Search DuPage County Public Records & Information: Free

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Free Public Records Search (DuPage County)

Access DuPage County Records: marriage, divorce, warrants, arrests, probation, criminal, court, background checks, and all public records.

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Conduct a free search of DuPage County public records to reveal more about someone else’s past or help you make sure everything is accurate and up to date in your own files.

The federal Freedom of Information Act and the Illinois state statute of the same name allow members of the public to track down information on anyone — as long as citizens know how and where to perform searches.

This article provides instructions on effectively obtaining records about residents in this part of the Chicago metropolitan area, including marriage, divorce, court, property, and prisoner information. Look up criminal records involving warrants, arrests, and probation sentences, or uncover details on someone by performing your own background check.

How To Access Arrest Logs, Mugshots & the Reason for Detainment: DuPage County

Thanks to the U.S. Freedom of Information Act and the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, everyone has the right to check public records maintained by federal, state, county, or local agencies (unless exempted by law).^1,2

This means that members of the public are entitled to access DuPage arrest records and other data concerning inmates.

The best place to start your search for jail records is the DuPage County Sheriff’s Office, but it may also be worth checking with other local law enforcement agencies within the county.

For the most efficient search, researchers should know the subject’s full name. It’s also helpful to know in which city or town the party in question was arrested.

Search the DuPage County Jail for Recent Arrests

The DuPage County Sheriff’s Office maintains the county jail.³ The DuPage County Correctional Center holds suspected offenders awaiting trial, as well as convicts serving short prison terms or awaiting transfer to a state-run facility for longer sentences.

The sheriff’s office allows interested parties to search DuPage County bookings by using its online JailTracker tool. Researchers can scroll through a list of current inmates or look up a particular search subject by name.

Inmates are listed in order of booking date, with the most recent arrestees appearing first.

Clicking on the “View More” button will expand the record, allowing researchers to see more details about the inmate, including charges and sentences, as well as the next upcoming court date and bond arrangements. For many — but not all — inmates, the site includes booking photos, making this an efficient way to find someone’s mugshot.

For more information, you can contact the DuPage County Sheriff’s Office:

DuPage County Sheriff’s Office
501 North County Farm Rd.
Wheaton, IL 60187

Phone: 630.682.7256

You may also be able to find out information about past inmates by contacting the Records Division of the Sheriff’s Office at 630.407.1170. Office hours are Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

In addition, you can visit or reach out to the county jail:

DuPage County Correctional Center
501 North County Farm Rd.
Wheaton, IL 60187

Phone: 630.407.2255

View Arrests & Obtain Public Police Reports via Law Enforcement Agencies in DuPage County

If you’re not able to find the information on arrestees that you’re looking for through the sheriff’s office, the next best option is to contact local police departments in DuPage County; they can offer insight if they were the responding agency to any arrests or other incidents.

DuPage County is large and populous, so there are many law enforcement agencies within its borders. Here’s a list of the 10 most prominent police departments to jumpstart your search:

Local Police Department	Address	Phone Number
Naperville Police Department	1350 Aurora Ave. Naperville, IL 60540	630.420.6666
Wheaton Police Department	900 West Liberty Dr. Wheaton, IL 60187	630.260.2161
Downers Grove Police Department	825 Burlington Ave. Downers Grove, IL 60515	630.434.5600
Elmhurst Police Department	125 East 1st St. Elmhurst, IL 60126	630.530.3050
Lombard Police Department	235 East Wilson Ave. Lombard, IL 60148	630.873.4400
Carol Stream Police Department	500 North Gary Ave. Carol Stream, IL 60188	630.668.2167
Addison Police Department	3 Friendship Plz. Addison, IL 60101	630.543.3080
Glendale Heights Police Department	300 East Fullerton Ave. Glendale Heights, IL 60139	630.260.6070
Glen Ellyn Police Department	65 South Park Blvd. Glen Ellyn, IL 60137	630.469.1187
West Chicago Police Department	325 Spencer St. West Chicago, IL 60185	630.293.2222

In addition, parts of the cities of Aurora, Batavia, and St. Charles are located in DuPage County. Here’s the contact information for their law enforcement agencies:

Local Police Department	Address	Phone Number
Aurora Police Department	1200 East Indian Trail Rd. Aurora, IL 60505	630.256.5000
Batavia Police Department	100 North Island Ave. Batavia, IL 60510	630.454.2500
St. Charles Police Department	1515 West Main St. St. Charles, IL 60174	630.377.4435

You can also find contact information for other law enforcement agencies in DuPage County by typing “[city name] Illinois police department contact information” into Google or any other search engine.

How To Look Up Criminal Records in DuPage County Illinois

Performing a free criminal record check is key to finding out about someone’s past. When you look up someone’s criminal record, you gain information about any possible past charges, warrants, and even probation sentences.

The best place to start in a search for DuPage County criminal records is with the Clerk of the 18th Judicial Circuit Court. This court tries all county-level cases, including those involving felonies and misdemeanors.

More information on tracking down criminal history details on locals within DuPage County, Illinois is available below.

See Prior Charges & Criminal Convictions Through the DuPage County Circuit Court Clerk

The website for the DuPage County Circuit Clerk has a court record search tool that you can use to look up criminal cases online. You can use this tool to search by name, ticket or complaint number, or case number.

If you’re searching cases by name, note that both the first and last names of the individual in question are required.

Once you hit the “Search” button, you’ll see a list of possible name matches. The website includes birth years in this public index of defendant names. Therefore, if the subject of your search has a common name, it’s helpful to know the year in which they were born to narrow down the search. (For example, a search for the name “John Brown” yields 12 pages’ worth of results.)

Selecting the hot-linked last name will take you to a list of DuPage County judicial records involving this individual.

By choosing a case number, you’ll be taken to a write-up of the case, including information about the charge and court events. However, the search tool is a bit more bare-bones than those of other counties. For example, it doesn’t display sentencing information.

In addition, running too many searches may result in an IP address block and the limit of searches that can be performed is unspecified.

Researchers can order copies of more detailed DuPage County court records via mail or in person. Copies cost $2 for the first page, 50 cents for the second through 20th pages, and 25 cents for every page after that. Certification costs an additional $6 per document. The office accepts payment in the form of a cashier’s check, cash, or money order.

Here’s the address:

Office of the DuPage County Circuit Court Clerk
505 North County Farm Rd.
Wheaton, IL 60187

For more information about ordering felony and misdemeanor records by mail or in person, call the Criminal/Traffic Department at 630.407.8600. Office hours are Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

In addition, the Clerk’s office uses a third-party service, i2File, that lets you order records online. The costs for ordering document copies through this method are the same as for ordering them via mail or in person (see above). However, you can pay with a credit card using this service.

How To Check Who or if Someone Has a Warrant Out for Their Arrest in DuPage County

Anyone interested in finding out whether they or someone else has an open warrant in DuPage County should start their search by contacting or visiting the sheriff’s office and inquiring. The office’s address and contact details can be found below:

DuPage County Sheriff’s Office
501 North County Farm Rd.
Wheaton, IL 60187

Phone: 630.682.7256

Office hours are Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Additionally, you can visit or contact any of the other DuPage County police departments listed in the section of this resource on arrest records above.

However, keep in mind that if you have an open warrant and visit the Sheriff’s Office or any other police department in DuPage County to enquire, you’ll be arrested on the spot.

Another way to find out about DuPage County warrants both past and present is by using the Circuit Clerk’s case lookup tool (see above for explicit instructions). If a warrant has been issued in connection with the case, it will be listed among the “Case Events.”

If you click on the hot-linked word “Warrant,” you’ll be shown more details — including whether or not it’s still active.

How To Find DuPage County Probation Records

The DuPage County Circuit Court Clerk’s website does not show sentencing information online.

The best way to find out information about convicted criminals who are on probation is by contacting the DuPage County Probation & Court Services Department.⁶ This agency offers services for convicted criminals who are serving out their sentences at home, rather than in jail.

To request records about probationers and the program, contact the department directly at:

DuPage County Probation and Court Services
503 North County Farm Rd.
Wheaton, IL 60187

Phone: 630.407.8500
Email: [email protected]

Office hours are Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

How To Execute a DuPage County Background Check or Acquire a Report

It’s possible to conduct a background check on an individual in DuPage County for either personal or professional reasons.

Personal background checks can be completed to find out more information about a new neighbor, co-worker, or even a potential love interest. You can also run a personal background check on yourself to make sure there are no surprises the next time you apply for a job, a lease, a license, or a volunteer opportunity.

These personal background checks do not require the prior consent of the subject and can be undertaken with a free public records search using the information in this resource. These are typically Level 1 checks, meaning they’re completed only by searching the subject’s name.

On the other hand, professional background checks — such as those conducted by a potential employer, volunteer coordinator, landlord, licensing agency, etc. — can be either Level 1 or Level 2, which use fingerprinting.

Professional background checks always require the subject’s written consent before they can be begun. That’s according to the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).

If you believe that you have been the victim of a professional background check that violates FCRA, you can contact the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or the Federal Trade Commission for assistance. You can also scroll to the bottom of this article for more information about protections for consumers and workers.

Unlike some other county sheriffs, the DuPage County Sheriff’s Office does not offer background check services. However, you can request a Level 1 (name-based) background check on yourself using the Illinois State Police’s Criminal History Information Response Process (CHIRP).⁷ (This service is also available to select authorized agencies for professional purposes.)

Both Illinois residents and individuals who live out of state can request this service. In order to register, out-of-state residents must submit a notarized PKI Out of State Certificate Application.

To order a background check using CHIRP, visit the link above and register for an account. To start a new background check on your own records, you’ll need to select “Create Inquiry,” followed by “Add Inquiry.” You must supply your name, date of birth, sex, and race.

Background checks using CHIRP cost $16 each, payable by credit card or e-check. Once the records check has been completed, you’ll receive a notification to view it in your CHIRP account. Note that the Illinois State Police will not mail you a hard copy of the results.

To request more information about the CHIRP service, you can contact the Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification at 815.740.5160 or email [email protected]. Office hours are Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

How To Track Down Public Criminal Records Throughout Illinois

Because records held by county custodians tend to be limited in scope, you may want to research someone’s potential criminal past by using state or federal resources. These include:

• Illinois Department of Corrections Inmate Search: Search current inmates in state-run facilities by last name or date of birth.⁸
• Illinois State Police Sex Offender Registry: Browse the state’s database of offenders by last name or location.⁹ You can also specify to search offenders in a certain Illinois county.
• Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Inmate Search: Find current inmates in BOP-run prisons using both their first and last names.
• National Sex Offender Public Website: Search offenders throughout the country by name and/or location.

How To Perform a DuPage County Illinois Court Case Lookup

Illinois’ streamlined court system allows for an efficient search of DuPage County public court records related to both criminal and civil cases.

The highest court in the state is the Illinois Supreme Court. Next come the state’s Appellate Courts (DuPage County is located in the Third Judicial District). Then come the county Circuit Courts. DuPage County’s court is the 18th Judicial Circuit.

The DuPage County Circuit Court is responsible for hearing all cases related to civil, family, traffic, ordinance, and probate matters, as well as criminal cases. You can locate basic information about these cases online by using the Circuit Court Clerk’s search tool.

Researchers can look up civil cases using the tool by name, ticket/complaint number, or case number. Name-based searches require both the first and last names of the individual being looked up.

Once you’ve entered your criteria, the website will display a list of potential name matches.

Tip: If you’re looking up court cases involving someone with a common name, it’s helpful to know the year of that person’s birth to further narrow down the search.

You can select any last name for a list of cases involving that particular person. Next, selecting a case number will yield more details about that case.

However, note that you won’t find out much information about the case — this tool is largely intended to help people in DuPage County look up court cases to pay related fines. In addition, after an unspecified number of case lookups, you may be permanently suspended from using the system from the same IP address.

If you want more details on a court case, the best thing to do is to order record copies from the Circuit Court Clerk. You can request copies directly from the clerk’s office in person at the courthouse or via mail.

Copies cost $2 for the first page, 50 cents for Page 2 through Page 20, and 25 cents for every page thereafter. To have copies certified costs an additional $6 per document.

You can pay the Circuit Court Clerk’s office with a cashier’s check, money order, or cash. For more information — and to find out how much you’d owe — call the Civil Department at 630.507.8700. Office hours are Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Here’s the address for mailing the request or visiting the office in person:

Office of the DuPage County Circuit Court Clerk
505 North County Farm Rd.
Wheaton, IL 60187

You can also use a government-endorsed third-party service, i2File, to order court records online. The costs are the same for using this method as for ordering record copies directly from the Court’s office. Payment can be made with a credit or debit card online.

How To View & Obtain DuPage County Illinois Vital Records (Marriage, Divorce, Birth & Death)

Records held by federal, state, county, and municipal custodians that involve important life events such as marriages, births, and deaths can be categorized as vital records.

There are many reasons why you’d want to look up vital records. For example, you may need a copy of your birth certificate to apply for a passport. Or you may want to find out if someone is married before going out on a date with them.

Alternatively. you may want to conduct genealogical research.

However, Illinois’ Vital Records Act grants only certain individuals access to this information.¹¹ That means some vital records may not be considered Illinois public records.

This section of the resource guides individuals on accessing public records in DuPage County and covers who’s authorized to examine the most common types of vital records.

Retrieve DuPage County Marital Records (Marriage, Divorce & Dissolution of Marriage) via Official Channels

If you want to check if someone is married or divorced in DuPage County, there are several ways to do so. Here are the easiest ways of tracking down the information you’re looking for.

Find Marriage Records Through the DuPage County Clerk: The first place to check is the County Clerk’s office. Researchers can request copies of marriage certificates directly from the office either in person or by mail. Unlike some other Illinois counties, anyone can order a certified copy of a DuPage marriage certificate.

To order a marriage record, researchers must first download, print, and complete the Marriage Certificate Request Form found online.

Or you can use the Application for Certification of Civil Union for records related to this marriage alternative.

You must be able to provide the first and last names of both parties named on the certificate (as listed on their birth certificates), as well as the date of the marriage or civil union and the town in which it took place.

Marriage and civil union certificate copies cost $14 for the first copy and $2 for each additional copy of the same certificate. However, if the marriage took place more than 75 years ago, the records are considered “genealogical” and cost only $1 apiece. Note that genealogical records are not certified.

Payment can be made either by check or money order made payable to “DuPage County Clerk.” If you’re ordering the record in person at the office, you may also pay with cash or a credit card.

Here’s the address for mailing the application:

DuPage County Clerk
P.O. Box 1028
Wheaton, IL 60187

The address for visiting the office in person can be found below:

DuPage County Clerk’s Office
521 North County Farm Rd.
Wheaton, IL 60187

Phone: 630.407.6500

Office hours are Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

It’s also possible to order DuPage County marriage records electronically through a third-party service, VitalChek. Use of this service incurs an additional $10 fee on top of the previously mentioned costs. VitalChek accepts credit cards for payment.

Request a Marriage Verification From the Illinois Department of Health: Any member of the public can request certain “facts” concerning a marriage that has taken place in Illinois since 1962 from the state’s Department of Health.

These include:

• The marriage parties’ names
• Their birth dates
• The date of the marriage
• The city and/or county where the marriage was solemnized

The Department of Health charges $5 for each marriage verification, which can be ordered by mail, fax, or in person.

To request a verification by mail, complete the Application for Verification of Marriage/Civil Union Record Files and send it, along with a copy of your government-issued photo ID and a check or money order made out to “Illinois Department of Public Health” to this address:

Illinois Dept. of Public Health
Division of Vital Records
925 East Ridgely Avenue
Springfield, IL 62702

Or visit the Division of Vital Records office in person. Office hours are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Alternatively, you can fax the application, plus a copy of your photo ID and a signed cover sheet with your credit card number and expiration date, phone number, and return mailing address to: 217.523.2648. Note fax orders cost an additional $12.95 per transaction.

Locate Divorce Records Through the DuPage County Circuit Court Clerk: The quickest way to find out if someone has been divorced in DuPage County is by using the Circuit Court Clerk’s record search tool.

See the section above for conducting a DuPage County case search for instructions on how to use this tool. DuPage County divorce records are indicated by case titles beginning with “In Re: The Marriage of [Names].”

Researchers can also order copies of divorce case records from the DuPage County Circuit Court Clerk in person or via mail. These copies cost $2 for the first page, 50 cents for Pages 2 through 20, and 25 cents for every additional page. Certification costs an extra $6 per document. Payment can be made via cashier’s check, money order, or cash.

Here’s the address for mailing the request or visiting the office in person:

DuPage County Circuit Court Clerk
505 North County Farm Rd.
Wheaton, IL 60187

Phone: 630.507.8700

Office hours are Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The Circuit Court Clerk also uses a third-party service, i2File, for ordering records online.

Request a Divorce Verification From the Illinois Department of Health: In addition, it’s possible to request a verification of divorce from the Illinois Department of Health. This method costs $5 per record. This is a good option for anyone not 100% certain that the marriage was dissolved in DuPage County.

To request a verification by mail, you can send a completed Application for Verification of Dissolution of Marriage/Civil Union Record Files, as well as a copy of your government-issued photo ID and a check or money order made out to “Illinois Department of Public Health” to:¹³

Illinois Dept. of Public Health
Division of Vital Records
925 East Ridgely Avenue
Springfield, IL 62702

Or you can fax the completed addition, along with a copy of your photo ID and a cover sheet bearing your signature, credit card information, and mailing address to: 217.523.2648. Fax orders cost an additional $12.95 per transaction.

Request Birth & Death Certificates via the DuPage County Clerk or Vital Records Office

Birth and death records are kept by the DuPage County Clerk, as well as the Illinois Department of Public Health’s Division of Vital Records. However, according to the state’s Vital Information Act, access to these records is limited.

For birth certificates newer than 75 years old, only the registrant, their parents, and a legal guardian or representative may access them.

Death certificates newer than 20 years old can be obtained only by the immediate family members of the deceased, along with anyone with a provable financial interest.

Find Birth Records for DuPage County From the County Clerk: The first step in requesting a birth certificate from the County Clerk’s office is to complete the Application for Certificate of Birth Record found online.

Birth certificates cost $14 for the first copy and $2 each for additional copies. Records older than 75 years cost only $1 each and are for genealogical purposes only.

To order by mail, you can send the application, along with a copy of a valid government-issued photo ID and a check or money order payable to “DuPage County Clerk” to this address:

DuPage County Clerk
P.O. Box 1028
Wheaton, IL 60187

Or you can take the order form, along with your photo ID and payment to:

DuPage County Clerk’s Office
521 North County Farm Rd.
Wheaton, IL 60187

Phone: 630.407.6500

Office hours are Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

In addition, you can order a copy of a DuPage County certificate of birth using a third-party service, VitalChek. This method costs an additional $10, on top of the record request fee, which can be paid with a credit card.

Order a Birth Certificate from the DuPage County Vital Records Office: Authorized persons can also order a copy of a birth certificate from the DuPage County Health Department’s Vital Records Office. This record custodian maintains birth records dating back to 1953.

The department honors only written requests from the registrant, as well as their parents listed on the certificate and a legal representative. Copies cost $14 for the first copy and $2 for each additional copy. In addition, there’s a $3 shipping and handling fee.

To order a copy online, use the ePay system to make a one-time payment using “Vital Records” as the category and “Birth Certificate” as the payment type. Once you’ve paid online with a credit card or e-check, you should print, sign, and date your receipt. You can then email a scan of your receipt, along with a copy of your photo ID (front and back), to [email protected] or fax it to 630.510.5411.

To order a copy by mail, you can print and complete the Official Birth Record Order Form (Spanish version) and send it, along with a check or money order made out to “DuPage County Health Department” and a copy of the front and back of your state-issued ID to:

DuPage County Health Department
Attn: Vital Records
111 North County Farm Rd.
Wheaton, IL 80187

Or you can order a copy of a birth certificate in person at any of the Public Health Center offices.

Request a Birth Certificate from the Illinois Department of Health: In addition, anyone authorized to do so may order a certified copy of any Illinois birth certificate from the state’s Department of Health. These records cost $10 each.

Requesters can complete and mail the Application for Search of Birth Record Files, along with a copy of their government-issued photo ID and payment (payable by check or money order to “IDPH”) to:

Illinois Dept. of Public Health
Division of Vital Records
925 East Ridgely Avenue
Springfield, IL 62702

Find Death Records for DuPage County via the County Clerk: Authorized individuals can order a copy of a certificate of death directly from the DuPage County Clerk’s office either via mail or in person.

First, complete the Application for Certification of Death Record found online. The fee for ordering a death certificate is $18 for the first copy, plus $6 for each additional copy. Death records older than 75 years are for genealogical purposes only and cost $5 each. (This diverges from the state of Illinois, which considers all death records older than 20 years public record.)

For mail orders, you can send the completed form, as well as a photocopy of your government-issued photo ID and a check or money order payable to “DuPage County Clerk” to:

DuPage County Clerk
P.O. Box 1028
Wheaton, IL 60187

Or you can bring the order form, along with your photo ID and payment to:

DuPage County Clerk’s Office
521 North County Farm Rd.
Wheaton, IL 60187

Phone: 630.407.6500

Office hours are Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

For an extra $10, you can also use the VitalChek third-party service to order a copy of a death certificate.

Order a Death Certificate from the DuPage County Vital Records Office: If you’re authorized to do so, you can also order a certified death certificate from the DuPage County Health Department’s Vital Records Unit. This record custodian maintains death records dating back to 1953.

To request a death certificate copy, you must submit a written request and be either an immediate relative of the deceased person or someone with provable property or personal interest. The first copy costs $18, with an extra $6 for each additional copy. Plus, there’s a $3 shipping and handling fee.

To order a copy online, you can use the ePay system to make a one-time payment using “Vital Records” as the category and “Death Certificate” as the payment type. You can pay online with a credit card or e-check, and then print, sign, and date your receipt. You must email a scan of your receipt, along with a photocopy of both the front and back of your photo ID, to [email protected] or fax it to 630.510.5411.

To order a copy by mail, you can print and complete the Official Death Record Order Form (Spanish version) and send it with a check or money order made out to “DuPage County Health Department” and a copy of the front and back of your state-issued ID to:

DuPage County Health Department
Attn: Vital Records
111 North County Farm Rd.
Wheaton, IL 80187

Or you can order a copy of a certificate in person at any of the Public Health Center offices.

Request a Death Certificate from the Illinois Department of Health: Requesters can also order a death certificate from the Illinois Department of Health.

To do so, you can complete the Application for the Search of Death Record Files and send the form, as well as a copy of your government-issued photo ID and payment of $19 (in the form of a check or money order made out to “IDPH”) to this address:

Illinois Dept. of Public Health
Division of Vital Records
925 East Ridgely Avenue
Springfield, IL 62702

How To Verify Who Lives at an Address or Owns a Property in DuPage County Illinois

The DuPage County Recorder’s Office allows anyone to look up property ownership using its online property record search tool.

You can enter someone’s name to find out what real estate they own — or enter an address to look up who owns that property. You can also specify which kind of document you’re looking for (deed, plat, mortgage document, etc.).

Once you’ve entered your search criteria, you’ll be taken to an online directory of documents that match. If you select a “Document Number,” the website will show you owner’s mailing address, as well as a legal description of the property. You can select “View/Print Document” button to see a scanned PDF of the record.

You can also request certified copies of documents in the database. Researchers can contact the Research Department of the Recorder’s Office at 630.407.5401 for instructions, costs, and more details.

Here’s the address for the Recorder’s Office:

DuPage County Recorder
521 North County Farm Rd.
Wheaton, IL 60187

Alternatively, you can find out who owns a property by conducting a DuPage County Property Search online.

If you enter the address of the real estate in question you can find out who owns it, as well as information on taxes and a description of the property.

If you know the parcel ID, you can also find out who owns a property by using the GIS Map Search tool.

For more information, you can also contact the tax assessors of townships in the county. These assessors also have searchable online databases with information about property ownership.

The DuPage County Township Assessor Directory contains contact information and website addresses for the county’s 10 township assessors.

Citizens’ Rights & Responsibilities When Accessing Public Records in DuPage County

The Illinois Freedom of Information Act allows anyone to request information from any public records repository in the state (with some exceptions). However, it’s important to always use this information responsibly.

You should never use information found about another individual for illegal purposes such as stalking, harassment, intimidation, or identity theft. In addition, information gleaned from a personal public records check may not be used for employment, housing, or license screenings.

It’s also against the law to conduct a background check for professional reasons without the written consent of the subject. Companies and nonprofits conducting a professional background check must adhere to the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), which regulates how consumer information is used.¹⁸

The FCRA stipulates that everyone in the U.S. has the right to:

• Know what information is in their personal files
• Dispute inaccurate information in their files
• Be notified if their personal information has been used against them
• Seek damages if they believe their FCRA rights have been violated

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) protect individuals from FCRA violations. If you believe that your personal information has been illegally used against you, contact these agencies at the provided links for help.

In addition, Illinois has a “Ban the Box” law in place. This means that it’s illegal for potential employers to ask about anyone’s criminal history during the initial employment screening process.

If you believe that you have been discriminated against by your employer, contact the Illinois Department of Labor (IDoL). In addition, the Illinois Human Rights Commission is another valuable resource.

That said, you can find out a lot about someone’s past — or make sure there are no surprises or mistakes in your own records — by performing a free search of DuPage County public records.