Madison County

Madison County, Illinois is located in the southwestern portion of the state, directly across the Mississippi River from St. Louis, Missouri. Madison County seat is Edwardsville, a historic community that houses Madison County's administrative offices and courthouse. Established in 1812 and named after President James Madison, Madison County includes approximately 740 square miles and serves a population of roughly 265,000 residents, making it the third most populous county in Illinois outside the Chicago metropolitan area. Major municipalities include Alton, Granite City, Collinsville, Edwardsville, and Wood River. Madison County is known for the Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site, a UNESCO World Heritage Site preserving ancient Native American earthworks, and for hosting the Gateway Motorsports Park racing facility. The Robert Wadlow Statue in Alton commemorates the world's tallest man. Madison County's economy has historically centered on manufacturing, particularly steel production and oil refining along the Mississippi River corridor. Madison County Administration Building at 157 North Main Street in Edwardsville houses the County Board offices. Key county agencies include Madison County Recorder of Deeds (located at the Administration Building), Madison County Clerk (same location), and Madison County Assessor. Madison County is served by multiple school districts and is home to Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE), a major regional university. Madison County's unique position as part of the Metro East region gives it economic and cultural ties to St. Louis while maintaining its distinct Illinois identity.

The Madison County Circuit Court serves Madison County and is located at 160 N Main St. The court handles civil, criminal, family, and probate cases for this county. Court records and case filings can be requested in person or through the Illinois online court portal.

The Madison County Circuit Court, located at 160 N Main St, Edwardsville, oversees a range of cases including civil, criminal, family, and probate matters.

Law Enforcement & Arrests

• This roster is updated regularly and provides a search function by name or booking number.
• To request arrest records, citizens must submit a FOIA request to the specific law enforcement agency that made the arrest, specifying the records sought with reasonable particularity.
• Mugshots and booking photos are generally available through Madison County Jail roster for current inmates, and historical booking photos may be requested through FOIA from the Sheriff's Office.
• Response time for FOIA requests in Illinois is typically five business days, though extensions may be granted.

Criminal Records

Criminal records in Madison County, IL are maintained by local law enforcement agencies and the court system. Background checks are typically obtained through state-level repositories or authorized vendors. For an authoritative source, see Madison County Arrest, Court, and Public Records | StateRecords.org.

Arrest Records

Arrest records in Madison County, IL are public under most state public-records laws unless sealed or expunged by a court. They are maintained by the arresting agency, primarily the County Sheriff's Office and municipal police departments.

Jail & Inmate Records

The Madison County jail is operated by the County Sheriff's Office and houses pretrial detainees and short-sentence inmates. Inmate locator tools allow public searches by name or booking number.

• Look up current inmates and booking information at Welcome to Madison County, IL.
• Sheriff's Office: Welcome to Madison County, IL.
• The bond and bail process allows release of detainees under conditions set by the court; inquiries about recently arrested individuals can be directed to the jail's administrative office.

• The Circuit Clerk charges fees for certified copies of documents, typically $2.00 for the first page and $0.50 for additional pages, plus a $6.00 certification fee.

• The fee schedule includes $25 for recording the first four pages of most documents plus $1 for each additional page.
• Certified copies of recorded documents can be requested in person or by mail with proper identification and payment.

Vital records for this county include birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates issued under state vital statistics law.

• Processing time is typically immediate for walk-in requests if the record is on file locally, or 2-4 weeks for mail requests.
• Online ordering is available through VitalChek.com for an additional processing fee, with delivery options including expedited shipping.
• Certified copies of marriage certificates cost $5 each.
• Divorce records are maintained by the Circuit Clerk at Madison County Courthouse and must be requested through that office with proper identification and demonstration of legal interest in the record.

Business records, licenses, and permits for this county are processed by the County Clerk and local government offices.

• The Secretary of State maintains a free online business entity search tool at www.ilsos.gov where anyyou can look up registered business names, registered agents, filing dates, and current status.