McDonough County Booking Releases
McDonough County booking releases are managed by the Sheriff's Office at 110 S. McArthur Street in Macomb. The county jail processes all arrests from local agencies within its borders, and around 26,900 people live here. The Sheriff provides access to inmate data through JailTracker, an online system that shows current bookings. You can also call the jail at (309) 833-5245 for direct information on custody status or past booking release records.
McDonough County Quick Facts
McDonough County Sheriff Booking Records
The McDonough County Sheriff's Office runs the county jail and keeps all booking release records. Each arrest results in a booking entry. Staff record the name, date of birth, charges, bond amount, and time of booking. The jail is in Macomb, which is the county seat and home to Western Illinois University. Police in Macomb, Blandinsville, Bushnell, and Colchester make arrests, but booking goes through the Sheriff's facility.
Call the Sheriff's Office at (309) 833-2323 for general questions. The jail line is (309) 833-5245. Staff can check on current inmates and look up past bookings during normal hours. If you need a copy of a booking release record, stop by during business hours and ask at the front desk. Bring a full name and an approximate date if you have one. That makes the search much faster. You can also email the office at sheriff@sheriff.mcdonough.il.us with questions about records.
The McDonough County Sheriff's Office website has contact info and links to jail services.
The site provides details about the Sheriff's Office, jail operations, and how to reach staff in Macomb.
| Address |
McDonough County Sheriff's Office 110 S. McArthur Street Macomb, IL 61455 |
|---|---|
| Sheriff Phone | (309) 833-2323 |
| Jail Phone | (309) 833-5245 |
| sheriff@sheriff.mcdonough.il.us | |
| Website | mcdonoughcountysheriff.com |
JailTracker Search for McDonough County Booking Releases
The quickest way to check current booking releases in McDonough County is through JailTracker. This is an online tool that many Illinois jails use to post inmate data. It shows the name, charges, booking date, and bond amount for each person in custody. The list updates as new bookings come in and as people get released, so you get a near real-time look at who is in the McDonough County jail.
JailTracker is free to use. You do not need an account. Just go to the site and search by name. Results show the current status of each inmate. Some details, like mugshots or housing info, may also appear depending on how the county has its system set up. Not all records go back very far on JailTracker. The tool mainly shows people who are in custody right now. For past bookings, call the jail or file a FOIA request.
One thing to keep in mind is that JailTracker is run by a private company, not directly by the Sheriff. The data comes from the jail, but there can be a short lag between an event and when it shows up online. If you need the most current info, call the jail at (309) 833-5245. Staff can confirm whether someone is still in custody or has been released from McDonough County.
FOIA Requests for McDonough County Booking Releases
When JailTracker does not have what you need, a FOIA request is the next step. Illinois law under 5 ILCS 140 gives the public the right to ask for government records. That includes booking data held by the McDonough County Sheriff. The office must respond within five business days of getting your written request.
Include the person's full name and a date range if possible. The more detail you give, the faster the search goes. Under 5 ILCS 140/2.15, arrest and booking information must be made available within 72 hours of the arrest itself. That section covers the person's name, age, address, and charges filed at booking time in McDonough County.
The first 50 pages of copies are free. After that, the cost is 15 cents per page. Electronic copies may be free if no extra staff time is needed. Send your request to the McDonough County Sheriff's Office at 110 S. McArthur Street, Macomb, IL 61455. You can also email sheriff@sheriff.mcdonough.il.us to ask about the best way to submit your FOIA request.
What McDonough County Booking Releases Show
A booking release record from McDonough County contains several key data points. The core info gets logged at the time of arrest. More detail is added as the case moves through the court system. Records vary somewhat, but most follow the same general format.
You will see the full name and date of birth of the person arrested. Charges at the time of booking are listed. Bond amount is included with any conditions a judge set. The booking date and time are always part of the record. Release date gets added when the person leaves custody. If the person was moved to another facility, that gets noted as well. Court dates and case numbers tie the booking to any criminal case filed in the circuit court for McDonough County.
Certain details are withheld by law. Juvenile records are not public. Records sealed or expunged under the Criminal Identification Act (20 ILCS 2630) will not appear in a FOIA response or on JailTracker. Medical and mental health info from the jail is off limits too. For most adult bookings in McDonough County, though, the standard data is available to anyone who asks for it.
State Resources for Booking Releases
Beyond the county level, Illinois runs state systems that tie into McDonough County booking releases. The Illinois Department of Corrections has a statewide offender search. It covers people serving time in state prisons. If someone was booked in McDonough County and later sent to a state facility, you can track them through IDOC. The search is free and does not need an account.
The Illinois State Police keep records through the Bureau of Identification. They hold criminal history data for the whole state. Full history reports need fingerprints and a fee. Basic arrest data may be available through FOIA. For McDonough County booking releases specifically, the Sheriff's Office is your best first stop. State databases are more helpful when you need to track someone across multiple counties or check if a person moved into the prison system after their stay in the McDonough County jail.
Illinois Law on Booking Release Access
State law controls what you can and cannot get from McDonough County. The Illinois FOIA, 5 ILCS 140, is the backbone of public records access. It applies to every government body in the state, including the McDonough County Sheriff. The law sets response deadlines, caps on fees, and lists the exemptions that can block release of records.
Section 2.15 of the FOIA law matters most for booking releases. It says that arrest data, including the name, age, and charges of anyone arrested, must be disclosed within 72 hours. That timeline is tighter than the standard five-day window. The Criminal Identification Act (20 ILCS 2630) adds rules about sealing and expungement. A sealed record in McDonough County will not show up on JailTracker or in a FOIA response.
You do not need a reason to request records. The law does not ask for one. You also do not need to live in McDonough County or in Illinois. Anyone can ask for these records, and the Sheriff must treat all requests the same under state law.
Tips for Searching McDonough County Booking Releases
Start with JailTracker if you need current info. It is free and updates often. If the person is not listed, they may have already been released. Call the jail at (309) 833-5245 and ask about a past booking. Have the person's full name and a rough date ready when you call.
For older records, file a FOIA request in writing. Put the request text in the body of your email rather than in an attachment. Illinois law says the full text must be in the email body. Include your name, contact info, and a clear description of the records you need. The more detail you provide, the quicker the McDonough County staff can find the right files.
Court records tied to a McDonough County booking are held by the circuit clerk. The clerk maintains case files, hearing dates, and outcomes. Booking records and court records are kept in different offices, but case numbers tie them together. Using both sources gives you a more complete picture of what happened after the arrest in McDonough County.
Nearby Counties
These counties border McDonough County. If you are not sure which county handled a booking, check the arrest location. Each county runs its own jail and keeps its own booking release records.