McLean County accounts for approximately 3,200 of the 250,000 arrests made annually throughout Illinois. Under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), arrest records are considered public information accessible to citizens.
To obtain copies of arrest records in McLean County, requesters must pay a processing fee, typically $10 for the first copy and $2 for each additional copy. Fees may vary depending on the scope of the request. Requests can be submitted to the Sheriff's Office, local police departments, the Circuit Court, or the State's Attorney's Office, depending on the nature of the case.
Arrest records in McLean County are maintained by multiple agencies, including the Sheriff's Office, Bloomington and Normal Police Departments, State Police, and Circuit Court.
The County Sheriff's Office provides access to arrest records through their Records Division. Individuals can obtain these records by submitting a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request either through the department's online portal or in person at the Sheriff's Office headquarters in Bloomington. For recent arrest information, the public can utilize The Illinois Inmate Search feature, which displays booking information and the current custody status of individuals in the county's detention facilities.
Obtaining arrest records from police departments in McLean County begins with identifying which agency made the arrest. The county houses several law enforcement agencies, including the Bloomington Police Department and Normal Police Department as the largest municipal forces.
Each department maintains its own records system. Interested parties should visit the specific department's website for their Public Records or FOIA Request section, which allows for online submission of record requests. Alternatively, individuals may visit the Records Division at the respective police headquarters.
McLean County contains multiple jurisdictions beyond Bloomington and Normal, including smaller municipal departments in towns like Lexington and LeRoy. The Illinois State Police also maintains jurisdiction throughout the county and keeps separate arrest records for cases they handle.
The Illinois State Police (ISP) functions as the central repository for criminal history information across Illinois, maintaining comprehensive records of arrests, charges, and convictions for individuals in McLean County and statewide.
The ISP provides multiple methods for obtaining criminal records. For online requests, individuals can visit the Illinois State Police Criminal History Information Response Process (CHIRP) website, complete the required forms, and pay the $20 processing fee via credit card.
Those preferring mail service can download and complete the Access and Review Form, include a $20 check or money order payable to "Illinois State Police," and mail it to the ISP Bureau of Identification in Springfield.
For immediate service, requesters may visit the ISP headquarters in Springfield in person. McLean County residents seeking local criminal information can alternatively contact the McLean County Sheriff's Office Records Division or visit the Circuit Clerk's Office for court records related to criminal cases within county jurisdiction.
Individuals seeking arrest records for arrests leading to formal charges in the County can access these documents at the Law & Justice Center in Bloomington. The Circuit Clerk's Office maintains all criminal court records, with felony cases handled by the Circuit Court and misdemeanors processed through the county's branch courts.
Those requesting criminal court documents can obtain copies through the Circuit Clerk's Office either in person at the courthouse during business hours or online via the Judicial Case Management System. The online system requires registration and charges nominal fees for document access and printing.
For in-person requests, visitors should bring identification and case information to the Records Division on the first floor of the Law & Justice Center. Staff can assist with searches and provide copies at standard rates. For broader criminal history searches or more comprehensive arrest records, interested parties may find current information through third-party websites like InfoTracer.
The County has an annual crime rate of approximately 4,200 incidents per 100,000 residents. The arrest figures reported for these selected offenses are derived from Illinois State Police Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) and FBI Crime Data Explorer.
| Arrest Type | Number of Arrests |
|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 482 |
| Property Crime | 3,718 |
| Aggravated Assaults | 305 |
| Murder | 8 |
| Burglaries | 412 |
| Robbery | 62 |
| Rape | 107 |
| Larceny | 3,125 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 181 |
| Department | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Colfax Police Department | 307 N Harrison St | 309-723-6241 |
| Name | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| McLean County IL Juvenile Detention Center | 903 North Main Street | 309-888-5550 |