Search Decatur 24 Hour Booking

Decatur 24 hour booking records are kept by the Decatur Police Department and the Macon County Sheriff's Office. The city sits in central Illinois with a population of about 69,815. When someone gets arrested in Decatur, a booking record is made at the police station on South Side Drive. People held past their initial booking go to the Macon County Jail. You can look up Decatur booking records through a FOIA request to the police or by calling the Macon County Sheriff. Arrest data and jail records are public in Illinois, so most of this information is open to anyone who asks for it.

Decatur Police Booking Records

The Decatur Police Department handles all arrests within city limits. Their station is at 707 W. South Side Drive, Decatur, IL 62521. The non-emergency line is (217) 424-2711. For records and FOIA requests, call (217) 424-2708. The department creates a booking record each time an officer makes an arrest. That record has the person's name, the charges filed, the date and time of arrest, and the arresting officer's name.

The Decatur Police main page links to department services and records request information.

When someone is arrested in Decatur, they first go through booking at the police station. Temporary holding cells are on site. If the person cannot post bond or faces serious charges, they get moved to the Macon County Jail. The county jail is run by the Macon County Sheriff's Office, which you can reach at 217-424-1321.

Decatur Booking Record Requests

To get a copy of a Decatur booking record, you file a FOIA request with the police department. The Illinois Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140) gives you the right to ask for arrest and booking records. You can submit your request online through the Decatur FOIA Request Form for police records. You can also send it by mail or fax to 217-450-2297. The department must respond within five business days. Commercial requests may take up to 21 business days.

The online FOIA form lets you request Decatur police records from your home.

The first 50 pages of any FOIA response are free. After that, copies cost 15 cents per page. Under 5 ILCS 140/2.15, agencies must release basic arrest information within 72 hours of a booking. This includes the arrested person's name, age, charges, and the time and place of arrest. If you need Decatur booking records fast, call the Records Division at (217) 424-2708 and ask what they can share right away.

Macon County Jail Records

The Macon County Sheriff's Office runs the county jail and holds people arrested in Decatur who cannot make bond. The records department has a staff of 8 full-time employees. You can reach the warrants division at (217) 424-1322, civil process at (217) 424-1494, and records check at (217) 424-1321. Email the sheriff at webmail@sheriff-macon-il.us for general questions about Decatur booking records held at the county level.

The Macon County Records Division handles requests for booking data, arrest records, and background checks stored at the county jail. If someone was arrested in Decatur and transferred to county custody, the sheriff's office has the most current information about their status.

Court records for Decatur cases go through the Macon County Circuit Clerk. The clerk maintains records of all traffic, civil, and criminal cases filed in Macon County. Court dispositions are separate from booking records, but they can show the outcome of an arrest made in Decatur.

Note: Booking records and court records are kept by different offices, so you may need to contact both for complete information.

Booking Record Laws in Decatur

Illinois law controls how Decatur booking records work. The Criminal Identification Act (20 ILCS 2630) says all felony and Class A and B misdemeanor arrests must be reported to the Illinois State Police. So when Decatur police book someone on a felony charge, that data goes into the statewide criminal history database at the ISP Bureau of Identification.

The Uniform Conviction Information Act (20 ILCS 2635) limits what the state shares publicly to conviction records only. But local booking records from Decatur police are covered by FOIA, which is broader. Under the FOIA statute, basic arrest facts are public within 72 hours of booking. This means you can get the name, charges, and arrest details for most Decatur bookings quickly.

If you want to check your own record, the ISP Access and Review process is free. Go to any law enforcement agency or licensed fingerprint vendor. The ISP mails your full transcript to you at no charge. The vendor may have a fee for fingerprinting. You can also use the CHIRP system for a name-based search. Paper results cost $16. Electronic results cost $10.

Decatur Arrest Record Sealing

Under 20 ILCS 2630/5.2, you may qualify to have old Decatur booking records sealed or expunged. This applies if the case ended in dismissal, acquittal, or if enough time has passed since you finished supervision or probation. Sealed records need a court order to view. Expunged records are physically destroyed under Illinois law.

To start the process for a Decatur arrest, contact the Macon County Circuit Clerk or a local legal aid organization. The Illinois Legal Aid website has step-by-step guides for getting criminal records cleared. You will need details from your original booking record, including the case number and charges, to file the right paperwork with the court.

Macon County 24 Hour Booking

Decatur is the county seat of Macon County. All people held after arrest in Decatur go to the Macon County Jail. The Macon County Sheriff handles the jail and all booking records for people in custody. For more on county-level booking records, jail rosters, and inmate search tools, visit the Macon County page.

View Macon County 24 Hour Booking →

Nearby Cities

These Illinois cities are near Decatur. Each has its own police department that handles local arrests and booking records.