>Clay County Arrest Records Online

Clay County, Illinois Arrest Records

Are Arrest Records Public in Clay County, Illinois?

Arrest records are public documents in Clay County, Illinois, pursuant to the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) 5 ILCS 140/1 et seq. This legislation establishes the legal framework that guarantees public access to government records, including arrest information, to ensure transparency in governmental operations. The Illinois FOIA specifically designates arrest records as public information that citizens have the right to access, with certain statutory exceptions for privacy, ongoing investigations, and juvenile records as outlined in 5 ILCS 140/7.

The Clay County Sheriff's Office maintains these records and makes them available to the public in accordance with state law. Members of the public seeking arrest records may submit requests directly to the records division during regular business hours.

Can Arrest Records be Found Online in Clay County?

Clay County arrest records are accessible through various online platforms maintained by state and county agencies. The Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, in compliance with 20 ILCS 2630/5, has established digital repositories for criminal history information that includes arrest data from Clay County.

Online access is provided through:

The Clay County Sheriff's Office website, which maintains a searchable database of recent arrests
The Illinois Department of Corrections inmate search portal, which includes information on individuals who have been arrested and subsequently incarcerated
Third-party aggregator websites that compile public record information from multiple sources

Users should note that pursuant to 20 ILCS 2635/3, certain information may be redacted from online records to protect privacy rights while still maintaining public access to essential arrest data.

How to Look Up Clay County Arrest Records in 2025

Multiple official channels exist for accessing Clay County arrest records. Individuals seeking this information may utilize the following methods:

In-person requests at the Clay County Sheriff's Office: Clay County Sheriff's Office 300 Broadway Street Louisville, IL 62858 Phone: (618) 665-3316 Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM Clay County Sheriff's Office
Court record searches at: Clay County Courthouse 111 Chestnut Street Louisville, IL 62858 Phone: (618) 665-3525 Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM Clay County Courthouse
Online database searches through the Illinois Department of Corrections for individuals who have been processed into the state correctional system
Written requests submitted via mail to the Clay County Sheriff's Records Division, which must include the requestor's identification information and specific details about the records being sought, as required by 5 ILCS 140/3

Pursuant to Illinois Administrative Code Title 20, Section 1240.30, requestors may be required to pay reasonable fees for document reproduction, which are currently set at $0.15 per page for standard copies.

Contents of a Clay County Arrest Record

Clay County arrest records contain comprehensive documentation of an individual's interaction with law enforcement during and following an arrest. In accordance with 725 ILCS 5/107-9, these records typically include:

Subject's full legal name and any documented aliases
Demographic information including date of birth, gender, race, and physical descriptors
Date, time, and specific location of the arrest
Statutory citations for alleged offenses
Name and badge number of the arresting officer(s)
Booking photographs ("mugshots") taken during processing
Fingerprint records collected pursuant to 20 ILCS 2630/2
Custody status information
Case disposition if available
Bond information including amount set and payment status

The Clay County Jail, located at 300 Broadway Street, Louisville, IL 62858, maintains booking records that form a significant portion of the arrest documentation. These records are maintained in accordance with the Illinois Local Records Act (50 ILCS 205/1 et seq.), which establishes retention schedules for such documents.

Expungement of Arrest Records in Clay County

Illinois law provides mechanisms for the expungement or sealing of certain arrest records under specific circumstances. Pursuant to 20 ILCS 2630/5.2, individuals may petition for expungement if their case resulted in:

Acquittal or dismissal of charges
Successful completion of supervision or qualified probation
Certain non-conviction dispositions

The expungement process requires filing a petition with the Circuit Clerk at the Clay County Courthouse. Petitioners must complete the following steps:

Obtain a certified copy of their criminal history from the Clay County Sheriff's Office
File a Petition for Expungement with the Circuit Clerk
Pay the required filing fee (currently $120 as of 2025)
Serve copies of the petition to the State's Attorney, arresting agency, and Illinois State Police

After filing, a hearing date will be scheduled approximately 30-45 days later. If granted, the expungement order requires all agencies to destroy or return all records of the arrest to the petitioner.

The Clay County State's Attorney's Office reviews all expungement petitions and may object based on statutory criteria. Individuals with questions regarding eligibility may contact:

Clay County State's Attorney's Office 111 Chestnut Street, Room 201 Louisville, IL 62858 Phone: (618) 665-3672 Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM

Criminal Background Checks Using Clay County Arrest Records

Arrest records from Clay County are frequently utilized for background screening purposes. The Illinois Uniform Conviction Information Act (20 ILCS 2635/1 et seq.) governs the dissemination of criminal history information for non-law enforcement purposes.

Authorized entities may request criminal background checks through:

The Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification, which maintains a centralized repository of arrest information submitted by Clay County law enforcement agencies
The Clay County Circuit Clerk's Office for court records related to arrests
Private background check companies that access public record information

Employers and other organizations conducting background checks must comply with the Illinois Human Rights Act (775 ILCS 5/2-103), which restricts inquiries into arrest records that did not result in conviction. Additionally, the Illinois Employee Background Fairness Act (820 ILCS 75/1 et seq.) prohibits employers from considering arrests that did not lead to conviction in employment decisions.

The Illinois State Police also maintains specialized registries, including the Sex Offender Registry, which contains information about individuals arrested and convicted of qualifying offenses.

Differences Between Arrest Records and Criminal Records

Arrest records and comprehensive criminal records represent distinct categories of documentation within the Clay County criminal justice system. The primary distinctions include:

Scope of information:
- Arrest records document a specific incident of apprehension by law enforcement
- Criminal records encompass the entire history of an individual's interactions with the justice system
Legal significance:
- Arrest records merely indicate that an individual was taken into custody
- Criminal records include court dispositions, convictions, and sentencing information
Accessibility:
- Arrest records are generally available through the arresting agency (Clay County Sheriff's Office)
- Complete criminal histories require searches across multiple repositories including courts, corrections, and state police databases
Retention policies:
- Arrest records without convictions may be eligible for expungement after specified waiting periods
- Conviction records typically remain permanent unless specifically addressed through executive clemency

Pursuant to 20 ILCS 2630/3, the Illinois State Police serves as the central repository for all criminal history record information, including both arrest and disposition data from Clay County agencies.