Find Waukegan Bench Warrants
Bench warrants in Waukegan are issued by the Lake County Circuit Court when a person fails to show up for a court date or does not follow a court order. Waukegan has about 89,000 residents and is the county seat of Lake County. All bench warrant cases in the city go through the 19th Judicial Circuit. The Circuit Clerk keeps these records, and the Waukegan Police Department works with the Lake County Sheriff to serve active warrants. You can search for warrants through the court clerk, the police records division, or by filing a FOIA request.
Waukegan Quick Facts
Waukegan Police Department
The Waukegan Police Department provides law enforcement services for the city. The Records Division handles requests for police reports and bench warrant information. You can reach the department at (847) 360-9000. Warrant inquiries can be made by contacting the Records Division during business hours.
The department works with the Lake County Sheriff's Office on warrant execution across the city and county. Officers can arrest people with active bench warrants during any police contact. The department also handles FOIA requests for public records.
The City of Waukegan portal has links to city departments and public services.
The Waukegan city website connects you to the police department and other government services.
This screenshot shows the Waukegan city portal with links to public records and police services.
| Address | 101 N. West Street Waukegan, IL 60085 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (847) 360-9000 |
| Website | waukeganil.gov |
How to Search Waukegan Bench Warrants
There are a few ways to look up bench warrants in Waukegan. The Lake County Circuit Clerk has tools for looking up case records. You can search by name or case number. If a bench warrant has been issued, it should show as part of the case file.
Lake County also maintains an active warrants list that is updated regularly. This is one of the most direct ways to check for active bench warrants in Waukegan and all of Lake County.
You can also use the eFile Illinois system to search case data. For in-person requests, visit the Lake County courthouse at 18 North County Street in Waukegan. Under the Illinois FOIA law (5 ILCS 140), you can file a written request for records.
Note: Online results may not include all active bench warrants. Some records are restricted from public view.
How Waukegan Bench Warrants Work
A bench warrant is issued by a judge when someone does not follow a court order. Under 725 ILCS 5/110-3, failure to appear in court can result in an arrest warrant. These warrants stay active until a judge recalls them or police serve them.
Under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 556, the court may continue the case, issue a bench warrant, or try the person in their absence. People with active bench warrants in Waukegan should speak with a lawyer before turning themselves in.
- Missing a court date is the most common cause
- Unpaid fines can trigger bench warrants
- Probation violations may lead to warrants
- Warrants do not expire on their own
- Any police contact can lead to an arrest
FOIA Requests for Waukegan Records
You can request bench warrant records under the Illinois FOIA law. Both the City of Waukegan and Lake County must respond to valid requests. The office has five business days to respond once they receive your request. Submit FOIA requests by mail, email, or in person at the Waukegan Police Department.
The first 50 pages of any FOIA response are free. After that, the cost is $0.15 per page. If the records you need are held by the court, file a separate request with the Lake County Circuit Clerk at the courthouse. Under 725 ILCS 5/107-9, law enforcement must keep records of all arrests, including those on bench warrants. Some records are exempt from FOIA, like juvenile cases and sealed court files.
Lake County Court Handles Waukegan Cases
All bench warrants in Waukegan go through the Lake County Circuit Court in the 19th Judicial Circuit. The Lake County Sheriff's Office maintains records of active warrants and handles warrant execution. The courthouse is at 18 North County Street in Waukegan. Since Waukegan is the county seat, the courthouse is right in the city.
Under the Illinois Uniform Conviction Information Act (20 ILCS 2635), criminal history records are open to the public. You can also contact the Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification at (815) 740-5160 for statewide background checks.
Nearby Cities
These cities are near Waukegan. Bench warrants are handled by the circuit court in the county where the case was filed.