Search Shelby County DUI Records
Shelby County DUI records are maintained by the 4th Judicial Circuit Court in Shelbyville, along with the County Sheriff, Illinois State Police, and Secretary of State. This page explains which office holds which records and how to request DUI case files, criminal history, and driving abstracts in Shelby County.
Shelby County Quick Facts
Circuit Clerk of Shelby County
Peter Otis is the Shelby County Circuit Clerk. His office, part of the 4th Judicial Circuit, holds all DUI case filings for the county. Every DUI charge filed under 625 ILCS 5/11-501 gets a case number assigned at this office, and the file grows from there to include court dates, motions, plea records, verdicts, and sentencing orders.
Document requests go through the clerk's office. Certified copies of court records are commonly needed for SOS reinstatement hearings or related legal work. Most requests are handled in person or by mail. The office can advise on what documents are available for a given case and how to submit a request.
| Circuit Clerk | Peter Otis |
|---|---|
| Address | P.O. Box 469, Shelbyville IL 62565-0469 |
| Phone | 217-774-4212 |
| Fax | 217-774-4109 |
| Website | shelbycountyil.gov |
Call ahead before visiting to confirm office hours and any requirements for records requests. Mail requests should include the defendant's name, case number if known, and what you need.
The ISP Bureau of Identification maintains DUI criminal history for every county in Illinois, including all Shelby County cases reported by the courts.
Shelby County Sheriff
The Shelby County Sheriff's Office makes DUI arrests in unincorporated areas and holds the arrest records for those incidents. Arrest reports, booking records, and incident details from DUI stops in those areas are available from the Sheriff under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act. Submit a FOIA request to the records division to get copies of arrest documents.
The Sheriff's records and the Circuit Clerk's records cover different parts of a DUI case. The Sheriff holds the front end, which is the arrest and booking. The clerk holds the back end, which is the court record. Both are often needed to get a complete picture of what happened in a case.
| Sheriff's Office | Shelby County Sheriff |
|---|---|
| Address | 151 N Oak St, Shelbyville IL 62565 |
| Phone | 217-774-3941 |
| Website | shelbycountysheriff.com |
The Sheriff's website has current contact information for the records division. Check there for FOIA submission instructions before sending a request.
Illinois DUI Law: Key Points for the Record
Illinois makes it illegal to drive with a BAC of 0.08 or above under 625 ILCS 5/11-501. Impairment by drugs or any impairing substance also counts. A first DUI is a Class A misdemeanor. The second offense brings more penalties. The third offense is a Class 4 felony, which means a felony criminal record.
The Statutory Summary Suspension under 625 ILCS 5/11-501.1 kicks in at the time of arrest. Refusing a breath or chemical test brings a 12-month suspension. Failing the test brings a 6-month suspension. The suspension is separate from any criminal conviction. It shows up on both the court record and the driving abstract held by the Secretary of State.
Under 20 ILCS 2630/5.2, DUI convictions in Illinois cannot be expunged or sealed. The conviction stays permanently on the ISP criminal history record. There is no way to clear it from the record through the standard expungement process, regardless of how much time passes.
The ISP criminal history page explains what is in the statewide database and how to request records, including DUI convictions that cannot be sealed or expunged.
Illinois State Police Criminal History Records
The ISP Bureau of Identification keeps the statewide criminal history database. DUI convictions reported by Shelby County courts are entered and stay in that database permanently. The ISP can be reached at 815-740-5160, and their main records page is at isp.illinois.gov/BureauOfIdentification.
To check your own record, use the ISP My Record portal. Authorized third parties use the CHIRP system at chirp.isp.illinois.gov. CHIRP is for courts, attorneys, and licensed agencies that are authorized under state law to request criminal history. The ISP criminal history page at isp.illinois.gov/BureauOfIdentification/CriminalHistory has more detail on both access methods.
Secretary of State Driving Records
The Illinois Secretary of State keeps driving records that show license status, suspensions, and DUI-related driving history. A driving abstract costs $20 and is ordered through the SOS website at ilsos.gov. The abstract is separate from the criminal record, but it reflects a Statutory Summary Suspension if one was imposed at the time of the DUI arrest.
A DUI conviction triggers mandatory license revocation under 625 ILCS 5/6-205. To get the license back, the driver must go through the SOS formal hearing process. The SOS Office of Administrative Hearings handles those petitions at ilsos.gov/departments/administrative-hearings.html. For questions about license status or hearing scheduling, call the SOS Driver Analysis Section at 217-782-2720.
DUI Evaluations in Shelby County
Reinstatement of a revoked Illinois license requires a DUI evaluation completed by a licensed evaluator. The evaluator places the driver in a risk category based on the assessment. That category tells the SOS what treatment or education the driver must finish before a hearing can result in reinstatement. Licensed evaluators in Shelby County and the surrounding area are registered with the Illinois Department of Human Services.
Some 4th Circuit courts in Shelbyville also require an evaluation as part of sentencing before the case is fully resolved. Ask the Circuit Clerk or an attorney familiar with the 4th Judicial Circuit about what the local courts typically require. After completing any required programs, the evaluation report goes to the SOS as part of the administrative hearing process.
Reinstatement is not automatic and takes time. The SOS hearing officer reviews all submitted materials before deciding. Plan accordingly if a hearing is needed for Shelby County DUI cases.
Requesting Records Without Visiting In Person
Shelby County does not have a full online case search portal for individual DUI files. Court records must be requested directly from the Circuit Clerk's office. Mail requests are accepted. Include the full name of the person named in the case, the case number if known, and the specific documents needed. The clerk can confirm the fee and how to submit payment by mail.
ISP criminal history and SOS driving records are both available online. The ISP My Record portal handles self-requests. CHIRP handles authorized third-party requests. SOS abstracts are ordered at ilsos.gov. For certified court documents from the 4th Judicial Circuit in Shelbyville, a direct request to the clerk's office is required.
Cities in Shelby County
Shelbyville is the county seat and home to the 4th Judicial Circuit Court and Sheriff's Office serving Shelby County. Other communities include Stewardson, Windsor, Tower Hill, and Strasburg. None of these cities reach the population threshold for a dedicated page. All Shelby County DUI cases are handled through the courthouse in Shelbyville.
Nearby Counties
Shelby County is surrounded by several Illinois counties, each with their own circuit court for DUI proceedings.