Access Moultrie County Booking Releases
Booking releases in Moultrie County are kept by the Sheriff's Office in Sullivan. The county has about 14,424 residents and sits in the east-central part of Illinois. When someone is arrested within Moultrie County, they are brought to the county jail for processing. A booking record is created at that point. It includes the person's name, charges, date of arrest, bond details, and other relevant data. Once the person is released, the file is updated with the release date and terms. These records are available to the public through FOIA requests, phone inquiries, or in-person visits.
Moultrie County Quick Facts
Moultrie County Sheriff and Booking Records
The Moultrie County Sheriff's Office handles all booking releases within the county. The office is at 1505 Highway 16 West in Sullivan. All arrests in Moultrie County are processed here. When someone is brought in, staff log the person's name, date of birth, charges, bond amount, and court information. That data stays on file indefinitely, so even older booking releases can be pulled up if you give the staff enough info to find the right record.
You can reach the Sheriff's Office at (217) 728-4389. Call this number to ask about someone who is currently in custody or to find out what steps you need to take to get copies of booking release records. The staff can tell you if someone is in the jail, what the charges are, and what the bond is set at. For written copies, they will let you know what forms to fill out and where to send them.
Moultrie County is part of the 6th Judicial Circuit, which also covers nearby counties like Champaign, Douglas, and Macon. Cases that begin with a booking at the Moultrie County Jail go through the circuit court in Sullivan. The booking release and the court case file are separate records, but they often contain overlapping information. If you need both, you will have to request them from different offices.
| Address |
Moultrie County Sheriff's Office 1505 Highway 16 West Sullivan, IL 61951 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (217) 728-4389 |
| Website | moultriecountyil.gov/departments/sheriff |
Search Moultrie County Booking Releases Online
Moultrie County is a small rural county, and online search tools for booking releases are limited. The county does have a website with information about the Sheriff's Office, but a dedicated inmate search portal may not be available at all times. For the most current information about who is in custody, calling the jail at (217) 728-4389 is your best option. Staff can give you a quick answer about any current booking release in Moultrie County.
The Illinois Department of Corrections Offender Search provides a way to look up people in the state prison system.
This tool is free and covers anyone who has been sentenced to a state facility, which may include people originally booked in Moultrie County.
You can also use VINELink to track custody changes. VINELink lets you search for an offender by name or ID and register for alerts. When the person's status changes, you get a notification. This works for both state prisons and county jails in Illinois. It is a good backup option when the local jail does not have an online roster for Moultrie County booking releases.
Moultrie County Booking Release FOIA Requests
Under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140), booking release records from the Moultrie County Sheriff's Office are public records. You have the right to request them. Send a written request to 1505 Highway 16 West, Sullivan, IL 61951. Include the full name of the person, any dates you know, and a statement that your request is made under FOIA. That ensures the office handles it on the correct timeline.
The law requires a response within five business days. Simple requests often get answered sooner. The first 50 pages of copies are free. After that, you pay up to $0.15 per page. Certified copies cost up to $1.00 each. These fees are the same across all counties in Illinois. They are set by state law, not by the individual sheriff's office.
There is also a specific rule under 5 ILCS 140/2.15 that requires arrest data to be made public within 72 hours of the arrest. That includes the person's name, charges, and basic booking details. So if you need info on a very recent Moultrie County booking release, you should be able to get it fast. The Sheriff's Office is used to these requests and knows the rules well.
Illinois State Resources for Booking Releases
Several state resources can help with booking release searches that go beyond what Moultrie County offers on its own. The Illinois Department of Corrections has a search tool for offenders in state custody. If someone was convicted after a Moultrie County booking and transferred to a state prison, their records will show up in the IDOC system. The search is free.
The IDOC FOIA page explains how to request records from the state corrections department if you need more detailed information than the online search provides.
This page covers the forms, fees, and steps involved in filing a FOIA request with the state.
The Criminal Identification Act (20 ILCS 2630) governs access to criminal history records in Illinois. Most Moultrie County booking releases are open to the public. Records that have been sealed or expunged by a court order are the exception. If a court has ordered a record sealed, the Sheriff's Office must take it out of public access. But that is not the norm for most arrests. The vast majority of booking release files in Moultrie County remain available through standard request channels.
How to Get Moultrie County Booking Release Records
Getting booking release records from Moultrie County is not complicated. Here are the main paths you can take:
- Call (217) 728-4389 for a quick check on current inmates
- Visit the Sheriff's Office at 1505 Highway 16 West in Sullivan
- Mail a FOIA request to the same address
- Use the IDOC Offender Search for state prison records
- Register on VINELink for release alerts
For people who just need to know if someone is in jail, a phone call is the fastest option. The staff at the Moultrie County Sheriff's Office can confirm custody status and share basic booking info over the phone. If you need a written copy of a booking release or records from months or years ago, a FOIA request is the right approach. Walk-in requests are handled during office hours at the jail in Sullivan.
Keep in mind that Moultrie County is small. The jail processes far fewer bookings than larger counties, which means staff can often handle requests more quickly. Simple lookups may even be done while you wait if you go in person. For anything more involved, plan on the standard five-day FOIA window. Just make sure you have the person's full name and any other details that can help narrow the search down.
Nearby Counties
Booking releases go in the county where the arrest was made. If you think the arrest may have happened in a county next to Moultrie, check below. These are the bordering counties.