Search Lee County Recent Arrests

Lee County recent arrests are processed through the Sheriff's Office and the Lee County Circuit Clerk in Dixon. With a population of about 33,869, this northern Illinois county covers a mostly rural area with Dixon as its largest city and county seat. Sheriff Clayton T. Whelan runs the office at 240 E Progress Drive, where the county jail is also located. Court records from arrests are kept at the circuit clerk's office on South Galena Avenue. You can look up recent arrest data by phone, in person, or through state databases. This guide covers all the ways to search for Lee County arrest records.

Lee County Sheriff Arrest Records

The Lee County Sheriff's Office is the main law enforcement agency for the county. Sheriff Clayton T. Whelan leads the office with Chief Deputy Derek Ranken. Their address is 240 E Progress Drive in Dixon, IL 61021. Call (815) 284-5217 for general office questions or (815) 284-6631 for emergencies. The fax number is (815) 284-1146.

The county jail is at the same address. Call (815) 284-5222 to reach the jail directly. When someone is arrested in Lee County, they are brought to this facility for booking. The booking process covers fingerprints, a photo, and recording the charges. Most people see a judge within 48 hours for a bond hearing. You can call the jail to check if someone is currently in custody and what they are charged with.

The screenshot below shows the Lee County Sheriff's Office page on the county website, which is the starting point for finding arrest information and jail contact details.

Use this page to find phone numbers and office hours for the sheriff and jail.

Lee County also offers video visitation for inmates through Combined Public Communications. Family members and others can set up video visits through inmatesales.com. This service is separate from the arrest record search process but may be useful if you are trying to contact someone who was recently booked.

VINE Link is also available for Lee County, letting you track offender custody status through the state notification system. This is a free service that sends alerts when someone is released or transferred.

Lee County Circuit Clerk Records

Circuit Clerk Amy Johnson runs the Lee County Circuit Clerk's Office at 309 S Galena Avenue, Suite 320, Dixon, IL 61021. Call (815) 284-5234 for case questions. The fax number is (815) 288-5615. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Criminal case files at the clerk's office show everything that happens after an arrest. Charges filed, hearing dates, bond amounts, plea entries, and case outcomes are all in the file. When someone is arrested and the state's attorney files charges, a case number gets created. You can use that number to follow the case from start to finish by contacting the clerk's office.

The Lee County Circuit Clerk page shown here provides office contact details and information about accessing court records in Lee County.

Visit or call the clerk's office during business hours for case lookups.

Requesting Lee County Arrest Data

Under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140), law enforcement must release basic arrest information within 72 hours. This includes the name, age, address, charges, and the time and place of the arrest. File a FOIA request with the Lee County Sheriff at 240 E Progress Drive, Dixon, IL 61021.

The first 50 pages are free under state law. Additional pages cost up to 15 cents each. Agencies have five business days to respond, with a possible five-day extension. Information that could interfere with an active investigation may be withheld. Juvenile records are confidential and not available through FOIA. For arrests made by the Dixon Police Department, send your FOIA request to that agency directly since they have separate records from the sheriff.

You can also request court documents from the circuit clerk. The clerk's office may have its own fee schedule for copies. Call ahead to find out what they charge and what format they can provide records in.

Lee County Statewide Databases

State-level tools cover Lee County arrest data. The Illinois State Police CHIRP portal lets you run name-based criminal history checks for $10. It shows conviction data from across Illinois under the Uniform Conviction Information Act (20 ILCS 2635). Only convictions are included. You don't need consent for a name check.

The IDOC inmate search shows people serving state prison sentences. Lee County cases that ended in state custody show up here. Pre-trial inmates at the Lee County Jail are in county custody and not in the IDOC system. For those, call the jail at (815) 284-5222.

Illinois VINE is free and confidential. Register to get alerts when an offender's custody status changes. It covers county and state facilities around the clock. This is helpful for tracking what happens after a Lee County arrest moves through the court system and results in a sentence.

Lee County Court System

Lee County is part of the 13th Judicial Circuit. Criminal cases from arrests go through the Lee County Circuit Court in Dixon. The Illinois Courts website has info on the court structure. The court handles felonies, misdemeanors, and traffic cases.

After an arrest, a bond hearing is the first step. The judge sets bail based on the charges, criminal history, and flight risk. Once the case is filed, court records are public. Felony cases involve multiple hearings before reaching a plea or trial. Misdemeanor cases often resolve faster. Records for dropped or dismissed cases may be eligible for sealing under the Criminal Identification Act (20 ILCS 2630). Active cases stay public and searchable through the circuit clerk.

How to Look Up Lee County Arrests

Several options exist for finding arrest records in Lee County:

• Call the Lee County Jail at (815) 284-5222 for current inmates
• Contact the Circuit Clerk at (815) 284-5234 for court records
• File a FOIA request with the Sheriff for arrest reports
• Use CHIRP for statewide conviction history searches
• Check IDOC for people sentenced to state prison
• Register with Illinois VINE for custody alerts

Using more than one source gives you the fullest picture. The jail check tells you who is in custody now. Court records show charges and case outcomes. FOIA gets the detailed arrest report. CHIRP reveals prior convictions across the state. Each tool adds to the picture when researching recent arrests in Lee County.

Cities in Lee County

Lee County includes Dixon, Amboy, Ashton, Franklin Grove, and a number of other small towns. All criminal cases from arrests in these areas go through the Lee County Circuit Court in Dixon. None of the cities in Lee County meet the population threshold for a separate page, but arrest records for all of them are available through the county resources listed above.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Lee County. If you are not sure which county handled an arrest, check where it took place. Each county has its own sheriff and court system.

Ogle and Whiteside counties also border Lee County. Arrests near county lines could fall under either jurisdiction, so check with the arresting agency if you are unsure.