Arrest Records in Cook County, IL

Where to get them

Official government sources

The authoritative record holders — straight from the source, no middleman. Many are free; where a standard government fee applies, it’s shown.

• Cook County Sheriff's OfficeOfficial · Free

  Search Cook County, IL jail and inmate records through the county Sheriff's Office — individual-in-custody jail lookup.

• Cook County Court — Criminal CasesOfficial · Free

  Search Cook County, IL criminal court cases — charges, dispositions, and sentencing — through the county court's public case search — Circuit Court civil & criminal online case search.

• Illinois Criminal History CheckOfficial

  Request a name-based Uniform Conviction Information Act (UCIA) background check by submitting the subject's personal identifiers to the Illinois State Police, which returns publicly available conviction information for $16 by paper (or $10 electronically), with mailed results typically taking up to 30-40 days. Records are provided by the Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification, the official state criminal history repository.

  Up to 30–40 days$16Mail

• The trade-off if speed matters

  How the official source above compares to a paid service on speed and effort.

  Official source

  • TimeUp to 30–40 days
  • Cost$16

  Faster paid option

  • TimeOften minutes, online
  • HowNo trip or mailing — done from home
  • FeePaid convenience service