Find DUI Records in Illinois
Illinois DUI records are spread across several state agencies, and knowing where to look makes all the difference. The Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification holds criminal conviction records. The Secretary of State keeps driving abstracts that show every DUI arrest, suspension, and conviction linked to a license. Circuit courts in each of the 102 counties store the full case files. Whether you need a record for court, for personal review, or for another lawful purpose, this guide covers every official source for DUI records in Illinois.
Illinois DUI Records Quick Facts
How Illinois DUI Records Are Kept
No single agency in Illinois holds everything about a DUI case. Three separate systems track different parts of the record. The Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification stores criminal conviction history under the Uniform Conviction Information Act, codified at 20 ILCS 2635/1. The Secretary of State tracks the driving side, including license suspensions and revocations tied to each DUI case. Circuit courts maintain every document filed in the actual criminal proceeding. When you need a complete picture of someone's DUI history in Illinois, you often have to contact all three agencies separately.
Courts report DUI dispositions to the Secretary of State as well as to the State Police. Two systems run side by side. A person can have a DUI conviction on their State Police criminal history record and a separate statutory summary suspension on their Secretary of State driving record at the same time. Both systems update independently after a DUI arrest in Illinois. That is why attorneys handling DUI cases typically pull both a driving abstract and a criminal history printout before going to court.
The Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification at isp.illinois.gov/BureauOfIdentification describes the full scope of its services, including how criminal history records are collected and made available to the public.
The Bureau of Identification office in Joliet at 260 North Chicago Street is the main facility for fingerprint-based requests. Appointments are required to enter. Reach the office at 815-740-5160 or email ISP.BOI.Customer.Support@illinois.gov during business hours Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Illinois DUI Driving Records from the Secretary of State
The Illinois Secretary of State keeps driving records that are critical for DUI-related legal proceedings. The most important record type is the Court Purposes Abstract. This document shows every DUI arrest, statutory summary suspension, conviction, supervision outcome, license revocation, reinstatement, and driving relief permit on file. Courts, attorneys, and DUI evaluators rely on this abstract. It is the most complete driving history the state produces and shows the full picture of a person's record in Illinois. You can learn more about requesting this record at ilsos.gov/departments/drivers/drivers-license/purchaseabstract.html.
There are four types of driving records in Illinois. The Court Purposes Abstract is used in legal proceedings and is the most detailed available to the public. The Public Driving Record shows limited information and leaves out some DUI history. The Insurance Abstract covers moving violations for insurance purposes and omits non-conviction data. The Internal Abstract is the most detailed record of all, but it is not available to the public. For DUI matters, the Court Purposes Abstract is what courts, attorneys, and licensed evaluators request.
Requests are accepted online, by mail, or in person. Online orders deliver a certified PDF right away. Mail requests go to the Secretary of State, Driver Analysis Section, 2701 S. Dirksen Parkway, Springfield, IL 62723. Include the person's name, date of birth, driver license number if known, and a check for $20 payable to Secretary of State. Mail requests take 10 to 14 business days to process. In-person requests at any Illinois Driver Services Facility give you a certified copy on the spot for $20. For questions, call the Driver Analysis Section at 217-782-2720.
DUI convictions stay on your Illinois driving record permanently. Out-of-state DUI convictions are added to Illinois records under the Driver License Compact at 625 ILCS 5/6-703. The state sends and receives conviction data with other states through this compact, so a DUI in another state follows you back to Illinois.
State Police Criminal History and Illinois DUI Records
The Illinois State Police handles criminal background records through its Criminal History Information Response Process, known as CHIRP. Under the Uniform Conviction Information Act, the public can access DUI conviction data but not arrest records that did not result in a conviction. This is a key distinction in Illinois. Being arrested for DUI and being convicted are different. Only the conviction goes into the public criminal history record that the State Police releases.
Two main methods exist for requesting criminal history records from the Illinois State Police. A non-fingerprint search uses name, sex, date of birth, and race to locate records. This type costs $16 and takes approximately 2 to 3 weeks. A fingerprint-based search is more precise because it confirms identity with biometrics, reducing the chance of a mix-up with someone who has a similar name. This type costs $20 and takes roughly the same processing time. Submit Non-Fingerprint Request Forms (ISP6-405B) to P.O. Box 88727, Chicago, Illinois 60680-1727. Send Fingerprint Request Forms (ISP6-404B) to 260 North Chicago Street, Joliet, Illinois 60432. The Criminal History page at isp.illinois.gov/BureauOfIdentification/CriminalHistory explains both options in detail.
Illinois residents can also view their own criminal history through the Access and Review process at no charge. This involves submitting fingerprints at a local law enforcement agency or a licensed fingerprint vendor, who forwards them to the State Police. The transcript comes back by mail. Full details are at isp.illinois.gov/BureauOfIdentification/MyRecord.
Authorized agencies and individuals with approved CHIRP accounts can search criminal history records online, including DUI convictions, through the login portal at chirp.isp.illinois.gov. Registration requires a digital ID through Entrust enrollment and a signed User Agreement with the State Police.
One critical point: DUI convictions in Illinois cannot be expunged or sealed under 20 ILCS 2630/5.2. Only cases that ended in dismissal, acquittal, or successful court supervision for first-time offenders may qualify for expungement. A DUI conviction stays on the criminal history record for life. For expungement questions, the State Police expungement unit can be reached at ISP.Expungement.Unit@illinois.gov.
Illinois DUI Laws and What the Records Show
Illinois DUI law is found at 625 ILCS 5/11-501. A person cannot drive or be in actual physical control of a vehicle while their blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is 0.08 or higher. The law also covers driving under the influence of drugs, intoxicating compounds, cannabis with a THC concentration of 5 or more nanograms within 2 hours of driving, or any combination of substances. The statute covers a wide range of impairment situations. Each conviction under this section creates a permanent record at both the State Police and the Secretary of State.
Penalties increase with every DUI conviction in Illinois. A first DUI conviction is a Class A misdemeanor, which carries up to one year in jail, fines up to $2,500, and a minimum one-year license revocation. A second conviction adds a mandatory minimum of 5 days in jail or 240 hours of community service and jumps the license revocation minimum to five years. Starting with the third conviction, DUI becomes a Class 2 felony. The fourth is also a Class 2 felony with no probation allowed. A fifth is a Class 1 felony, and six or more DUI convictions become Class X felonies, the most serious non-murder felony category in Illinois. Every one of these convictions gets recorded permanently.
The statutory summary suspension is a separate consequence from the criminal case. Under 625 ILCS 5/11-501.1, your license is suspended automatically after a DUI arrest if you fail or refuse a chemical test. Refusing results in a 12-month suspension for a first offense and 36 months for a second. Failing a test with a BAC of 0.08 or more leads to a 6-month suspension for a first offense and 12 months for a second. This suspension begins before any court verdict, which is why it appears on the Secretary of State driving record separate from the criminal conviction record.
License revocation after a DUI conviction under 625 ILCS 5/6-205 does not end on its own. Unlike a suspension, a revocation requires a formal hearing with the Secretary of State's Department of Administrative Hearings before driving privileges can be restored. Hearing locations are in Springfield (217-782-7065), Chicago (312-793-3722), Joliet (815-740-7171), and Mt. Vernon (618-242-8986). The hearing process is explained at ilsos.gov/departments/administrative-hearings.html.
Illinois DUI Records from Circuit Courts
Every DUI case in Illinois is handled at the circuit court level in the county where the offense occurred. Illinois has 102 counties organized into 24 judicial circuits. The Circuit Clerk in each county keeps the official court files. These files hold every document filed in a DUI case, including charges, court orders, plea agreements, sentencing records, and the final disposition. These records are public under 5 ILCS 140, Illinois's Freedom of Information Act, which requires arrest reports to be furnished within 72 hours.
To get circuit court DUI records in Illinois, contact the Circuit Clerk in the county where the case was filed. You will need the defendant's name or the case number. Some counties offer online case search through their clerk websites. Cook County, the largest court system in Illinois with over 5 million residents, has online services at cookcountyclerkofcourt.org. This site lets you search traffic cases, including DUI, and check court call schedules. Many smaller counties require in-person or mail requests for copies of DUI case files. Certified copies cost more than plain copies. The fee varies by county. Bring photo ID when visiting a clerk's office in person.
The Illinois Courts website at illinoiscourts.gov/courts/circuit-court/ has contact information for every circuit court in the state. You can find addresses, phone numbers, and clerk's office details for each of the 102 counties through this resource.
DUI Evaluation and Treatment Records in Illinois
After a DUI in Illinois, courts generally require a substance use evaluation before sentencing. The Division of Substance Use Prevention and Recovery, called SUPR, licenses DUI evaluation and treatment providers across the state. The evaluation determines a risk level: Minimal, Moderate, Significant, or High. Each level carries specific education and treatment requirements set by the court. Minimal risk requires 10 hours of DUI Risk Education. High risk requires 75 hours of treatment plus continuing care. These records are held by the licensed provider and the court, not by the State Police or Secretary of State.
Cook County requires the initial DUI evaluation through the court's designated evaluation agency. Call (312) 948-6001 or email SSD.DUIeval@cookcountyil.gov to schedule the required evaluation. Lake County requires the initial evaluation through NICASA, its designated agency. DuPage County also has a designated agency for the initial evaluation, after which you may choose any approved provider for education or treatment. Kane, Kendall, and Will counties accept evaluations from any SUPR-licensed provider. If you have questions about licensed providers, the Illinois State Police DUI resource document contains useful background on the DUI process statewide.
Browse Illinois DUI Records by County
Each of Illinois's 102 counties has a Circuit Clerk who maintains DUI case files. Select a county below to find local contact information, court resources, and record access details.
DUI Records in Major Illinois Cities
Residents of major Illinois cities have DUI cases heard at the circuit court in their county. Select a city below to find local resources and record access information for that area.