Another type of genealogy record that provides tremendous value is criminal records. Some of our ancestors unfortunately got in trouble with the law. And records were kept from arrests through court cases to prison documents. Now, more and more of these records are being digitized or transcribed and are being made available online.
Types of Records
- Criminal court proceedings
- Police reports
- Prison and jail admission registers
- Arrest records
- Mug books
- Pardon and discharge information
- Hospital record books
- Workhouse records
Types of Information
- Name
- Age
- Birth date
- Height
- Weight
- Complexion
- Eye color
- Hair color
- Nationality
- Occupation
- Education
- Habits (alcohol use)
- Relations (parents living)
- Date incarcerated
- Court where charged
- Recommitments
- How and when discharged
Note: Some of the links listed take you to a FamilySearch Collection of digital images. Near the bottom of the page under Film/Digital Notes is the name of each sub-collection. If there is a camera icon at the right of the name (in the Format column) then the collections’ images are browsable. If there is a camera with a key icon, it is only available at a Family History Center or affiliated library. If there is a film reel icon, then it is only available in microfilm format, not digital. To take full advantage, please make sure that you are logged in to FamilySearch. The results may be different if you are signed in, rather than not.
Listed below are links to criminal records that are available for free online for the state; the first list is for multi-state collections:
(Updated February 2023)
Illinois Criminal Records
United States
- Before the Needles, Executions in America Database
- Death Penalty USA, Executions 1607-1976 (by state)
- Federal Bureau of Prisons, Inmate Search 1982-
- Freedmen’s Bureau Records Relating to Murders and Outrages
Illinois
- Adams County Courthouse Jail, 1930 Index of Prisoners
- Adams County Courthouse Prison 1930 Index of Prisoners
- Adams County, House of Correction Records, 1883-1928
- Adams County, Law and Criminal Record, Book 2, Sept. 1846-Nov. 1849
- Alton Prison, Convict Registers
- Alton, Illinois State Prison, Records
- Champaign County Prison, 1930 Index of Prisoners
- Chicago Police Department Homicide Record Index, 1870-1930
- Cook County, Index to Joliet Prisoners
- Executions in Illinois
- Fulton County Circuit Court Case Files Index (1825–1876)
- Hancock County, Civil and Criminal Files, 1830-1860
- Illinois State Reformatory, Surnames A – B, 1930 Index of Prisoners
- Illinois State Reformatory, Surnames C – D, 1930 Index of Prisoners
- Illinois State Reformatory, Surnames E – G, 1930 Index of Prisoners
- Illinois State Reformatory, Surnames H – J, 1930 Index of Prisoners
- Illinois State Reformatory, Surnames K – L, 1930 Index of Prisoners
- Illinois State Reformatory, Surnames M – O, 1930 Index of Prisoners
- Illinois State Reformatory, Surnames P – R, 1930 Index of Prisoners
- Illinois State Reformatory, Surnames S, 1930 Index of Prisoners
- Illinois State Reformatory, Surnames T – Z, 1930 Index of Prisoners
- Illinois, Index to Joliet Prisoners from Wyoming Territory
- Illinois, World War I Selective Service System draft registration cards, Prisoners, Insane, In Hospitals, 1917-1918
- Jackson County, Circuit Court Record Law, v. E, 1844-1855
- Jefferson County, Jefferson County Jail 1930 Index of Prisoners
- Joliet Correctional Center, Convict Registers
- Joliet Correctional Center, Records
- Kane County Circuit Court Case Files Index (1836–1870)
- Kane County, State Training School for Girls Cemetery
- Lake County Circuit Court Case Files Index (1840–1898
- Livingston County, Illinois State Reformatory, 1930 Index of Prisoners A-B
- Livingston County, Illinois State Reformatory, 1930 Index of Prisoners C-D
- Livingston County, Illinois State Reformatory, 1930 Index of Prisoners E-G
- Livingston County, Illinois State Reformatory, 1930 Index of Prisoners H-J
- Livingston County, Illinois State Reformatory, 1930 Index of Prisoners K-L
- Livingston County, Illinois State Reformatory, 1930 Index of Prisoners M-O
- Livingston County, Illinois State Reformatory, 1930 Index of Prisoners P-R
- Livingston County, Illinois State Reformatory, 1930 Index of Prisoners S
- Livingston County, Illinois State Reformatory, 1930 Index of Prisoners T-Z
- Logan County Circuit Court Criminal Case Files Index (1857–1945)
- Macon County Circuit Court Case Files Index (1829–1861)
- Macon County Jail, 1930 Index of Prisoners
- Macon County, Macon County Jail 1930 Index of Prisoners
- Madison County, List of Convicts in the Illinois State Prison who were Pardoned, Died or Escaped, 1855 – 1856
- McLean County, 1880 Supplemental Schedule – Prisoners
- Menard Correctional Facility, Records
- Randolph County, Southern Illinois penitentiary 1880 Census
- Rock Island Prison Barracks, 1863-1865
- Saline County, Murder Indictments 1874-1915
- Sangamon County, Springfield City Prison 1930 Index of Prisoners
- Shelby County Circuit Court Case Files Index, 1828-187
- Southern Illinois Penitentiary, 1880 Census
- Springfield City Prison, 1930 Index of Prisoners
- Warren County Prison, Records, 1869-1926
- Will County, Convicts in the Illinois State Prison 1857
- Will County, Convicts in the Illinois State Prison pardoned, died or escaped from 1 January 1855 to December 1856
- Will County, Index to Joliet Prisoners by County
- Will County, Joliet Prison Convict Registers Alphabetical Index
- Will County, Old Joliet Prison Cemetery AKA Monkey Hill Cemetery
- Will County, Stateville Prison Cemetery AKA Illinois State Prison Cemetery
For all Free Illinois Links, click on the category of interest:
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