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Oak Lawn Arrest Records

Are Arrest Records Public in Oak Lawn, Illinois?

Arrest records are public documents in Oak Lawn, Illinois, pursuant to the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) (5 ILCS 140/1 et seq.). This legislation establishes the legal framework for public access to governmental records, including those pertaining to arrests made by law enforcement agencies within the Village of Oak Lawn. The Illinois FOIA operates under the principle that all persons are entitled to full and complete information regarding the affairs of government and the official acts of public officials and employees.

The Oak Lawn Police Department maintains arrest records as part of its official documentation. Under § 2.5 of the Illinois FOIA, records of arrests are specifically designated as public information that must be made available for inspection and copying. This provision ensures transparency in law enforcement operations and accountability to the public.

Members of the public seeking arrest records may submit FOIA requests to the appropriate municipal department. The Village of Oak Lawn is required to respond to such requests within five business days under normal circumstances, as stipulated in § 3(d) of the Illinois FOIA.

How to Look Up Oak Lawn Arrest Records in 2025

The Village of Oak Lawn provides multiple channels through which members of the public may access arrest records. These methods have been enhanced to accommodate technological advancements while maintaining compliance with Illinois state law regarding public records access:

Online Police to Citizen Portal: The Oak Lawn Police Department's P2C portal provides digital access to arrest information, wanted persons lists, and other public safety data. This system is available 24 hours per day and requires no fee for basic searches.
In-Person Requests: Individuals may visit the Records Division of the Oak Lawn Police Department to submit requests for arrest records during regular business hours.

Oak Lawn Police Department
9446 S. Raymond Avenue
Oak Lawn, IL 60453
Phone: (708) 422-8292
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Official Website
Written FOIA Requests: Pursuant to 5 ILCS 140/3, citizens may submit formal written requests to the Village Clerk's office or the Police Department's FOIA Officer.

Village of Oak Lawn - FOIA Officer
9446 S. Raymond Avenue
Oak Lawn, IL 60453
Phone: (708) 499-7743
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
FOIA Request Information
Cook County Circuit Court: For comprehensive criminal history information, including disposition of cases, the Cook County Circuit Court maintains records that may be accessed at their facilities.

Cook County Circuit Court - Fifth Municipal District
10220 S. 76th Avenue
Bridgeview, IL 60455
Phone: (708) 974-6500
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM

Contents of an Oak Lawn Arrest Record

Arrest records maintained by the Oak Lawn Police Department contain standardized information as required by Illinois state law and departmental policies. These records typically include the following elements:

Full legal name of the arrested individual and any documented aliases
Date of birth and demographic information
Date, time, and specific location of the arrest
Statutory citation and description of the alleged offense(s)
Case number and incident report reference
Name and badge number of the arresting officer(s)
Booking photographs (commonly referred to as "mugshots")
Fingerprint records and other biometric identifiers
Custody status information, including bond amounts if applicable
Initial court appearance date and location

It should be noted that pursuant to 50 ILCS 205/25, certain information may be redacted from publicly available arrest records, including:

Social Security numbers
Driver's license numbers
Biometric identifiers (except photographs)
Personal financial information
Medical information
Information pertaining to juveniles (governed by the Juvenile Court Act)
Information that would compromise ongoing investigations

Legal Limitations on Arrest Record Access

While arrest records are generally public in Oak Lawn, several statutory provisions limit access to certain information. The Village of Oak Lawn adheres to these restrictions in accordance with state and federal law:

Juvenile Records: Pursuant to 705 ILCS 405/1-7, records pertaining to arrests of minors under 18 years of age are not publicly accessible except under specific court orders or to authorized agencies.
Sealed or Expunged Records: Records that have been sealed or expunged by court order under 20 ILCS 2630/5.2 are removed from public access and cannot be lawfully disclosed by government agencies.
Ongoing Investigations: Information that would interfere with pending or contemplated law enforcement proceedings may be temporarily withheld under § 7(1)(d) of the Illinois FOIA.
Privacy Concerns: Personal information, the disclosure of which would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy, may be redacted under § 7(1)(c) of the Illinois FOIA.

The Oak Lawn Police Department is required to cite the specific statutory exemption when denying access to any portion of an arrest record. Requestors have the right to appeal such denials through the Public Access Counselor at the Illinois Attorney General's Office.

Expungement of Arrest Records in Oak Lawn

Individuals with arrest records in Oak Lawn may petition for expungement or sealing under Illinois law. The Criminal Identification Act (20 ILCS 2630/5.2) establishes the legal framework for this process. Eligibility criteria include:

Arrests that did not result in charges
Cases resulting in acquittal or dismissal
Successful completion of supervision or qualified probation
Certain non-violent convictions after applicable waiting periods

The expungement process requires filing a petition with the Circuit Court of Cook County. If granted, the court will order all records held by the Oak Lawn Police Department, the Cook County State's Attorney's Office, and other agencies to be either destroyed or returned to the petitioner.

Cook County Circuit Court - Expungement Division
Richard J. Daley Center
50 W. Washington Street, Room 1006
Chicago, IL 60602
Phone: (312) 603-5030
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM

Pursuant to 20 ILCS 2630/5.2(d)(9), the Oak Lawn Police Department must comply with expungement orders within 60 days of receipt. Following expungement, the department is legally prohibited from disclosing the existence of the record or the incident to which it refers.