Find DUI Records in Stephenson County

Stephenson County DUI records are maintained by the 15th Judicial Circuit Court in Freeport, Illinois. The Stephenson County Circuit Clerk and the Sheriff's Office are the two primary sources for DUI cases, arrest records, and court outcomes in the county. Whether you are searching for a specific case or trying to understand what records are available, this page covers the local offices, state systems, and access methods that apply to Stephenson County DUI records.

Stephenson County Circuit Clerk

Shanelle Bardell is the Circuit Clerk for Stephenson County. The office is at 15 North Galena Avenue in Freeport. All DUI case records filed in Stephenson County are maintained here, including case filings, court dates, charges, pleas, verdicts, and final dispositions. The clerk's office is the official source for court record information on any DUI case that went through the Stephenson County court system.

Stephenson County is part of the 15th Judicial Circuit, which also includes Carroll, Jo Daviess, Lee, Ogle, and Whiteside counties. All DUI cases from Freeport and other Stephenson County communities are processed at the Freeport courthouse. If you need to find a case, the clerk can look it up by defendant name or case number and let you know what records are on file. Full case files are generally reviewed in person. Some case status information may be accessible online through the court system's public portals.

Illinois DUI law under 625 ILCS 5/11-501 covers all situations where a driver operates a vehicle with a BAC of 0.08 or higher, or while impaired by alcohol, drugs, or any combination. First offenses are Class A misdemeanors. A third offense is charged as a Class 2 felony. Reaching a sixth DUI in Illinois makes the charge a Class X felony. The Stephenson County circuit clerk holds the court record for each of these cases.

Stephenson County Sheriff DUI Arrests

The Stephenson County Sheriff's Office handles DUI law enforcement across the county and maintains arrest records for stops made by the department. The office is at 1680 East Singer Drive in Freeport. Arrest reports from DUI stops handled by the Sheriff are separate from the court records kept by the circuit clerk. Both sets of records may be relevant depending on what information you need.

The Stephenson County Sheriff's website at stephensoncountysheriff.com provides contact information and law enforcement resources for the county, including how to reach the office regarding DUI arrests and inmate status.

DUI arrest records from the Sheriff connect to the Illinois State Police statewide criminal history system after the associated court case reaches a final disposition.

Sheriff's arrest records are subject to the Illinois Freedom of Information Act under 5 ILCS 140. A written FOIA request to the Sheriff's Office can cover specific DUI arrest reports, field sobriety documentation, and booking records. Standard requests must receive a response within five business days. Records connected to an open investigation may be withheld temporarily.

State DUI Records for Stephenson County Cases

When a Stephenson County DUI case ends in a conviction, the circuit court reports that outcome to the Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification. The ISP maintains the central criminal history database for all of Illinois, and Stephenson County DUI convictions become part of that statewide record. These records do not go away. Under 20 ILCS 2630/5.2, DUI convictions in Illinois cannot be expunged or sealed at any point. They remain permanently in the system.

Access to state conviction data is governed by the Uniform Conviction Information Act at 20 ILCS 2635/1. Only conviction records are released to the public through state systems. Arrests that ended without a conviction are not disclosed through these same channels. This distinction matters when you are trying to determine whether a past DUI arrest in Stephenson County resulted in a public conviction record.

The ISP Criminal History page at isp.illinois.gov/BureauOfIdentification/CriminalHistory covers how to submit a request for criminal conviction data from the statewide system, including DUI cases from Stephenson County.

A statewide criminal history check through the ISP is the most direct way to confirm whether a Stephenson County DUI conviction is in the official state record under a particular individual's name.

License Revocation and Driving Abstracts

A DUI conviction in Stephenson County triggers mandatory license revocation under 625 ILCS 5/6-205. The Secretary of State handles this separately from the criminal case. The length of revocation depends on the number of prior DUI convictions. Reinstatement requires a formal hearing with the SOS and may require proof of completed treatment or education programs.

The Illinois Secretary of State offers driving record abstracts at ilsos.gov. The abstract shows DUI convictions, license revocations, and Statutory Summary Suspensions on a driver's Illinois record. This document is often needed during reinstatement hearings and is available to drivers and authorized third parties.

The Statutory Summary Suspension under 625 ILCS 5/11-501.1 is a separate administrative action that applies when a driver refuses or fails a chemical test during a DUI stop in Stephenson County. Refusing the test is a 12-month suspension for a first offense. Failing is six months. Subsequent offense penalties are longer. Drivers who want to contest a summary suspension can request a hearing at ilsos.gov/departments/administrative-hearings.html.

Note: The summary suspension runs separately from any court-ordered suspension that might come out of the criminal case itself. Both can affect driving privileges at the same time.

Personal Record Review and Additional Resources

Individuals who want to see what Stephenson County DUI information the state has on file under their own name can use the ISP My Record portal at isp.illinois.gov/BureauOfIdentification/MyRecord. This self-service tool lets Illinois residents review their own criminal history record, including any DUI conviction data entered from Stephenson County cases.

The Illinois Courts website at illinoiscourts.gov/courts/circuit-court provides background on how the 15th Judicial Circuit operates and how DUI cases move through the court system in Stephenson County. This is a useful resource before you contact the clerk's office, particularly if you are unfamiliar with how Illinois circuit courts process criminal and traffic cases.

Cities in Stephenson County

No cities in Stephenson County meet the population threshold for individual DUI records pages. Freeport is the largest city in the county. DUI cases from Freeport and all other Stephenson County communities are handled through the Stephenson County Circuit Court in Freeport.

Nearby Counties

Stephenson County sits in the far northwest corner of Illinois. Neighboring counties have their own circuit courts for DUI cases filed near county borders.