White County Criminal Court Records

White County criminal court records are maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk in Carmi, covering all criminal cases filed in this southeastern Illinois county of about 13,500 residents near the Indiana border. This page covers how to search those records through Judici.com and re:SearchIL, how to contact the Carmi courthouse, what the Illinois State Police provides for statewide criminal history, and the rules that determine which White County court files are open to the public.

White County Circuit Court Clerk

Circuit Clerk Kelly L. Fulkerson manages the White County clerk's office with a mailing address of P.O. Box 310, Carmi, IL 62821-0310. The main phone is 618/382-2321 and the fax is 618/382-2322. The clerk's office is the official keeper of all White County court records, including criminal charges, civil matters, traffic cases, and family court filings.

For criminal court records, the clerk holds the complete case file from the initial charge through the final order. That covers complaints, indictments, bond records, motions, docket entries, court orders, plea agreements, and sentencing documents. Any public file can be reviewed at the Carmi courthouse at no cost. Copies carry a per-page charge. No reason is required for requesting or viewing a public record.

White County is in the far southeast of Illinois. The clerk's office in Carmi is small, and calling ahead at 618/382-2321 before visiting is always a good practice. Staff can confirm hours, tell you if a case is in the public file, and explain the process for getting copies.

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

The Illinois Courts Circuit Clerk Directory lists Kelly L. Fulkerson as White County's clerk with the Carmi courthouse address and contact information.

Online Search for White County Criminal Records

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

White County sits in the southeastern corner of Illinois surrounded by several other counties. Use Judici's multi-county search to run a single name query across White alongside Saline, Gallatin, Hamilton, Wabash, Edwards, and Richland. That covers the surrounding southeast Illinois region in one search rather than requiring a separate query for each county.

Judici.com provides free access to White County criminal court records and supports combined searches with Saline, Gallatin, Hamilton, Wabash, Edwards, and Richland counties.

For White County cases that were appealed to the Illinois Appellate Court, use re:SearchIL to find those records. The platform became free on May 1, 2025. The Illinois Courts website explains the state court structure and links to every county clerk office in Illinois.

In-Person and Mail Access

To review records in person, visit the White County courthouse in Carmi during regular business hours. The physical address is in Carmi; the mailing address is P.O. Box 310, Carmi, IL 62821-0310. Bring the subject's full name and a case number if available. Certified copies can be ordered and paid for at the counter.

For mail requests, write to: White County Circuit Clerk, P.O. Box 310, Carmi, IL 62821-0310. Include the subject's name, approximate filing date, the type of record you need, and your contact information. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope so the office can return documents by mail. Without a case number, manual name searches take more time. The fax is 618/382-2322; call first to confirm what the office will accept that way.

Illinois State Police Criminal History Records

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

You can request a background check online at isp.illinois.gov/BureauOfIdentification/BackgroundChecks. The fee is $15 for electronic and $20 for paper submissions. Certified ISP reports are used for professional licensing, volunteer screening, and regulated positions. What ISP can release is governed by the Uniform Conviction Information Act, 20 ILCS 2635.

Any individual can review their own criminal history for free using CHIRP at chirp.isp.illinois.gov. CHIRP includes a dispute process for correcting record errors at no charge.

The ISP Bureau of Identification aggregates White County conviction data alongside records from all other Illinois circuit courts into one statewide criminal history database.

Which White County Records Are Public

Most White 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 says otherwise.

Some records are restricted. Juvenile delinquency cases are sealed by law. 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 White County clerk for court records will not be honored. Public access rights flow from the Clerks of Courts Act and court rules, not the Freedom of Information Act.

Electronic Filing and Federal Records

Attorneys and parties in White County cases submit documents through eFileIL, Illinois' statewide electronic filing system. Members of the public access records through the Carmi clerk's office or via Judici.com online.

White County is in the Southern District of Illinois for federal court purposes. If a case may involve federal charges alongside state charges, check PACER for U.S. District Court records. Federal and state criminal courts are separate systems that require separate searches.

Legal Aid and Self-Help Resources

Illinois Legal Aid Online provides free guides on record sealing, expungement, and how to request court records in White County and throughout Illinois. Illinois Court Help has live chat with court navigators who can 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.