What are Clinton County Public Records?
According to the FOIA, Clinton County public records are records generated or received by the county government. The law pertains to all government information regardless of its physical form. These records can be letters, forms, writings, papers, books, reports, maps, photographs, recorded information, or electronic data. However, as per Illinois FOIA laws, some public records are exempted from being viewed or copied by the public. Examples include:
- Personal information in a public record
- Records prohibited from being divulged by a federal or state law
- Records containing staff member's files, staff rosters, or any staffing duty post information if requested by an inmate
- Confidential and proprietary trade secrets and financial information
- Proposals for contracts, agreements, or grants where disclosure will lead to an undue advantage of the requester
- Juvenile records
Clinton County Crime Statistics
The Illinois Police Uniform Crime Reporting (I-UCR ) provides online access to crime statistics in the state. These statistics are obtained from all law enforcement agencies mandated by law to submit monthly reports on crimes in their agencies. In 2018, the I-UCR crime rate index for Clinton County recorded eight rape incidents, one robbery, 26 aggravated assaults, 41 burglaries, 235 thefts, 20 motor vehicle thefts, and seven arson cases. Clinton County reported no homicide in the year.
Conversely, in 2014 the I-UCR crime rate index figures for Clinton County were one homicide, six rapes, three robberies, 18 aggravated assaults, 41 burglaries, 287 thefts, 11 motor vehicle thefts, and no arsons. Over the period, the county's crime rate dropped by 7.1%.
Are Clinton County Criminal Records Public?
Per the Illinois Uniform Conviction Information Act (UCIA), Clinton County criminal records are available to the public. Parties interested in accessing or retrieving criminal records from the county can contact the Illinois State Police (ISP). The ISP provides all requesters with criminal history information on all Clinton County residents through its Bureau of Identification. Varying fees may apply.
How to Obtain Clinton County Police Reports and Arrest Records
Police reports and arrest records are public documents accessible from the Clinton County Sheriff's Department. Parties interested in accessing Clinton County police reports and arrest records can contact the Sheriff Department with required details at:
Clinton County Sheriff's Department
810 Franklin Street
Carlyle, IL 62231
Phone: (618) 594-4555
How to Find Sex Offender Information in Clinton County
Interested parties can obtain Clinton County sex offender information by querying the ISP's Sex Offender Registry (SOR). The search can be done by name, county, city, zip code, offender type, and the compliance status of the sex offender. Parties can also obtain Clinton County sex offender information using the Sex Offender Mapping function provided on SOR page. To search, parties can click a location or neighborhood on the map or enter an address in the search box. Users may then select the marker to see details of the sex offender.
How to Find Clinton County Inmate Records
The Clinton County Sheriff's Department is in charge of the daily operations of the county jail. Parties interested in obtaining Clinton County inmate records can contact the Sheriff's Department at:
Clinton County Sheriff's Department
810 Franklin Street
Carlyle, IL 62231
Phone: (618) 594-4555
Fax: (618) 594-5574
How Do I Visit an Inmate in Clinton County Jail?
The Sheriff's Department in Clinton County allows friends and family to visit incarcerated persons. Parties interested in visiting an inmate must fill out a visitors registration form in person at the jail and return the completed form with a valid government-issued ID card to the jail personnel to be approved for visitation. The ID card must carry a photograph of the visitor.
All visitors must arrive at the county jail at least 30 minutes before the end of visiting hours and will be subjected to a search. Clinton County jail inmates are entitled to one 40-minute or two 20-minute visits per week. The visitation week begins on Sunday and ends on Saturday. Visitors may only see one inmate per day.
Children under 12 will not be regarded as visitors, but they must be in the company of adults and not left unattended during visitation. All persons must dress decently with no indecent exposure of body parts. Visitors cannot bring personal items into the visiting area. Anyone who flouts this rule risks confiscation and may be banned from future visits.
The Sheriff's Department may allow contact visits. However, a request for a contact visit must be in writing to the Correctional Sergeant stating the reason for the request. Interested parties may schedule visits at the following address:
Clinton County Jail
810 Franklin Street
Carlyle, IL 62231
Phone: (618) 594-4555
Fax: (618) 594-5574
Clinton County Court Records
Clinton County court records are official records generated during the hearing and judgment of a case. Clinton County has a Circuit Court that presides over civil and criminal matters. Generally, Clinton County Circuit Court civil cases include small claims, foreclosures, landlord-tenant issues, and ordinance violations. Criminal cases handled by the court include felonies, misdemeanors, traffic and infractions, and juvenile cases. The court also handles adoptions, mental health, divorce, domestic violence, and paternity cases. Furthermore, the Circuit Court presides over small claims for civil cases if the amount in dispute is $10,000 or less. Interested parties can access Clinton County court records at the address below:
Clinton County Circuit Court
850 Fairfax Street
Carlyle, IL 62231
Phone: (618) 594-6615
Fax: (618) 594-0197
Are Clinton County Court Records Public?
Although the judiciary is not bound by the Illinois FOIA, Clinton County court records are accessible to the public. The Clinton County Circuit Clerk is the official custodian of court records, entertaining requests for non-confidential information. The Clerk's Office is available to interested parties from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM on Mondays through Fridays at the following address:
Clinton County Circuit Clerk
850 Fairfax Street, Room 220
Carlyle, IL 62231
Phone: (618) 594-6615
Fax: (618) 594-0197
How to Obtain Clinton County Civil Court Case Records
The County Clerk maintains all civil court case records in the county and makes them accessible. Interested parties can obtain Clinton County civil court case records by providing relevant details of the record. Each request should describe the record well enough for the staff at the Clerk's Office to find them. All persons should submit records in person or by mail to the following address:
Clinton County Circuit Clerk
850 Fairfax Street, Room 220
Carlyle, IL 62231
Phone: (618) 594-6615
Fax: (618) 594-0197
How to Obtain Clinton County Criminal Court Records
The Clinton County Circuit Court presides over all criminal cases in the county and makes its criminal court records available. Parties interested can obtain Clinton County criminal court records from the Clerk's Office, which maintains records of all court proceedings in the county. The Clerk's Office is open for in-person requests from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM on Mondays through Fridays.
Clinton County Circuit Clerk
850 Fairfax Street, Room 220
Carlyle, IL 62231
Phone: (618) 594-6615
Fax: (618) 594-0197
What are Clinton County Vital Records?
Clinton County vital records are official documents of significant life events issued by the county. Clinton County's vital records include marriage and divorce records. The County Clerk is responsible for creating and maintaining these records, and upon request, makes these records available to requesters.
Where and How to Obtain Clinton County Divorce Records
Requesters can obtain Clinton County divorce decrees from the courthouse where the divorce was granted. Record seekers can submit the names of the divorcees and the date of divorce to the address below:
Clinton County Courthouse
850 Fairfax Street, Room 210
Carlyle, IL 62231
Phone: (618) 594-6645
The Division of Vital Records at the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) can issue divorce verification letters. These letters contain the following information:
- The names of the couple
- Their date of birth
- The date of the divorce
- The city and county the divorce occurred
It costs $5.00 to obtain a copy of a divorce verification letter. Requests can be made in person, mail, or fax. Requesters must submit the following documents to receive a divorce verification letter
- Verification of Dissolution of Marriage Record File Form
- A valid photo ID issued by the government
Anyone can order a divorce verification letter by fax, mail, or in person. To order by fax, requesters should send the completed form and ID card to (217) 523-2648 and provide the following information:
- Credit card number
- Daytime phone number
- Return address
- Signature
Processing takes seven business days, and requesters may incur additional costs such as credit card handling fees and UPS charges. Requesters ordering a divorce verification letter by mail should fill out the application form or send letters to:
Illinois Department of Public Health
Division of Vital Records
925 East, Ridgely Avenue
Springfield, IL 62702-2732
Fees are payable by checkers or money orders, with a processing time of up to 6 weeks. Divorce verification letters can be ordered in person Monday to Friday from 10.00 AM to 3.00 PM at:
Illinois Department of Public Health
Division of Vital Records
925 East, Ridgely Avenue
Springfield, IL 62702-2732
Where and How to Get Public Clinton County Marriage Records
The Clinton County Clerk's Office manages all marriage records in the county. Parties interested in obtaining marriage records should fill out and submit a Request for Certified Copy of Marriage form. Requesters should fill the form with the full names of both parties to the marriage and the date of marriage. The first copy of a Clinton County marriage certificate costs $15, and each additional copy costs $6. Record seekers should also note that the Clerk's Office only provides the requester's marriage records. All persons should send requests to the following address:
Clinton County Clerk's Office
850 Fairfax Street
P.O. Box 308
Carlyle, IL 62231
Where and How to Get Confidential Marriage Records in Clinton County
Interested persons may contact the County Clerk's Office for certified copies of marriage records as the office does not provide confidential copies.
Where and How to Find Clinton County Birth Records
Clinton County birth records can be obtained from the County Clerk's Office. Family members interested in getting certified copies of birth certificates can fill out the request for a certified copy of a birth certificate form and submit it with a copy of a valid government-issued ID and a check or money order. Orders require $15.00 checks or money orders made payable to Clinton County. Requesters can forward completed forms and documents to:
Clinton County Clerk's Office
850 Fairfax Street
P.O. Box 308
Carlyle, IL 62231
In Clinton County, only authorized persons can obtain a birth record and prove their relationship to the record holder. Authorized persons include:
- The person named on the birth record is 18 years or older
- The parents named on the birth record
- The person's legal guardian or legal representative
Where and How to Find Clinton County Death Records
Parties can obtain Clinton County death records from the County Clerk's Office. Family members can get certified copies of death records by requesting in writing to the Clerk's Office. Death records can only be obtained by parties who have personal or legal relationships with the deceased. As per Illinois law, only family members, relatives, and legal representatives of the deceased can obtain a certified death record. Requests for a certified copy of the death record must be made with a valid copy of one of the following:
- Driver's license
- State issued ID card
- Passport
If the identity card expires in less than six months, the requester must include an additional means of identification, preferably a document with the requester's name and address. Requesters without any of the options listed above can use any two of the following examples, one from each category:
Category A
- A document showing the requester's current address - electricity, water, mail, or cellular phone bill.
Category B
- Car registration papers
- Credit card statement
- Bank statement
- Medical card
- Car insurance card
- Illinois Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) link card
- Paycheck stubs
- Voters registration card
- Active duty military ID
Requesters should submit applications with a photocopy of a valid government-issued ID card and a check or money order. It cost $17.00 to obtain a certified copy of the death record from the county. The request should be made to:
Clinton County Clerk's Office
850 Fairfax Street
P.O. Box 308
Carlyle, IL 62231
Alternatively, requesters can order certified copies of a death record from the IDPH, Division of Vital Records by mail, fax, or online. Interested parties can fill out the application for an Illinois death record form, attach a photocopy of a valid ID card and submit a request by mail with the money order or check to:
Illinois Department of Public Health
Division of Vital Records
925 East, Ridgely Avenue
Springfield, IL 62702-2732
Requests are faxed to (217) 523-2648, and payment is by credit card only. Certified copies of death records are processed in 5-7 business days.
