What are Decatur Public Records?
The Illinois Freedom of Information Law classifies Decatur public records as all materials in recording or writing received, stored, corrected, and updated by a public agency. Public records in Decatur may exist as videotapes, maps, photographs, books, audio files, memoranda, notes, drafts, and symbols. Under state law, not all public documents are accessible to the public. Public agencies may redact or withhold confidential information or data which may violate a record subject's safety. In Decatur, public agencies may exempt the following documents from public access:
- Documents containing unique identifying numbers, such as driver's license number, a person's social security number, and biometric identifiers;
- Documents that reveal an individual's personal information (This may include medical records, home address and telephone number, and personal email addresses);
- Law enforcement records that may interfere with an ongoing investigation or may disclose the identity of a crime victim or witness to a crime;
- Trade secrets sent to a public agency for a license application (Trade secrets are exempt if the disclosure of the said documents will reduce a company's competitive advantage);
- Architectural and official building plans of government-owned facilities;
- Juvenile records and other sensitive compiled by law enforcement agencies;
- Information on crime witnesses and complainants;
- Data about pending litigation that involves a public agency or entity;
- Information on bids for contracts are exempt until a public agency make a final decision;
- Minutes of the meeting of public entities closed to the public.
- voters registration data, such as email address, home address, and other identifying information;
- Preliminary or drafts used in decision-making by government agencies;
- Location and data on archaeological sites and endangered species.
Public city records may also be accessible from third-party websites. Record seekers may opt to use these non-governmental platforms to search for a specific record or multiple city records. However, users will need to provide enough information to assist with the search, such as:
- The address of the requestor
- A case number or file number (if known)
- The location of the document or person involved
- The name of the subject involved in the record (not juvenile)
- The last known or current address of the registrant
Third-party sites are not sponsored by government agencies. Because of this, record availability and results may vary.
Decatur Crime Statistics
The City of Decatur Police Department collates and frequently updates information on all arrests and crimes documented in the City. Per the 2019 FBI UCR, th city recorded 2,329 index crimes, consisting of 375 violent crimes and 1,954 property crimes. The index crimes listed in the report are 11 murders, 52 rapes, 65 robberies, 247 aggravated assaults, 442 burglaries, 1,339 larceny thefts, 173 motor vehicle thefts, and 32 arson. In contrast, Decatur reported 3,049 index crimes in 2016. When compared with the 2019 index crime report, crime rates in the City reduced by 23 percent. Within a three-year gap, burglaries and larceny thefts fell sharply by 47 and 21 percent, respectively.
Are Decatur Criminal Records Public?
The Macon County Circuit Clerk is the designated custodian of all criminal records generated within the county, including Decatur City. Furthermore, it allows record seekers to obtain Decatur criminal records in person. To receive criminal records in-person, record seekers must visit the Office of the Circuit Clerk from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays at:
253 East Wood Street
Decatur, IL 62523
Phone: (217) 424-1454 (Circuit Clerk)
Fax: (217) 424-1350 (Circuit Clerk).
Per the Illinois Freedom of Information Law, not all Decatur criminal records are open to public members. The law empowers record custodian to prevent public access to criminal records under these categories:
- Juvenile criminal records;
- Expunged or sealed criminal records;
- Criminal documents with information on criminal witnesses and crime victims.
How to Obtain Decatur Police Reports and Arrest Records
Arrests, incidents, accidents, and other police reports generated in Decatur City are under the purview of the City's law enforcement agency. The Decatur Police Department maintains an online database where record seekers can access all arrests, accidents, or incident reports. To access Decatur police reports or arrest records via the database, record seekers may search using the following options:
- Search by case number;
- Search by date of the event;
- Search by offender's name.
Similarly, via the Records Department, the Macon County Sheriff's Office is responsible for keeping all criminal records generated in the county. The Records Department consists of designated FOIA officers who attend to requests from record seekers. Therefore, record seekers must send a completed FOIA request form to:
MSO FOIA Officer
333 South Franklin Street
Decatur, IL. 62523
Phone: (217) 424-1323 (Records Check)
Phone: (217) 424-1323 (County and City Offense and Traffic Reports)
Phone: (217) 424-1323 (Background Check)
Also, record seekers may visit the Records Department in person at the address mentioned above on weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
How to Find Sex Offender Information in Decatur
Record seekers can find and view Decatur sex offender information via a searchable sex offender registry. The Illinois State Police is the record custodian for all sex offender's data in Decatur. It regularly updates sex offenders' data on a searchable database for sex offenders. Persons or entities can access the database to view the list of Decatur registered sex offenders. Through the online platform, record seekers may conduct searches by inputting this information:
- First Name
- Last Name
- City
- County
- Zip Code
- Compliance Status
- Offender Type
Furthermore, the Illinois State Police enables record seekers to view the location of sex offenders via a map search interface.
How to Find Decatur Inmate Records
Persons or entities can find current inmates in Decatur City via the Macon County Inmate Inquiry platform. To search for inmates, record seekers must fill out these data:
- Inmate's name;
- Subject number;
- Booking date;
- Housing facility.
Similarly, the Illinois Department of Corrections maintains a statewide online repository of all inmates in the state's correctional facilities. Record seekers can search for Decatur inmates using one of these search options:
- Inmate's last name;
- IDOC number;
- Inmate's birthdate.
How Do I Visit an Inmate in Decatur City Jail?
All visits to the Macon County Jail must be scheduled online before the proposed visitation date. The Macon County Jail is open for onsite video visitation on all days from 8:20 a.m. to 1:20 p.m and 3:20 p.m. to 8:20 p.m. During visitation, visitors must comply with the jail facility rules and guidelines, some of which include:
- Visitors below or 18 years old must be accompanied by an adult visitor;
- Visitors must present a valid photo ID before entering the jail facility;
- Persons visiting the prison facility must wear the proper attire.
- Prison officers may terminate visits if there's a violation of the guidelines.
What are Decatur Vital Records?
Decatur vital records refer to all materials in recording or writing concerning all life events documented within the City. Documented vital records may include birth, death, marriage, and divorce records. All vital records are under the purview of public agencies at the local and state level. Thus, interested persons or entities may request online or offline copies of Decatur vital records from the designated record custodian. For example, the Macon County Circuit Clerk is responsible for generating and issuing copies of all Decatur divorce documents. In contrast, the Macon County Vital Records Division is the custodian of all Decatur marriage, birth and death records.
Where and How to Obtain Decatur Divorce Records
Record seekers can find Decatur divorce documents at the Macon County Circuit Clerk's Office. As the custodian of divorce documents, the Circuit Clerk issues divorce documents to interested public members. To receive divorce records in-person, record seekers must visit the Office of the Circuit Clerk from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays at:
253 East Wood Street
Decatur, IL 62523
Phone: (217) 424-1454 (Circuit Clerk)
Fax: (217) 424-1350 (Circuit Clerk).
On the other hand, record seekers can obtain Decatur divorce verification from the Illinois Department of Health, Division of Vital Records. The record custodian can verify Decatur divorce records from 1962 and issue copies of the documents to interested applicants. To obtain a Decatur divorce verification document, record seekers must submit the following:
- A completed request form for divorce verification;
- A valid government-issued photo ID;
- A $5 fee as a money order or check payable to the Illinois Department of Public Health
Send the above-listed documents via mail to:
Illinois Department of Public Health
Division of Vital Records
925 East Ridgely Avenue
Springfield, IL 62702-2737.
Where and How to Get Decatur Marriage Records
Decatur marriage records are obtainable at Macon County Clerk's Office. Record seekers can get copies of marriage records via mail or in-person requests. To receive Decatur marriage records in person, record seekers must present a valid photo ID at:
Macon County Clerk
141 South Main Street
Room 104
Decatur, IL 62523
Phone: (217) 424-1305
Phone: (217) 424-1307
In contrast, record seekers may send a written request detailing the record subject's name and date of the event in a self-addressed envelope to:
Macon County Clerk
141 South Main Street
Room 104
Decatur, IL 62523
Phone: (217) 424-1305
Phone: (217) 424-1307
In addition, requesters must include a $23 money order or check in the mail request. Additional copies of marriage records cost $10.
Similarly, the Illinois Department of Health, via the Vital Records Division, verifies marriage certificates from 1962. Persons or entities seeking to obtain a Decatur marriage verification document must send the following documents via mail:
- Completed request form for marriage verification;
- A valid government-issued photo ID;
- A $5 fee as a money order or check payable to the Illinois Department of Public Health
Send the above-listed documents via mail to:
Illinois Department of Public Health
Division of Vital Records
925 East Ridgely Avenue
Springfield, IL 62702-2737.
Where and How to Find Decatur Birth Record
Record seekers can order Decatur birth records from the Macon County Clerk via in-person visits or mail-in requests. Decatur birth certificates are accessible to in-person requesters at:
Macon County Clerk
141 South Main Street
Room 104
Decatur, IL 62523
Phone: (217) 424-1305
Phone: (217) 424-1307
For mailed requests, record seekers must complete a birth certificate request form alongside a $23 check or money order to:
Macon County Clerk
141 South Main Street
Room 104
Decatur, IL 62523
Phone: (217) 424-1305
Phone: (217) 424-1307
Likewise, the Illinois Department of Health maintains a statewide repository of all birth documents generated in Decatur. However, the Department of Health will only issue Decatur birth certificates to:
- The record subject (18 years old or older);
- Parents listed on the record;
- Legal representatives or guardians of the record subject.
Eligible applicants must send a completed birth certificate request form, a valid government-issued ID, and the required fee or cost to access Decatur birth documents via mail or in person.
To receive Decatur birth certificate in person, record seekers must present the necessary documents at:
Illinois Department of Public Health
Division of Vital Records
925 East Ridgely Avenue-2737.
Springfield, IL 62702.
Record seekers must pay $10 for the copy of a birth certificate and $2 for additional copies. For mailed requests, record seekers must mail in the necessary documents to:
Illinois Department of Public Health
Division of Vital Records
925 East Ridgely Avenue-2737.
Springfield, IL 62702.
Where and How to Find Decatur Death Records
The Macon County Clerk's Office issues copies of Decatur death certificates to interested applicants. Record seekers can order Decatur death records from the Macon County Clerk via in-person visits or mail-in requests. Decatur birth certificates are accessible to in-person requesters at:
Macon County Clerk
141 South Main Street
Room 104
Decatur, IL 62523
Phone: (217) 424-1305
Phone: (217) 424-1307
For mailed requests, record seekers must send a completed death certificate request form alongside a $2 check or money order to:
Macon County Clerk
141 South Main Street
Room 104
Decatur, IL 62523
Phone: (217) 424-1305
Phone: (217) 424-1307
Alternatively, the Illinois Department of Health issues certified and uncertified Decatur death certificates to applicants. Interested applicants can obtain copies of the documents via mail or in-person requests.
To use the mail request option, requesters must send a death certificate request form to:
Illinois Department of Public Health
Division of Vital Records
925 East Ridgely Avenue-2737.
Springfield, IL 62702.
Record seekers must pay $19 for the first copy of a death certificate and $4 for additional copies.
