An arrest warrant issued in Cook County, Illinois, is a court order that directs the Sheriff’s Department to arrest an individual. The warrant may be related to a misdemeanor or felony, often issued when a suspect fails to appear for a trial or court hearing. Once issued, the individual named in the arrest warrant will be taken into custody immediately by a law enforcement officer.
Issuance of Arrest Warrants
An arrest warrant is issued exclusively by the local criminal court, unlike search and bench warrants. A systematic procedure is followed for requesting an arrest warrant in the county:
- Petition to the Court: The matter is presented before a criminal court judge with a signed petition explaining the alleged crime and why the police believe the individual in question was involved.
- Judge’s Decision: If the judge is satisfied with the evidence presented and believes it forms a sufficient basis for a criminal trial, the warrant is signed and issued as an active arrest warrant.
If an active warrant cannot be served, it becomes an outstanding warrant. Regardless, the individual can still be arrested if an outstanding warrant exists against them.
Validity of Arrest Warrants
All arrest warrants remain active until the person named in the warrant is taken into custody. Information about active and outstanding warrants is entered into a national database accessible to law enforcement officers during legal infractions.
Accessing Arrest Records
To access arrest records for Cook County:
- Visit the Sheriff’s Department: Located at 50 W. Washington, Chicago, Illinois 60602.
- Warrant Search by Phone: Call the Sheriff’s office at 312-603-6444 if you have the individual’s name.
Cook County Arrest Information
- Recent Arrests: Call (773) 674-5245.
- Inmate Records: Call 773-674-5200.
- General Information from the Sheriff’s Police: Call 708-865-4700.
- Details on a Criminal Case Filed by You: Call (847) 635-1188 or (708) 865-4790.
- Crime Tips: Report crime or suspicious individuals by calling 708-865-4790.
- Recovered Property Information: Call 708-865-4841.
- Crime Victim Assistance: Call (773) 674-7200.
- Automated Victim Notification: Register at 1 (877) 846-3445.
Crime Statistics for Cook County, IL
Although the annual crime rate in Cook County saw a slight decrease, the increase in violent crime rates has been concerning.
- In 2018, the number of violent crimes rose from 216 to over 230 incidents. This increase was largely due to a rise in cases of rape, aggravated assault, and robbery.
- Between 1999 and 2008, violent crimes in Cook County significantly decreased from over 6,000 to approximately 3,000 incidents annually.
- Despite this decrease, a crime still occurs every 2 minutes in Cook County, often when the victim is near their home or workplace.
- During this decade, approximately 1,852,000 crimes were reported, with 400,000 of these being violent crimes.