Pursuant to the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140/1 et seq.), arrest records are public documents in Wheaton, Illinois. The Illinois FOIA establishes the legal framework for public access to government records, including those maintained by law enforcement agencies. This legislation serves to promote transparency in governmental operations and accountability of public officials. Members of the public may access these records to maintain informed oversight of law enforcement activities within their community.
The public nature of arrest records in Wheaton is further supported by the Illinois Criminal Identification Act (20 ILCS 2630/), which governs the dissemination of criminal history record information. Under this statute, arrest data is classified as public information once formal charges have been filed. The Wheaton Police Department and DuPage County Sheriff's Office maintain these records in accordance with state retention schedules established by the Illinois State Records Act (5 ILCS 160/).
The retrieval of arrest records in Wheaton, Illinois may be accomplished through several official channels. Individuals seeking such information must follow established protocols and may be required to submit proper identification when requesting records in person. Available methods include:
Online Portal Access: The DuPage County public records database provides digital access to certain arrest records. Users must register for an account and may be subject to nominal fees for document retrieval.
Wheaton Police Department: Citizens may request arrest records directly from the records division.
Wheaton Police Department
900 W. Liberty Drive
Wheaton, IL 60187
(630) 260-2161
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wheaton Police Department
DuPage County Sheriff's Office: The Sheriff maintains arrest records for the entire county jurisdiction.
DuPage County Sheriff's Office
501 N. County Farm Road
Wheaton, IL 60187
(630) 407-2000
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
DuPage County Sheriff
Circuit Court Clerk: Court records related to arrests may be obtained from the DuPage County Circuit Court Clerk's Office.
DuPage County Circuit Court Clerk
505 N. County Farm Road
Wheaton, Illinois 60187-0707
Civil Department: (630) 407-8700
Criminal/Traffic Department: (630) 407-8600
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Requestors should note that pursuant to § 6 of the Illinois FOIA, agencies have five business days to respond to requests for records, with a possible extension of five additional business days under certain circumstances.
Arrest records maintained by Wheaton law enforcement agencies contain standardized information as prescribed by the Illinois Uniform Crime Reporting Program. These documents typically include the following elements:
Biographical Information: Full legal name, aliases, date of birth, gender, race, height, weight, eye and hair color, and residential address of the arrested individual
Arrest Details: Date, time, and specific location of arrest; circumstances leading to the arrest; whether force was used during apprehension; and whether the subject was armed
Criminal Charges: Complete listing of all charges filed, including Illinois statute citations and classification of offenses (felony or misdemeanor)
Case Processing Information: Arrest tracking number, booking photograph (mugshot), fingerprint records, assigned court case number, and name of prosecuting attorney
Law Enforcement Data: Name and badge number of arresting officer(s), arresting agency, and incident report number
Judicial Information: Bond amount set, conditions of release, court appearance dates, and preliminary hearing schedule
Detention Status: Location of detention facility, inmate identification number if applicable, and release date if processed
It should be noted that pursuant to 20 ILCS 2630/5, certain sensitive information may be redacted from public arrest records, including Social Security numbers, driver's license numbers, and information pertaining to juveniles under 18 years of age.
The expungement and sealing of arrest records in Wheaton is governed by 20 ILCS 2630/5.2, which establishes eligibility criteria and procedural requirements. Expungement constitutes the physical destruction of records and removal from public indices, while sealing restricts access to specified government agencies only.
Individuals may petition for expungement under the following circumstances:
The petition process requires submission of standardized forms to the 18th Judicial Circuit Court where the case was adjudicated. Petitioners must provide:
DuPage County Circuit Court
505 N. County Farm Road
Wheaton, IL 60187
(630) 407-8700
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Upon receipt of a petition, the State's Attorney has 60 days to file an objection. If no objection is filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. If an objection is filed, the court will schedule a hearing where the petitioner must demonstrate eligibility by a preponderance of evidence.
Pursuant to 20 ILCS 2630/5.2(d)(7), certain offenses are ineligible for expungement, including DUI offenses, sexual offenses requiring registration, domestic battery, and most violent felonies.