How to Search Madison County Criminal Records
The official path starts with the Madison County Circuit Clerk's Court Records Search. The case search lives at clericusmagnus.com on port 8443. The county warns the site can be slow during high-volume use. Help with the search system is at (800) 250-9884.
- Open the Circuit Clerk's Court Records Search page.
- Click through to the case search at clericusmagnus.com:8443.
- Enter the defendant's name or a known case number in YYYY-CaseType-###### format.
- Look for criminal case-type codes such as CF for felony, CM for misdemeanor, DT for DUI, and DV for domestic violence.
- Click the case to open the Case Overview screen with charges, parties, and Next/Last Court Date.
- For an official copy, file a Circuit Clerk copy request and pay the $6 certification fee per seal.
For an arrest that has not yet produced a case in the court system, call the jail inmate information line at 618-692-1064 for charge and bond details. See the inmate records page for the full jail walkthrough.
Types of Madison County Criminal Records
Criminal records in Madison County run the full range of Illinois charges. The State's Attorney divisions handle different categories of cases. The General Criminal Division prosecutes most felony work, around 85 percent of pending felony cases according to the office. The Violent Crimes Unit covers murder, weapons, and violent assaults. The Traffic and Misdemeanor Division handles high-volume traffic and misdemeanor offenses. Children's Justice handles juvenile and child-related crime.
- Felony cases (CF) – murder, robbery, burglary, drug delivery, weapons, and serious assault.
- Misdemeanor cases (CM) – retail theft, disorderly conduct, simple battery, criminal damage to property.
- DUI cases (DT) – first and second DUI offenses prosecuted by the Traffic and Misdemeanor Division.
- Domestic violence (DV) – domestic battery and related cases, often tied to orders of protection.
- Drug cases – possession, delivery, and trafficking under the Controlled Substances and Cannabis Acts.
- Weapons – unlawful use of a weapon, aggravated discharge, and FOID-related cases.
- Juvenile delinquency – restricted under the Juvenile Court Act, 705 ILCS 405.
What a Madison County Criminal Record Shows
The criminal record at the Circuit Clerk shows the structured case file: charges, parties, court events, and disposition. Mugshots and booking photos are kept by the Sheriff's office and are not part of the Circuit Clerk's case file. Personal identifiers like Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and minor birth dates are redacted from court filings under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 138.
| Field | What It Shows |
|---|---|
| Case Number | YYYY-CaseType-###### identifier. |
| Defendant Name | The person charged in the criminal case. |
| Charges | The statutory offenses listed in the charging document. |
| Bond Status | Bond conditions or no-bond hold. |
| Plea | Not guilty, guilty, or no contest. |
| Disposition | Conviction, dismissal, deferred prosecution, or other resolution. |
| Sentence | Probation, supervision, fine, jail, or prison time. |
| Next/Last Court Date | The next scheduled court setting. |
Charges vs. Convictions in Illinois
A criminal record can include arrests, charges, and convictions. Each one means something different. Background-check users sometimes treat them as the same; Illinois law does not.
| Item | Charge | Conviction |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | An accusation by the State's Attorney | A finding of guilt by plea, trial, or stipulation |
| How it ends | Dismissal, acquittal, or conviction | Sentence imposed by the judge |
| Background check effect | May show in public search until expunged | Shows on most criminal-history pulls |
| Expungement eligibility | Often eligible if dismissed or acquitted | Usually not, unless statute allows |
| Sealing eligibility | Yes, in many situations | Many qualifying convictions after waiting period |
Sealed vs. Expunged in Madison County
Illinois treats sealing and expungement as separate remedies. The Circuit Clerk links to Illinois Courts expungement and sealing forms for statewide petitions. Eligibility rules sit in 20 ILCS 2630/5.2 for adults and 705 ILCS 405/5-915 for juveniles.
| Feature | Sealed Record | Expunged Record |
|---|---|---|
| Public access | Restricted; not in general public search | Removed or destroyed |
| Government access | Some law enforcement and licensing users may see | Typically not retained in public index |
| Eligible records | Many misdemeanor and felony convictions after waiting period | Arrests without conviction, supervision, some cannabis cases |
| Waiting period | Varies by offense | Varies by disposition |
| Petition location | Madison County Circuit Court | Madison County Circuit Court |
A petitioner files in the Madison County Circuit Court where the arrest happened, serves the State's Attorney and arresting agency, and waits for any objection. The judge can set a hearing if anyone objects. Common denial reasons include ineligible offense, unpaid sentence requirements, wrong waiting period, missing agency notice, or a pending case.
Warrants and Failure to Appear
If a defendant fails to appear in Madison County criminal court, the judge can issue a bench warrant. A bench warrant becomes part of the public case record on the Case Overview screen. The Circuit Clerk's case search will show a warrant event as a docket entry. The full warrant records page covers how to resolve a bench warrant in Madison County.
Bond forfeiture is a separate issue. The State's Attorney's Forfeiture Division notes that posted cash bond may be forfeited if a defendant fails to appear after appropriate legal action. If a defendant returns to court after a failure to appear, the judge can decide whether to recall the warrant or set new bond conditions.
Specialty Courts for Criminal Cases
Madison County operates three problem-solving courts that divert qualifying criminal defendants into supervised treatment. Each one runs out of the State's Attorney's office and the Criminal Justice Center on Ramey Street.
The Madison County Assessment and Treatment Alternative Court, known as MC-ATAC, takes non-violent drug-involved defendants. Track I covers first-time felony offenders charged with Class 3 or 4 possession, theft, or property damage. Track II is open to people with prior history who are otherwise probation eligible. Successful completion can result in dismissed charges for Track I or early probation discharge for Track II.
The Mental Health Court diverts non-violent defendants with chronic mental illness. Eligibility runs through providers Chestnut Health Systems and Centerstone with statutory qualifications under 730 ILCS 168/20. The Veterans' Treatment Court serves veterans dealing with PTSD or service-related substance problems, in partnership with the VA, the Public Defender, and the Probation Department.
Public Defender and Victim Resources
Madison County's Public Defender represents people charged with criminal offenses where incarceration is possible and who cannot afford private counsel. Director Mary Copeland leads the office at 157 N. Main Street, Suite 397, Edwardsville, (618) 692-7474. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The office encourages phone consultations and accepts in-person visits by advance appointment only.
Crime victims have a separate path through the State's Attorney's Victim Advocacy Division. The State's Attorney's site includes Victim and Community Resources covering elder abuse, domestic violence, child protection, identity theft, and reentry programming tied to drug court, mental health court, and veterans court.
Note: Anyone who has been served with a notice to appear should call the Public Defender's office to verify the court date, time, and location before showing up.
Background Checks and Statewide Criminal History
Madison County Circuit Clerk case search returns county-level results. It does not pull statewide rap sheets. For an Illinois statewide criminal history, the Illinois State Police runs the official background check process. Employers, landlords, and licensing boards usually combine an ISP check with a county case search and any federal record review.
The Circuit Clerk does provide a criminal history copy through the records department for $6 per request. That document covers Madison County only. Anyone needing a broader Illinois history needs to apply through the Illinois State Police's criminal history program. Federal records require a separate PACER search through the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois.
Background-check users must follow the Fair Credit Reporting Act when they use criminal records for employment, tenancy, or credit decisions. This site does not function as a consumer reporting agency, and its results may not be used for those purposes.
Juvenile Criminal Records in Madison County
Juvenile delinquency, abuse, and neglect files are not in the public criminal record search. The Juvenile Court Act, 705 ILCS 405, restricts access to parties, attorneys, law enforcement, schools in some contexts, and other court-authorized users. The State's Attorney's Children's Justice Division handles many of these matters.
Illinois also offers juvenile expungement under 705 ILCS 405/5-915. The Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice tells users that expunged juvenile records may be unavailable later and recommends keeping certified copies of expungement orders. Madison County petitions for juvenile expungement go through the Circuit Court.
Adoption records and mental health treatment files in Madison County are also restricted under Illinois law in the same manner. Adoption files are sealed under 750 ILCS 50, and mental health proceedings are protected under state confidentiality rules. The Mental Health Court keeps treatment-related details out of the public case file even when the court date itself appears on the docket.