Reviewed and updated October 7, 2026 by the SearchSystems.net editorial team. The arrest and crime counts are the ones each agency reported to the FBI, as the FBI held them on October 8, 2026. Every office link was opened and checked against the office's own site between September 23, 2026 and September 25, 2026.
Chicago, Illinois, in Cook County, has about 2.7 million residents (2024 Census Bureau estimate). A police report belongs to the agency whose officer wrote it, so which office holds a report from Chicago depends on where the incident happened. This guide names each agency, where its records page is and what the Illinois Freedom of Information Act requires of it.
This guide covers which agency, the city's records page, the sheriff's reports, what the law requires and common questions.
Related guides: Chicago public records, Cook County public records, Chicago warrants, Chicago inmate search, Chicago criminal records, Chicago court records, Illinois arrest records and Illinois inmate search.
Which Agency Holds a Report from Chicago
A crime, incident or collision report belongs to the agency whose officer wrote it, and that agency releases it, not the court, the jail or the prosecutor.
Inside Chicago that is the agency that reports to the FBI for the city (filed by the FBI as Chicago Police Department); outside it, the Cook County Sheriff's Office.
The FBI's agency list also places 14 campus police departments and 15 other agencies in Cook County, each with a records office of its own.
The Elgin Police Department, the Buffalo Grove Police Department, the Deerfield Police Department and eight more are each listed by the FBI across several counties including Cook County, so their arrests are not broken out for Cook County here.
Reports from the Chicago Police
For Chicago, SearchSystems opened and checked the Chicago police records page at chicago.gov/city/en/depts/cpd/supp_info/cpd_foia.html (page title: City of Chicago | File a Police FOIA Request), which answered when SearchSystems opened it on September 25, 2026.
The agency that reports for Chicago had 11,417 violent and 80,265 property crimes reported for 2025 and reported 32,759 arrests for 2025.
Reports from the Cook County Sheriff's Office
The Cook County Sheriff's Office is the county agency; it had 876 violent and 1,399 property crimes reported for 2025 and reported 3,038 arrests for 2025.
Its reports come from its records unit. The office's page SearchSystems verified is its custody page, at cookcountyil.gov/service/locate-inmate (page title: Locate an Inmate), which answered when SearchSystems opened it on September 23, 2026.
What the Illinois Freedom of Information Act Requires
The Illinois Freedom of Information Act sets the rules: an answer within 5 business days, with one 5-day extension, at a charge of copying only after the first 50 pages, from the agency that holds the report.
A defendant who has been charged gets the report through the case: the State's Attorney, (312) 603-1880, handles discovery for pending cases.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a police report in Chicago?
From the agency that took it. The Chicago police records page is at chicago.gov; the sheriff's reports come from the Cook County Sheriff's Office.
How long does an agency in Chicago have to answer?
Under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, within 5 business days, with one 5-day extension. It may charge copying only after the first 50 pages.
How do I get a report from the Cook County Sheriff's Office?
From its records unit. Under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act the answer is due within 5 business days, with one 5-day extension.
Is this the official Chicago website?
No. SearchSystems.net is an independent public records guide, online since 1997. It links to the official city, county, court and state offices described above and does not hold records, charge for them or take requests.