Coles County Public Records / Coles County Arrest Records

Coles County Arrest Records

Are Arrest Records Public in Coles County

Arrest records in Coles County are generally accessible to members of the public under Illinois law. The Illinois Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS § 140) establishes the right of the public to inspect and copy government records, including law enforcement documents, unless a specific statutory exemption applies. Arrest records maintained by county and municipal agencies are considered public records to the extent they document the fact of an arrest, the charges filed, and the disposition of a case.

It is important to distinguish between an arrest record and a conviction record. An arrest record documents that an individual was taken into custody by law enforcement; it does not indicate guilt or a finding of criminal liability. A conviction record, by contrast, reflects a formal judicial determination of guilt following a plea or trial. Under Illinois law, individuals who are arrested but not convicted may be eligible to have those records expunged, thereby limiting public access. The Illinois State Police maintains statewide criminal history records and serves as the central repository for arrest and conviction data in Illinois.

Certain categories of arrest information may be withheld from public disclosure where release would interfere with an ongoing investigation, endanger a witness, or violate a court order. Juvenile arrest records are subject to heightened confidentiality protections under the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 (705 ILCS § 405).

What's in Coles County Arrest Records

Coles County arrest records contain a standardized set of data fields compiled at the time of booking and updated as a case progresses through the criminal justice system.

Arrestee Identifying Information:

Full legal name and known aliases
Date of birth and age at time of arrest
Gender, race, and physical descriptors (height, weight, eye and hair color)
Last known residential address

Arrest Details:

Date, time, and location of arrest
Name and badge number of arresting officer
Arresting agency (e.g., Coles County Sheriff's Office, Charleston Police Department)

Charge Information:

Specific criminal charges filed, including Illinois statute citations
Classification of each offense (felony, misdemeanor, or petty offense)
Case number assigned by the Circuit Court

Warrant Information (if applicable):

Warrant number and issuing court
Date warrant was issued and basis for issuance

Booking Information:

Booking number and date of booking
Facility where the individual was processed
Fingerprint and photograph (mugshot) notation

Bond/Bail Information:

Bond type (personal recognizance, cash, or surety)
Bond amount set by the court
Date and conditions of release, if applicable

Court Information:

Next scheduled court date and courtroom assignment
Case disposition, if adjudicated
Sentencing information, where applicable

Custody Status:

Current custody status (in custody, released, transferred)
Facility of confinement, if applicable

Additional Information May Include:

Probation or parole status at time of arrest
Co-defendants listed in the same case
Narrative summary of the incident, subject to FOIA exemptions

How To Look Up Arrest Records in Coles County in 2026

Members of the public may obtain Coles County arrest records through several official channels. The following steps outline the standard process currently in effect.

Contact the Coles County Sheriff's Office. The Sheriff's Office maintains arrest logs and booking records for individuals processed at the county jail. Requesters may appear in person during public counter hours or submit a written FOIA request by mail or email.

Coles County Sheriff's Office 700 Monroe Ave, Charleston, IL 61920 (217) 348-0516 Coles County Sheriff's Office Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

Submit a FOIA Request. Pursuant to 5 ILCS § 140/3, each public body must respond to a written FOIA request within five business days. Requests should identify the subject by full name and date of birth and specify the records sought.
Visit the Coles County Circuit Clerk's Office. Court records associated with an arrest, including charging documents and case dispositions, are maintained by the Circuit Clerk. Members of the public may inspect these records in person or request certified copies.

Coles County Circuit Clerk 651 Jackson Ave, Room 122, Charleston, IL 61920 (217) 348-0516 Coles County Circuit Clerk Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

Request Records from the Arresting Municipality. For arrests made by city police departments, requesters should contact the relevant municipal agency directly.

Mattoon Police Department 1700 Wabash Ave, Mattoon, IL 61938 (217) 258-6980 Mattoon Police Department Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

Charleston Police Department 615 Monroe Ave, Charleston, IL 61920 (217) 345-2131 Charleston Police Department

How To Find Coles County Arrest Records Online

Several official online platforms currently provide access to Coles County arrest-related information without requiring an in-person visit.

Illinois Courts Online: The State of Illinois Office of the Illinois Courts provides access to case information through the eFileIL portal and the Clerk of the Circuit Court's online case search tools. Users may search by name or case number to retrieve publicly available court records associated with an arrest.
Illinois State Police Criminal History: The Bureau of Identification – Illinois State Police maintains the Illinois criminal history repository. Members of the public may submit a name-based or fingerprint-based background check request through the ISP online portal to obtain statewide arrest and conviction history.
IDOC Inmate Search: The Illinois Department of Corrections inmate search allows members of the public to locate individuals currently in state custody, including those whose cases originated in Coles County.
Illinois.gov Public Records Portal: The state's centralized public records search provides links to multiple state agency databases, including archived records maintained by the Illinois State Archives.

How To Search Coles County Arrest Records for Free?

Members of the public may access certain Coles County arrest records at no cost through the following methods.

In-Person Inspection at the Circuit Clerk's Office. Under Illinois law, members of the public have the right to inspect public court records without charge. Fees apply only when copies are requested. The Coles County Circuit Clerk's office permits in-person review of case files during regular business hours.
Online Case Search. The Circuit Clerk's online case search tool, accessible through the Coles County Circuit Clerk website, provides free name-based searches of court records, including criminal case filings associated with arrests.
Illinois State Police Name-Based Search. A name-based criminal history search through the Illinois State Police is available to the subject of the record at a reduced fee; however, certain summary information may be accessible without charge through public-facing portals.
IDOC Offender Search. The Illinois Department of Corrections provides a free online search tool for individuals currently in state custody or recently released from IDOC facilities.
FOIA Requests. The first 50 pages of black-and-white copies provided in response to a FOIA request are currently provided at no charge under 5 ILCS § 140/6.

How To Delete Arrest Records in Coles County

Illinois law provides two primary mechanisms for limiting public access to arrest records: expungement and sealing. Expungement results in the physical destruction or return of arrest records to the petitioner, effectively erasing the record from public view. Sealing restricts public access to a record while preserving it for use by law enforcement and certain licensed agencies; the record is not destroyed but is hidden from standard background checks.

Eligibility for Expungement:

Arrests that did not result in conviction (charges dismissed, acquitted, or nolle prosequi)
Certain misdemeanor convictions after a mandatory waiting period
Arrests resulting in supervision dispositions, after successful completion

Eligibility for Sealing:

Most misdemeanor convictions after a two-year waiting period
Certain Class 3 and Class 4 felony convictions, subject to offense-type restrictions
Records that are not eligible for expungement may qualify for sealing

Under the Illinois Criminal Identification Act (20 ILCS § 2630/5.2), individuals may petition the Circuit Court in the county where the arrest occurred to expunge or seal their records. The petition must be filed with the Coles County Circuit Court, and notice must be served on the State's Attorney and the arresting agency.

Steps to Petition for Expungement or Sealing:

Obtain a copy of the criminal history record from the Bureau of Identification – Illinois State Police to confirm the charges and dispositions on file.
Complete the standardized petition forms available through the Circuit Clerk's office or the Illinois Courts website.
File the petition with the Coles County Circuit Clerk and pay the applicable filing fee (fee waivers may be available for qualifying individuals).
Serve copies of the petition on the Coles County State's Attorney's Office and the arresting law enforcement agency.
Attend the scheduled hearing; if no objection is filed within 60 days, the court may grant the petition without a hearing.

Coles County State's Attorney's Office 651 Jackson Ave, Room 201, Charleston, IL 61920 (217) 348-0431 Coles County State's Attorney

What Happens After Arrest in Coles County?

The criminal justice process in Coles County follows the standard Illinois procedural framework from the point of arrest through final disposition.

Arrest and Booking. Following an arrest, the individual is transported to the Coles County Jail for booking. Booking involves recording personal identifying information, photographing, fingerprinting, and entering charges into the jail management system.
Initial Appearance. Within 48 hours of a warrantless arrest, the individual must be brought before a judge for an initial appearance. At this hearing, the court reviews probable cause, informs the defendant of the charges, and sets bond conditions.
Preliminary Hearing or Grand Jury. For felony charges, the State's Attorney must establish probable cause either through a preliminary hearing before a Circuit Court judge or by presenting evidence to a grand jury.
Arraignment. The defendant is formally advised of the charges and enters a plea of guilty, not guilty, or no contest.
Pre-Trial Proceedings. Both parties engage in discovery, and pre-trial motions may be filed. Cases may be resolved through plea negotiations at this stage.
Trial or Plea. If no plea agreement is reached, the case proceeds to a bench or jury trial before the Coles County Circuit Court. The State of Illinois Office of the Illinois Courts provides information on court procedures applicable to all Illinois circuit courts.
Sentencing. Upon a finding of guilt, the court imposes a sentence in accordance with the Illinois Unified Code of Corrections.
Post-Conviction. The defendant may appeal the conviction or sentence to the Illinois Appellate Court, Fourth District.

How Long Are Arrest Records Kept in Coles County?

Arrest record retention in Coles County is governed by state law and applicable local retention schedules. Under the Illinois Local Records Act (50 ILCS § 205), public bodies are required to maintain records in accordance with schedules approved by the Local Records Commission.

Arrest Logs and Booking Records: Law enforcement agencies are generally required to retain arrest logs permanently or for a minimum of five years, depending on the nature of the offense and the outcome of the case.
Felony Case Records: Records associated with felony arrests are typically retained for a minimum of 20 years following the final disposition of the case.
Misdemeanor Case Records: Records associated with misdemeanor arrests are generally retained for a minimum of seven years following final disposition.
Fingerprint and Biometric Records: Fingerprint cards and associated biometric data submitted to the Illinois State Police are retained indefinitely in the statewide criminal history repository.
Expunged Records: Upon a court order of expungement, the arresting agency and the Illinois State Police are required to destroy or return the records within a specified timeframe as directed by the order.

Different agencies within Coles County—including the Sheriff's Office, municipal police departments, and the Circuit Clerk—maintain separate retention schedules. Records retention serves the dual purpose of preserving evidence for potential future proceedings and maintaining accountability within the criminal justice system.

How to Find Mugshots in Coles County

What Mugshots Are A mugshot is a standardized photographic image taken by law enforcement at the time of booking. Mugshots are part of the official arrest record and document the physical appearance of an individual at the time of their arrest.

Where Mugshots Are Maintained Mugshots taken in Coles County are maintained by the Coles County Sheriff's Office for individuals booked at the county jail, and by municipal police departments for individuals processed at city facilities. The Illinois State Police also retains booking photographs as part of the statewide criminal history record.

Finding Mugshots Members of the public may request booking photographs through a written FOIA request submitted to the Coles County Sheriff's Office or the relevant municipal police department. Requests should identify the subject by full name, date of birth, and approximate date of arrest.

Can They Be Found Online At present, Coles County does not operate a publicly accessible online mugshot database. Some third-party websites aggregate booking photographs from public records; however, the accuracy and currency of such databases are not guaranteed by any government agency.

Obtaining Mugshots Officially Official copies of booking photographs may be obtained by submitting a FOIA request to the Coles County Sheriff's Office. Fees for copies are assessed in accordance with 5 ILCS § 140/6.

Restrictions on Mugshot Access Booking photographs associated with juvenile arrests are confidential under the Juvenile Court Act and are not subject to public disclosure. Mugshots for records that have been expunged by court order are no longer accessible to the public and must be destroyed or returned to the petitioner by the custodial agency.