and the legal rules that govern public access to Stark County court files.

Stark County Circuit Court Clerk

Circuit Clerk Julie Kenney manages the Stark County clerk's office at 130 West Main Street, P.O. Box 426, Toulon, IL 61483-0426. The main phone is 309/286-5941 and the fax is 309/286-4039. The clerk's office is the official keeper of all Stark County court records, which includes criminal charges, civil filings, traffic cases, and family court matters.

For criminal court records, the clerk holds the full case file from the initial charge through the final order. That includes complaints, indictments, bond records, motions, docket entries, court orders, plea agreements, and sentencing documents. Public files can be reviewed at the Toulon courthouse at no charge. Copies carry a per-page fee. No explanation is needed for viewing a public court record.

Stark County is a very small county, and the clerk's office is a small operation. Always call 309/286-5941 before making a trip to Toulon. Staff can confirm office hours, let you know if a case is on file, and advise you on how to get copies. For older records, ask whether anything is stored off-site.

Under the Clerks of Courts Act, 705 ILCS 105, circuit court clerks throughout Illinois must keep public records open for inspection. Julie Kenney's office in Toulon operates under that same requirement.

The Illinois Courts Circuit Clerk Directory lists Julie Kenney as Stark County's clerk with the Toulon courthouse address and contact information.

Search Stark County Criminal Records Online

Stark County participates in Judici.com, the free case search service used by 82 of Illinois' 102 counties. You can search Stark County criminal court records by party name, case number, or attorney. Results show the case type, filed charges, hearing schedule, and case status. No account is needed.

Given how small Stark County is, the multi-county search on Judici is almost always the better starting point. Run a single name query across Stark, Peoria, Woodford, Marshall, Bureau, Henry, and Knox at once. That covers the north-central Illinois corridor in one shot and catches cases that might have been filed in any of the surrounding courts rather than Stark alone.

Judici.com provides free access to Stark County criminal court records and supports combined multi-county searches with Peoria, Woodford, Marshall, Bureau, Henry, and Knox.

For Stark County cases that were appealed, use re:SearchIL to find appellate court records. The platform became free on May 1, 2025. The Illinois Courts website provides background on the state court structure and links to every county clerk office.

In-Person and Mail Access

Visit the Stark County courthouse at 130 West Main Street in Toulon during regular office hours to review records in person. Bring the subject's full name and a case number if you have one. Staff will locate the file. Certified copies can be ordered and paid for at the counter the same day.

To request records by mail, write to: Stark County Circuit Clerk, P.O. Box 426, Toulon, IL 61483-0426. Include the subject's name, the approximate filing date, the type of record, and your contact information. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope so the office can return documents to you. Without a case number, manual searches take more time. The fax is 309/286-4039; call first to confirm what the office accepts by fax.

Statewide Criminal History Through ISP BOI

The Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification (ISP BOI) gathers conviction data from all 102 Illinois counties, including Stark. When a Stark County criminal case ends in a conviction, that result goes to ISP BOI and becomes part of the statewide database. The bureau is located at 260 N. Chicago Street, Joliet, IL 60432, reachable at 815/740-5160.

Background check requests can be submitted at isp.illinois.gov/BureauOfIdentification/BackgroundChecks. Certified reports from ISP BOI are commonly used for professional licensing, volunteer programs, and regulated positions. Fees are $15 for electronic and $20 for paper requests. What ISP may release is governed by the Uniform Conviction Information Act, 20 ILCS 2635.

Individuals may check their own criminal history for free through the CHIRP system at chirp.isp.illinois.gov. That system also allows you to dispute errors in your record at no charge.

The ISP Bureau of Identification combines Stark County conviction data with records from all other Illinois circuit courts into a single statewide criminal history database.

Which Records Are Public in Stark County

Most Stark County criminal court records are open to the public. Charging documents, docket entries, court orders, plea agreements, and sentencing records are all available. Illinois assumes court records are public by default unless a specific law says otherwise.

Certain records are restricted. Juvenile delinquency cases are sealed. Records that have been expunged or sealed by court order are not in the public file. Adoption records are always confidential. The Illinois Court Record and Document Accessibility Act, 705 ILCS 86, sets out which records may be restricted and under what circumstances. In public cases, Social Security numbers and financial account details are redacted before release.

Illinois courts are exempt from FOIA. Sending a Freedom of Information Act request to the Stark County clerk for court records will not produce those records. Public access rights come from the Clerks of Courts Act and Illinois Supreme Court rules instead.

Electronic Filing and Federal Records

Attorneys and parties in Stark County cases file documents through eFileIL, Illinois' statewide electronic filing system. Public access to records goes through the Toulon clerk's office or via Judici.com.

Stark County is in the Central District of Illinois for federal court purposes. If a matter may involve federal charges alongside state-level charges, check PACER for U.S. District Court filings. Federal and state criminal courts are separate systems and require separate searches.

Legal Aid and Self-Help Resources

Illinois Legal Aid Online offers free guides on record sealing, expungement, and how to access court records in Stark County and across Illinois. Illinois Court Help provides live chat with court navigators who explain procedures without giving legal advice. Both are free and available without an appointment.

Nearby Illinois Counties

Each neighboring county maintains its own criminal court records through its own circuit court clerk.