Madison County, IL Public Records
Public records in Madison County are available under the Freedom of Information Act, which is a law of the state of Illinois providing that all public records be available for inspection or copying by any member of the public, except as otherwise specifically provided in the statutes or by court order. The County Clerk's Office provides access to vital records like birth and death records, as well as marriage licenses. These records can be searched by eligible applicants, including the registrant, immediate family members, and legal representatives. Divorce records, on the other hand, come under the Madison County Circuit Clerk's Office and are not generally open to the public, allowing access only to those whose names appear in the record or their lawyers.
Records from the courts in Madison County, such as civil, criminal, and probate cases, can be requested from the Madison County Circuit Clerk's Office. Arrest records and information about inmates are available from the Madison County Sheriff's Office; property records are also maintained by the Assessor's Office at the Madison County Assessor's Office. Requests may also be made to any agency of interest through an in-person visit or call to the agency via mail, email, and the online portal.
Courts in Madison County
Court Records in Madison County, Illinois
Madison County has various court systems, including the Circuit Court, Administrative Adjudication, and the Court of Claims. The Circuit Court has general jurisdiction over all civil and criminal cases, handling matters such as probate, domestic relations, juvenile, and traffic violations. Additionally, it offers a simplified Small Claims procedure for civil cases involving $10,000 or less.
The Administrative Adjudication body manages ordinance violations, including local traffic tickets, parking tickets, red light camera violations, disorderly conduct, curfew violations, pet nuisances, and property maintenance violations. The Court of Claims has exclusive jurisdiction over civil matters involving disputes with the State of Illinois, including contract disputes and specific tort claims.
Public access to Madison County court records can be obtained in person at the Circuit Court Clerk's Office or online through the Public Records portal for non-confidential criminal records. The Circuit Court Clerk's Office is responsible for maintaining all court records, including filings, judgments, and orders. Members of the public can also conduct background checks through the Department of Justice database, providing a convenient way to obtain important case information. Some court records are withheld from the public to safeguard sensitive areas such as juvenile cases, protect ongoing legal investigations, or maintain the privacy of family law cases.
Jails and Prisons in Madison County
Find Inmate Search and Jail Records in Madison County, Illinois
Madison County operates one primary local jail, the Madison County Jail, located in Edwardsville. Inmate records can be accessed both physically at the Madison County Sheriff's Office (405 Randle Street, Edwardsville, IL 62025) and online through the Sheriff's Office's official website. The online search tool allows users to find inmate information by entering a name or booking number.
Typical inmate records include the individual's full name, booking date, charges, bond amount, next court date, physical description, and often a mugshot. While there are no state or federal prisons directly in Madison County, inmates from the area may be held in nearby facilities such as the Southwestern Illinois Correctional Center (state) in East St. Louis or FCI Greenville (federal) in Bond County. Records regarding inmates who are incarcerated in such facilities can be obtained from the websites of the Illinois Department of Corrections and the Federal Bureau of Prisons. In all searches, whether local, state, or federal, the full name or ID number will be needed to achieve the most specific results if known.
Police Departments and Sheriff Offices in Madison County
Arrest Records in Madison County, Illinois
Arrest records for Madison County can be retrieved from various law enforcement agencies, primarily the Sheriff's Office of Madison County, which serves the entire county, and local municipal police departments in Alton, Granite City, Edwardsville, Collinsville, and Bethalto. Other information to be contained in an arrest record includes the full name of the arrested person, date and time of arrest, location, charges filed, booking details such as booking number, mugshots, bail/bond details, and all related court information. Some records are available online through the agencies' websites, while others may be accessible from the offices directly, where one may have to fill out a request form and pay a small fee for copies.
At times, some arrest records are not released due to ongoing investigations, privacy of a minor or sensitive case, legal restrictions such as sealed or expunged records, or not fully processed records. If the people are aware of these, then they will be able to properly look for and acquire an arrest record in Madison County.
Other Counties in Illinois
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Popular Cities in Madison
- Alhambra
- Alton
- Bethalto
- Collinsville
- Cottage Hills
- Dorsey
- East Alton
- Edwardsville
- Glen Carbon
- Godfrey
- Granite City
- Hamel
- Hartford
- Highland
- Livingston
- Madison
- Marine
- Maryville
- Moro
- New Douglas
- Roxana
- Saint Jacob
- South Roxana
- Troy
- Venice
- Wood River
- Worden