Free Cook County Records: Marital, Warrants, Arrests, Criminal

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Free Cook County Public Records Search

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

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Cook County public records include arrests, mugshots, criminal records, marriage, divorce, birth and death records, court records and tax records — all of which are readily searchable today.

Citizens’ rights to access free public records is a cornerstone of American democracy and in Illinois. Retrieving public information is made possible thanks to the state’s Freedom of Information Act in the Illinois Constitution.

Knowing which agencies are responsible for each type of record is key to an efficient and hassle-free search. This resource makes finding public records in Cook County quick and seamless by providing everything you need to know.

How To Obtain Cook County Arrest Records or Run an Inmate Search To View Mugshots

Cook County arrest records are available for viewing in two types of law enforcement agencies for those looking to find daily arrests—these include:

1. Cook County Sheriff’s Office
2. City police departments that operate jails

Searches should always check the county level first since it’s a broader search. If the county-level search doesn’t yield results, local law enforcement agencies operate their own jail and are oftentimes the arresting agency so they may have information about arrests made recently and are able to provide police reports (a detailed account of the arrest used for insurance claims, complains, journalism and other legal matters) too.

Look Up Arrest Records & Inmate Rosters Through the Cook County Sheriff’s Office

The Cook County Sheriff’s Office is the second largest sheriff’s office in the U.S. and is the primary law enforcement government agency in the county and would be the first point of contact when looking to find out if someone is in jail.

The Cook County Department of Corrections (CCDOC) is among the largest jails in the nation and the CCDOC has a database of inmates in its jail.

Due to the state’s Freedom of Information Act—5 ILCS 140, criminal records are considered public records in Illinois and as such, the CCDOC’s database can be searched for free using the Cook County Inmate Locator Tool to obtain a free arrest history report.¹

This jail roster can be used to find someone’s mugshot (photograph) that is taken when inmates are booked into county jail. The search tool is queried using:

• First & Last Name (both required)
• Booking Number (if known)

In case more information is needed on arrest logs and bookings, contact he Cook County Sheriff’s Office at:

Cook County Sheriff’s Office
3026 S. California Ave.
Chicago, Illinois 60608

• Information for individuals in custody: (773) 674-JAIL (5245)
• Customer service comments/complaints: (773)674-5959
• General directory: (312)603-6444
• Cook County Sheriff’s Police: (708)-865-4700
• Email: [email protected]

Check With Police Departments & Jails Within Cook County Illinois

Other than Cook County Sheriff’s office, citizens may find daily arrest records in city police departments that are located in the county—these police departments will often have jails that house inmates that have been taken into custody by city police departments.

There are 189 police departments in Cook County and here is a list of major police departments along with a link to their inmate search tool if they have one, and if not, the links point to their contact pages:

• Chicago Police Department
• Bridgeview Police Department
• Harvey City Police Department
• Evanston Police Department
• Des Plaines Police Department
• Markham City Police Department

Generally, inmates that are held in city jails are held for 72 hours before being either released or sent to county jail. Some big city departments such as the Chicago Police Department, Evanston Police Department and Huntley Village Police Department maintain online rosters that comprise police records of arrestees—the links and contacts to these departments may be found below.

Chicago Police Department — Chicago City Jail Inmate Roster

Contact Information can be found below:

Public Safety Headquarters Building
3510 South Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL 60653
[email protected]
(312)746-6000 (Non-emergency)

Evanston Police Department — Evanston City Jail Inmate Roster

1454 Elmwood Ave,
Evanston, IL 60201
(847)866-5000

Huntley Village Police Department — Huntley Police Department Inmate Roster

Contact Information can be found here below:

Village of Huntley Municipal Complex
10911 Main Street,
Huntley, IL 60142

Bridgeview Police Department

7500 South Oketo Avenue
Bridgeview, IL 60455
(708)458-2131

For the remaining cities in Cook County, proceed to perform a Google Search with this syntax: “[city name] [state] arrest record search” to find recent arrest reports in any city and/or town within the county.

In many instances, police departments are present, but they do not operate a city jail. In these cases, consider another search criteria: “[city name] police department contact information.”

Establish contact with the police department to get more information about city jail inmate information.

Information on inmates held in other counties will not be found through the above methods. However, the instructions for running Illinois public record searches outlines the best ways to look up inmates, arrest records, and many other types of public records throughout the state.

How To Find Marriage & Divorce Records in Cook County Illinois

Vital records in Illinois consist of marriage, divorce, birth and death certificates and records—these records are accessible only to a certain extent as only particular individuals have access to them.

These vital records are primarily sourced from the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), Division of Vital Records.³

Birth, death, and marriage certificates aren’t accessible to the public except to close family members such as parents, spouses and children.

Looking Up Marriage & Divorce Records in Cook County

Interested individuals looking to check if someone is married can retrieve Cook County marriage records using two methods, namely: online and via mail or fax.

Cook County divorce records cannot be obtained online through VitalChek, but must instead be obtained from the Illinois Department of Public Health. Unlike marriage, birth and death records, divorce records are freely accessible to the public and no relation is needed to the subject of the record. Insight into accessing these records can be found by reviewing the steps for acquiring divorce records in Cook County, Illinois.

Mail & Fax Marriage & Divorce Certificates:

1. Cook County citizens can also request marriage records via mail by completing and submitting the application for marriage record form. This form is used to request record files and not certified copies of marriage certificates.
2. When looking to obtain divorce records, citizens will need to complete the application for dissolution of marriage form for each divorce record required.
3. Provide a copy of a valid ID ( government issued).
4. A fee of $5.00 per copy requested enclosed which should be a money order or check payable to IPDH – Division of Vital Records. No cash is accepted.
5. Mail or fax all the documents to:

IPDH – Division of Vital Records
925 East. Ridgely Ave.
Springfield, IL 62702-2737
Fax number: (217)523-2648

Online Requests for Marriage Certificates: Only Cook County marriage records can be obtained online from VitalChek, a third party vendor.

1. Visit VitalChek’s website.
2. For marriage certificates, Select the type of copy required which for Cook County are:
   • Marriage Certificate—The 1st copy costs $15.00 and the processing fee for Vitalcheck is $12.45 (excluding shipping costs).
   • Marriage Restricted (Phone Only)— The 1st copy costs $15.00 and the processing fee for Vitalcheck is $12.45 (excluding shipping costs).
3. Complete information about the certificate such as names of parties.
4. Input shipping details and proceed to make payment to complete the order.

Certified copies can only be retrieved by writing to the circuit clerk where the dissolution of marriage and/or civil union was granted. In Cook County, Domestic Relations Division of the Clerk of the Circuit Court is the repository for the records of dissolution, legal separation for marriages and civil unions.

Contact the Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court to obtain information on how to obtain these Cook County public records and related fees. 

Requesting Copies of Marriage Certificates via the Cook County Clerk’s Office

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) only provides the record file of the marriage that took place.⁶ Citizens who are looking to obtain marriage certificates should contact the county clerk where the marriage took place.

For marriages that took place in the county, the Cook County Clerk’s Office is the official record custodian for marriages, civil unions and domestic partnerships. There are 3 types of certificates that can be requested:

• Standard certificates cost $15.00 and $4.00 for each additional copy.
• Wallet certificates cost $15.00 and $4.00 for each additional copy.
• Commemorative certificates cost $65.00 and include a free certified legal record.

Ordering Standard Certificates

Ordering standard marriage certificates can be done in 5 ways:

1. In-person
2. Online which was discussed earlier using VitalChek
3. By phone
4. Mail
5. Through a local currency exchange

In-Person Requests for Standard Certificates: Visit any of these Cook County Clerk’s office locations.

Phone Requests for Standard Certificates: Toll free (866)252-8974

Mail Requests for Standard Certificates: Include the items listed below.

1. Completed Marriage Certificate Request Form.
2. Copy of valid government issued ID.
3. Check and/or money order payable to Cook County Clerk.
4. Self-addressed envelope.
5. Mail the request to:

Cook County Clerk’s Office
Bureau of Vital Records
P.O. Box 641070
Chicago, IL 60664-1070

Local Currency Exchange for Standard Certificates Requests: Visit the local currency exchange website or call for hours and locations. A $5.00 surcharge applies for records obtained through the exchange.

Ordering Wallet Certificates of Marriage

Ordering wallet marriage certificates can be done in 2 ways:

1. In-person
2. Mail

In Person Requests for WalletCertificates: Visit any of these Cook County Clerk’s office locations. Same-day delivery available only at the downtown office.

Mail Requests for WalletCertificates: Same process as when ordering the standard certificates.

Ordering Commemorative Certificates

Ordering commemorative marriage certificates can be done in 2 ways:

1. In-person
2. Online

In Person Request for Commemorative Certificates: Visit any of these Cook County Clerk’s office locations.

Online Requests for Commemorative Certificates: Visit the Commemorative Certificate Store.

How To Track Down Cook County Criminal Records & Verify if Someone Has a Criminal History

Cook County criminal records are considered public records in Illinois due to the state’s Illinois Uniform Conviction Information Act enacted in 1991 that mandates that conviction records gathered by the Illinois State Police be made public to interested parties.⁸

Citizens of Cook County can obtain criminal records from:

• Cook County Sheriff’s Office
• City police departments
• Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court
• The Illinois State Police
• State and federal apparatus—these include the Illinois Department of Corrections, Illinois State Police Convicted Methamphetamine Manufacturer Registry, Illinois State Police Sex Offender Registry and the Bureau of Prisons

Finding Criminal Records via the Circuit Court of Cook County

Criminal records can be found by searching through court records at the Circuit Court of Cook County. They cannot be accessed via electronic means using the case information tool like other court records which will be delved into below, but can be obtained by making contact with the clerk of the court.

Members of the public who want to look up someone’s criminal record can seek them from the Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County whose address and contact information is found below.⁹

Cook County Clerk of the Circuit Court
50 W. Washington, Suite 1001
Chicago, Illinois 60602-1305

Phone: (312)603-5030

Obtain Criminal Records via the Cook County Sheriff’s Office

The Cook County Sheriff’s Office primarily holds arrest records of individuals that have been taken into custody—they have not yet been convicted or acquitted of a crime after court proceedings. Members of the public can use this Cook County Criminal Records Search Tool to find criminal records in the sheriff’s office.

It should be noted that these cannot be considered full blown criminal records, but more so jail records and police reports. They can still however be sought when attempting to make a determination of an individual’s run in with the law. The process of running a free criminal record check with the sheriff’s office was outlined earlier.

Access Cook County Criminal Records Through the Illinois State Police (ISP)

Citizens can obtain criminal records in IL from the Illinois State Police that operates a public criminal records web portal known as the Criminal History Information Response Process (CHIRP).¹⁰

The process for obtaining criminal records through CHIRP is below.

1. Before commencing a criminal records search, interested parties must proceed to the Illinois Department of Innovation and Technology (DoIT) to register for a State of Illinois Digital ID. Illinois residents must use a valid Illinois driver’s license.
2. Out of state visitors use an alternative form known as the PKI out Of State Certificate Application by mail and wait 3-4 weeks for approval.
3. Once users obtain their credentials, they should login with their Digital ID and their CHIRP username and password.
4. They should then follow these instructions to complete the Criminal History Information Response Process which includes registering at the CHIRP site, logging in and creating a new inquiry to initiate a background check.
5. There are two background checks performed through CHIRP:
   • UCIA—This is a criminal history that is name based and is only for convictions in Illinois. This type of check does not require consent from the owner of the record. Name-based queries are $16.00 for paper documents and $10.00 for electronic records.
   • Fee Applicant—Fee applicant checks are both State and FBI criminal history and fingerprints are required for this submission. This type of check will require consent. Fingerprint-based queries are $20.00 for paper documents and $15.00 for electronic records
6. Fingerprints for background checks can be obtained using live scan from these approved fingerprint vendors list. A copy of the fingerprints taken should be retained in case an issue arises.
7. Mail requests should be sent to:

Illinois State Police
801 South 7th Street, Suite 100-M
Springfield, IL 62703

For queries concerning the use of CHIRP or obtaining Digital ID’s, citizens should contact:

Illinois State Police
(815)740-5160
[email protected]

DoIT
(217)524-3648
[email protected]

Check With State & Federal Agencies To Find Cook County & Illinois Criminal Records

Cook County citizens can also turn to federal and state resources when looking to find criminal records. These include:

Illinois Department of Corrections (IDC)— The IDC has an Illinois State Criminal Records Search Tool which can be used to find criminal records of inmates incarcerated in their facilities.

Illinois State Police Sex Offender Registry—Persons convicted of sex offenses can be found at no cost using the Illinois Sex Offender Search Tool.

Illinois State Police Convicted Methamphetamine Manufacturer Registry—This registry can be used to locate individuals who have been convicted for the manufacture of methamphetamine.

The database has information such as bio data including names, DOB of offenders and the offenses and date of conviction. It can be searched for free using the Illinois Methamphetamine Drug Offender Search Tool.¹¹

Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP)—Cook County citizens can also find offenders who have federal criminal records and have been incarcerated and those that are released dating back to 1982. They can do so using the Federal Criminal Records Search Tool for free.

An Overview of Background Checks in Cook County Illinois

Background checks in Cook County are primarily done through the Illinois State Police using the Criminal History Information Response Process.

Both name based checks (level 1 checks) and fingerprint based (level 2 checks) are performed with only the latter requiring consent from the subject of the record.

Personal background checks may be required for several reasons including:

• Ensure the completeness of the record or find information on themselves that they may not be aware of. This is especially true when someone is looking for a job and doesn’t want to be surprised after having consented to an employer background check.
• It’s also possible that Cook County citizens may want to obtain information on others such as family members, neighbors or even when wanting to start a relationship with someone and need to check out their history.

In Cook County, members of the public can perform name based background checks for other individuals through government entities— the primary agency being the Illinois State Police’s Criminal History Information Response Process (CHIRP).

They may also do so through 3rd party vendors that will charge a fee and can find information across multiple states and counties. Using these vendors also guarantees some form of privacy, but the information may sometimes not be up to date and accurate.

Background checks will also be carried for professional purposes including:

• Allows Cook County employers to make better informed decisions when hiring.
• Ensures that best and qualified candidates are hired since it verifies their credentials.
• These checks will often ensure a company’s assets are under safe hands and trade secrets maintained by hiring trustworthy individuals.
• Some jobs entail driving, these checks will ensure that applicants are suitable for their role as drivers.
• Establishes that job applicants’ work history is verified as this is a paramount quality required in employees.

Employers will typically opt for fingerprint based searches because they are more encompassing and due to the fact they will need to obtain consent from potential employees.

In the state of Illinois, employers of the public sector are prohibited from inquiring into an applicant’s criminal history during the initial employment application and must conduct an individual assessment of a candidate’s background before making a final determination due to Executive Order 2013-1.¹² This is known as the ban the box law.

In addition to this law, HB5701 mandates that private sector employees with 15 or more employees can only inquire into an applicant’s criminal history and any police reports they may have once they have been chosen for an interview or after a conditional offer of employment.

There are federal laws that have been instituted by agencies such as the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and the Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) that protect Cook County citizens with respect to background checks.

FCRA forces employers to obtain written consent from job applicants before performing a background check. They also control the steps that employers must take before they proceed not to hire an applicant due to results from a check. The EEOC provides employers with steps on how to assess a potential employees’ criminal record as it pertains to the role of the job.

How To View Warrant Information in Cook County IL

Warrants are part of Cook County public records to the extent of the statutes. Citizens have several options when it comes to performing a warrant search in Cook County. Methods include:

• Contacting the Illinois Department of Corrections
• Obtaining warrant information from the sheriff’s office
• Conducting a search with the courts

Review the Illinois Department of Corrections’ Wanted Fugitive Report

The Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) has a page dedicated to fugitives that are across the state including those residing in Cook County.

This Illinois Wanted Fugitives List has photos and information about the absconders.¹³

Contact the Cook County Sheriff’s Office for Anyone’s Warrant Status

Cook County Sheriff’s Office Civil Division has 2 types of warrants (body attachments):

• Civil Body Attachments—Issued to defendants with charges of being in contempt of court; these are executed by the civil division warrant unit.
• Criminal Body Attachments—These are issued from the State’s Attorney’s Office and often arise from failed child support payments.

While the sheriff’s office does not have a dedicated search feature to find out if someone has a warrant, they may be contacted to ascertain wanted information.¹⁴

Look Up Warrants via the Cook County Clerk of the Circuit Court

Cook County warrant information can be searched through the Digital Access Terminal at the nearest Clerk of the Circuit Court Location or at:

Clerk of the Circuit Court Main Office
50 W Washington Street
Chicago, IL 60602

Once you’re at the courthouse you can follow the steps for checking who has a warrant:

1. Locate the Digital Access Terminal (DAT) at the nearest courthouse.
2. Double click on the “Odyssey Search” icon.
3. Cases can be retrieved using:
   • • Case number or
     • Last and first name
4. Check the status of a case under “Status”
   • • Active—This indicates the warrant is still active
     • Case Disposed—indicates the warrant is no longer active.
5. If the user requires more clarification on the status of a case, they click on “Events and Orders of the Court” and there are key terms that provide additional information about a case such as:
   • • Motion—indicates the case will be heard on the reported court date.
     • Warrant Quashed—Denotes warrant is no longer active.
     • Warrant Ordered, Warrant Issued—Is an indication that a warrant was ordered.
     • Warrant Outstanding—This means that warrant is active on the date.
6. In any case, the top most reported event represents the latest update on the case.

Citizens may also call and/or email to inquire about misdemeanor and felony warrants using the details below.¹⁵

District 1—First Municipal:

50 W. Randolph
Chicago, IL 60602, Suite 1006

Phone: (312)325-9517
Email: [email protected]

District 2—Skokie:

5600 Old Orchard Rd.,
Skokie, IL 60077

Phone: (847)470-7250
Email: [email protected]

District 3—Rolling:

Meadows, 2121 Euclind Avenue,
Rolling Meadows, IL 60008

Phone: 847-818-2436
Email: [email protected]

District 4—Maywood:

1500 Maybrook Drive,
Maywood, IL 60153

Phone: (708)865-6040
Email: [email protected]

District 5—Bridgeview:

10220 S. 76th Avenue,
Bridgeview, IL 60455

Phone: (708)974-6501
Email: [email protected]

District 6—Markham:

16501 S. Kedzie,
Markham, IL 60428

Phone: (708)232-4551
Email: [email protected]

How To Acquire Probation Information in Cook County IL

The Cook County Adult Probation Department works with the judiciary and community to preserve the safety of communities in Cook County.

Citizens who are looking to obtain probation information on someone will need to call the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County who will allow the access of information that is considered public record.

Information such as the history of the individual, physical descriptors and the court’s subsequent actions on the offender under probation are all never divulged. It should be stated that the agency is unable to release any department information pursuant to the Probation & Probation Officers Act—ILCS 110/12 (4).¹⁶

For more information, contact the Adult Probation Department at:

Cook County Adult Probation Department
Office of the Chief Probation Officer
2650 S. California, Lower Level
Chicago, Illinois 60608

Phone: (312)603-0258
General Information: (773)674-3280

How To Access Court Records in Cook County Illinois

Citizens can obtain Cook County judicial records from the Circuit Court in multiple ways including:

• Online Case Information Search Tool
• By Contacting the Clerk of Court.

Case Information Search Tool: The Case Information Search Tool is a public index that is free to use and will allow citizens to run a Cook County case search for different court records including:¹⁷

• Civil Records
• Chancery & Domestic Relations/Child Support Cases
• Probate & Probate will Records
• Traffic Ticket Records (including those related to moving violations, speeding, DUI and suspended licenses)
• County Division Records (such as real estate tax matters, name changes and election matters)
• Naturalization Declaration of Intention Records

Clerk of Court: Alternatively, citizens can choose to find ALL court records from the Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County whose address and contact information is found below.

Cook County Clerk of the Circuit Court
50 W. Washington, Suite 1001
Chicago, Illinois 60602-1305

Phone: (312)603-5030

How To Request Copies of Birth & Death Certificates in Cook County (Vital Records)

Other than marriage and divorce records discussed earlier, birth and death certificates and records also comprise Cook County public records and can be accessed by close immediate family members to the owners of the record.

These can be retrieved from:

• The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), Division of Vital Records
• Online through VitalChek

Process for Obtaining Birth & Death Records or Certificates (Cook County)

Cook County citizens can obtain birth and death records and certificates through online means using the third party site, VitalChek and by mail or fax.

Mail & Fax Requests for Birth & Death Certificates

1. Cook County citizens can also request birth records and certificates via mail or fax by completing and submitting the Application for Illinois Birth Record. This form is used to request birth certificates, foreign birth and genealogical records.
2. If a death certificate and record is being requested, the Application for Illinois Death Record will be submitted.¹⁹
3. Provide a copy of a valid ID ( government issued).
4. A fee of $15.00 and $10.00 for a long-form birth certificate and short form certified copy requested respectively enclosed which should be a money order or check payable to IPDH – Division of Vital Records. No cash is accepted. Additional copies cost $2.00.
5. For death records requests, a fee of $19.00 and $10.00 applies for a long-form death certificate and genealogical records which are uncertified records older than 20 years respectively.
6. Mail or fax all the documents to:

IPDH – Division of Vital Records
925 East. Ridgely Ave.
Springfield, IL 62702-2737
Fax number: (217)523-2648

Online Requests for Birth & Death Certificates

1. Visit VitalChek to start the process of ordering these vital records online.
2. In cases of a birth certificate request, choose either of these agencies to see what certificates they offer:
   • Cook County Clerk’s Office— Birth certificates can be obtained this way and the 1stt copy costs $15.00 and the processing fee for Vitalcheck is $12.45 (excluding shipping costs).
   • Illinois Department of Public Health—Birth long which is a certified copy of the original record with the seal of Illinois embossed and accepted by all state and federal agencies as valid ID. Can be used for travel, proof of citizenship, SSN etc. The 1stt copy costs $15.00 and the processing fee for Vitalcheck is $12.95 (excluding shipping costs).
3. If a death record is being requested, the death long is what will be ordered. This is a certified record that can be used to obtain death benefits, claiming insurance proceeds and other legal purposes. They are issued for deaths after 1916 by the Illinois Department Of Public Health and the 1st copy costs $19.00 and the processing fee for Vitalcheck is $12.95 (excluding shipping costs).
4. Complete the order by inputting the shipping details and proceed to make payment.
5. Processing takes between 7-10 business days before shipping via UPS Air.

How To Check Property Records in Cook County IL

Finding property records in Cook County is a simple and straightforward matter that can be completed in two ways, namely:

1. Cook County Property Tax Portal
2. Cook County Assessor’s Office

The Cook County Property Tax Portal is a solution of a partnership of elected officials engaged in the property tax system that consolidates data and provides Cook County taxpayers a one stop-shop to locate property records for free.²⁰

Users can use it find property records either by:

• Address
• By PIN

The Cook County Assessor’s Office also has a site with a directory that can be used to find property records based on several criteria including:

• Search by address
• Search by PIN
• Map search

 

A Summary of Agencies Who Host & Distribute Cook County Public Records

While finding public information in Cook County can prove tiresome, it’s infinitely easier once you know which agencies to check with.

To summarize, criminal and arrest records can be found through multiple agencies including:

• Cook County Sheriff’s Office
• City police departments
• Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court
• State and federal apparatus—these include the Illinois State Police, Illinois Department of Corrections, Illinois State Police Convicted Methamphetamine Manufacturer Registry, Illinois State Police Sex Offender Registry and the Federal Bureau of Prisons

All types of court records in the county can be found using either the Case Information Search Tool or visiting the Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court.

Probation information will be obtained from the Cook County Adult Probation Department. Warrant information can be searched for in the Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court, Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) and the Cook County Sheriff’s Office.

Citizens looking to obtain vital records including marriage, divorce, birth and death certificates should contact the Cook County Clerk’s Office and the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), Division of Vital Records. Property records will be retrieved from either the Cook County Property Tax Portal or the Cook County Assessor’s Office.²¹

Finding and retrieving Cook County public records may prove to be a daunting process due to them being located in different government agencies and jurisdictions, but obtaining them can be made much more streamlined by knowing where to look and how to submit requests.