Illinois Statewide Criminal Background Check
Our real-time Illinois Supersearch checks all 102 Illinois counties simultaneously.
Therefore you get live court-level records, not a stale state repository extract.
Illinois search at a glance
Price
$20 plus $12 court fees
Jurisdiction
Illinois statewide — all 102 counties
Data source
Live county court indexes, not a private database
Search type
Name and date of birth — no fingerprints
Scope
10 years for misdemeanors; felony convictions as far back as readily available; no non-convictions older than 7 years by file date
Verification
Expert researcher review on every hit
Turnaround
Clears average under 24 hours; records average under 60 hours
Delivery
Secure online account, 24/7 access
What the Illinois statewide criminal background check covers
An Illinois statewide criminal background check should reach every courthouse, not just one state index. Our Illinois Supersearch does exactly that.
First, it launches combined, parallel searches across all 102 Illinois counties. Next, it reads the predominantly used court indexes directly, so results reflect current court activity.
Then researchers verify every hit for identifiers, accuracy and reportability. Finally, we merge every county result into one clean, FCRA-compliant report.
How the Illinois Supersearch works
- 1
Statewide real-time coverage
We run combined, parallel searches across all 102 Illinois counties. Moreover, we query the predominantly used court indexes rather than a static database.
When automation cannot reach a court, a researcher steps in seamlessly.
- 2
Automation plus expert review
Automated retrieval pulls and parses case information from public access sites. Then a trained researcher verifies every hit.
Consequently, you receive records that match your applicant, not a similar name.
- 3
Court-level case confirmation
We confirm each record at the court before we report it. Afterward, all county results merge into a single Illinois report.
You review everything inside your secure account.
Every confirmed record includes
- Case number, court and charge level, either felony or misdemeanor
- Offense date and file date, plus disposition date
- Disposition and full sentencing detail
- Verified identifiers, including every readily available ID from public access
- Identifiers may include date of birth, SSN, address and driver license number
Why our real-time Supersearch beats the Illinois State Police search
Many employers still order the traditional statewide check from the Illinois State Police at chirp.isp.illinois.gov.
However, that repository was built for conviction reporting, not for complete employment screening. In contrast, our Illinois Supersearch reads the courts themselves.
As a result, you see far more of the record, and you see it much sooner.
| Traditional IL statewide (ISP / CHIRP) | Illinois Supersearch from BCS Background Screening LLC |
|---|---|
| Convictions only. Pending cases, deferred cases and other non-convictions are excluded. | Includes pending, deferred and other non-convictions whenever they are reportable. |
| Omits Class C misdemeanors, traffic infractions and ordinance violations. | Full county-level coverage, including minor offenses when you need them. |
| File dates are often missing. | File dates are included. |
| Oftentimes a common name hit(s) will get an inconclusive response “Fingerprints required” for verification. | Fingerprints are never needed, because the search runs on name and date of birth. |
| Turnaround can stretch to 30 or more days for some names. | Clears average under 24 hours. Records average under 60 hours. |
| Single state repository extract. | All 102 counties searched simultaneously, in real time. |
The gap matters most on recent hires
A case filed last month rarely appears in a state repository yet. Meanwhile, it sits in the county index today.
Illinois scope, pricing and fees
Standard reporting scope
We report 10 years for misdemeanors.
In addition, we report felony convictions as far back as records are readily available.
However, we never report non-convictions older than 7 years by file date.
That rule keeps your report aligned with the FCRA.
Price and court fees
- The Illinois statewide criminal background check costs $20 per name.
- Illinois court fees add $12 per name.
- Clerk-assisted counties may charge additional access fees.
- Likewise, older case files can require a retrieval fee.
- We always request your approval before we add any out-of-scope fee.
Sample Illinois criminal background check report
The report below shows a completed Illinois statewide search with records found.
All names, dates and case numbers are fictitious, and they are shown for illustration only.
Records Found
Guilty
Case
Charge 1
Sentencing Information
1 YEAR DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS WITH 22 DAYS CREDIT — CONCURRENT. $1,500.00 FINANCIAL ASSESSMENT.
Charge 2
Sentencing Information
4 YEARS DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS WITH 22 DAYS CREDIT — CONCURRENT. FINANCIAL ASSESSMENT LISTED WITH COUNT 1.
Guilty
Case
Charge 1
Sentencing Information
30 HOURS COMMUNITY SERVICE. $3,292.00 FEE TOTALS. 01/31/2018: PROBATION REVOKED — 10 YEARS DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS WITH 190 DAYS CREDIT, 2 YEARS MANDATORY SUPERVISED RELEASE.
Sample report only. Names, dates of birth, case numbers and addresses above are fictitious.
Fictitious sample. Any resemblance to a real person or case is coincidental.
Illinois screening law and your report
Illinois regulates how employers use criminal records, so compliance matters as much as coverage. Because of that, we build every report for defensible, individualized review.
Individualized assessment
Illinois law discourages blanket criminal record exclusions.
Therefore employers should weigh the offense against the actual job duties. Our reports include file dates, dispositions and sentencing to support that analysis.
FCRA steps
You must give a standalone disclosure and get written authorization first. Next, send pre-adverse action notice with the report and the Summary of Rights.
Finally, send the adverse action notice after a reasonable waiting period.
Read the full guide: Illinois employment screening laws and background check rules.
How to order
You can order this search from your account.
- Select the search. First, select the State Criminal Search – Real-Time.
- Choose the state. From the dropdown menu of States, select Illinois.
Pair your Illinois background check with these searches
A complete file usually needs more than one Illinois criminal records search. So most clients combine the statewide search with the options below.
County Criminal Court Search
Direct court research in any single county, inside or outside Illinois.
Federal Criminal Search
US District Court records for fraud, trafficking and other federal offenses.
Nationwide Background Check
SSN trace, national criminal database, sex offender registry and watchlists.
Motor Vehicle Records
Illinois driving history for drivers, fleet roles and delivery positions.
Illinois Screening Laws
What Illinois employers may ask, consider and act on when hiring.
All State Criminal Searches
Statewide criminal record searches for every other state we cover.
Who orders Illinois criminal records from us
Employers across Illinois use this search as their core criminal screen. In addition, staffing firms, property managers and volunteer groups rely on it daily.
Because the search is name based, onboarding stays fast and applicant friendly.
Common Illinois use cases
- Pre-employment screening for hourly and salaried roles
- Staffing and contingent workforce placements
- Tenant screening for Illinois rental properties
- Volunteer and youth program vetting
- Vendor, contractor and franchisee due diligence
Illinois statewide criminal background check FAQs
What is an Illinois statewide criminal background check?
It is a criminal record search that covers the whole state of Illinois.
Our version, the Illinois Supersearch, queries all 102 Illinois counties at once.
Because the search runs in real time, results reflect current court records.
We then verify each hit and deliver one combined, FCRA-compliant report.
How is this different from the Illinois State Police CHIRP search?
The Illinois State Police search returns conviction information from a state repository.
Therefore it excludes pending cases, deferred cases and other non-convictions.
It also omits Class C misdemeanors, traffic infractions and ordinance violations.
In contrast, our real-time search reads county court indexes directly.
As a result, you see more of the record, with file dates included.
How much does an Illinois criminal background check cost?
The search costs $20 per name.
Illinois court fees add $12 per name.
Clerk-assisted counties can charge extra access fees.
Older case files may also require a retrieval fee.
However, we always ask for your approval before adding any out-of-scope fee.
How fast are Illinois criminal records returned?
Clear searches average under 24 hours.
Searches that return records average under 60 hours.
Meanwhile, the traditional state repository search can take 30 or more days for some names.
Clerk-assisted counties can extend turnaround slightly.
How far back does the Illinois search go?
We report misdemeanors for 10 years.
In addition, we report felony convictions as far back as records are readily available.
However, we do not report non-convictions older than 7 years by file date.
That limit follows the FCRA reporting rules.
Do you need fingerprints or a Social Security number?
No, fingerprints are never needed.
Our Illinois search runs on name and date of birth.
The state repository, by contrast, often requires fingerprints for common names.
A Social Security number helps confirm identity, yet it is not required to search.
Does the report include misdemeanors and pending cases?
Yes, our county-level coverage includes misdemeanors.
It also includes pending and deferred cases whenever they are reportable.
Minor offenses such as ordinance violations are available when you need them.
Every reported case shows the charge level, disposition and sentencing.
Can Illinois employers use these results to make hiring decisions?
Yes, employers can use the report when they follow the law.
First, obtain a standalone disclosure and written authorization.
Next, assess each record against the specific job duties.
Then follow the pre-adverse and adverse action steps required by the FCRA.
Illinois law discourages automatic exclusions, so document your individualized assessment.
Order your Illinois statewide criminal background check
Setup is free, and there are no monthly minimums.
Consequently, you can order your first Illinois search today.
Every user account also offers optional Multiple Authentication Factor (MAF) for added login security.
Disclaimer: this page provides general information, and it is not legal advice. Employment screening laws change, so consult qualified counsel before you set hiring policy.
BCS Background Screening LLC is a consumer reporting agency under the Fair Credit Reporting Act. The sample report uses a fictitious subject and case.