Will County DUI Records Lookup

Will County DUI records are handled through the 12th Judicial Circuit Court in Joliet. As one of the fastest-growing counties in Illinois, Will County covers a wide range of communities from urban Joliet to suburban Bolingbrook and Tinley Park to rural farm towns in the south. DUI cases from all of these areas are filed with the Circuit Clerk in Joliet. This page explains how to access Will County DUI records, what offices to contact, and how state resources fit into your search.

Will County Circuit Clerk

Circuit Clerk Andrea Chasteen manages court records for the 12th Judicial Circuit, which serves Will County. The clerk's office at 100 West Jefferson Street in Joliet processes all DUI filings, maintains case histories, and handles public records requests. The clerk's website at willcountyillinois.com provides case information and access guidance.

A first DUI offense in Will County is a Class A misdemeanor under 625 ILCS 5/11-501, carrying up to one year in jail, a fine up to $2,500, and a mandatory one-year license revocation. A second offense requires at least 5 days in jail or 240 hours of community service and triggers a 5-year revocation. A third offense becomes a Class 2 felony. These records are kept by the Circuit Clerk permanently; no DUI conviction can be expunged or sealed in Illinois under 20 ILCS 2630/5.2.

Will County Sheriff

The Will County Sheriff's Office at 169 W. Jefferson St. in Joliet handles law enforcement across the unincorporated areas of the county and runs the county jail. Arrest records for DUI incidents in those areas, along with jail booking data, come from the Sheriff's office.

For DUI arrests in incorporated areas, the local police department handles the arrest and maintains the report. You would contact the Joliet Police Department, Bolingbrook Police Department, or the relevant city agency depending on where the stop occurred. Court records for all Will County DUI cases, regardless of which agency made the arrest, end up at the Circuit Clerk's office on Jefferson Street.

The Illinois Freedom of Information Act at 5 ILCS 140 covers public access to arrest reports. Agencies must respond within 5 business days, and arrest reports generally must be provided within 72 hours of the written request.

DUI Evaluations in Will County

Will County courts use an approved provider list for DUI evaluations, education, and treatment. Unlike counties that designate a single agency for initial evaluations, Will County defendants have more flexibility in choosing from the court's list of approved SUPR-licensed providers.

The evaluation itself covers your substance use history and helps the court determine what education or treatment program is appropriate. Results go to the court and factor into sentencing. Completing the required steps promptly can help with compliance timelines and any petitions for driving relief during the revocation period.

A DUI conviction triggers mandatory revocation under 625 ILCS 5/6-205. After revocation, drivers must petition the Secretary of State for reinstatement. Will County drivers have a convenient resource: the Secretary of State's Administrative Hearings office is located in Joliet at 815-740-7171. This is one of the few downstate metro areas where the SOS hearing office is right in the same city as the courthouse. The SOS administrative hearings page at ilsos.gov/departments/administrative-hearings.html explains the process and what documentation is required.

Note: The administrative hearing through the SOS and the criminal court case at the 12th Circuit are two separate processes. You must handle both to fully resolve a Will County DUI.

Statutory Summary Suspensions

When a driver is arrested for DUI in Will County and either refuses a chemical test or fails one, a Statutory Summary Suspension begins automatically. This is separate from any court outcome. Under 625 ILCS 5/11-501.1, a first-time refusal leads to a 12-month suspension; failing the test brings a 6-month suspension. Repeat offenders face 36 months for refusal and 12 months for failure. The suspension starts 46 days after the arrest notice is served.

Drivers can petition the Will County court to rescind a summary suspension if there are grounds to challenge it. This must be done within 90 days of the arrest, and the hearing is held at the 12th Circuit courthouse. Even if the suspension is rescinded, the underlying DUI criminal case continues separately.

The Illinois Secretary of State driving record system at ilsos.gov lets you pull a current driving record that reflects any active summary suspension or revocation tied to a Will County DUI case.

State-Level Resources for Will County DUI Records

The Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification is the statewide repository for DUI conviction records from Will County and all other Illinois counties. You can request criminal history information at 815-740-5160 or by emailing ISP.BOI.Customer.Support@illinois.gov.

The CHIRP system at chirp.isp.illinois.gov provides authorized agencies access to Illinois criminal history records. Individuals can access their own records through the ISP My Record portal at isp.illinois.gov/BureauOfIdentification/MyRecord. The Illinois Courts circuit court page at illinoiscourts.gov provides contact information and general information about the 12th Judicial Circuit.

Illinois 625 ILCS 5/11-501 defines the DUI offense and sets penalties that apply to all Will County DUI cases, from first-time misdemeanors through Class X felony repeat offenses.

For a sixth or subsequent DUI conviction anywhere in Illinois, including Will County, the offense becomes a Class X felony with up to 30 years in prison. The full penalty scale and definitions are in the statute linked above. Will County courts follow these state guidelines on every case.

Cities in Will County

Will County includes several large cities. Joliet is the county seat and largest city. Bolingbrook and Tinley Park are partially located in Will County (both also extend into Cook County). All DUI cases from these cities go to the 12th Circuit in Joliet.

Other Will County communities such as Romeoville, Lockport, Plainfield, New Lenox, and Crest Hill do not meet the 50,000-person threshold for individual city pages. DUI cases from those areas are still processed through the 12th Judicial Circuit Court in Joliet.

Nearby Counties

Will County sits at the southwest corner of the Chicago metro area and borders several counties with active DUI court systems.