Lake County Criminal Records
Criminal · Arrest · Court · Sex offender
Use the official court, custody, police-record, and statewide paths for Lake County, Illinois; jurisdiction limits are explained.
Searches are compiled from court, county, and statewide public-record sources.
Lake County public records: common questions
Where to search Lake County records
Lake County, Illinois court, custody, police, and statewide records are kept in separate systems. Start court research with Circuit Clerk criminal, traffic, and civil record-search procedures.
- Court casesCircuit Clerk criminal, traffic, and civil record-search procedures
- Current custodyConfirm the current jail or detention source with the local agency.
- Statewide recordsUse the Illinois state-level source described below when available.
- Federal recordsFederal court and custody records are outside county systems and require a separate federal search.
Verified local details
These details were drawn from the official sources linked in this guide. Reconfirm addresses, contacts, schedules, fees, and other time-sensitive details with the responsible agency.
- The Lake County Circuit Clerk maintains records of criminal, traffic, and civil actions and accepts record-search requests by mail or in person.
- The Circuit Clerk charges $6 per name per year for an individual or business background-record search; a search request should identify the name, years, case types, and an individual’s date of birth when applicable.
- Lake County is the sole county in Illinois’ 19th Judicial Circuit, with the courthouse at 18 North County Street in Waukegan.
- The Lake County Sheriff’s Office provides a jail population dashboard and directs people seeking inmate-location information to call 847-377-4107.
- Lake County records categories identify Sheriff’s Office arrest, law-enforcement, jail, booking, and population-log records, many of which require a Freedom of Information Act request.
- Lake County’s FOIA page states that requests generally receive a response within five business days, with a possible additional five-business-day extension allowed by law.
| Record type | Agency or source | Scope | Action | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Court cases | Circuit Clerk criminal, traffic, and civil record-search procedures | County or local | Open source | |
| Police and incident records | Lake County Sheriff services, jail information, and FOIA links | County or local | Open source | |
| Official records | County records-custodian and records-category directory | County or local | Open source | |
| Court cases | Illinois Courts directory for the 19th Judicial Circuit and Lake County Courthouse | County or local | Open source |
How this guide is maintained: This matrix only republishes government and agency destinations supported by the researched guide or its reviewed county source registry. Page updated . Agency sites and coverage can change, so confirm current rules with the source. Read our county source-review and correction policy.
A useful Lake County records search depends on matching the record to the right custodian. Use the questions below for a fast orientation, then follow the linked court, jail, police, and statewide sources for the authoritative record. Lake County has 719,339 residents (2025 estimate). The source map below identifies the relevant local courts and agencies. Offices and online systems change, so confirm details with the agency before relying on a record.
Quick facts
- County-equivalent identity
- 17-097
- Population
- 719,339 residents (2025 estimate)
- Local detail
- The Lake County Circuit Clerk maintains records of criminal, traffic, and civil actions and accepts record-search requests by mail or in person.
- Local detail
- The Circuit Clerk charges $6 per name per year for an individual or business background-record search; a search request should identify the name, years, case types, and an individual’s date of birth when applicable.
- Local detail
- Lake County is the sole county in Illinois’ 19th Judicial Circuit, with the courthouse at 18 North County Street in Waukegan.
- Local detail
- The Lake County Sheriff’s Office provides a jail population dashboard and directs people seeking inmate-location information to call 847-377-4107.
- Local detail
- Lake County records categories identify Sheriff’s Office arrest, law-enforcement, jail, booking, and population-log records, many of which require a Freedom of Information Act request.
- Local detail
- Lake County’s FOIA page states that requests generally receive a response within five business days, with a possible additional five-business-day extension allowed by law.
What is specific about this local guide
- Local detail: The Lake County Circuit Clerk maintains records of criminal, traffic, and civil actions and accepts record-search requests by mail or in person.
- Local detail: The Circuit Clerk charges $6 per name per year for an individual or business background-record search; a search request should identify the name, years, case types, and an individual’s date of birth when applicable.
- Local detail: Lake County is the sole county in Illinois’ 19th Judicial Circuit, with the courthouse at 18 North County Street in Waukegan.
How do I search a Lake County criminal, traffic, or civil case?
For Lake County, start with Circuit Clerk criminal, traffic, and civil record-search procedures and Illinois Courts directory for the 19th Judicial Circuit and Lake County Courthouse, then confirm the filing court or creating agency. How do I search a Lake County criminal, traffic, or civil case depends on the record type and jurisdiction. Circuit Clerk record searches and online docket information are not necessarily certified background checks or complete criminal-history records.
How do I request a certified Lake County court record or court document?
For Lake County, start with Circuit Clerk criminal, traffic, and civil record-search procedures and Illinois Courts directory for the 19th Judicial Circuit and Lake County Courthouse, then confirm the filing court or creating agency. How do I request a certified Lake County court record or court document depends on the record type and jurisdiction. Circuit Clerk record searches and online docket information are not necessarily certified background checks or complete criminal-history records.
How do I find someone in the Lake County jail?
For Lake County, start with Circuit Clerk criminal, traffic, and civil record-search procedures and Illinois Courts directory for the 19th Judicial Circuit and Lake County Courthouse, then confirm the filing court or creating agency. How do I find someone in the Lake County jail depends on the record type and jurisdiction. Circuit Clerk record searches and online docket information are not necessarily certified background checks or complete criminal-history records.
How do I request a Lake County Sheriff arrest, incident, booking, or jail record?
For Lake County, start with Circuit Clerk criminal, traffic, and civil record-search procedures and Illinois Courts directory for the 19th Judicial Circuit and Lake County Courthouse, then confirm the filing court or creating agency. How do I request a Lake County Sheriff arrest, incident, booking, or jail record depends on the record type and jurisdiction. Circuit Clerk record searches and online docket information are not necessarily certified background checks or complete criminal-history records.
What is the difference between a Circuit Clerk record search and an Illinois criminal-history check?
For Lake County, start with Circuit Clerk criminal, traffic, and civil record-search procedures and Illinois Courts directory for the 19th Judicial Circuit and Lake County Courthouse, then confirm the filing court or creating agency. What is the difference between a Circuit Clerk record search and an Illinois criminal-history check depends on the record type and jurisdiction. Circuit Clerk record searches and online docket information are not necessarily certified background checks or complete criminal-history records.
How do I submit a Lake County Illinois FOIA request?
For Lake County, start with Circuit Clerk criminal, traffic, and civil record-search procedures and Illinois Courts directory for the 19th Judicial Circuit and Lake County Courthouse, then confirm the filing court or creating agency. How do I submit a Lake County Illinois FOIA request depends on the record type and jurisdiction. Circuit Clerk record searches and online docket information are not necessarily certified background checks or complete criminal-history records.
Which court handles a case in the 19th Judicial Circuit?
For Lake County, start with Circuit Clerk criminal, traffic, and civil record-search procedures and Illinois Courts directory for the 19th Judicial Circuit and Lake County Courthouse, then confirm the filing court or creating agency. Which court handles a case in the 19th Judicial Circuit depends on the record type and jurisdiction. Circuit Clerk record searches and online docket information are not necessarily certified background checks or complete criminal-history records.
Which municipality holds the records for a property, police, zoning, or local-code matter?
For Lake County, start with Circuit Clerk criminal, traffic, and civil record-search procedures and Illinois Courts directory for the 19th Judicial Circuit and Lake County Courthouse, then confirm the filing court or creating agency. Which municipality holds the records for a property, police, zoning, or local-code matter depends on the record type and jurisdiction. Circuit Clerk record searches and online docket information are not necessarily certified background checks or complete criminal-history records.
Municipal courts and other local systems
Municipal and local court coverage is separate from the county trial-court path. Custody: The Lake County Sheriff’s Office manages the county jail and other detention facilities. People held by municipal, state, or federal agencies may not appear in Lake County custody records. Municipal: For property or matters located within a municipality, Lake County directs requesters to contact the specific municipality. Municipal police, code, zoning, and local records may therefore be separate from county records.
Local cities and separate court systems
The relevant local courts and agencies may serve different incorporated municipalities, so confirm the filing locality before relying on a record.
Lake County court and felony records
Start with Circuit Clerk criminal, traffic, and civil record-search procedures for the official Lake County court path. County: Lake County government maintains county records and services, while incorporated municipalities may maintain separate records and local-government systems. Court: The Illinois 19th Judicial Circuit is a single-county circuit covering Lake County. The Circuit Court has original jurisdiction over matters filed in the county, and the Circuit Clerk maintains judicial records.
Police records and public-record requests
Request a police or incident record from the sheriff or municipal police agency that created it. Court documents may require a separate file or document request, and restricted, sealed, juvenile, or otherwise confidential records may not be publicly available.
Lake County custody and jail information
For current custody information, start with Lake County Sheriff services, jail information, and FOIA links. Circuit Clerk record searches and online docket information are not necessarily certified background checks or complete criminal-history records.
Illinois state-level record sources
Statewide Illinois sources are separate from Lake County local records. Do not treat a statewide search as a complete county docket, jail roster, or police-record database.
Nearby county coverage in Illinois
No adjacent county guide is live yet.
Nearby county links will be added after the neighboring pages pass the same source and content review.
Official Lake County and Illinois record sources
For an official starting point, use County records-custodian and records-category directory. Confirm current access rules, fees, contacts, and jurisdiction with the responsible agency.
Disclosure: criminal.com may earn a commission when you use the people-search tool on this page, which is powered by a third-party background-check service. Results are for personal knowledge only and may not be used for employment, housing, credit, tenant screening, or any other purpose covered by the Fair Credit Reporting Act. An arrest or booking record is not proof of guilt. This page is general information, not legal advice; for advice about a specific situation, consult an attorney.
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