According to the Illinois Uniform Crime Reporting Program, law enforcement agencies recorded over 187,000 arrests statewide, including 8,859 in Winnebago County. In compliance with the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), these records must be made available for public inspection within 72 hours of an arrest. Agencies are also required to provide access to personal details, as well as the time, location, and charges associated with the arrest.
However, records that could compromise an active investigation may be withheld. In such cases, agencies must provide a detailed factual explanation to justify the restriction. Access to these restricted records is limited to entities authorized by law, the subject of the record, legal representatives, and the State Attorney. The fee for obtaining an arrest record in Winnebago County varies based on the request and may range from $0.10 to $35.
Winnebago County arrest records are held by various agencies, such as local courthouses, the county sheriff's office, the Illinois State Police (ISP), and police departments.
The Winnebago County Sheriff's Office handles arrest record requests through its Records Section, located at 650 W. State St., Rockford, IL 61102. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Interested parties may obtain police arrest records in Winnebago County by first identifying the arresting department. Requests for arrest records may be made online, in person, or by mail, depending on the police department's procedures.
Some departments offer a request form that may be submitted online or in person. If a police department does not provide an online request form, individuals may visit the Records Division in person during operating hours. The first 50 pages of a FOIA request are provided free of charge; however, additional pages cost $0.15 each.
Policing services are provided by the following police departments in Winnebago County:
The Illinois State Police Bureau of Investigation (BOI) handles criminal history information. Interested parties may request a name-based background check through the Criminal History Information Response Process (CHIRP) for a fee of $16. First, users must create a digital ID by clicking the "Get a Digital ID" tab on the CHIRP website. After creating the ID, login and enter the subject's name correctly, without punctuation, to ensure accurate results.
Residents of Winnebago County may review their own criminal records free of charge by visiting any local law enforcement agency for fingerprinting. The fingerprints, along with identifying details, are then sent to the Illinois State Police (ISP) for processing. If a criminal record is found, the ISP will send the results along with a Record Challenge Form. If no record exists, the ISP will send a statement confirming that no record was found.
There is a $20 fee for fingerprint-based background checks which may be completed at a licensed live scan fingerprint location. The fingerprint service costs an additional $15 fee. Upon completion, it is electronically submitted to the ISP for processing.
An arrest marks the initial step in the criminal justice process and is typically documented in the case file. These records are kept by the Winnebago County Clerk of Circuit Court and may be requested either online or by mail.
Interested parties may submit requests for criminal case documents through the document request page by providing the litigant's name, birthdate, and case number. The fees are as follows: $2 for the first page, $0.15 per page for the next 19 pages, $0.25 for any additional pages, and $6 per certified page. Criminal case information is also accessible online through the Public Access Portal.
Additionally, third-party websites like InfoTracer may provide reliable and up-to-date arrest records for Winnebago County.
The arrest data by offense shown below is derived from data published by the Illinois Uniform Crime Reporting (I-UCR) program for Winnebago County:
| OFFENSE | NUMBER OF ARRESTS |
|---|---|
| Murder & Non-negligent Manslaughter | 19 |
| Negligent Manslaughter | 4 |
| Rape | 13 |
| Robbery | 63 |
| Aggravated Assault | 490 |
| Simple Assault | 1,502 |
| Arson | 11 |
| Burglary | 41 |
| Larceny | 113 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 22 |
Source: Illinois UCR Program
It is situated in Winnebago county, Illinois with a total number of 236 employees - 9 female, 100 male officers and 127 civilians. Winnebago County SO ORI (Originated Agency Identifier) number is IL1010000, it belongs to the East North Central division in the Midwest region with a region code of Region II.
| Department | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Rockton Police Department | 110 E Main St | 815-624-8881 |
| Roscoe Police Department | 10595 Main St | 815-623-7338 |
| South Beloit Police Department | 519 Blackhawk Blvd | 815-389-3491 |
| Winnebago Police Department | 108 West Main Street | 815-335-2020 |
| Name | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Winnebago County IL Juvenile Detention Center | 5350 Northrock Drive | 815-516-2980 |