Find Sangamon County Background Check
Sangamon County background check records are kept by the Circuit Clerk in Springfield, Illinois. The clerk maintains court case files, criminal history records, and other public data used in background checks for the county. Springfield is both the county seat and the state capital, which means state and local record offices sit close together. Sangamon County has about 194,000 residents. You can search for background check records through the local Circuit Clerk, who offers free online lookups, or go through the Illinois State Police for a statewide criminal history search. This page explains both options.
Sangamon County Background Check Quick Facts
Sangamon County Circuit Clerk
Joseph B. Roesch serves as the Sangamon County Circuit Clerk. The office is in the Sangamon County Courts Complex at 200 South 9th Street in Springfield. Phone is 217-753-6674. Fax is 217-747-5108. You can also email the office at circuitclerk@sangamonil.gov. The Sangamon County Circuit Clerk website has details on services, forms, and how to access records.
What sets Sangamon County apart from many other counties in Illinois is the free online search option. The Circuit Clerk offers free lookups by name, case number, and filing date through their website. This is a helpful starting point for a background check in Sangamon County since you can check basic case information from your computer before making a trip to the courthouse. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. For more detailed research, the clerk charges $4.00 per year searched. Under 705 ILCS 105, the Clerks of Courts Act, the Circuit Clerk is the official custodian of all court records in Sangamon County. That means this office holds the legal responsibility to maintain and provide access to case files.
Sangamon County Circuit Clerk Contact
| Clerk | Joseph B. Roesch |
|---|---|
| Address | 200 South 9th Street, Springfield, IL 62705 |
| Mailing | P.O. Box 1299, Springfield, IL 62705-1299 |
| Phone | 217-753-6674 |
| Fax | 217-747-5108 |
| circuitclerk@sangamonil.gov | |
| Website | sangamoncountycircuitclerk.org |
| Hours | 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM, Monday - Friday |
| Research Fee | $4.00 per year |
Sangamon County Online Background Check Search
The Sangamon County Circuit Clerk provides free online searches for basic case data. You can look up records by name, case number, or filing date on the clerk's website. This is one of the more accessible online tools among Illinois county clerks and a solid first step for a background check in Sangamon County.
The free search shows basic case information. It does not give you the full case file. For detailed documents, you still need to visit the office in person or submit a written request. The research fee is $4.00 per year when staff conduct searches on your behalf. Still, the online lookup lets you check if someone has a case on file in Sangamon County before spending time or money on a deeper search. The system covers criminal, civil, and traffic cases filed in Sangamon County courts.
Note: Online results from Sangamon County show case status and basic info, not full court documents.
State Police Background Check for Sangamon County
For a criminal history background check that pulls from the entire state, you go through the Illinois State Police. Their Bureau of Identification in Joliet manages the central criminal history database. It holds records from all 102 Illinois counties. Sangamon County data is part of this system. A name-based search costs $10 through CHIRP or $16 by paper.
Fingerprint checks are more reliable. They cost $15 for a state-only search through Live Scan or $27 for a combined state and FBI check. The vendor lookup tool helps you find a Live Scan location near Springfield. Under 20 ILCS 2630, the Criminal Identification Act requires the Illinois State Police to maintain these records. Sangamon County criminal data flows into the state system and appears on statewide background check searches along with records from every other county.
The vendor list is searchable by location. Find a vendor in or near Springfield for the fastest fingerprint-based background check covering Sangamon County records.
Background Check Fees in Sangamon County
Sangamon County has two sets of fees to keep in mind. The local Circuit Clerk charges $4.00 per year for record research. Copy fees may also apply. State-level fees through the Illinois State Police are separate. The ISP fee schedule lists all current rates for background checks.
State background check costs for Sangamon County residents are the same as for the rest of Illinois. Electronic name searches run $10. Paper submissions cost $16. Fingerprint checks range from $12 to $32 depending on the type. The Access and Review process, which lets you check your own record, is free. Live Scan vendors near Springfield may tack on their own service charge beyond the state fees.
- Local research fee: $4.00 per year
- State name search (electronic): $10
- State name search (manual): $16
- State fingerprint (Live Scan): $15
- Combined state and FBI: $27
- Access and Review: Free
- Expungement order processing: $60
Sangamon County Record Expungement
Some background check records from Sangamon County can be expunged or sealed under Illinois law. Expungement destroys the record. Sealing keeps it in the system but hides it from public searches. Both options change what appears when someone runs a background check on you. File the petition in the Sangamon County court where the case was originally handled. There is no fee for the petition itself.
After a judge grants the order, the State Police charges $60 to process it. The Office of the State Appellate Defender walks you through the steps. Not all offenses qualify for removal from a Sangamon County background check. The rules come from 20 ILCS 2630 and depend on the type of charge and how the case ended. Sealed records can still be seen by law enforcement in limited situations, but expunged records are destroyed from the state system entirely.
Review the full list of qualifying offenses before filing in Sangamon County. The Appellate Defender site has clear breakdowns of what can be expunged versus what can only be sealed.
Sangamon County Public Safety Data
The Illinois Sex Offender Registry covers Sangamon County. It is free to search. You can look up offenders by name or by address. This tool runs separately from the criminal history background check system but gives related safety data about registered offenders in the Springfield area and the rest of Sangamon County.
Under 5 ILCS 140, the Freedom of Information Act lets you request government records from Sangamon County offices and state agencies. Some records that connect to a background check can be obtained this way. Not everything is available. Certain records are restricted by other laws. But FOIA is still a useful tool when you need specific data from Sangamon County government offices that goes beyond a standard background check.
Cities in Sangamon County
Springfield is the largest city in Sangamon County and the state capital. Background check records for Springfield residents go through the Sangamon County Circuit Clerk.
Nearby Counties
Each county near Sangamon County has its own Circuit Clerk who handles background check records. Choose one below for local contact info and resources.