Vermilion Parish Public Records /Vermilion Parish Criminal Records

Vermilion County Criminal Records

What Is Vermilion County Criminal Records

Criminal records in Vermilion County are official government documents that chronicle an individual's interactions with the criminal justice system, from initial law enforcement contact through final court disposition. These records are maintained by multiple agencies across the county and state, each responsible for a distinct segment of the criminal justice process.

Key distinctions exist among the types of records maintained:

Arrest records vs. conviction records: An arrest record documents that law enforcement took an individual into custody based on probable cause; a conviction record reflects a formal finding of guilt by a court. An arrest does not constitute a conviction under Illinois law.
Felony vs. misdemeanor: Felonies are serious offenses carrying potential sentences of one year or more in state prison; misdemeanors carry lesser penalties, typically served in county jail.
Adult vs. juvenile records: Adult criminal records are generally accessible to the public. Juvenile records are routinely sealed or expunged pursuant to 705 ILCS 405/5-915, which governs the confidentiality of minors' proceedings in Illinois.
Active warrants vs. historical records: Active warrants reflect current judicial orders for arrest; historical records document past charges, proceedings, and outcomes.

Records maintained in Vermilion County include charges filed, arraignments, pleas entered, trial proceedings, sentencing details, and probation or parole conditions. The principal agencies responsible for maintaining these records are:

Vermilion County Sheriff's Office 6 North Vermilion Street, Danville, IL 61832 (217) 554-1700 Vermilion County Sheriff's Office

Vermilion County Circuit Clerk's Office 7 North Vermilion Street, Danville, IL 61832 (217) 554-7700 Vermilion County Circuit Clerk

Illinois State Police (Bureau of Identification) 260 North Chicago Street, Joliet, IL 60432 (815) 740-5160 Illinois State Police

Danville Police Department 101 West Main Street, Danville, IL 61832 (217) 431-2250 Danville Police Department

Are Criminal Records Public In Vermilion County

Adult criminal records in Vermilion County are generally accessible to members of the public under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140), which establishes the public's right to inspect and copy government records. Court records are additionally governed by Illinois Supreme Court rules and the principle that judicial proceedings are presumptively open.

Under current law, the following categories of records are available to the public:

Adult conviction records, including charges, pleas, verdicts, and sentencing
Court case filings and docket entries accessible through the Circuit Clerk
Booking and jail roster information maintained by the Sheriff's Office
Sex offender registration data published by the Illinois State Police

The following categories are restricted or exempt from public disclosure:

Records pertaining to ongoing criminal investigations, where disclosure would interfere with law enforcement proceedings
Juvenile delinquency records, which are sealed by operation of 705 ILCS 405/5-915
Expunged or sealed adult records, which are treated as though they do not exist following a court order
Confidential informant identities and certain victim information protected under state statute

Members of the public seeking records should be aware that the Illinois Freedom of Information Act requires agencies to respond to written requests within five business days, with a possible five-day extension under specified circumstances.

How To Look Up Criminal Records In Vermilion County in 2026

Members of the public may obtain Vermilion County criminal records through several official channels. The following steps outline the process for accessing records through the primary maintaining agencies:

Through the Circuit Clerk's Office (Court Records):

Visit the Vermilion County Circuit Clerk's Office in person at 7 North Vermilion Street, Danville, IL 61832, during public counter hours of Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Provide the full legal name and date of birth of the subject, or a known case number, to facilitate the search.
Submit a written request or complete the in-office request form. Certified copies of court documents are available for a statutory fee.
Alternatively, submit a written FOIA request by mail addressed to the Circuit Clerk's FOIA Officer.

Through the Sheriff's Office (Arrest and Jail Records):

Contact the Vermilion County Sheriff's Office at (217) 554-1700 or visit in person at 6 North Vermilion Street, Danville, IL 61832.
Submit a written FOIA request identifying the records sought, the subject's name, and the approximate date of the incident.
The Sheriff's Office will respond within the statutory timeframe established under 5 ILCS 140/3.

Through the Illinois State Police (Statewide Criminal History):

Access the Illinois Statewide Criminal History database through the Illinois State Police Criminal History Information portal.
Individuals requesting their own records may submit a Personal Records Request form with required identification and applicable fees.
Employers and authorized entities conducting background checks must use the Illinois State Police Livescan fingerprint-based system.

How To Find Criminal Records in Vermilion County Online?

Several official online portals currently provide access to Vermilion County criminal and court records without requiring an in-person visit.

Vermilion County Case Search (Circuit Clerk): The Vermilion County Circuit Clerk case search portal allows members of the public to search court case records by party name, case number, or filing date. The portal contains civil and criminal case docket information, including charges filed, hearing dates, and case dispositions. No registration is required for basic public case searches.

Illinois Courts e-Filing and Case Information: The Illinois Courts case search provides access to circuit court records statewide, including Vermilion County. Users may search by name or case number. This portal reflects docket entries but may not include scanned document images for all cases.

Illinois Sex Offender Registry: The Illinois Sex Offender Registry, maintained by the Illinois State Police, allows the public to search for registered sex offenders by name, county, or ZIP code. Vermilion County offenders are included in this statewide database.

Vermilion County Jail Roster: Current inmate information for the Vermilion County Jail is accessible through the Vermilion County Sheriff's Office website. The roster reflects individuals currently in custody and is updated regularly. Historical booking records are not available through the online roster and must be requested through a formal FOIA submission.

Illinois Inmate Search (IDOC): The Illinois Department of Corrections Inmate Search portal allows the public to locate individuals currently or previously incarcerated in state correctional facilities, including those sentenced following Vermilion County convictions.

Can You Search Vermilion County Criminal Records for Free?

Illinois law currently mandates that members of the public have the right to inspect public records at no charge. Under 5 ILCS 140/6, public bodies must allow inspection of records without imposing a fee for the act of viewing documents; fees may only be charged for reproduction of copies.

The following resources provide free access to Vermilion County criminal records:

Vermilion County Circuit Clerk case search portal: Free online access to court docket information, case numbers, charges, and dispositions at vercounty.org/circuit-clerk
Illinois Courts case information: Free statewide case search available through the Illinois Courts website
Vermilion County Jail Roster: Free online viewing of current inmate information through the Vermilion County Sheriff's Office
Illinois Sex Offender Registry: Free public search available through the Illinois State Police
In-person inspection: Members of the public may inspect records in person at the Circuit Clerk's Office or Sheriff's Office at no cost; fees apply only when requesting printed or certified copies

Fees for certified copies of court documents are set by statute and are currently assessed per page or per document, as established by the Circuit Clerk's fee schedule.

What's Included in a Vermilion County Criminal Record?

A complete Vermilion County criminal record may contain several categories of information, depending on the nature of the case and the agency maintaining the record.

Identifying Information:

Full legal name and known aliases
Date of birth and physical description (height, weight, eye and hair color)
Photograph (mugshot) taken at booking
Last known address
State Identification Number (SID) assigned by the Illinois State Police
FBI Number assigned through federal fingerprint processing

Arrest Information:

Date, time, and location of arrest
Arresting agency (Sheriff's Office, Danville Police, or other local law enforcement)
Booking number and jail facility
Charges filed at the time of arrest
Bail or bond amount set and conditions of release

Court Case Information:

Case number and court jurisdiction (Vermilion County Circuit Court, Fifth Judicial Circuit)
Filing date and assigned judge
Charges and applicable Illinois statutes, classified by felony class (Class X, 1, 2, 3, 4) or misdemeanor class (A, B, C)
Plea entered (guilty, not guilty, no contest)
Attorney of record and public defender assignment, if applicable

Disposition:

Verdict (guilty, not guilty, dismissed)
Conviction date and sentencing details, including incarceration length, fines, restitution, and special conditions
Probation or parole terms and supervising agency
Appeals filed and outcomes

Additional Record Elements:

Active or recalled warrants
Orders of protection or no-contact orders
Sex offender registration status
DUI/DWI adjudications
Traffic violations adjudicated in circuit court
Pending charges awaiting disposition

How Long Does Vermilion County Keep Criminal Records?

Vermilion County criminal records are retained in accordance with the Illinois Local Records Act (50 ILCS 205) and the retention schedules approved by the Illinois Local Records Commission. Retention periods vary by record type and maintaining agency.

Current retention periods for principal record categories include:

Felony conviction records: Retained permanently by the Circuit Clerk and the Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification
Misdemeanor conviction records: Retained for a minimum of 20 years following final disposition, subject to applicable expungement orders
Arrest records without conviction: Retained for a minimum of five years; eligible for expungement under 20 ILCS 2630/5.2, the Illinois Criminal Identification Act
Juvenile records: Retained until the subject reaches age 21 or for five years following the last court action, whichever is later, unless expunged earlier pursuant to court order
Jail booking records: Retained by the Vermilion County Sheriff's Office for a minimum of five years
Probation records: Retained for the duration of supervision plus a minimum of five years following discharge

The Illinois Local Records Commission publishes approved retention schedules that govern county-level record-keeping obligations. Agencies are prohibited from destroying records prior to the expiration of the applicable retention period without commission approval.