Knox County Public Records

What Are Public Records in Knox County?

Public records in Knox County, Illinois, are defined under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS § 140/2) as all records, reports, forms, writings, letters, memoranda, books, papers, maps, photographs, microfilms, cards, tapes, recordings, electronic data processing records, electronic communications, recorded information, and all other documentary materials pertaining to the transaction of public business, regardless of physical form or characteristics, having been prepared by or for, or having been or being used by, received by, in the possession of, or under the control of any public body. Members of the public may inspect a broad range of documents maintained by Knox County agencies, including but not limited to the following categories:

Court records — Civil, criminal, probate, and family law case files are maintained by the Knox County Circuit Clerk's Office
Property records — Deeds, mortgages, liens, and recorded instruments are held by the Knox County Recorder's Office
Vital records — Birth, death, marriage, and dissolution of marriage certificates are filed with the Knox County Clerk
Business records — Assumed business name registrations and related filings are processed through the Knox County Clerk
Tax records — Property tax bills, assessment records, and payment histories are maintained by the Knox County Treasurer and Supervisor of Assessments
Voting and election records — Voter registration data and election results are administered by the Knox County Clerk
Meeting minutes and agendas — Records of the Knox County Board and its committees are available through the County Clerk's Office
Budget and financial documents — Annual budgets, audits, and expenditure reports are public documents maintained by the Knox County Finance Department
Law enforcement records — Arrest logs and incident reports, where permitted by law, are available through the Knox County Sheriff's Office
Land use and zoning records — Zoning maps, permits, and variance applications are maintained by the Knox County Zoning Department

Members of the public seeking to find public records across multiple Illinois agencies may also consult the State of Illinois centralized records portal.

Is Knox County an Open Records County?

Knox County fully adheres to the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), which governs public access to government records throughout the state. Under 5 ILCS § 140/1, the General Assembly declared it the public policy of Illinois that all persons are entitled to full and complete information regarding the affairs of government and the official acts and policies of those who represent them as public officials and public employees. Key provisions of the Act include the following:

Public bodies must respond to a written FOIA request within five business days of receipt, with a possible five-business-day extension under specified circumstances
Each Knox County department designates a FOIA Officer responsible for receiving and processing requests
Requestors are not required to state a reason for their request, except in limited circumstances involving commercial purposes

Knox County does not maintain a separate county-level open records ordinance; the Illinois FOIA statute governs all public body disclosures. The county complies with the Illinois Open Meetings Act (5 ILCS § 120), which requires that meetings of public bodies be open to the public and that agendas and minutes be made available. The State of Illinois Office of the Illinois Courts provides additional guidance on court-related transparency obligations applicable to Knox County judicial proceedings.

How to Find Public Records in Knox County in 2026

Locating public records in Knox County involves identifying the appropriate custodial office and submitting a request through the proper channel. The following steps outline the standard process:

Identify the record type and custodial office — Determine which Knox County department maintains the record sought (e.g., Circuit Clerk for court records, Recorder for property documents, County Clerk for vital records)
Submit a written FOIA request — Requests must be submitted in writing, either in person, by mail, by fax, or by email to the designated FOIA Officer of the relevant public body
Include sufficient identifying information — Provide the full name of the subject, relevant dates, case numbers, parcel identification numbers, or other details that allow the agency to locate the record
Await the agency's response — The public body must respond within five business days; if an extension is needed, the agency must notify the requestor in writing
Pay applicable fees — Upon approval, remit any required copying or certification fees before receiving the documents
Access court records online — Civil and criminal case information for Knox County may be accessed through the Knox County Courthouse portal maintained by the Administrative Office of Illinois Courts
Request criminal history records — Statewide criminal background information is processed through the Bureau of Identification of the Illinois State Police

How Much Does It Cost to Get Public Records in Knox County?

Current fees for public records in Knox County are governed by the Illinois FOIA statute, which sets limits on what public bodies may charge. Under 5 ILCS § 140/6, fees must reasonably cover the actual cost of reproduction and may not include the cost of the time spent by personnel in searching for or retrieving records. Standard fees applicable across Knox County offices include the following:

Black-and-white paper copies — No charge for the first 50 pages; $0.15 per page thereafter for letter- or legal-size documents
Color or oversized copies — Charged at the actual cost of reproduction
Electronic records — Provided at no charge when transmitted electronically, unless the public body must purchase a new storage medium
Certified copies — Vital records and recorded documents carry statutory certification fees set by the County Clerk and Recorder, typically ranging from $10.00 to $15.00 per certified copy
Criminal history records — Fees for Illinois State Police background checks are set separately by administrative rule

Accepted payment methods vary by office but generally include cash, personal check, money order, and credit or debit card. Fee waivers are available when the requestor demonstrates that disclosure is in the public interest and that the primary purpose of the request is not commercial.

Does Knox County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available to all members of the public under the Illinois FOIA, which prohibits public bodies from charging a fee solely for the inspection of records. The following resources are currently available at no cost:

In-person inspection — Members of the public may inspect original records at the relevant Knox County office during regular business hours without charge
Knox County court case information — Basic case status and docket information is accessible through the Illinois Courts system at no cost
Sex offender registry — The Illinois sex offender registry maintained by the Illinois State Police is freely searchable online and includes registrants residing in Knox County
Inmate and offender records — The Illinois Department of Corrections inmate search allows the public to locate individuals currently in state custody at no charge
State archives and databases — The Illinois State Archives provides free access to numerous historical and governmental databases through the Illinois public records portal

Who Can Request Public Records in Knox County?

Any person may submit a public records request in Knox County, regardless of residency, citizenship, or organizational affiliation. The Illinois FOIA defines "person" broadly to include any individual, corporation, partnership, firm, organization, or association. Specific eligibility provisions include the following:

Residency — Requestors are not required to be Illinois residents or Knox County residents
Identification — Public bodies may not require a requestor to disclose their identity as a condition of fulfilling a non-commercial request, though identification may be required for certain sensitive record types
Purpose — Requestors are generally not required to state the purpose of their request; however, a public body may inquire whether the request is for a commercial purpose, as commercial requestors are subject to different fee structures under the Act
Requesting one's own records — Individuals seeking their own criminal history records must submit a fingerprint-based request through the Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification and provide valid government-issued identification
Restrictions for specific record types — Certain records, such as adoption files, juvenile court records, and sealed court documents, are accessible only to parties with a demonstrated legal interest or by court order
Non-resident rights — Non-residents possess the same inspection and copying rights as residents under current Illinois law

What Records Are Confidential in Knox County?

Certain categories of records are exempt from public disclosure under the Illinois FOIA and related statutes. The following records are currently withheld from general public access in Knox County:

Sealed court records — Documents sealed by judicial order pursuant to Illinois Supreme Court rules
Juvenile records — Records pertaining to minors involved in delinquency or abuse and neglect proceedings, protected under the Juvenile Court Act
Ongoing investigation records — Law enforcement records compiled in connection with active criminal investigations, where disclosure would interfere with proceedings
Personal identifying information — Social Security numbers, financial account data, and similar identifiers are redacted prior to disclosure
Medical and health records — Protected under both the Illinois FOIA exemptions and the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
Adoption records — Sealed by statute and accessible only through a court petition process
Child welfare records — Records of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services relating to abuse and neglect investigations
Personnel records — Employee performance evaluations and disciplinary records, with limited exceptions for final disciplinary actions
Trade secrets and proprietary business information — Commercial or financial information submitted in confidence to a public body
Security plans and infrastructure details — Records whose disclosure would present a substantial risk to public safety or critical infrastructure

These exemptions are codified primarily under 5 ILCS § 140/7, which enumerates mandatory and discretionary exemptions applicable to all Illinois public bodies, including those in Knox County. Where a partial exemption applies, the public body is required to redact only the exempt portions and release the remainder of the record.

Knox County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

The Knox County Recorder's Office serves as the official repository for land records, deeds, mortgages, liens, plats, and other instruments affecting real property in Knox County. Members of the public may inspect and obtain copies of recorded documents during regular public counter hours.

Knox County Recorder's Office 200 S. Cherry St., Galesburg, IL 61401 (309) 345-3815 Knox County Recorder

Public counter hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding official county holidays. The Knox County Circuit Clerk's Office, which maintains court records for all civil, criminal, probate, and family law matters filed in the Ninth Judicial Circuit, is located at the Knox County Courthouse.

Knox County Circuit Clerk's Office 200 S. Cherry St., Galesburg, IL 61401 (309) 345-3881 Knox County Circuit Clerk

Knox County Clerk's Office 200 S. Cherry St., Galesburg, IL 61401 (309) 345-3815 Knox County Clerk

Knox County Sheriff's Office 150 S. Kellogg St., Galesburg, IL 61401 (309) 343-9151 Knox County Sheriff

Knox County Supervisor of Assessments 200 S. Cherry St., Galesburg, IL 61401 (309) 345-3815 Knox County Assessor

All principal offices are located within or adjacent to the Knox County Courthouse complex in Galesburg. The Knox County Courthouse directory maintained by the Administrative Office of Illinois Courts provides current contact and jurisdictional information for all court-related offices.