Madison County Background Check
Madison County background check records are held at the Circuit Clerk office in Edwardsville, Illinois. The clerk stores criminal case files, civil court data, and other public records used in a background check. Madison County sits in the southwestern part of the state, just east of St. Louis. With more than 263,000 residents, it ranks among the most populated counties in Illinois. Searching for background check records here means going through the local Circuit Clerk or the Illinois State Police, depending on the type of search you need. Both paths lead to different sets of data that can show up in a Madison County background check.
Madison County Background Check Quick Facts
Madison County Circuit Clerk Office
The Madison County Circuit Clerk is your main local source for background check records. Patrick McRae serves as the current Circuit Clerk. The office is at 155 North Main Street in Edwardsville. You can call them at 618-692-6240. Fax goes to 618-692-0676. The clerk keeps records for all criminal, civil, and traffic cases filed in Madison County courts. Under 705 ILCS 105, the Clerks of Courts Act, the Circuit Clerk is the official custodian of all court records in the county. That makes this office the go-to place for local background check data.
When you need court case files from Madison County, you can visit the office in person. Bring a valid ID. Ask at the counter for the records you want. Staff 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 background check in Madison County, from felony charges to misdemeanor cases to traffic violations.
Madison County Circuit Clerk Contact
| Clerk | Patrick McRae |
|---|---|
| Address | 155 North Main Street, Edwardsville, IL 62025 |
| Phone | 618-692-6240 |
| Fax | 618-692-0676 |
| Website | madisoncountyil.gov/circuit-clerk |
Background Check Through Illinois State Police
The Illinois State Police runs the statewide system for criminal history background checks. Their Bureau of Identification in Joliet keeps 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 Madison County and every other county in Illinois. A name search costs $16 by mail or $10 through the electronic system.
Fingerprint-based checks are the other option. These cost more but catch records 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 Live Scan vendor to get printed. The vendor lookup tool shows locations near Madison County. Under 20 ILCS 2630, the Criminal Identification Act, the State Police must collect and keep criminal history data. This law is the backbone of how background checks work across Illinois, including in Madison County.
The Bureau of Identification main page has links to all search types and fee details for running a background check.
This page lists contact info, FAQs, and instructions for how to get criminal history records that may include Madison County data.
Madison County Background Check Fees
Fees for a background check in Madison County depend on which path 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. The ISP fee schedule breaks it all down.
Here is what you can expect to pay for a state-level background check from Madison 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 Madison County may add their own service fee on top of the state 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 Madison County
CHIRP is the fastest way to run a background check from Madison County without leaving your home. The system needs an Illinois Digital ID to use. You sign up through the state PKI website. A valid Illinois driver's license is required for the enrollment process. Once set up, you can submit name-based background check searches and get results with a Transaction Control Number.
The CHIRP portal handles sign-up and searches for Madison County residents and anyone else in Illinois.
The portal walks you through enrollment and explains how to pull up results using your TCN. Do not put a period after a middle initial when typing names. The site allows it but it creates problems with your search results. Madison 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.
Note: Out-of-state users can also search Madison County background check records through CHIRP using a different sign-up process.
Expungement of Madison County Records
Some records from Madison 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 Madison County court where the case was handled.
Filing the petition costs nothing. But once a judge signs the order, the Illinois State Police charges $60 to carry it out. The Office of the State Appellate Defender has full instructions on the steps to take. Not all records qualify. Some offenses must stay on your Madison County background check for good. Under 20 ILCS 2630, the rules for what can and cannot be expunged are spelled out in detail.
Madison County Public Safety Records
The Illinois Sex Offender Registry is a free public safety tool that covers Madison 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. 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 Madison County. FOIA requests can turn up records that go beyond what a standard background check shows.
The Illinois State Police also tracks crime data and arrest trends broken down by county. Madison County stats are part of this statewide dataset. These numbers give context to what shows up in local background check records over time.
Nearby Counties
Background check records from counties near Madison County are handled by their own Circuit Clerks. Pick a nearby county to find contact info and local resources.