Chicago Busted Mugshots

Chicago busted mugshots are some of the most searched arrest records in Illinois. The Chicago Police Department handles tens of thousands of arrests each year, and booking data goes through the CPD records system as well as the Cook County Sheriff's Office. If you want to find a booking photo or check arrest details for someone picked up in Chicago, there are both city and county tools you can use. CPD runs its own public arrest search, and Cook County keeps jail and inmate records for anyone held at the county detention center.

Chicago Police Busted Mugshots and Arrest Data

The Chicago Police Department is one of the largest law enforcement agencies in the United States. CPD officers make arrests across 22 police districts that cover every part of the city. When someone gets arrested by Chicago police, they go through a booking process that creates a record with a central booking number, charges, mugshot, and other key details. These records are kept by the CPD Records Division at 3510 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60653.

CPD runs a public arrest search portal where you can look up busted mugshots and arrest data for anyone taken in by Chicago police. The Chicago Police Department Arrest Search portal shows arrests on or after January 1, 2014. It covers adult arrests only, and it is limited to CPD arrests. Surrounding agency arrests or county-level bookings will not show up here. The portal displays each person's name, mugshot, age, address, central booking number, charges, arrest date and time, arrest location, the date and time they were released from a Chicago police facility, and bond type along with amount and date.

The CPD public arrest search tool is one of the best city-level arrest databases in Illinois.

The screenshot above shows the CPD arrest search page. You can search by name, booking number, or other fields. Results include the booking photo along with all listed arrest details. This is a free tool run by the city, and no account is needed to use it.

How to Search for Busted Mugshots in Chicago

There are a few ways to search for Chicago arrest records. The CPD portal is the fastest for city-level arrests. But it only covers CPD bookings. If you need records from the Cook County Sheriff or other agencies, you will need to check those systems too.

For a broader search, you can file a Freedom of Information Act request with the Chicago Police Department. Illinois FOIA law under 5 ILCS 140/ gives the public the right to ask for government records, including arrest data. Section 2.15 of FOIA lists specific rules for law enforcement records, and Section 7 covers exemptions that may apply to some booking details. To file a FOIA request, send a written request to the CPD FOIA office or use their online portal. Be as specific as you can with names, dates, and case details.

You can also get a RAP sheet from CPD in person. Visit the Records Division at 3510 S. Michigan Ave., open Tuesday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Bring a valid state ID. They take fingerprints on site. The fee is $16. Results come by mail in 7 to 10 business days. You can also request a RAP sheet by mail. Send your request to Field Services Section Unit 166, Attn: O.S.A.R., 3510 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60653.

Cook County also keeps booking records at the county jail. The Cook County Sheriff's Office has an inmate search tool and processes all detainees held at the county level. Check the county page for more on that.

State Resources for Illinois Arrest Records

Beyond CPD and Cook County, you can search through state-level databases. The Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification keeps criminal history records for the entire state. You can request a name-based search or a fingerprint-based search through their office.

The ISP Bureau of Identification handles all state criminal history checks. They process requests by name or by fingerprint, and both options are available by mail. The CHIRP system is used by authorized agencies for electronic criminal history checks, but the general public uses the standard request forms instead. The Uniform Conviction Information Act under 20 ILCS 2635/1 governs what conviction data the state can share.

The ISP Bureau of Identification also oversees criminal history information requests and sets the fee schedule for background checks. You can learn more about the process on the ISP Criminal History Information page.

The ISP site above is where you start for state-level criminal history requests. It walks you through the forms and mailing process. For people who want to check or challenge their own record, the Access and Review process is free and handled through the same office.

Other state tools include the Illinois Department of Corrections Offender Search, which shows anyone in state prison or on parole. The Illinois Sex Offender Registry lists registered offenders by name or location. And VINELink lets you track an offender's custody status and get alerts when their status changes.

Fees for Busted Mugshots and Background Checks

Costs vary based on what you need. The CPD RAP sheet costs $16 in person or by mail. State-level checks through the ISP have a set fee schedule.

For ISP background checks, a name-based search costs $16 for the public. A fingerprint-based search runs $20. If you want both name and fingerprint combined, the total is $32. The Access and Review process, where you check your own record, is free. You can see the full breakdown on the ISP Fee Schedule page. Most fees must be paid by certified check or money order made out to the Illinois State Police.

County-level searches at Cook County may have their own fee structures. Check with the Cook County Clerk of the Circuit Court for the most current costs on court record searches. FOIA requests are generally free, though agencies can charge for copies if the request is large. Illinois law caps copy fees at a reasonable rate.

Cook County Arrest Processing

Arrests in Chicago are processed through Cook County. After CPD books someone, they may be transferred to Cook County Jail if they are held on bond or if charges require county detention. Cook County is the primary county for all Chicago arrests. You can find more details about the county system, including the sheriff's inmate search and court records, on the county page.

Nearby Cities

Several other cities near Chicago also have arrest records you can search. These are all in the greater Chicago metro area and share some of the same county systems.