Search Free Madison County Arrest Records: Charges & Bail Info

Perform a free Madison County arrest records search in no time using the links in this resource. Citizens can conveniently establish facts about any individual, including their charges, bond details, and whether or not they’ve been incarcerated or sentenced for another offense in the past.

The Illinois Freedom of Information Act determines that public records information should always be readily available to the public; this includes arrest and court records, accessible for free or at a very low cost.

This article assists searchers in finding relevant information about arrests made in Madison County, Illinois, teaching them about the tools and resources available at the county and state levels.

How To Obtain Current Madison County Arrest Records & Check Out Mugshots: Free

The Illinois Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) establishes that public records information should be readily available to those individuals who are interested in it for whatever reason.¹ However, local agencies throughout the state have the liberty to choose how they’ll make those records available to their communities.

In Madison County, it’s the Sheriff’s Office’s responsibility to inform the people about inmates who have been recently booked at their correctional facility. However, they choose not to do it online, through a jail roster or a search engine.

Instead, their protocol is that anyone seeking information about inmates under their responsibility must call them at 618.692.1064 and ask any questions they may have.

As an option, concerned citizens can also visit the Sheriff’s Office in person at their headquarters and ask for assistance using the following information:

Madison County Sheriff’s Office
405 Randle St. 
Edwardsville, IL 62025

Phone: 618.692.4433

An alternative to contacting the Sheriff’s Office is to look up information with the courts. The Court Records Search system allows interested people to search and uncover information about court cases recorded at the Circuit Clerk’s Office.²

That information often includes warrant and arrest information – which can be a more convenient starting point.

Users can readily search the Clerk’s database by name or case number. If the potential inmate’s full name is known, it must be placed in a “last name, first name” format. However, it’s important to know that only having last names will work and lead to results, too.

The Court Records Search engine doesn’t allow users to narrow the search down using any criteria except the individual’s name.

Consequently, the results list tends to be quite long and to include all types of cases (and not only criminal ones). Readers will have to patiently go through the list until they find the case (or cases) they’re interested in.

The results will show the case number, the individual’s full name and date of birth, and the type of case they’re involved in. By clicking on it, it’s possible to see some more information about that particular case.

Among other things, the details page contains more data about the charges and current status of the case and allows users to see the full docket – which would include information about an arrest, warrant or bond if any of those have happened at any point during the proceedings.

If concerned citizens need more information or support from the Madison County Circuit Clerk’s Office, they can contact them directly at two different locations.⁴ Those are the addresses they can go to for assistance:

Madison County Circuit Clerk – Main Office
155 North Main Street
Edwardsville, IL 62025

Phone: 618.692.6240

Madison County Circuit Clerk – Satellite Office
1700 East Broadway
Alton, IL 62002 

Another valuable resource when someone is searching for recent bookings in Madison County is the Edwardsville Police Department. They can provide information and assistance for any case that happens under their jurisdiction and are available in person, by phone, or by email. This is how they can be contacted:

Edwardsville Police Department
333 South Main St
Edwardsville, IL 62025

Phone: 618.656.2131
Email: [email protected]

It’s important to mention that victims of crimes in Madison County are entitled to a different (and broader) set of resources that have been established to support them in the journey of recovering from the bad situation they’ve gone through. Unlike other people, they’re entitled to be informed every step of the way.

The Madison County State Attorney’s Office offers victim support through an array of programs.⁵ They offer information and guidance about how those tools work, as well as ample access to all the resources available. Victims can contact the State Attorney’s Office using the following information:

Madison County State Attorney’s Office
Madison County Administrative Building
157 North Main St – Suite 402
Edwardsville, IL 62025

Phone: 618.692.6280
Fax: 618.296.7001
Email: [email protected]

Also, as it happens in most places, victims can register to VINELink and ensure that any change in their offender’s status is promptly communicated to them.

When information is found about a recent arrest, it’s common for searchers to decide to dig a little deeper to try and find out if that individual has a criminal history or any relevant incidents in the past. Let’s take a look below on how to accomplish that in Madison County.

How To Uncover Information on Previous Offenses & Arrests Made in Madison County Illinois

There are different resources that concerned citizens can access when reaching for information about someone’s criminal past. Working with the Madison County Circuit Clerk is one way to do it.⁴

To search for records with them, the first step should always be to look up the case information online.² How to use this system was explained in the previous section. When the case of interest is found, and copies of its records are desired, searchers should complete a records request online by clicking the red button on the Clerk’s page.⁶

Whenever the interested person isn’t comfortable making an online request, it’s also possible to place records requests by email, mail, or in person. For email and mail records requests the advice is to fill out a Madison County Copy Request form and send it to them along with the order.⁷

All requests can be made using the information below:

Madison County Circuit Clerk
Document Storage/Records Search
155 North Main St
Edwardsville, IL 62025

Fax: 618.692.0676 or 618.655.2017
Email: [email protected]

There’s a full fee schedule on the website, but as a reference, this is how much copies usually cost:

• First page – $2
• Pages 2 to 20 – $0.50 each
• Pages 21 and up – $0.25 each
• Certification seal – $6 per record

The Circuit Clerk accepts payments done online, by phone at +1.800.352.9870, by check (if mailed to them, to the address above), and in person by cash or card.

Another useful tool to use when trying to uncover relevant facts about someone’s criminal past is the Individual in Custody Search, provided by the Illinois Department of Corrections.⁸

This inmate search tool allows anyone to look up current inmates all over the state. It’s possible to search by name – and having only a last name will work and yield results. The list of matches will include all the names that fit the criteria of the search and include the offender’s full name, identification number and date of birth.

When the individual of interest is found, it’s time to click on their name and bring to light more detailed information about them. By clicking on a name, the user is taken to that inmate’s profile page, which includes a mugshot, information about their physical appearance (height, weight, complexion, etc.), as well as admission, release, and discharge information.

It also includes their charge and sentence. Concerned citizens can click on a blue button and register to be informed about any changes in this inmate’s status.

One thing to keep in mind is that, as thorough as it is, this system will only show convicted offenders, and results won’t include those who have recently been booked and are waiting for trial or bond. If the search is for someone just recently arrested, contacting the local law enforcement agency will likely be more effective.

For more information, users can contact the Illinois Department of Corrections using the online form or visiting one of the two locations available:

Illinois Department of Corrections – Springfield
P.O. Box 19277
1301 Concordia Court
Springfield, IL 62794

Phone: 217.558.2200

Illinois Department of Corrections – Chicago
555 West Monroe – 6th Floor – Suite 600S
Chicago, IL 60661

Last but not least, anyone in Illinois can request and obtain a copy of their own criminal history report (or background check) to revise the information contained in it and file a dispute if anything seems to be incorrect.¹⁰

Interested individuals can approach any law enforcement agency in the state, any correctional facility, or any fingerprint location and make a request. The cost of a full report usually varies between $20 and $33.25 depending on which type is being requested (if state-wide or federal, for example). When in doubt, people should check the fee schedule.¹¹

For support or clarification, people can contact the Illinois State Police by email at [email protected].

How To Pay Bail After an Arrest in Madison County

The state of Illinois is a bit different than most states when it comes to bonds and how to post them. The main thing people should be aware of is that there are no bondsman agencies in Illinois to support those who wish to post bonds. In Illinois, people must post bail directly with the court and handle it on their own – which is known as self-bail.

There are a few different types of bonds in Illinois. Judges are responsible for determining the bond amount and which type of bond the offenders are bound to. Those are the types:

• I-Bond – the individual ordered to post an I-Bond is released on their own recognizance without making any payment. They promise to appear in court at every scheduled time, and if they fail, a new arrest warrant may be issued against them.

• D-Bond – this type allows offenders to pay only 10% of the bail amount set by the judge. In this case, after the proceedings are finished and the case has a final disposition, the court will keep the money as a processing fee, regardless of the outcome of the case.

• C-Bond – when someone is ordered to pay a C-Bond, it means that the inmate is required to pay the bail in full in order to be released. However, when the trial is over, after any outstanding fees are deducted, the amount paid is refunded to the person who made the payment.

The best way to determine what type of bond has been set for an inmate and how much they must pay is to call the Madison County Circuit Court.⁴ They can also provide information about where to go to post bond, which may vary depending on how that case is being handled.

To make a payment, it’s also possible to contact the court directly using the contact form or the following information:

Madison County Circuit Court
155 North Main Street
Edwardsville, IL 62025

Phone: 618.692.6240

When the community has the ability to search and find information about inmates currently kept in any correctional facility (as well as those held in the past), everyone feels educated and safe – and, consequently, better equipped to make certain decisions.

Anyone can run a Madison County arrest records search whenever it seems appropriate to do so; this resource enables anyone seeking arrest details within the county to do so seamlessly.