Check Free St. Clair County Arrest Records: See Who’s in Custody

Search St. Clair County arrest records for free by utilizing publicly accessible official indexes and databases linked throughout this streamlined resource.

This article explains how to use the most appropriate channels and tools to efficiently check arrest records, charges, police custody status, and mugshots of suspects or convicts recently arrested in St. Clair County, Illinois.

Use the guidance in this resource today to find any subject’s previous arrests or conviction records (if found guilty) and to get copies of the desired record in St. Clair County, Illinois.

How To Search Recent St. Clair County Arrest Records & Find Mugshots for Free

Under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140/2.15), arrest records are generally open to the public and ready to be searched. However, if the disclosure of a record would interfere with ongoing law enforcement proceedings (e.g., an active criminal investigation), the information may be exempt from disclosure.

The general public is also not allowed to view Illinois arrest records that have been sealed or expunged. Furthermore, juvenile arrest records are not public records, as per the Juvenile Court Act of 1987.

The agency responsible for maintaining current arrests and inmate release information in St. Clair County is the County Sheriff’s Department. The office provides an Online County Jail Inmate Search tool, allowing the public to look up local arrest records for free.¹

To perform a search, go to the portal, enter the name of the person you are trying to look up and click Search. The results contain lists of individuals recently incarcerated in St. Clair County jail, including the offender’s name, jail listing/booking number and date of arrest.

Upon clicking on any row, users can get case details which include mugshots of each arrestee, name, age, date of birth, offenses they were arrested for, bond amount, bond details. It includes whether or not the offender is to be released on bond, next court hearing date, time and other relevant information, such as the gender, height, weight, hair, eyes, and race of the person.

If the desired record is not available online or to confirm a record, the sheriff’s office may be reached at the address below. They can also be contacted at 618.277.3505 for non-emergency matters, 618.207.4374 for jail, or emailed at [email protected].

St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office
700 North 5th Street,
Belleville, Illinois 62220

The sheriff’s office is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Inquirers can request a record by filling out the Freedom of Information Act Form and submitting it at the sheriff’s office in person or by mail.

The sheriff’s department also provides an Inmate Information System that can be used by anyone by calling 618-207-4374.

If an arrest has been made, press 1 for current bond information, and press 2 for “Jail Policy” (e.g., how to initiate a visit, money transfer, send a mail). The caller may press 4 for “Phone Account Information” or press 5 to leave a voice message for an inmate.

Other local law enforcement agencies in the county do not have any arrest logs or databases of mugshots on their official websites. However, if there are reasons to believe someone has been detained or charged in the city of Belleville, an inquiry can be made at the city police department here:

Belleville Police Department
101 South Illinois St.
City of Belleville, IL 62220

Phone: 618-233-6810

Interested persons may submit a request for a police record by filling out the Records Request Form online.² Fees for public record requests can be found on their official website. A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request is typically processed within 4-5 days.

Note that there is no specific form required to make a FOIA request. Refer to the FAQ Section for additional information.

There is another free option to use VINELink, a government-endorsed third-party online portal to find offenders or defendants all through the state of Illinois. Users can search a person by name, ID number, and case number without paying a fee and also register for notifications to track someone’s custody status.

An inmate locator can help people learn about recent arrests in their county. However, to have a clearer picture of someone’s background, a criminal record history check may be useful.

How Do I Check Previous Arrests Made in St. Clair County Illinois?

As a rule of thumb, to look up any person’s criminal history, begin searching for court records that are already publicly available.

St. Clair County Courthouse records can be accessed through the Circuit Clerk’s Online Court Records Search Tool, completely free of charge.³ Both criminal and civil cases can be searched using the defendant’s details (last or first name, date of birth), case docket number or ticket number.

The search results display a list of persons matching those criteria. Users can browse the index without signing up/registering, and they will still be able to access a brief summary of each case and information about the parties involved.

The database includes prior arrest and offense details of each individual, number of cases filed, whether they were felony or misdemeanor cases, case number, status, upcoming appearance, fines or restitution owed, bond posted etc. It also displays the height, weight, ethnicity, age, gender and other details.

In addition, an Online Court Docket Search option is available on the Circuit Clerk’s website to search recent cases and hearings. The “Daily Court Docket” search option may be utilized to view cases with relevant details, e.g., arrest/offense date, arresting agency, case disposition history etc.

Note that criminal record data has been made available online for the convenience of the citizens, but its accuracy cannot be guaranteed (as indicated by a disclaimer on the website itself). Also, nonpublic information cannot be obtained through this website.

Those wishing to obtain official records, or to review a record in person, may submit a formal request at the St. Clair County Circuit Clerk’s Office.

St. Clair County Circuit Clerk
10 Public Square
City of Belleville, Illinois 62220

Phone: 618-825-2334
Email: [email protected]

If an arrest has occurred in a specific city/town, contact the respective police department to understand if you have the right to contact the person, to examine the case details, or to get copies of the requested record.

Local city police departments in St. Clair County do not provide online arrest records on their websites. However, a background check report/police clearance letter may be requested in person, by mail, in-person visit, email or other means of communication a police department has made available.

For example, to get information about a detainee at the Belleville Police Department, people can reach the station at:

Belleville Police Department
101 S. Illinois Street.
Belleville, IL 62220

Ph: 618-233-6810

To locate an offender who has escaped or moved elsewhere in Illinois from their original jurisdiction, a statewide record check may be necessary.

Any individual can run a statewide background check on their name or someone else through the Illinois State Police (ISP), Bureau of Identification. This option is available for both Illinois residents and out-of-state residents.

A name-based inquiry costs $10 to $16 per search (depending on the format of record requested), to be payable online or through a check or money order made to the Illinois State Police. Note that the requesting party has to provide the full name of the subject, their date of birth, sex and race to find their Illinois criminal history records.

Requesters have to follow the Criminal History Record Check Guidelines, properly complete the Uniform Conviction Information Request Form, and pay the required fee either online or send the application via email [email protected].⁵

Fees will be collected through money order/check. There is another option to mail the application to this address:

Illinois State Police
Bureau of Identification
Post Box #88727
Chicago, Il 60680-1727

An Illinois background check will uncover if the subject has a history of arrests, pending charges, convictions, or was ever detained in jail or prison anywhere in the state. If the search is conducted for official purposes (e.g., employment or licensing), the subject’s signed consent is required.

Another quick approach to do a personal arrest record and conviction history is through third-party public record search sites. Third-party providers collect data from a variety of sources (e.g., social media, court records, press releases) and compile them into a single database to make the search process more effective.

If there has recently been an arrest (someone you know), the situation can be both stressful and confusing. It is essential to be prepared and informed about what to expect next.

How To Be Released From Custody Without a Monetary Bail in St. Clair County

When a person is arrested, the police/sheriff is required to take them to the court within 48 hours.⁶ Previously, the judge or magistrate would allow a defendant to temporarily leave jail if a bond is posted or a bail is paid. This is how the accused would be released from custody until the trial begins.

However, now, under the SAFE-T Act (Safety, Accountability, Fairness, and Equity-Today), the traditional cash bail system/monetary bail system has been abolished in Illinois. Previously set bond and bail amounts, monetary sureties are no longer valid as per 725 ILCS 5/Art. 110.

This means the arrested person does not have to arrange cash to pay the court if they wish to be released from jail. Every defendant has the right to be released on “personal recognizance” provided that they will appear in all required court proceedings and will not commit any other offense in the future.

The state judiciary recommends finding a lawyer or seeking legal counsel through the Illinois State Bar Association. If a private attorney is not hired, a public defender will be appointed by the county to represent the defender.

The current “pretrial release” system is equivalent to a cash-free bond system. It is applicable to suspects who have allegedly committed certain criminal offenses, such as misdemeanors or non-violent crimes. St. Clair County falls within the 5th pretrial services region.

In pretrial detention hearings, the judge will determine whether to hold a person in jail or to release them before a trial is held. It depends on the severity of the alleged offense, the offender’s background, and whether they pose a risk to their community/likely to flee if released.

Under 725 ILCS 5/110-6.1(a), serious crimes such as forcible felonies, repeat DUIs (driving under the influence) or high-level drug charges do not qualify for pretrial release.

The judge may impose some conditions in the pretrial release, including home confinement, electronic monitoring, weekly supervision, random drug/alcohol testing etc., which the defendant has to follow in order to avoid having their release revoked. Money is no longer a part of the release conditions ordered by the court.

To learn about the rights of a person booked and detained at a jail or police custody, check the (725 ILCS 5/) Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963, Article 103. If a suspect is arrested and charged with a criminal offense, but the arrest does not result in a conviction, they are eligible to expunge their arrest records (have it erased from their record).⁷

Knowing how to search St. Clair County arrest records can be a valuable tool for citizens; it enables them to be more aware and informed, so they can provide assistance to others and pull themselves through difficult situations when needed.