Find Recent Arrests in Montgomery County

Montgomery County recent arrests are handled by the Sheriff's Office and recorded through the Circuit Clerk in Hillsboro. This south-central Illinois county has close to 28,000 people and covers a large rural area. Sheriff Tyson Holshouser oversees the jail and all bookings at 140 N. Main St. The Circuit Clerk maintains court records tied to those arrests. Whether you need to check a booking, look up a case, or get copies of arrest records, this guide covers every method to search Montgomery County arrest information.

Montgomery County Sheriff and Arrest Records

Sheriff Tyson Holshouser runs the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office at 140 N. Main St in Hillsboro. The phone number is (217) 532-9511. The jail sits at the same location. When someone gets arrested in Montgomery County, they are booked at this facility. The booking record includes the person's name, charges, date of arrest, and bond amount. You can reach the Sheriff by email at tysonh@montgomerycountyil.gov or fax at (217) 532-6318.

The Montgomery County Sheriff's website has general information about the office. Jail visiting hours are on Tuesdays from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Video visits are also available through the InmateSales App. If you want to check whether someone is currently held at the Montgomery County jail, call the office directly. Staff can confirm who is in custody and what charges they face.

Under Illinois law, arrest information is public. The Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140) requires that basic arrest data be released within 72 hours. This is not something the Sheriff can refuse. It covers the name, age, address, charges, and time of arrest for anyone booked in Montgomery County.

Montgomery County Circuit Clerk Records

Daniel T. Robbins is the Montgomery County Circuit Clerk. The office is at 120 North Main St, Room 125 in Hillsboro. Phone numbers are (217) 532-9540 and (217) 532-9546. Hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. weekdays. The clerk keeps all criminal case files for the county. Once an arrest leads to charges, the case enters the clerk's system and becomes a searchable public record.

You can reach the clerk by email at mccc@montgomerycountyil.gov or fax at (217) 532-2142. The Circuit Clerk's website has info on how to request records, pay fines, and check on court dates. Criminal case records in Montgomery County show the arrest charge, any changes to charges, bond status, hearing dates, and the final outcome of the case.

If you need certified copies of court documents from Montgomery County, visit the clerk's office or send a written request. Include the case number or the full name of the person and a rough date range. Fees for copies vary. Call ahead to confirm the current rates.

How to Look Up Montgomery County Recent Arrests

Searching for recent arrests in Montgomery County can be done through a few different channels. The right approach depends on how recent the arrest was and what details you need.

For arrests that just happened, call the Montgomery County jail at (217) 532-9511. The staff can tell you if a specific person is in custody. They can share the charges and bond amount. For cases that have already been filed with the court, contact the Circuit Clerk's office. They handle all criminal case records and can look up cases by name or number. You can also use Illinois VINE to track a person's custody status in Montgomery County for free.

The Illinois State Police CHIRP system lets you run a name-based check for conviction records statewide, including Montgomery County convictions. It costs $10 for electronic results. Keep in mind this only pulls conviction data. Pending cases or arrests that did not lead to a conviction will not show up in CHIRP.

Records Requests and Illinois Law

Anyone can file a FOIA request with the Montgomery County Sheriff or any local police department to get arrest records. Write your request and send it to the agency. Be specific about what records you want. Include the person's name and a date range if you have it. The agency must respond within five business days.

Illinois treats arrest information as public data. Under Section 2.15 of the Freedom of Information Act, specific arrest details must be given out within 72 hours of the booking. The first 50 pages are free. Extra pages cost no more than 15 cents each. The Uniform Conviction Information Act (20 ILCS 2635) also makes all conviction records available to the public through the Illinois State Police. Both laws work together to make Montgomery County arrest and conviction records accessible to anyone who asks.

Note: Juvenile arrest records are not public in Illinois under the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 (705 ILCS 405).

State-Level Search Tools for Montgomery County

Besides local sources, there are statewide databases that may contain Montgomery County arrest information. The IDOC inmate search shows people sentenced to state prison. If someone was arrested in Montgomery County and later sent to a state facility, they would appear in this database. People sitting in the Montgomery County jail waiting for trial are not in IDOC.

The ISP Bureau of Identification keeps the master criminal history file for Illinois. You can search conviction records through CHIRP or request your own record through the Access and Review process at ISP Access and Review. That process is free from the state police side, though the fingerprint vendor may charge a small fee. Results get mailed to you and include a form to challenge any errors.

Cities in Montgomery County

Montgomery County includes Hillsboro, Litchfield, Nokomis, Raymond, and several other small communities. All arrests in these towns go through the Montgomery County court system. Hillsboro is the county seat. Litchfield is the largest city in the county. None of these cities have a separate page on this site, but their arrest records are all available through the county resources listed above.

Nearby Counties

Montgomery County shares borders with several other counties. If you are looking for an arrest that happened near a county line, double-check which jurisdiction handled the booking.