White County DUI Records

White County DUI records are held by the 2nd Judicial Circuit Court in Carmi, Illinois, where the Circuit Clerk's office keeps all DUI case filings, court orders, and final dispositions for charges brought in the county. This page explains where to find White County DUI records, who maintains them, and how to use state-level systems to look up conviction data and driving history.

White County Circuit Clerk

Kelly L. Fulkerson is the White County Circuit Clerk. Her office handles all DUI case records filed in the county and is the official source for court documents, disposition data, and case history. If you need to know what happened in a DUI case in White County, the circuit clerk's office in Carmi is where to start. Staff can search by name or case number and tell you what's in the public file.

The clerk holds charge documents, hearing notes, plea entries, sentencing orders, and case dispositions for every DUI matter filed in White County. Most complete records require a visit in person or a written request. The office can tell you what's available in the public record for a name or case number. White County is part of the 2nd Judicial Circuit, which handles both misdemeanor and felony DUI cases under 625 ILCS 5/11-501.

Hours and contact details are listed on the circuit clerk's website. If you plan to visit in person, call first to confirm hours and learn what identification or case details you need to bring. Some requests can be handled by mail, but that takes longer. The clerk's staff are the best resource for finding out what records exist and what you can access for a specific White County DUI case.

White County Sheriff and Arrest Records

The White County Sheriff's Office is based at 108 N. Main St. in Carmi and handles DUI enforcement in unincorporated parts of White County. The sheriff's arrest records are separate from the court case files at the circuit clerk's office. Both offices may have information you need, depending on what part of the DUI process you're researching.

The White County Sheriff's website shows available services and contact information for submitting public records requests. DUI arrest records are generally part of the public record in Illinois once a case is closed. Requests for sheriff's records go through the Illinois Freedom of Information Act process, and the agency must respond within five business days. Records tied to active investigations may be withheld temporarily, but closed DUI cases are usually accessible.

The White County Sheriff's website at whitecountysheriff.com is the best starting point for learning how to submit a FOIA request to the sheriff's office. The site also lists the agency's address and phone number for follow-up questions about a specific White County DUI arrest.

The image below is from the White County Sheriff's website, which provides DUI arrest information for the Carmi area and the rest of the county.

The sheriff's office works with the Carmi Police Department and state police to enforce DUI laws throughout White County. Arrest data from these agencies is reported to the Illinois State Police and becomes part of the state criminal history record.

Illinois State Police and White County DUI Data

When a DUI case in White County ends in a conviction, the circuit court reports that result to the Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification. The ISP holds this as a permanent part of the individual's criminal history. Under 20 ILCS 2630/5.2, DUI convictions cannot be expunged or sealed in Illinois. That rule applies to every White County DUI conviction regardless of how old the case is or how much time has passed.

The ISP database is built on fingerprints. When someone is arrested for DUI in White County, the fingerprint submission links the arrest to their state record. After the court reports a conviction, the ISP attaches the outcome to the fingerprint record. The result is a statewide history that includes arrests and convictions from every Illinois court that has reported to the ISP over the years.

Conviction data is public under the Uniform Conviction Information Act. The ISP criminal history page explains how to request a record that includes White County DUI data. Individuals can check their own record through the ISP My Record portal to see what the state has on file.

The ISP criminal history request process is also available through the CHIRP portal. Authorized users can access Illinois criminal history through CHIRP. For White County DUI convictions, this is one of the faster ways to pull statewide data from the ISP directly.

Driving Record and License Actions

A DUI conviction in White County triggers mandatory license revocation under 625 ILCS 5/6-205. The Illinois Secretary of State handles revocation separately from the criminal case. Getting your license back requires a formal SOS hearing. The conditions and waiting periods depend on how many prior DUI convictions appear on the driver's record.

The Statutory Summary Suspension under 625 ILCS 5/11-501.1 starts before the criminal case is resolved. If a driver fails or refuses a chemical test during a White County DUI stop, the suspension begins 46 days after the officer issues the notice. Refusing a test on a first offense results in a 12-month suspension. Failing it results in a 6-month suspension. Drivers can challenge this at an SOS administrative hearing. Details on that process are at ilsos.gov/departments/administrative-hearings.html.

Driving record abstracts are available from the Illinois Secretary of State at ilsos.gov. The abstract costs $20 and shows DUI convictions, suspensions, revocations, and other license actions tied to a driver's record. For White County DUI cases, this is a good way to see the full license history tied to a specific matter.

DUI Charges in White County Court

Under 625 ILCS 5/11-501, DUI in Illinois covers more than just a BAC above 0.08. Impairment from cannabis, prescription drugs, controlled substances, intoxicating compounds, or methamphetamine can each support a charge. White County DUI cases filed under this statute cover the full range of impairment types the law recognizes, and the circuit clerk's records show each type of charge in the case file.

Charge severity depends on prior offense history. A first DUI 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 minimum terms. A third DUI becomes a Class 2 felony. Each prior conviction, whether from White County or any other Illinois court, counts toward the level of any new charge filed here.

Aggravating factors can push a charge to a higher level even on a first offense. A DUI with a minor in the vehicle, one that causes serious injury, or one committed in a school zone may result in enhanced charges. The circuit clerk's records show the specific charges filed, any amended or dismissed counts, and the final result for each White County case.

The Illinois Courts website at illinoiscourts.gov/courts/circuit-court has information on how the 2nd Judicial Circuit operates and how DUI cases move through the court system from filing to final disposition.

Cities in White County

No cities in White County meet the population threshold for individual DUI records pages. Carmi is the county seat where the circuit court handles all DUI filings in the county. All records for Carmi-area DUI cases are maintained by the White County Circuit Clerk at the courthouse in Carmi.

Nearby Counties

White County is in southeastern Illinois. Each neighboring county has its own circuit court for DUI cases filed within its borders.