Jackson County Arrest, Court, and Public Records

What are Jackson County Public Records?

The Illinois Freedom of Information Act describes Jackson County public records as records generated, received, or preserved by government agencies, in carrying out official duties. Jackson public records include writings, audio, video, photographs, and other records notwithstanding form or characteristics. Some Jackson public records may be considered private and therefore unavailable to the public. Some of these include:

Records with details that would be a breach of a person's privacy if disclosed
Trade secrets and commercial information
Some medical records
Juvenile records
Certain law enforcement records regarding an individual's mental or physical state
Some law enforcement records that may put crime victims at risk
All records exempt by law

Jackson County Crime Statistics

The Illinois State Police publishes annual reports of crimes committed in the state. According to the 2019 report, there were 1,610 index crimes in Jackson County. These include 45 rape cases, 30 robberies, 300 burglaries, and 127 cases of aggravated assault/battery. The report also shows that the county had 66 motor vehicle thefts, 10 cases of arson, and 1,032 thefts. There were no reported cases of criminal homicide, sex acts, or servitude offenses. The overall 2018 crime rate was 2,788.4 crimes per 1,000 persons. The 2018 crime report shows that the Jackson County crime rate fell by 7%.

Are Jackson County Criminal Records Public?

The Illinois Uniform Conviction Information Act states that criminal history information in the state should be considered public. Therefore, interested parties may request and obtain copies of Jackson County criminal records from the Illinois State Police. The ISP has an online Criminal History Information Response (CHIRP) web portal that requestors may use to obtain records online. Jackson criminal records are also obtainable by completing ISP request forms. Each name-based search costs $16. The ISP will also conduct a fingerprint-search for $20 if fingerprints are obtained by approved live scan fingerprint vendors. Requestors may pay additional fees for fingerprinting services. For more information, contact the:

Illinois State Police
Bureau of Identification
P.O. Box 88727
Chicago, IL 60680-1727
Email: isp.contact@illinois.gov

How to Obtain Jackson County Police Reports and Arrest Records

Persons seeking police reports and arrest records may contact the Jackson County Sheriff's Office. The requestor should provide the Sheriff's Office with a description of the desired record, including the names of arrested persons, other persons involved, incident date and location, and arresting officer. To obtain a Jackson County arrest record, visit the:

Jackson County Sheriff's Office
1001 Mulberry Street
Murphysboro, IL 62966
Phone: (618) 684-2177
Phone: (TDD): (618) 684-2773
Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.. (Closed from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.)

Jackson arrest records and police reports are also obtainable from the police departments in the county. If the incident location is known, requestors may contact the police department in charge of the area.

How to Find Sex Offender Information in Jackson County

The Jackson County Sheriff's Office maintains an online database of all sex offenders registered in the county. To find a Jackson sex offender, search the database by area, name, and city. Users may also conduct searches for non-compliant offenders. Public information includes the offender's name, aliases, age, physical description, address, and registration number. The offender's photograph and offense details are also available.

In addition to offender details, the platform provides a registration option for interested persons to receive email alerts on select inmates. Anyone may register an address to receive notifications from the law enforcement agency responsible for registering offenders in the provided area.

How to Find Jackson County Inmate Records

The Jackson County Sheriff's Office does not provide an online database of inmates at the county jail. Persons interested in Jackson County inmate records may contact the Sheriff's Office with the inmate's names. Requestors may call or visit using the information listed below:

Jackson County Sheriff's Office
1001 Mulberry Street
Murphysboro, IL 62966
Phone: (618) 684-2177
Phone: (TDD): (618) 684-2773
Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.. (Closed from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.)

How Do I Visit an Inmate in the Jackson County Jail?

All visits to the Jackson County Jail are conducted via video, either remotely or onsite. Inmates may only receive one free onsite visit each week. Each onsite visit cannot have more than three persons present. All visitors, including children, must be registered to be eligible. Persons under 18 years of age will only be allowed to visit if accompanied by adults. The adult must present the child's birth certificate before the visit. All visitors must provide valid government-issued photo IDs, such as a state ID card or a driver's license. Visiting hours are from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. every day. Each visit will be a maximum of 30 minutes, without the opportunity for extensions.

Inmates may receive an unlimited number of remote visits purchased through the Jackson County Jail's third-party vendor. The facility will only allow an inmate to receive visitors after 24 hours in custody. Note that visitors may have to wait up to 24 hours to receive approval for a visit.

Prospective visitors may schedule visits after agreeing to the Jackson County Sheriff's Office visitation terms. After completing the process, the visitor will receive a PIN and information on the assigned terminal for the visit. The visitation terminals are in the Jackson County Sheriff's Office's front lobby. Visitors who do not retain the terminal information and PIN after completing the scheduling process may lose their schedule.

All visitors must dress appropriately. Visitors wearing obscene or provocative clothing items may be denied visits. Visitors who repost any part of a visit online, through a social media platform, may permanently lose visitation privileges. Note that officials will contact appropriate authorities if visitors break any laws during visitation.

Court Records

The Jackson County Circuit Court exercises jurisdiction over all county cases. These include criminal, civil, probate, juvenile, domestic relations, and traffic matters. However, the Circuit Court cannot hear cases that fall under the exclusive jurisdiction of the Illinois Supreme Court.

Jackson County Circuit Court
Jackson County Courthouse
1001 Walnut Street
P.O. Box 730
Murphysboro, IL 62966
Phone: (618) 687-7300
Fax: (618) 684-6378
Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Mondays through Fridays

Are Jackson County Court Records Public?

Jackson County court records are public records. Residents may send requests to the Circuit Court or visit in person to obtain records of matters heard at the court. Although most court records are presumed public, access to Jackson County court records is not absolute. The general public may not access juvenile court records, except the requestor is a party to the case or responsible for the juvenile. Also, court records may be temporarily or permanently exempt from public disclosure if the judge finds that the records contain sensitive information.

Can You Look up a Jackson County Court Case Online?

The Jackson County Circuit Court provides online access to court case information through the "Case Info" tab on the Circuit Clerk's website. To find a Jackson County court case online, search by case number, name, or charge text. The case number search requires the entire case number without spaces, dashes, or other punctuation. Displayed case information includes the names of all litigants, party address, hearing information, and phone number. Case history, payments, and court dispositions are also available.

How to Obtain Jackson County Court Case Records

Interested persons may obtain copies of Jackson County court records from the Circuit Court Clerk. Obtaining desired records requires providing the Clerk's Office with information on the record. Provide a case number, the litigant's names, charge details, arrest information, court dates, payment, dispositions, and other known details. If sending a written request, ensure that it contains all known information as described. Each record costs a $6 search fee per year. The first page costs $2, and each of the next 19 pages costs 50 cents. Thereafter, pages cost 25 cents each. Visit the clerk or send the request by mail using the following details:

Jackson County Circuit Court
Jackson County Courthouse
1001 Walnut Street
P.O. Box 730
Murphysboro, IL 62966
Phone: (618) 687-7300
Fax: (618) 684-6378
Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Mondays through Fridays

What are Jackson County Vital Records?

Jackson County vital records describe life events that happen in the county. Vital records are created and maintained by government entities in the county. They contain details of marriages, divorces, births, and deaths. Jackson County vital records are obtainable from the Circuit Court Clerk or the County Clerk and Recorder.

Where and How to Obtain Jackson County Divorce Records

The Jackson County Circuit Clerk maintains records of county divorces. Persons seeking Jackson County divorce records may contact the clerk by sending written requests or visiting the courthouse. Ensure that the written request includes the divorced parties' names, divorce date, location, and court judgment. Requestors may also include grounds for divorce and details of the settlement. Persons requesting in person must provide these details upon visitation.

To obtain a Jackson divorce decree, contact the clerk at:

The Illinois Department of Public Health also provides divorce records. Through its Division of Vital Records, an interested party may obtain a Dissolution of Marriage Verification, which verifies the facts of marriage. Verifiable facts include names, date and city or county of event and dates of birth. Each verification costs $5. Complete the application form and send it with a check or money order payable to the Illinois Department of Public Health and a valid government-issued photo ID. Send the request to:

Illinois Department of Public Health
Division of Vital Records
925 East Ridgely Avenue
Springfield, IL 62702-2737

Where and How to Get Jackson County Marriage Records

The Jackson County Clerk and Recorder's Office provides access to records of all marriages where the couples originally obtained their licenses in the county. Jackson County marriage records are not public records. Only the married parties may obtain these records from the County Clerk and Recorder's Office.

To obtain a Jackson County marriage certificate, complete the marriage union application form with both parties' names and the date of the ceremony. Each Jackson marriage certificate costs $16 for the first certified copy and $7 each for additional copies of the same record if ordered at the same time. Requestors may pay online using the 'Credit Card Payment Link' or pay with checks or money orders made out to the Jackson County Clerk and Recorder. Send the request by mail, fax, or email, or visit using the following details:

Jackson County Clerk and Recorder
1001 Walnut Street
Murphysboro, IL 62966
Phone: (618) 687-7360
Fax: (618) 687-7359
Email: jacksoncountyvitals@outlook.com
Office Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Where and How to Find Jackson County Birth Records

Jackson County birth records are available at the County Clerk and Recorder's Office. These records are not public records and are only accessible to the subject of the record if at least 18 years old, and the subject's parents. The Clerk and Recorder's Office may also release a birth certificate to a grandparent or stepparent if the subject is a minor and the requesting party provides written permission from the subject's parent named on the record. Records are available by mail and in person.

To obtain a Jackson County birth certificate by mail, fill a birth record application with the subject's name, date of birth, sex, and the full names of both parents listed on the certificate. The first certified copy of a Jackson birth certificate costs $16, and each additional copy of the same record costs $7 if ordered at the same time. Make checks or money orders payable to the Jackson County Clerk and Recorder. Send the application with payment and a copy of a valid government-issued ID to:

Jackson County Clerk and Recorder
1001 Walnut Street
Murphysboro, IL 62966
Phone: (618) 687-7360
Fax: (618) 687-7359
Email: jacksoncountyvitals@outlook.com
Office Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Requestors may also visit the above address for in-person requests. Online payments for birth certificate requests are possible through the provided credit card payment link.

Where and How to Find Jackson County Death Records

To obtain Jackson County death certificates, contact the County Clerk and Recorder's Office. Access to Jackson County death records is restricted to persons that can prove a property right or genealogical interest in the record. The first copy costs $22. If ordered at the same time as the first, each additional copy of the same record costs $11.

Members of the public must complete a death record application to request by mail. Requesters will need to fill the application with the deceased's name and date of death. Enclose the application with a copy of a government-issued ID and a check or money order made out to the Jackson County Clerk and Recorder. Send the request to the:

Jackson County Clerk and Recorder
1001 Walnut Street
Murphysboro, IL 62966
Phone: (618) 687-7360
Fax: (618) 687-7359
Email: jacksoncountyvitals@outlook.com

In-person requests are also available at the above address.