Search McLean County Background Check
Background check records in McLean County are maintained by the Circuit Clerk office in Bloomington and the Illinois State Police statewide database. McLean County is the largest county in Illinois by land area, with a population of about 172,069 people. The county seat is Bloomington, where the courthouse handles all criminal, civil, and traffic case filings. Whether you need to look up a criminal case, pull court records, or run a formal background check in McLean County, the process starts at the local clerk office or through the state's online CHIRP portal. This page covers how to access those records and what resources are available.
McLean County Quick Facts
McLean County Circuit Clerk Background Check Office
Donald R. Everhart, Jr. is the McLean County Circuit Clerk. His office is the local authority for court records that make up part of a background check. The clerk office sits on the fourth floor of the McLean County Law and Justice Center in downtown Bloomington. All criminal case filings, traffic cases, and civil matters in McLean County pass through this office. If a case was heard in a McLean County courtroom, the record lives here.
You can call the office or visit in person to request records. The staff handles a large number of inquiries each day, so having a case number or full legal name ready will speed things up. Walk-in visits work best during mid-morning or early afternoon when lines tend to be shorter. The clerk office processes everything from simple record lookups to certified copies of court documents used in background checks for McLean County cases.
Circuit Clerk Contact Information
| Clerk | Donald R. Everhart, Jr. |
|---|---|
| Address | 104 West Front Street, Room 404, Bloomington, IL 61701 |
| Phone | 309-888-5301 |
| Fax | 309-888-5281 |
| Website | mcleancountyil.gov/circuit-clerk |
The McLean County Circuit Clerk website lists available services, forms, and office hours. Check there for any updates to procedures or fees before visiting in person.
McLean County State Background Check Systems
A county-level search at the McLean County clerk office only shows cases filed in that county. For a broader background check, you need the state system. The Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification maintains the statewide criminal history database. It pulls data from all 102 counties in Illinois, including McLean County. Any arrest, charge, or disposition that gets reported to the state ends up in this central database.
CHIRP is the online tool for name-based background check searches. It stands for Criminal History Record Information Program. The system costs $10 for an electronic search or $16 for a paper request. You need an Illinois Digital ID to use it. Once enrolled, you can submit searches and get results tied to a Transaction Control Number.
The Illinois State Police publishes a detailed fee schedule for all background check services.
View the ISP background check fee schedule
The schedule covers name-based searches, fingerprint checks, combined state and FBI searches, and resubmit fees. Rates last changed in January 2019 but always confirm with the BOI before submitting payment.
Fingerprint-based background checks are the most thorough option. A state-only fingerprint check costs $15 through Live Scan. Adding an FBI search brings the total to $27 electronically. The Live Scan vendor lookup tool helps you find an approved fingerprint collection site near Bloomington or Normal in McLean County.
McLean County Background Check Laws
Several Illinois statutes govern how background check records work in McLean County. The most important is 20 ILCS 2630, the Criminal Identification Act. This law requires the Illinois State Police to collect criminal history data from every county, including McLean. It spells out what records get stored, how they are shared, and who can access them. Arrests, charges, dispositions, and sentencing data all flow into the state system under this law.
The Clerks of Courts Act (705 ILCS 105) makes the McLean County Circuit Clerk the official custodian of local court records. This means the clerk office is the legal source for court data used in a background check at the county level. The law covers how records are maintained, copied, and provided to the public.
Under 5 ILCS 140, the Freedom of Information Act, McLean County residents can request government records from local agencies. This includes some records that relate to a background check. Not all records are available through FOIA, but many public filings can be obtained this way. Agencies must respond within five business days of getting a written request.
Expungement and Sealing in McLean County
If you have a record in McLean County that shows up on a background check, you may be able to get it expunged or sealed. Expungement destroys the record. Sealing hides it from the public but keeps it available to law enforcement in limited cases. Either option can clean up what appears on a background check in McLean County.
You start by filing a petition with the McLean County Circuit Court. There is no filing fee for the petition itself. However, the Illinois State Police charges $60 to carry out the court order once it is granted. Not all records qualify. Dismissals and acquittals are usually eligible for expungement. Convictions have stricter rules, though some may qualify for sealing under newer Illinois laws.
The Office of the State Appellate Defender has a full guide on the expungement process. It walks through eligibility, forms, and what happens after a judge signs the order. This resource applies to all counties in Illinois, including McLean County.
Prairie State Legal Services is the local legal aid organization that covers McLean County. They may be able to help with expungement petitions if you cannot afford a private attorney. Contact them to see if you qualify for free legal help with a background check record issue in McLean County.
McLean County Public Safety Records
Beyond the criminal history database, Illinois keeps several public safety tools that overlap with background check data. The Sex Offender Registry lets you search for registered sex offenders by name or by area. You can check who is registered in McLean County or near a specific address in Bloomington or Normal. The search is free and open to anyone.
The Bureau of Identification page links to all state-level background check tools. From there you can reach CHIRP, the fee schedule, the Access and Review process for viewing your own record, and other services. If you want to see what your own background check shows, the Access and Review process is free. Visit a Live Scan vendor, get fingerprinted, and the BOI will mail your results.
Background Check Records in McLean County Cities
Bloomington and Normal are the two largest cities in McLean County. Together they form the "Twin Cities" of central Illinois. Both cities file criminal cases through the McLean County Circuit Court in Bloomington. Illinois does not have city-level criminal courts, so all background check records for residents of these cities come from the county clerk office or the state police database.
Each city has its own page with local background check details and resources.
Other towns in McLean County, like LeRoy, Heyworth, and Lexington, also use the same county court system. There are no separate background check offices at the town level. All records go through the McLean County Circuit Clerk in Bloomington.
Nearby Counties for Background Check Searches
McLean County shares borders with several other counties in central Illinois. If the person you are looking into has lived or worked in nearby areas, a single county search may not catch everything. Running a background check through the state CHIRP system covers all counties at once. But if you are doing county-level searches, you may want to check these neighboring counties too.