Sangamon County Illinois Inmate Jail Records

Jail Records Are Public Information, But Can They Be Trusted?

The Freedom of Information Act guarantees that the general public has access to information that is held by public government agencies. Jail records are one of those documents. Anytime an individual is arrested or convicted of a crime, they can apply for a record release from the county courthouse. But how do you obtain these records?

In Sangamon County, all of the public information is controlled by the Circuit Court Record Office. They will only give you limited information on jail records. They will not give you access to the full files however. There is a fee to pay in order to see the jail records. The fee is very affordable, so there’s no need to worry about not being able to view the information you’re after.

The records can be accessed through the mail or online. You may have to fax or mail your requests in, but it shouldn’t take too long to get the response. If you need information right away, call the office and talk to someone who can make arrangements. The process of getting access to jail records online is a lot more streamlined, but you should be prepared to pay a small fee to do so. The record office may request some additional information on your behalf. But this fee may be required in addition to the fee for looking up jail records.

Jail records can be requested from the Illinois state prison or juvenile detention facility. You’ll need to complete an application, provide birth date, social security number and location where you want the records. You’ll also have to state the reason for the search. Some reasons are personal, but other times you’re doing it simply to get access to other public records. You will probably be required to give out your phone number, but it will help you find out if the person you’re looking up has an active license.

If you have to pay for a professional’s assistance to get the information you need, don’t hesitate to call the office that keeps criminal records. They usually have access to a national database. Once you’ve filled out your application and given them access to verify your information they will usually call your employer or credit card company to see if you have a record. Once they find no problem with the information, you should get a confirmation that the records are available.

Of course, there are instances when you might need instant access to jail records. It could be that you want to check up on a new employee at your place of employment. Maybe you’re a parent trying to find out if your child has been in an abusive situation. But with the way these databases work, any time you want quick and easy access to information, you have to pay for that kind of access. That means you should either buy individual records, or look into using a reputable site that offers you access to a national database.