Franklin County Background Check Records
Franklin County background check records are managed by the Circuit Clerk office in Benton, Illinois. The clerk stores criminal case files, civil court data, and other public records that feed into a background check. Franklin County is in the southern part of the state with around 37,000 residents. You can search for background check records here by going through the local Circuit Clerk or using the Illinois State Police statewide system. Both routes pull from different sets of data, and a full background check in Franklin County may call for searches through more than one source.
Franklin County Quick Facts
Franklin County Circuit Clerk Office
The Franklin County Circuit Clerk is the main local source for background check records. The office sits in the Franklin County Courthouse in Benton. You can call them at 618-439-2011. The clerk keeps records for all criminal, civil, and traffic cases filed in Franklin County courts. Under 705 ILCS 105, the Clerks of Courts Act, the Circuit Clerk serves as the official custodian of all court records in the county. That makes this office the primary place for background check data in Franklin County.
Walk-in visits are an option. Bring a valid ID. Staff at the counter can pull up case files by name or case number. There may be a small fee for copies. The clerk handles a wide range of case types that show up on a Franklin County background check. Felony charges, misdemeanor cases, and traffic violations all pass through this office.
Franklin County Circuit Clerk Contact
| Address | Franklin County Courthouse, Benton, IL 62812 |
|---|---|
| Phone | 618-439-2011 |
| Website | franklincounty.il.gov/circuit-clerk |
Background Check Through Illinois State Police
The Illinois State Police runs the statewide criminal history system. Their Bureau of Identification in Joliet holds over five million fingerprint records. You can run a name-based background check through the CHIRP system online. This pulls records from the central state database, which includes data from Franklin County and every other county in Illinois. A name search costs $16 by mail or $10 through the electronic portal.
Fingerprint-based checks are the other path. They cost more but catch records that a name search might miss. A state-only fingerprint check runs $20 by paper or $15 through Live Scan. You need to visit an approved vendor to get printed. The vendor lookup tool shows Live Scan locations near Franklin County. Under 20 ILCS 2630, the Criminal Identification Act, the State Police must collect and keep criminal history data from every county. This law is the backbone of how background checks work in Illinois.
The Bureau of Identification main page has links to all search types and fee info for running a background check.
This page lists contact details, FAQs, and step-by-step instructions for pulling criminal history records that may include Franklin County data.
Franklin County Background Check Fees
Fees for a background check in Franklin County depend on which route you take. The Circuit Clerk charges for copies and record research. Rates vary by document type. The state-level fees through the Illinois State Police are fixed across all counties. The ISP fee schedule breaks it all down.
Here is what you can expect to pay for a state-level background check from Franklin County:
- Name-based search (manual): $16
- Name-based search (electronic): $10
- State fingerprint check (Live Scan): $15
- FBI fingerprint check: $12
- Combined state and FBI check (Live Scan): $27
- Expungement court order processing: $60
Live Scan vendors near Franklin County may add their own service fee on top of these rates. Access and Review of your own record is free. That lets you see what shows up when someone runs a background check on you in Illinois.
Online Background Check Access in Franklin County
CHIRP is the fastest way to run a background check from Franklin County without going to the courthouse. The system needs an Illinois Digital ID to use. You sign up through the state PKI website. A valid Illinois driver's license is needed for enrollment. Once set up, you can submit name-based background check searches and get results with a Transaction Control Number.
The CHIRP portal handles both sign-up and searches for Franklin County residents and anyone else in the state.
Do not put a period after a middle initial when typing names into the system. The site allows it but it can cause problems with search results. Franklin County criminal history data feeds into this same state system, so CHIRP searches will pull up any records from the county that are in the central database. Out-of-state users can also search Franklin County background check records through CHIRP using a separate enrollment process.
Expungement of Franklin County Records
Some records from Franklin County can be cleared from a background check. Illinois allows expungement and sealing of certain criminal records. Expungement destroys the record. Sealing hides it from public view. Both change what shows up on a background check. The process starts with a petition filed in the Franklin County court where the case was heard.
Filing the petition costs nothing. But once a judge signs the order, the Illinois State Police charges $60 to process it. The Office of the State Appellate Defender has full instructions on the steps to take. Not all records qualify. Dismissed cases and acquittals are usually eligible for expungement in Franklin County. Convictions have more limits under 20 ILCS 2630. The rules for what can and cannot be expunged are spelled out in that statute in detail.
Franklin County Public Safety Records
The Illinois Sex Offender Registry is a free public safety tool that covers Franklin County. You can search by name or look up offenders near a specific address. This database is separate from a criminal history background check but covers related public safety data for the area.
Under 5 ILCS 140, the Freedom of Information Act, you also have the right to request certain government records from state and local agencies in Franklin County. FOIA requests can turn up records that go beyond what a standard background check shows. To submit a request, put it in writing and send it to the specific Franklin County agency that holds the record you want. The county must respond within five business days. If they deny your request, they need to explain why in writing.
For state-level records, the Illinois State Police has its own FOIA process. Background check data held by the Bureau of Identification may be accessible through that channel depending on the type of record and who is asking.
Nearby Counties
Background check records from counties near Franklin County are handled by their own Circuit Clerks. Each county keeps separate court records. A state-level background check through CHIRP covers all 102 counties at once, but a local search only covers that one county.