Union County Background Check Records

Background check records in Union County are filed and stored at the Circuit Clerk office in Jonesboro, the county seat. Union County is a rural county in the far southern tip of Illinois with a population around 16,500. The county is part of the 1st Judicial Circuit. Criminal cases, civil suits, traffic matters, and family law filings all go through the clerk and form the core of court-based background check data here. You can search for records locally at the courthouse in Jonesboro or use the Illinois State Police database to pull statewide criminal history that includes Union County. Checking both sources gives you a fuller picture of what is on file.

Union County Background Check at the Clerk

The Union County Circuit Clerk is the main local source for background check records. The office sits in the Union County Courthouse in Jonesboro. Under 705 ILCS 105, the Clerks of Courts Act, the circuit clerk in each county serves as the official custodian of all court records. That gives the Union County clerk control over every criminal case file, civil filing, and court order in the county. If you need records for a background check, the clerk in Jonesboro is the right starting point.

Walk-in visits are an option during regular business hours. Bring a photo ID. Staff can pull case files by name or case number. Copy fees apply for printed documents. The clerk handles a range of case types that can show up on a Union County background check. Felony charges, misdemeanor cases, DUI filings, and traffic violations all pass through this office. Civil records like judgments and protection orders are also on file here.

Call 618-833-5913 before you visit to check hours and current fees. Mail requests go to the courthouse address in Jonesboro. Include the full name of the person you are searching, a case number if you have one, and payment for any fees. Add a self-addressed stamped envelope for the response.

How to Search Union County Records

There are a few ways to run a background check in Union County. The best method depends on how fast you need results and what kind of detail matters to you.

In person is the most direct route. The Union County Courthouse in Jonesboro is where you go. Bring an ID and tell the clerk what you need. They can search by name or case number. You get to look at the full case file, which holds charging documents, court orders, plea agreements, and sentencing data. This is the most detailed way to check someone's record in Union County. The downside is you have to make the trip to Jonesboro, and hours are limited to weekdays.

Mail works for those who cannot visit. Write to the Circuit Clerk at the Jonesboro courthouse address. Spell out the person's name, date of birth if known, and what type of record you need. Include fees and a return envelope. Allow one to two weeks for a response. It is slower, but it gets the job done from anywhere.

The state CHIRP system is a third path. It costs $10 online and pulls criminal history data from the central Illinois State Police database. CHIRP covers all 102 counties at once, so it catches records from Union County and every other jurisdiction. The results show arrest dates, charges, and dispositions rather than the full court file. For most background check purposes, that level of detail is plenty.

Background Check Through Illinois State Police

The Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification keeps the statewide criminal history database. Union County data feeds into this system. A name-based search costs $16 by mail or $10 through the electronic CHIRP portal. Fingerprint-based checks are also available and run $15 through Live Scan or $20 by paper. They catch records tied to aliases and name changes that a name search alone might miss.

The CHIRP login screen is where you start an electronic background check search.

You need an Illinois Digital ID to use CHIRP. That requires a valid state driver's license. Once enrolled, you can submit name-based searches and get results with a Transaction Control Number. Do not put a period after a middle initial when typing names. The system accepts it but it can cause problems with matching records from Union County and other counties.

Under 20 ILCS 2630, the Criminal Identification Act, the State Police must collect and store criminal history data from every county in Illinois. Arrest records, court dispositions, and sentencing information from Union County all flow to the central database in Joliet. That law makes the statewide background check system possible and ensures Union County records are included.

Union County Background Check Fees

The cost of a background check in Union County depends on which path you choose. Local fees at the Circuit Clerk office vary by document type and number of pages. State-level fees through the Illinois State Police are fixed across all counties. The ISP fee schedule has the full list.

Here is what state-level background check searches cost:

• Name-based search (manual): $16
• Name-based search (electronic via CHIRP): $10
• State fingerprint check (Live Scan): $15
• FBI fingerprint check: $12
• Combined state and FBI (Live Scan): $27

Live Scan vendors near Union County may add their own service fee on top. The closest vendors are typically in the Carbondale or Cape Girardeau area. You can find approved locations using the state vendor lookup tool. Access and Review of your own record is free. That lets you see exactly what shows up when someone runs a background check on you in Illinois.

Clearing Background Check Records in Union County

Some records in Union County can be cleared from a background check. Illinois allows expungement and sealing of certain criminal records. Expungement destroys the record entirely. Sealing keeps it in the system but hides it from the public. Either option changes what shows up when someone searches your name.

The process starts with a petition filed in the 1st Judicial Circuit Court in Union County. There is no fee to file the petition. If a judge grants the order, the Illinois State Police charges $60 to process the expungement or sealing. Cases that ended in dismissal, acquittal, or completed supervision are typically eligible. Convictions have stricter rules and waiting periods that depend on the type of offense.

The Office of the State Appellate Defender has step-by-step guides on what qualifies and how to file. DUI convictions cannot be expunged in Illinois. Certain violent felonies and sex offenses are also excluded under 20 ILCS 2630. After a record is expunged or sealed, it will no longer appear on most Union County background check searches.

Union County Public Records

Court records in Union County are public unless a judge has ordered them sealed or expunged. That means anyone can walk into the clerk's office and request to view case files. Under 5 ILCS 140, the Freedom of Information Act, you also have the right to request records from government agencies at the state and local level. This can include arrest logs, incident reports, and other files from Union County law enforcement that might not be in the court system.

FOIA requests need to be in writing. Include your name, contact info, and a clear description of what you want. Union County agencies must respond within five business days. If they say no, they need to explain why in writing. You can appeal a denial to the Illinois Attorney General.

The Illinois Sex Offender Registry is another free tool. You can search for registered offenders in Union County by name or by address. It is not part of a criminal court record search but gives useful public safety data that adds context to a background check.

Nearby Counties

Union County borders several other counties in southern Illinois. A background check on someone who lives near a county line may need to cover more than one jurisdiction. Each county keeps its own court records through its Circuit Clerk.