Washington County Criminal Court Records

Washington County criminal court records are maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk in Nashville, covering all criminal cases filed in this south-central Illinois county of approximately 13,800 residents. This page covers how to search those records online through Judici.com, how to contact the Nashville courthouse by phone or mail, what the Illinois State Police provides for statewide criminal history, and the laws that determine which Washington County court files are accessible to the public.

Washington County Circuit Court Clerk

Circuit Clerk Andrea Renken manages the Washington County clerk's office at 125 E. Elm Street, Nashville, IL 62263-1100. The main phone is 618/327-4800 and the fax is 618/327-3583. The clerk's office is the official keeper of all Washington County court records, covering 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 orders, motions, docket entries, court orders, plea agreements, and sentencing records. Public case files can be reviewed at the Nashville courthouse at no cost. Copies carry a per-page fee. No explanation is needed for accessing a public court record.

Washington County's Nashville is a small county seat in southern Illinois, not to be confused with the city in Tennessee. The clerk's office at 125 E. Elm Street is the right place to start for any record request. Call 618/327-4800 before visiting to confirm office hours and check whether the record you need is available in the public file.

The Clerks of Courts Act, 705 ILCS 105, requires circuit court clerks across Illinois to keep public records open for inspection. Andrea Renken's office operates under that same requirement.

The Illinois Courts Circuit Clerk Directory lists Andrea Renken as Washington County's clerk with the Nashville, Illinois courthouse address and contact information.

Online Search for Washington County Criminal Records

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

Washington County borders seven neighboring counties, making Judici's multi-county search a practical tool. Run a single name query across Washington alongside Randolph, Monroe, St. Clair, Clinton, Marion, Jefferson, and Perry to cover the south-central Illinois area in one pass. That approach works well when you are not certain which county a case was filed in.

Judici.com provides free online access to Washington County criminal court records and supports combined searches with Randolph, Monroe, St. Clair, Clinton, Marion, Jefferson, and Perry counties.

For Washington County cases that were appealed to a higher Illinois court, use re:SearchIL to search appellate and Supreme Court records. The platform became free on May 1, 2025. The Illinois Courts website explains the court system structure and links to all county clerk offices statewide.

In-Person and Mail Access

Visit the Washington County courthouse at 125 E. Elm Street in Nashville, Illinois during regular business hours. Bring the subject's full name and a case number if you have one. Staff will find the file. Certified copies can be ordered and paid for at the counter the same day.

For mail requests, write to: Washington County Circuit Clerk, 125 E. Elm Street, Nashville, IL 62263-1100. Include the subject's name, approximate filing date, the type of record needed, and your contact information. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope for return documents. Without a case number, a manual name search will take more time. The fax is 618/327-3583; call first to confirm what the office accepts by fax.

Illinois State Police Criminal History Records

The Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification (ISP BOI) maintains a statewide criminal history database by collecting conviction data from all 102 Illinois counties, including Washington. When Washington County criminal cases result in convictions, those outcomes are reported to ISP BOI and entered into the statewide record. The bureau is at 260 N. Chicago Street, Joliet, IL 60432, reachable at 815/740-5160.

Request a background check at isp.illinois.gov/BureauOfIdentification/BackgroundChecks. The fee is $15 for electronic requests and $20 for paper. Certified ISP reports are commonly used for professional licensing, volunteer programs, and regulated employment. What ISP can release is set by the Uniform Conviction Information Act, 20 ILCS 2635.

Any individual can check their own criminal history for free using the CHIRP system at chirp.isp.illinois.gov. CHIRP also includes a process for disputing errors in your record at no cost.

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

Which Washington County Records Are Public

Most Washington County criminal court records are open to the public. Charging documents, docket entries, court orders, plea agreements, and sentencing records are all accessible. Illinois law presumes court records are public unless a specific statute directs otherwise.

Some records are not public. Juvenile delinquency cases are sealed. Records expunged or sealed by court order are removed from public access. Adoption records are always confidential. The Court Record and Document Accessibility Act, 705 ILCS 86, identifies which records courts may restrict and under what conditions. Even in public cases, Social Security numbers and financial account details are redacted before records are released.

Illinois courts are exempt from FOIA. A FOIA request to the Washington County clerk for court records will not be honored. Public access rights come from the Clerks of Courts Act and court rules, not the Freedom of Information Act.

Electronic Filing and Federal Courts

Attorneys and parties in Washington County cases file documents through eFileIL, Illinois' statewide electronic filing platform. Public access to filed records goes through the Nashville clerk's office or through Judici.com online.

Washington County is in the Southern District of Illinois for federal court purposes. If a matter may involve federal charges in addition to state charges, check PACER for U.S. District Court records. Federal and state criminal courts are separate systems requiring 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 Washington County and across Illinois. Illinois Court Help provides live chat with court navigators who explain procedures without giving legal advice. Both services 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.