Franklin County DUI Records Lookup

Franklin County DUI records are maintained by the 2nd Judicial Circuit Court in Benton, Illinois. The Circuit Clerk and the Franklin County Sheriff's Office handle DUI case records and arrest information for the county. If you need to search for a DUI case, confirm a court outcome, or find arrest documentation tied to Franklin County, this page covers the local offices, state systems, and access methods that apply to these records.

Franklin County Circuit Clerk

James Muir is the Circuit Clerk for Franklin County. The mailing address is P.O. Box 485, Benton, IL 62812. The clerk's office maintains all court records for DUI cases filed in the county. That includes case filings, court dates, charges, pleas, verdicts, sentencing orders, and final dispositions. If you need to confirm what happened in a DUI case prosecuted in Franklin County, the circuit clerk is the official source.

Franklin County is part of the 2nd Judicial Circuit, which covers a large swath of southern Illinois including Hamilton, Hardin, Jefferson, Massac, Perry, Pope, Saline, Wabash, Wayne, White, and Franklin counties. DUI cases from Benton, West Frankfort, and other Franklin County communities are heard at the Benton courthouse. The clerk can look up cases by name or case number and let you know what public records are available. Most full case files require an in-person visit to the clerk's office during business hours.

Illinois DUI law under 625 ILCS 5/11-501 defines the offense as driving with a BAC at or above 0.08, or while impaired by alcohol, a controlled substance, or a combination. The first DUI is a Class A misdemeanor. The third is a Class 2 felony. A sixth or subsequent DUI is charged as a Class X felony. The Franklin County Circuit Clerk holds the court record for each of these levels as they apply to cases filed in the county.

Franklin County Sheriff DUI Arrests

The Franklin County Sheriff's Office handles DUI enforcement across the county and maintains arrest records for stops made by the department. The office is at 304 East Main Street in Benton and can be reached at 618-438-8211. Arrest records kept by the Sheriff are separate from the court case files. Both may be relevant when researching a Franklin County DUI incident.

The Franklin County Sheriff's website at franklincosheriff.com provides contact details and law enforcement resources for Franklin County, including how to reach the office about DUI arrests, inmate status, and related public records.

DUI arrest records from the Franklin County Sheriff enter the Illinois State Police criminal history system after the associated court case reaches a final disposition and the court reports the conviction.

Arrest records held by the Franklin County Sheriff are subject to the Illinois Freedom of Information Act at 5 ILCS 140. A written FOIA request to the Sheriff's Office can cover DUI arrest reports and booking records. Standard requests must receive a response within five business days. Records related to open investigations may be temporarily withheld under the statute's exemptions.

Illinois State Police and Franklin County DUI Convictions

When a Franklin County DUI case ends in a conviction, the circuit court reports that outcome to the Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification. The ISP holds the central criminal history database for all of Illinois. Franklin County DUI convictions become part of that permanent record, and they cannot be removed. Under 20 ILCS 2630/5.2, DUI convictions in Illinois may not be expunged or sealed at any point, regardless of how old they are.

The Uniform Conviction Information Act at 20 ILCS 2635/1 governs what is available to the public through state systems. Conviction data is public. Arrests that did not lead to a conviction have more limited access. If you want to verify whether a past DUI arrest in Franklin County resulted in a conviction that is now in the statewide record, the ISP is the source to check.

The ISP Criminal History page at isp.illinois.gov/BureauOfIdentification/CriminalHistory explains how to request criminal history data that includes DUI convictions from Franklin County and other Illinois counties.

A statewide criminal history check through the ISP is the most reliable way to confirm whether a Franklin County DUI conviction appears in the official state record under a specific name.

License Revocation and Driving Record

A DUI conviction in Franklin County triggers mandatory license revocation under 625 ILCS 5/6-205. This is an administrative action handled by the Illinois Secretary of State, separate from the criminal case itself. Reinstatement after revocation requires a formal hearing with the SOS, and the requirements vary based on prior offense history.

Driving record abstracts are available through the Secretary of State at ilsos.gov. The abstract shows DUI convictions, Statutory Summary Suspensions, license revocations, and other entries on a driver's Illinois record. This document is often needed when applying for reinstatement or when insurance or legal matters require proof of driving history.

The Statutory Summary Suspension under 625 ILCS 5/11-501.1 is a separate administrative action that kicks in automatically when a driver refuses or fails a chemical test during a Franklin County DUI stop. A first-offense refusal results in a 12-month suspension. Failing the test is six months. Drivers who want to contest a summary suspension can seek a hearing through the Secretary of State at ilsos.gov/departments/administrative-hearings.html.

Note: The summary suspension takes effect 46 days after the notice date. Acting quickly to request a hearing is important if you want to contest the suspension before it starts.

Personal Record Review and Court Information

If you want to see what Franklin County DUI data the state holds under your own name, the ISP My Record portal at isp.illinois.gov/BureauOfIdentification/MyRecord lets you request your own criminal history record. This shows any DUI conviction data from Franklin County or anywhere else in Illinois that is on file with the state.

The Illinois Courts website at illinoiscourts.gov/courts/circuit-court provides background on how the 2nd Judicial Circuit operates in southern Illinois, including how DUI cases are processed in Franklin County. This is a good starting point if you want to understand the court structure before reaching out to the circuit clerk in Benton.

Cities in Franklin County

No cities in Franklin County meet the population threshold for individual DUI records pages. Benton and West Frankfort are the largest communities in the county. DUI cases from all Franklin County communities are processed through the Franklin County Circuit Court in Benton.

Nearby Counties

Franklin County is in southern Illinois. Adjacent counties have their own circuit courts for DUI cases filed near county borders.