Search Lawrence County DUI Records
Lawrence County DUI records are maintained by the 2nd Judicial Circuit Court in Lawrenceville, Illinois, with the Circuit Clerk serving as the official source for all DUI case filings, court orders, and dispositions. This page covers how to find Lawrence County DUI records, the offices that hold them, and the state systems you can use to look up conviction history, arrest data, and driving record information linked to DUI cases in the county.
Lawrence County Quick Facts
Lawrence County Circuit Clerk
Cheryl Winkles serves as the Lawrence County Circuit Clerk. Her office at 1100 State Street in Lawrenceville is the official keeper of every DUI case filed in Lawrence County. The clerk holds charge documents, hearing records, plea entries, verdicts, sentencing orders, and final dispositions. To check what happened in a Lawrence County DUI case, start at the circuit clerk's office in Lawrenceville.
| Circuit Clerk | Cheryl Winkles |
|---|---|
| Address | 1100 State Street, Lawrenceville, IL 62439 |
| Phone | 618-943-2815 |
| Fax | 618-943-5205 |
| Website | lawrencecountyil.gov/circuit-clerk |
The clerk's site at lawrencecountyil.gov/circuit-clerk has office hours, contact details, and information on how to request court records in Lawrenceville. Full case documents usually require an in-person visit or a written request to the clerk's office. Staff can search by name or case number and explain what is available in the public record for a specific Lawrence County DUI case.
Lawrence County is part of the 2nd Judicial Circuit, which covers counties in far southeastern Illinois. All DUI cases from Lawrenceville and communities throughout the county are heard at the courthouse in Lawrenceville. The circuit handles both misdemeanor and felony DUI charges under 625 ILCS 5/11-501, and the clerk's records reflect every case from initial filing through final judgment.
Lawrence County Sheriff and Arrest Records
The Lawrence County Sheriff's Office is at 1420 State St. in Lawrenceville. The sheriff enforces DUI laws in unincorporated Lawrence County and maintains arrest records that are separate from the court case files the circuit clerk holds. Depending on what you are looking for in a DUI matter, you may need to contact both offices in Lawrenceville.
| Address | 1420 State St., Lawrenceville, IL 62439 |
|---|---|
| Phone | 618-943-2341 |
| Website | lawrencecountysheriff.com |
Arrest record requests from the Lawrence County Sheriff go through the Illinois Freedom of Information Act process. The office must respond within five business days. Records for closed DUI cases are generally public. Records tied to active investigations may be withheld temporarily. The sheriff's website at lawrencecountysheriff.com has contact details for submitting requests.
The image below shows the Lawrence County Sheriff website, a source for DUI arrest records from unincorporated parts of Lawrence County and the Lawrenceville area.
The sheriff holds arrest data from the DUI stop. The circuit clerk holds the full case record from filing through disposition. Both are useful, and they cover different parts of the same DUI matter.
Illinois State Police and Lawrence County DUI Conviction Data
Lawrence County DUI convictions are reported to the Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification after the circuit court enters a final judgment. The ISP holds this as a permanent part of the person's criminal history. Under 20 ILCS 2630/5.2, DUI convictions cannot be expunged or sealed in Illinois. Every Lawrence County DUI conviction in the ISP system stays on record, regardless of how old the case is.
The ISP system is fingerprint-based. A Lawrence County DUI arrest triggers a fingerprint submission that links the event to a statewide record. When the court later reports a conviction, the ISP attaches that outcome to the fingerprint file. The result is a full criminal history that includes arrests and convictions from every Illinois court reporting to the ISP. Lawrence County DUI cases are part of this broader statewide record.
The ISP Bureau of Identification at isp.illinois.gov/BureauOfIdentification is the central state repository for DUI criminal history data. Conviction records are public under the Uniform Conviction Information Act. The ISP criminal history page at isp.illinois.gov/BureauOfIdentification/CriminalHistory explains how to request records that include Lawrence County DUI data.
The CHIRP portal at chirp.isp.illinois.gov provides authorized users with online access to Illinois criminal history data. Lawrence County DUI conviction records are accessible through CHIRP for individuals checking their own records and for certified requestors. This is often faster than submitting a paper request to the ISP.
Driving Record and License Actions in Lawrence County
A DUI conviction in Lawrence County leads to mandatory license revocation under 625 ILCS 5/6-205. The Illinois Secretary of State handles this separately from the criminal case in Lawrenceville. Reinstatement requires a formal SOS hearing. The conditions and waiting periods depend on the number of prior DUI convictions on the driver's record. Some drivers face a lifetime revocation after multiple DUI convictions.
The Statutory Summary Suspension under 625 ILCS 5/11-501.1 may go into effect before a Lawrence County DUI case reaches a final verdict. If a driver fails or refuses a chemical test at a DUI stop, the suspension starts 46 days after the officer issues notice. On a first offense, refusing the test means a 12-month suspension. Failing means 6 months. Drivers can challenge the suspension through an SOS administrative hearing at ilsos.gov/departments/administrative-hearings.html.
Driving record abstracts show DUI convictions, suspensions, revocations, and other license actions. They cost $20 and are available from the Secretary of State at ilsos.gov. The abstract covers the license history side of a Lawrence County DUI case and is separate from the criminal court record at the Lawrenceville clerk's office.
DUI Charges and the Lawrence County Court Process
Under 625 ILCS 5/11-501, DUI in Illinois covers impairment from alcohol, cannabis, prescription drugs, controlled substances, intoxicating compounds, and methamphetamine. Lawrence County DUI cases can involve any of these. The circuit clerk's records in Lawrenceville show the specific charge type cited in each case file.
Charge level is based on prior DUI history. A first offense is a Class A misdemeanor with up to one year in jail and fines up to $2,500. The second offense is still a misdemeanor but carries longer mandatory minimum sentences. The third DUI is a Class 2 felony. Each prior conviction from any Illinois court counts when the 2nd Judicial Circuit sets the level for a new Lawrence County DUI charge.
Certain facts can raise a charge level on a first offense. A DUI involving a minor in the car, one resulting in serious injury, or one committed in a school zone may bring enhanced charges. The circuit clerk's records show every count filed, amendments, and the final disposition for each Lawrence County DUI case from Lawrenceville.
The Illinois Courts website at illinoiscourts.gov/courts/circuit-court explains how the 2nd Judicial Circuit operates and how DUI cases move through the Lawrenceville court system. It is helpful background before contacting the Lawrence County Circuit Clerk or speaking with a local attorney.
Cities in Lawrence County
No cities in Lawrence County meet the population threshold for individual DUI records pages. Lawrenceville is the county seat where the circuit court handles all DUI cases filed in the county. All records from Lawrence County DUI cases are maintained by the Circuit Clerk at the courthouse in Lawrenceville.
Nearby Counties
Lawrence County is in southeastern Illinois near the Indiana border. Each neighboring county maintains its own circuit court for DUI cases within its borders.