Crime Statistics
According to records for 2017, the city recorded a total of 7,567 reported incidents. Thefts accounted for 44.6% of total crimes with 3,403 cases while assaults and burglaries made up 23.2% and 18.1% respectively. Compared to 2016, the total crime rate decreased by 7%. Property crime slid by 10% while violent crime remained the same. With 14.13 daily crimes per 100,00 residents, the overall crime rate in Rockford was 88% higher than the national average, making it safer than 4% of the cities in the county.
Criminal Records
The Records Center at the Rockford Police Department is tasked with managing and issuing police reports. It processes requests walk-in and mail requests. Members of the public can apply for records in person at the police department located at:
District 3 Headquarters
557 S. New Towne Drive,
Rockford, IL 61108
Submitted applications should include duly completed FOIA request form that describes the reason for the request and the type of record requested. Records can also be obtained by sending a mail request to the:
Rockford Police Department,
ATTN: Records Center Division,
557 S. New Towne Drive,
Rockford, IL 61108
Who Can Obtain a Police Report?
Records may be exempted for release if it jeopardizes an individual’s right to privacy. Records may also be exempted for if they:
- Include information that may deprive a person of a fair trial or disclose investigation techniques
- Include information that may endanger the safety of a person or witness
- Identify juvenile information
- Include confidential information
- Identify victim information
How to Obtain Inmate Information
The Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office maintains records of persons held in correctional inmate facilities managed by the county. Members of the public can find out if an inmate is being held by calling the office at (815) 319-6600. The office is located at:
Winnebago County Justice Center
650 W. State Street
Rockford, IL 61102
Similarly, the Illinois Department of Corrections provides online access to an inmate locator tool. With it, interested parties can search for offenders, using a birth date, last name or a known IDOC number. Information can also be obtained by calling the department at (217) 558-2200.
How to Find Sex Offender Information
The Illinois State Police maintains a statewide sex offender database that contains a registry of persons convicted of sexual offenses. Members of the public can conduct searches by last name, city, and zip code. Searches can also be filtered by type or restricted to reveal inmates held within a specified geographic area.
Court Records
Rockford Illinois is home to a county circuit court, which presides over civil and criminal cases in the city. It’s divided into multiple departments based on case types, including criminal and juvenile departments. Members of the public can obtain records by contacting the clerk of court at the respective courthouse or submitting a document request online. Submitted requests must include the requester’s full name and email as well as the name of the litigant and type of document requested.
The court also provides online access to digital court records via its Justice case management system. It can be used to search for criminal or civil case information, and party detail. Requesters can view daily or weekly court calendars. Members of the public can conduct searches by party name, citation number or case number.
Locations of Courts in Rockford
The following are the locations of some of the major courts in Rockford, Illinois.
Winnebago County Circuit Court
Winnebago County Courthouse
400 West State Street
Rockford, IL 61101
Phone: (815) 319-4500
Winnebago County Circuit Court – Criminal
Criminal Justice Center
650 West State Street
Rockford, IL 61101
Phone: (815) 319-4500
Winnebago County Circuit Court – Juvenile
Juvenile Justice Center
211 South Court Street
Rockford, IL 61101
Phone: (815) 319-4500
How to Find Divorce Records
Certified copies of a divorce decree can be obtained by contacting the clerk of court at the circuit court where the divorce was granted. For divorces filed in Rockford Illinois, the main circuit county courthouse is located at:
Winnebago County Circuit Court
Winnebago County Courthouse
400 West State Street
Rockford, IL 61101
Phone: (815) 319-4500
Interested parties can also obtain divorce verifications by contacting the Illinois Department of Public Health Division of Vital Records. It verifies divorces that have occurred in the state dating back to 1962. Verifications cost $5 and can be ordered in person or by sending a mail request to:
Illinois Department of Public Health
Division of Vital Records
925 E. Ridgely Ave.
Springfield, IL 62702-2737
How to Find Birth/Death Records
The Winnebago County Health Department maintains birth and death records for events in the county. Requests can be submitted in person or by mail. Walk-in requests can be made at:
555 North Court Street - First Floor
Rockford, IL 61103
All requests must include relevant information such as the name of the registrant, date, and location of the event (birth/death), and the requester’s relationship to the registrant. Certified copies are only issued to authorized persons. Mail requests should be sent to:
Winnebago County Health Department
ATTN: Vital Records
401 Division Street
P.O. Box 4009
Rockford, IL 61110-0509
Birth and death records can also be obtained by contacting the Winnebago County Clerk office. It maintains records of births and deaths in Rockford, Illinois and the rest of the county. Members of the public can obtain copies of a birth or death record in person or by mail. Walk-in applications can be made at:
Winnebago County Clerk
404 Elm Street, Suite 104
Rockford, IL 61101
Requesters can also obtain records via mail by sending a completed application form for birth records to the address.
