Find Fulton County Recent Arrests

Fulton County recent arrests are handled by Sheriff Jon Webb's office in Lewistown and tracked through the circuit clerk at the courthouse. With about 33,000 residents spread across west-central Illinois, this county processes arrests through the sheriff's department, local police, and the state police. All criminal cases end up at the Fulton County Circuit Court. Whether you need to check on a current jail booking or look up a past case, this guide walks through every source for arrest records in Fulton County, including the county offices, FOIA process, and statewide databases.

Fulton County Sheriff Arrest Records

The Fulton County Sheriff's Office is at 268 W. Washington Ave. in Lewistown. Call (309) 547-2277 for info about recent arrests or to check on someone in the jail. The fax number is (309) 547-2355. You can email the sheriff at sheriff@fultonco.org. Sheriff Jon Webb leads the department, which handles patrol, investigations, civil process, and the county jail.

When someone gets arrested in Fulton County, they are booked at the jail at the same location. Booking includes fingerprints, a photo, and personal info collection. To find out if someone is currently in custody, call the jail. Staff can tell you if a person is being held and what charges they face. The department also posts updates on their Facebook page, where you may find press releases about recent arrests and public safety news.

The Fulton County government website has department pages and contact info. While the site does not have a public inmate roster, it is a good starting point for finding the right office to contact about arrest records.

The Fulton County website screenshot below shows the main portal for county services and department links.

Use this site to find links to the sheriff, clerk, and other county offices.

Fulton County Circuit Clerk Cases

The Fulton County Circuit Clerk is Charlene Markley. The office is at the Fulton County Courthouse, 100 N. Main, Room 207, Lewistown, IL 61542. Call (309) 547-3041 Ext. 206 for case inquiries. The fax is (309) 547-3674, and you can email cmarkley@9thjudicial.org. The office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Once an arrest leads to formal charges, the case file goes to the circuit clerk. You can visit the courthouse to search by name or case number. The clerk can pull up the charges, hearing schedule, and case outcome. Criminal records are public once charges are filed, so anyone can request to see them. Fulton County is part of the 9th Judicial Circuit, and all criminal cases from the county are heard at the courthouse in Lewistown.

The Fulton County Circuit Clerk page is shown here. This is the main portal for court records and case information.

Contact the clerk's office for help finding specific case files or to ask about filing procedures in Fulton County.

Requesting Fulton County Arrest Data

Under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140), basic arrest info must be released within 72 hours of an arrest. This includes the person's name, age, charges, and the time and place of the arrest. Write your FOIA request and send it to the Fulton County Sheriff's Office at the address above. You can also contact the county FOIA officer, County Clerk Patrick O'Brian, at 100 Main Street, P.O. Box 226, Lewistown, IL 61542, or call (309) 547-3041 ext 117.

The first 50 pages of copies are free. After that, it costs up to 15 cents per page. The agency has five business days to respond, with a possible five-day extension. Include the person's full name and an approximate date range in your request. A clear, specific request gets processed faster than a vague one.

Note: Commercial FOIA requests in Illinois have a longer response window of 21 business days.

Statewide Databases for Fulton County

The Illinois State Police CHIRP system covers conviction records from Fulton County and the rest of the state. A name-based check costs $10 for electronic results. This system only returns conviction data, not pending cases or arrests without convictions. No consent is needed for name-based searches. The Uniform Conviction Information Act (20 ILCS 2635) governs what gets released.

The IDOC inmate search shows people serving state prison sentences after a Fulton County conviction. Search by name or IDOC number. This system does not cover pretrial detainees held at the Fulton County Jail. For those, call the sheriff's office. The Illinois VINE system is free and lets you track offender custody changes. You can sign up for alerts when someone in Fulton County is released or transferred.

The Illinois Courts website provides background on the court structure and the 9th Judicial Circuit, which includes Fulton County.

How Arrests Work in Fulton County

After an arrest in Fulton County, the person is taken to the jail in Lewistown for booking. A bond hearing takes place within 48 hours. The judge sets bail based on the charges and the defendant's circumstances. The state's attorney decides whether to file formal charges.

If charges go through, the case enters the Fulton County Circuit Court system. All felony and misdemeanor cases create public court records. You can follow a case from arrest to sentencing by checking with the circuit clerk. The arrest record stays on file even if someone posts bond and leaves jail. A FOIA request or in-person visit to the sheriff's office will get you the booking information. For the court side of things, visit the clerk or call (309) 547-3041 Ext. 206 to get case updates.

Fulton County Arrest Record Sealing

Arrest records in Fulton County may qualify for sealing or expungement. The Criminal Identification Act (20 ILCS 2630) allows people who were arrested but not convicted to petition the court to remove those records. Cases that ended with dismissal, acquittal, or no charges being filed are generally eligible.

File the petition with the Fulton County Circuit Court in Lewistown. Wait times vary by charge type. The state's attorney can contest the petition. If the judge approves it, the record is sealed from public view. Law enforcement still has access to sealed records, but they will not come up in standard public searches. Reach out to the circuit clerk for filing details and forms.

Note: The Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification maintains the master criminal history database and processes sealing orders statewide.

Cities in Fulton County

Fulton County includes Lewistown, the county seat, along with Canton, which is the largest city. Other communities include Astoria, Cuba, Farmington, Ipava, and Table Grove. All arrests in Fulton County go through the sheriff and the circuit court in Lewistown. No cities in Fulton County meet the population threshold for a dedicated page on this site.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Fulton County. If you are not sure where an arrest was processed, check the location where it happened. Each county runs its own sheriff and court system.