Search LaSalle County Background Check
Background check records in LaSalle County are managed by the Circuit Clerk's office in Ottawa. The county covers a large stretch of north-central Illinois with a population of about 108,390. Court records here include criminal cases, civil filings, traffic matters, and family law proceedings heard in the 13th Judicial Circuit. LaSalle County splits its court operations between two locations, one for civil cases and one for criminal. Greg Vaccaro serves as the current Circuit Clerk. You can search for background check data through his office online, by mail, by phone, or in person at the courthouse in Ottawa.
LaSalle County Quick Facts
LaSalle County Background Check Records
Greg Vaccaro is the LaSalle County Circuit Clerk. His office handles all court records in the county. Under 705 ILCS 105, the Clerks of Courts Act, each circuit clerk in Illinois must maintain and provide access to case files. Vaccaro's office stores criminal histories, civil judgments, traffic violations, and family court documents. Any of these records can show up in a background check.
What makes LaSalle County different from many other counties is the split between civil and criminal offices. Civil cases go through the office at 119 W. Madison Street in Ottawa. Criminal and traffic cases are handled at 707 Etna Road in Ottawa. You need to contact the right location depending on what type of background check record you are looking for. If you are not sure which office has the record you need, call the main line and they can direct you.
The LaSalle County website shows available services and court information for the county.
From the county site you can find links to court services, contact info, and department pages that cover both the civil and criminal divisions.
| Office | LaSalle County Circuit Clerk |
|---|---|
| Clerk | Greg Vaccaro |
| Civil Address | 119 W. Madison Street, Ottawa, IL 61350 |
| Criminal Address | 707 Etna Road, Ottawa, IL 61350 |
| Phone | 815-434-8671 |
| Fax (Criminal) | 815-434-8299 |
| Fax (Civil) | 815-433-9198 |
| Email (Criminal) | CriminalCopies@lasallecounty.com |
| Email (Civil) | CopyRequests@lasallecounty.com |
| Website | lasallecounty.com |
LaSalle County Background Check Fees
The clerk's office charges set fees for copies of court records. Knowing the costs ahead of time saves a trip or a follow-up call. Certified copies cost $6.00 each. Plain copies run $2.00 for the first page, $0.50 for each of the next 19 pages, and $0.25 per page after that. These fees apply to both criminal and civil record copies used in a background check.
If you send a request by mail, include payment with your letter. Checks or money orders should be made out to the LaSalle County Circuit Clerk. Include the person's full name and any case numbers you have. For criminal record copies, send your request to 707 Etna Road, Ottawa, IL 61350. Civil record requests go to 119 W. Madison Street. You can also email criminal copy requests to CriminalCopies@lasallecounty.com or civil requests to CopyRequests@lasallecounty.com.
Walk-in requests are handled at both locations during business hours. Bring exact change or a check.
LaSalle County Online Record Search
LaSalle County offers an online records portal. The system lets you search court cases from home. You can look up a person by name and see what cases appear in the LaSalle County court system. The portal shows case type, filing dates, charges, and basic status info. It does not give full case file details, but it works well as a first step for a background check.
The online tool is free to search. Downloading or printing documents may cost extra. Keep in mind that the portal only covers LaSalle County cases. It does not pull data from other counties or from the state criminal history database. For a broader check, you should also use the Illinois State Police CHIRP system. Combining a local court search with a CHIRP search gives you the most complete picture when running a background check on someone in LaSalle County.
Under 20 ILCS 2630, the Criminal Identification Act, Illinois law sets rules for how criminal records are stored and shared. Some records may not appear in an online search because they have been sealed or expunged. The Act governs what is public and what stays restricted, and those rules apply to LaSalle County records the same as everywhere else in the state.
How to Search LaSalle County Background Check Data
Running a background check in LaSalle County gives you a few options. Each has different trade-offs in terms of speed, cost, and how much detail you get back.
The online portal is the fastest starting point. Search by name to see what cases show up. Results come back right away and the search is free. But the online system does not show everything. Some records, especially older ones or sealed cases, may not appear. Use it for a quick look and then follow up with other sources if you need more.
For criminal records, contact the office at 707 Etna Road or email CriminalCopies@lasallecounty.com. Staff can search for cases by name and tell you what is on file. If you need copies, they will let you know the cost based on the page count. Criminal case files in LaSalle County can include arrest data, charging documents, court orders, plea agreements, and sentencing records. All of that feeds into a thorough background check.
Civil records go through the Madison Street office. Email CopyRequests@lasallecounty.com or call 815-434-8671. Civil cases include lawsuits, small claims, evictions, and order of protection filings. While most people think of criminal data when they hear "background check," civil records can also matter depending on what you are looking for.
State Background Check Tools for LaSalle
The Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification keeps the state criminal history database. A name-based search through CHIRP costs $10 and covers the whole state. Fingerprint-based checks go through Live Scan vendors and start at $15. State searches pick up records from every county in Illinois, including LaSalle. Use the vendor lookup tool to find a Live Scan location near Ottawa.
The BOI fee schedule lists all current costs. Fees last changed in 2019, but confirm the latest rates before submitting a request. The statewide search catches records from cases processed outside LaSalle County, which is why combining it with the local court search gives you the most complete background check.
The Illinois Sex Offender Registry is another free tool. Search by name or address to see registered offenders in LaSalle County. The registry shows names, photos, addresses, and offense details. It runs separate from the court record system but covers related public safety data.
Clearing Records in LaSalle County
Some records on a LaSalle County background check can be expunged or sealed. Expungement destroys the record entirely. Sealing hides it from most public searches. Both options change what shows up when someone checks court files. You file a petition with the 13th Judicial Circuit Court in Ottawa. There is no filing fee for the petition.
Not all cases qualify. Dismissed charges and acquittals are usually eligible for expungement. Certain convictions can be sealed after a waiting period, depending on the offense. The Office of the State Appellate Defender has detailed instructions on what qualifies and how to file. If the court grants it, the Illinois State Police charges $60 to process the order. After that, the record no longer shows on most LaSalle County background check searches.
LaSalle County Public Record Requests
Under 5 ILCS 140, the Freedom of Information Act, you can request certain public records from local agencies in LaSalle County. Police departments in Ottawa, Peru, Streator, and other towns handle their own records requests. Arrest reports, incident reports, and other law enforcement data can add context to a background check beyond what the court system shows. Contact the specific department for their FOIA process and any fees.
The sheriff's office and individual city police departments are separate from the circuit clerk. Court records and police records are two different systems. A thorough background check in LaSalle County may involve requests to both. The clerk gives you case outcomes and court filings. Law enforcement agencies give you arrest data and incident reports. Together, they paint a fuller picture.
Nearby Counties
LaSalle County borders several other counties in north-central Illinois. A person with ties to the area may have court records in more than one jurisdiction. Check these neighboring counties for a broader background check.