What Are Livingston County Public Records?
As per the Illinois FOIA, Livingston County public records are documents originating from and maintained by the county government. Requesters can access most public records from the county unless the records are excluded from being made public.
Livingston County public records are:
- Sex offender information
- Criminal history records
- Arrest reports
- Certified payroll presented to a public body
- Record of receipt and disbursement of public funds
The Illinois FOIA also prohibits some public records from being disclosed; these records include:
- Personal information within a public record
- Records requested by an inmate of another inmate
- Trade secrets
- Law enforcement officer investigation records
- Juvenile records
Livingston County Crime Statistics
The Illinois Police Uniform Crime Reporting (I-UCR) is in charge of collating and maintaining crime statistics in the state. It puts together a yearly report from data obtained from all law enforcement agencies. Law enforcement agencies in Illinois are mandated by law to submit monthly reports on crimes in their agencies.
The county recorded 371 crime offenses in 2018, resulting in 5 rapes, four robberies, 62 aggravated assaults and batteries, 47 burglaries, 232 thefts, 19 motor vehicle thefts, and two arsons. Meanwhile, the total crime reported in Livingston County was 618 in 2014, amounting to 23 rape cases, four robberies, 45 aggravated assaults and batteries, 97 burglaries, 430 thefts, 14 motor vehicle thefts, and five arsons. Over the four-year period, Livingston County's crime rate dropped by 48.7%.
Are Livingston County Criminal Records Public?
As per the Illinois FOIA, criminal records are public records accessible by the public. Public record information on a criminal record accessible includes:
- Public court records
- Records available under state law
- Records requested by the criminal record holder
The Illinois FOIA also exempts some criminal records from being disclosed.
- Law enforcement posting mugshots on its social network
- Juvenile records
- Identity of a confidential source in a criminal case.
How To Obtain Livingston County Police Reports And Arrest Records?
The Illinois FOIA stipulates that most records and documents produced by a law enforcement agency are public records available to all requesters. The Sheriff's Office manages Livingston County police reports and arrests records. Parties interested can obtain a Livingston County police report or a Livingston County arrest record at the Sheriff's Office in person and during business hours at:
Livingston County Sheriff's Office
844 West, Lincoln Street
Pontiac, IL 61764
Phone: (815) 844-2774
Fax: (815) 844-5124
How To Find Sex Offender Information In Livingston County
Livingston County Sheriff's department uses OffenderWatch to monitor and track the location, activities, and compliance status of sex offenders registered in the county and makes the information available. Sex offenders registered in Livingston County are individuals who have been convicted of sex crimes. Interested parties can query the database for sex offenders in the county using the offender's name, address, city, and compliance status. OffenderWatch also has a list of published offenders in the county. Interested parties can register to get notified when a sex offender immediately registers with Livingston County Sherriff's Office.
The online statewide Sex Offender Registry in Illinois is maintained and updated by the Illinois State Police. Interested parties can query the database with the sex offender's full name, county, city, zip code, and compliance status.
How To Find Livingston County Inmate Records
Livingston County Sheriff's Office approves using the individual in custody online search tool to locate inmates incarcerated in Livingston County jail. To search, a searcher of Livingston County inmate records needs to obtain the inmate's last name, IDOC number, or birth date. Persons who obtain Livingston county inmate records can expect to see the inmate's crime summary and sentencing information.
How Do I Visit An Inmate In Livingston County Jail?
Livingston County Sheriff's Office grants visitation rights to family and friends incarcerated in the county's jail. Contact visits are not available, and visitation is by:
- Home video visitation (Off-site)
- On-site video visitation
Visitors must register for a home video visitation using Visitel. Family and friends must obey the county jail rules for a home visit.
- No alcohol or drugs should be visible during the visit
- No unlawful activities
- All visitors must be fully clothed throughout the visit; it applies to children also.
- Recording or taking pictures is not allowed
- The person who scheduled the visit must be available for the visit
On-site video visits are at the various housing units in the jail, and visitors will be expected to show a valid photo ID on arrival. On-site visitors need to adhere to the jails requirements such as:
- Visitors must not be intoxicated or under the influence of alcohol
- All visitors will be searched on arrival
- Visitors under 18 who must be with a parent or guardian
- All visitors must be appropriately dressed
- Screaming, shouting, or threatening is unacceptable during visitation
The following applies to all visitors irrespective of the video visitation method chosen:
- Inmates are allowed one visit per week lasting 30 minutes per scheduled visit day.
- All visits are monitored and recorded.
- Visiting days are Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM and 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM.
- Visitation starts immediately after both parties pick up the phone; the call is truncated after 30 minutes has elapsed.
- Former inmates previously incarcerated in Livingston County jail will be denied visitation privileges if their release is less than six months.
Livingston County Court Records
Livingston County Court records are the official records kept of legal proceedings within the county. According to Illinois FOIA, most Livingston County court records are accessible by the public. Livingston has a Circuit Court, and it presides over all criminal and civil cases. Generally, cases heard in the Circuit Court include ordinance violations, felonies, juvenile cases, divorce, child support, paternity, adoptions, mental health cases, and misdemeanors.
The Livingston County Circuit Court is at:
Livingston County Circuit Court
Law and Justice Center
110 North, Main Street
Pontiac, IL 61764
Phone: (815) 844-2602
Fax: (815) 844-2322
Are Livingston County Court Records Public?
The Circuit Clerk's Office maintains the official court records for the county and serves as a source of information for the government and the public. Most court records are available to the public; however, Illinois FOIA law exempts some court records from being disclosed.
- Juvenile records
- Law enforcement officer investigation reports
- Personal information within a public record
- Medical records
- Records of court services
- Personal data of a confidential source, informant, or witness
How To Obtain Livingston County Civil Court Case Records
Civil court cases are between private individuals or companies to settle liability claims by actions of one party on another. The Livingston County Circuit Clerk is the custodian of the county's court records and provides an online search tool for the county's court records.
Parties interested in obtaining Livingston County civil court case records may contact the county's clerk for civil court case information during business hours. Note that the clerk charges a fee for this service.
Livingston County Circuit Clerk
Law and Justice Center
110 North, Main Street
Pontiac, IL 61764
Phone: (815) 844-2602
Fax: (815) 844-2322
How To Obtain Livingston County Criminal Court Records
Criminal court records are information and files generated during a criminal case. Livingston County Court records are open to the public for examination. The county Circuit Clerk maintains the criminal records for the county and makes them available. Interested parties can obtain Livingston County criminal court records from the Circuit Clerk's office at:
Livingston County Circuit Clerk
Law and Justice Center
110 North, Main Street
Pontiac, IL 61764
Phone: (815) 844-2602
Fax: (815) 844-2322
What Are Livingston County Vital Records?
Livingston County vital records are documents of life events kept by the county government. Livingston County vital records include death records, marriage records, and birth records. In Illinois, birth and death records are not subject to FOIA and are only accessible by specific individuals.
Where And How To Obtain Livingston County Divorce Records
A court issues a divorce decree as the final judgment to formally and legally end a marriage. The divorce decree is more detailed, containing all negotiated agreements during the divorce process. Requesters can only obtain divorce decrees from the courthouse the divorce was granted. Requesters can obtain Livingston County divorce records from:
Livingston County Clerk and Recorder
P.O. Box 618,
Pontiac IL, 61761-0618
Phone: (815) 844-2006
Fax: (815) 844-1844
Divorce verification letters are less detailed than a divorce decree and usually contain the couple's names, dates of birth, divorce date, and the county of divorce. The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is responsible for issuing divorce verification letters. Requesters can obtain a divorce verification by mail, fax, or in-person for a fee of $5. Interested parties must fill the Verification of Dissolution of Marriage Records File form and submit it with a valid photocopy of a photo ID issued by the government.
Requesters can order by mail by sending the completed form to:
Illinois Department of Public Health
Division of Vital Records
925 East, Ridgely Avenue
Springfield, IL 62702-2732
Requesters can fax the completed form to the IDPH on (217) 523-2648. It is essential for parties sending a request by fax to furnish the IDPH with their credit card number, return address, signature, and a daytime phone number.
Lastly, the IDHP allows in-person divorce verification orders on 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
Money orders and checks are payable to the Illinois Department of Public Health. Additional charges are incurred when requesting divorce verification by fax. Divorce verification ordered by mail is processed between 4-6 weeks, and processing by fax takes seven business days.
Where And How To Get Public Livingston County Marriage Records
Livingston County marriage records can be obtained only by the parties in the marriage. Couples must submit a marriage record request with a valid driver's license, state-issued ID, or passport. It costs $16.00 to obtain a birth record from the county, and additional copies are billed at $8.00 each.
Marriage records can be obtained online using the official record online request tool, and an additional service fee of $10.00 applies. Parties requesting by mail can fill out the application for a copy of a vital record form and submit it with a money order or check and a valid government-issued ID to:
Livingston County Clerk Office
Attn: Vitals
P.O. Box 618
Pontiac, IL 61764-0618
Lastly, requesters can obtain a marriage record in person at the County Clerk's office on Monday to Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM at:
Livingston County Clerk Office
112 West, Madison Street
Pontiac, IL 6176
Where And How To Get Confidential Marriage Records In Livingston County
A confidential marriage is the union of a couple without witnesses, and the couple only can access confidential marriage records. In Illinois, all marriages are public; consequently, confidential marriage records in Livingston County do not exist.
Where And How To Find Livingston County Birth Records
In Illinois law, birth records are not deemed public records, and information on a birth record cannot be made public. To obtain a Livingston County birth record, the requester must be:
- The birth record owner who is 18 years or older
- The mother
- The father of the record holder must be listed on the birth certificate.
- Legal guardian
Requesters can order a birth record online, in person, or by mail. To obtain a Livingston County birth record, online requesters should fill out an Official Records Online form. In-person requests can be dropped off during business hours, Monday to Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM at:
Livingston County Clerk Office
112 West, Madison Street
Pontiac, IL 61764
To obtain a birth record by mail, requesters can fill out the Application for Copy of Vital Record form and submit it with a photocopy of a valid government-issued ID and a money order or check to:
Livingston County Clerk Office
Attn: Vitals
P.O. Box 618
Pontiac, IL 61764-0618
It cost $18.00 to obtain the initial copy of a birth record and $8.00 for an additional copy. Official records online charge a service fee of $10.00.
Where And How To Find Livingston County Death Records
Death records in Illinois are not subject to Illinois FOIA and are not considered accessible by the public. Therefore, only the following has access to a death record:
- The next of kin
- An individual listed on the death certificate as the informant
- Someone with a personal or property right interest
Death records can be accessed online, in person, or by mail. To request Livingston County death records online, requesters can utilize the Official Records Online tool. Requests for a birth record in person is at the Livingston County Clerk Office during hours:
Livingston County Clerk Office
112 West, Madison Street
Pontiac, IL 61764
Requesters can mail in the completed Application for Copy of Vital Record form and submit it with a photocopy of a government-issued photo ID and check or money order to:
Livingston County Clerk Office
Attn: Vitals
P.O. Box 618
Pontiac, IL 61764-0618
Death records cost $22.00 for the first copy, and subsequent copies cost $10 each. There is a service fee of $10 when using the Official Records Online tool to order a death record.
Requesters who do not possess a valid government-issued ID can provide one documentation listing the requester's address, such as mail or water bill, and one of the following:
- Car registration papers
- Credit card statement
- Medical insurance card
- Car insurance card
- Bank statement
- Paycheck stubs
- Voter's registration card
- Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) link card
- Public assistance card
