Run a Free Cook County Warrant Search (Check Who’s Wanted)

Perform a free Cook County warrant search in minutes using the linked lookup tools in this resource.

Fortunately, anyone can conduct a search with the right tools and resources; the Illinois Freedom of Information Act makes these records publicly available. You can find information on outstanding warrants for yourself or someone you know; look up warrant details for any reason you want, even just out of curiosity.

However, record custodians may provide warrant information through different means, so it’s helpful to know the search methods available. This resource outlines the various types of warrants in Cook County, Illinois, along with how to obtain details or resolve them.

This resource was written by Attorney Robert Bailey Jr, who holds a Juris Doctorate from Widener University School of Law.

Tracking Down Free Warrant Information in Cook County Illinois (an Overview)

Before delving into the nuts and bolts of searching for warrant information, it’s helpful to have a general overview of the process. For instance, it’s important to know where warrant information is located and what data you need to conduct a search.

As a general right, public government records in Cook County, including warrants, are available because of the rights afforded under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act.¹ However, there is a whole section on exemptions to this access. Predominantly, when it comes to warrants and other types of criminal records, there is an exemption if disclosure of the record interferes with an active law enforcement investigation.

When it comes to conducting a warrant search, it’s important to know that there is more than one kind. These warrants can be found through online searches, formal requests and in-person inquiries. Arrest warrants may be the most searched type, but there are others.

Some, like search warrants, may only be publicly available once they have been fully executed. In a later section, there will be detailed information on the various types of warrants you may encounter in Cook County.

Before conducting a warrant search, there are two fundamental things you need to know. The first thing you need to know is what type of information you should have to conduct a warrant search.

Having the person’s full name is essential to conducting a warrant search. You will also want to know the county that issued the warrant and where the person lives.

There is other information that can be helpful with your warrant search as well. For example, descriptive characteristics of the person may assist you. Also, if you know the associated charge or when the warrant was issued it may help to speed up the search process.

The second thing you need to know is who the record custodian is for the warrant you want to view. In Cook County, warrant information can be found through criminal records held in the custody of the Clerk of the Circuit Court.² You may also find some information with the Cook County Sheriff’s Office, as they are responsible for issuing criminal warrants.³

In some counties, you can also find warrant information at the municipal (e.g., city or town) level. However, the larger cities in Cook County do not provide their own independent warrant search tools.

How To Perform a Cook County Warrant Search

If you are looking for warrant information, you can start your search with the Cook County Clerk of the Circuit Court. Unfortunately, Cook County does not provide an online means for searching warrant information. To access warrant information, you will have to look up criminal records in person.

The primary office for the Cook County Clerk of the Circuit Court is located at the address below:

Cook County Circuit Court Clerk’s Office
50 W. Washington St. Ste. 1001
Chicago, Illinois 60602

You can call them at 312-603-5030 to ask them about their process for accessing criminal records. They are open Monday through Friday, from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.

When you go to perform your search, you can find warrant information within the criminal record. One area to look through is the docket section. If a warrant was issued for a particular person, you should be able to locate a record that contains details on its issuance.

For additional warrant information, you can also contact the Cook County Circuit Courts Criminal Division or view their FAQ page.⁴ They can be reached by phone at 773-674-3160 or by going to the address below:

Circuit Court of Cook County
Criminal Division
2600 S. California Ave. Rm. 111
Chicago, Illinois 60608

You may also want to contact the Cook County Sheriff’s Office, as they are responsible for serving warrants.⁵ Their office may have additional information if you were unable to access warrant information through other means. You can contact the Cook County Sheriff’s Office at 847-635-1188 or by sending an email to [email protected]. You can also talk to someone in person at the address below:

Cook County Sheriff’s Office
3026 South California Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60608

In certain counties, there will be cities that have their own municipal courts and processes for issuing warrants. While some of the larger cities have search tools for arrests, there is no readily available option for accessing warrants at this level.

How To Find Statewide Warrant Details in Illinois

If you are looking for warrant information throughout the state, you can use the resources provided by the Illinois Department of Corrections. The state’s Department of Corrections provides an online list of wanted fugitives.⁶

When you navigate to this page, you can see a list of wanted fugitives with their name and mugshot. You can click on any fugitives to name to get additional information, such as why there is a warrant for their arrest, the original crime they committed, and other descriptive and sentencing information.

For additional information, you can view the Illinois Department of Corrections FAQ page or contact them by phone at 217-558-2200 or by mail at one of the two locations:⁸

Illinois Department of Corrections – Springfield
P.O. Box 19277
1301 Concordia Ct.
Springfield, Illinois 62794

Illinois Department of Corrections – Chicago
555 W. Monroe, Sixth Fl. Ste. 600S
Chicago, Illinois 60661

The Illinois State Police also has a Wanted Persons List.⁹ Here, you can view warrant information on these individuals, including the number and date it was issued. You can also view the particular offense that led to the arrest warrant, a description of the offender and a mugshot.

For additional information on warrant information for wanted persons, you can contact the Illinois State Police by phone at 217-786-7107 or at the address below:

Illinois State Police
801 S. 7th St.
Springfield, Illinois 62703

Different Kinds of Warrants & What Each Signifies

There are different kinds of warrants in Cook County, and each is served on a specific basis and with a particular purpose in mind. Understanding the different kinds of warrants can assist you in determining what you are looking for.

Here is a brief description of different warrants you may encounter in Cook County:

Bench Warrant: This warrant is issued directly by a judge and can be executed by law enforcement. A bench warrant is issued when someone fails to show up for a required hearing or follow some other type of court order. In criminal cases this is often seen when a defendant posts bail for an alleged crime but doesn’t show up for their trial.

Arrest Warrant: This is issued by a judge and executed by law enforcement to arrest someone who is alleged to have committed a crime. Before an arrest warrant is issued, a judge must determine that the evidence presented by law enforcement establishes probable cause for a crime.

Arrest warrants can be issued for a wide range of reasons, from the commission of a crime to the violation of one’s terms of probation or parole.

Search Warrant: Unlike the previous two, this warrant authorizes law enforcement to search a specified area for evidence of a particular crime. Just like with the arrest warrant, law enforcement must present the judge with probable cause that there is evidence of a crime in a specific location.

Child Support Warrant: This type of warrant can be issued for non-payment of child support in accordance with Title IV-D of the Child Support Enforcement Program.

Traffic Warrant: These warrants are issued for failure to resolve certain traffic violations.

Fugitive Warrants: Issued for people that have committed a crime in another state and fled to Cook County (or other parts of Illinois).

Note: Any of these can be considered an “active” warrant. Active simply means that the warrant has not yet been fully executed.

How To Handle an Active Warrant in Cook County Illinois

After having an understanding of what types of warrants are available and where to find them, you can conduct a search. When you do, you may uncover an active warrant for yourself or someone you know. Understanding how to conduct a warrant search in Cook County also includes what you do with the information you find.

If you find warrant information on someone else, what you do depends on your relationship with the person and the severity of the situation. If you know the person well and the offense is not serious, you can do the person the courtesy of letting them know. It may be that they were unaware they had an outstanding warrant.

If you do not know the person well, consider telling someone else, such as a common friend or family member. If the warrant is for a violent or otherwise serious criminal offense, consider reporting the person’s whereabouts directly to law enforcement. You can submit a crime tip online with the Cook County Sheriff’s Office or call them at 847-635-1188.¹⁰

On the other side, you may find out that you have an active warrant for your arrest. If this is the case, inaction is not an option. A warrant will not go away, and waiting to deal with it will only make the situation worse.

The first step you should take is to contact an attorney. They will be able to advise you on what steps you need to take.

It may be something that can be easily resolved by paying an overdue fine or rescheduling a missed court hearing. If not, the attorney will be able to provide you with the steps you should take and your rights.

If you are turning yourself in, you will also want to contact a bail bondsman. This will be helpful to speed things up in case there is an opportunity to post bail. Lastly, make sure you notify your family members so they know your whereabouts and are not unnecessarily concerned about you.

The bottom line, whether it’s information about you or someone you know, make sure you carefully think through what to do with any information you uncover during a Cook County warrant search; the databases, search tools, and record custodians outlined in this article will empower you to conduct an effective search of any type of warrant you hope to find in Cook County.