Reviewed and updated October 9, 2026 by the SearchSystems.net editorial team. The arrest 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 October 9, 2026.
Shelby County, Illinois, has about 21,000 residents (2024 Census Bureau estimate). Its court cases are filed in the Circuit Court of Shelby County, and the file of each case, kept by the Circuit Clerk, is the public record of it. This guide says which court hears what, where to look a case up and who keeps the files.
This guide covers the courts, the records page, criminal cases, kinds of files, cities and common questions.
Related guides: Shelby County public records, Shelby County arrest records, Shelby County warrants, Shelby County inmate search, Shelby County criminal records, Illinois arrest records and Illinois inmate search.
The Courts That Hear Cases from Shelby County
Court cases from Shelby County are filed in the Circuit Court of Shelby County, which hears every civil, criminal, family, probate, traffic and juvenile case.
Divorces go to the Circuit Court's domestic relations division, and the file stays with the Circuit Clerk.
The Circuit Clerk keeps the files, and a copy of anything in a file comes from that office, under the court's own rules rather than the Illinois Freedom of Information Act.
Looking Up a Case from Shelby County
For Shelby County, SearchSystems opened and checked the court records page for the county at apps.ilsos.gov/isairad/shelbysrch.jsp (page title: Shelby County Circuit Court Case Files Index, 1828-1871), which answered when SearchSystems opened it on September 23, 2026.
Illinois has no single public index of every trial court case; each court's records are looked up through that court.
The Illinois court page SearchSystems verified is at illinoiscourts.gov.
What Reaches the Court from Shelby County
Together, the four agencies in Shelby County with all twelve months of 2024 on file reported 36 arrests to the FBI that year; the State's Attorney decides which of those arrests become cases in the Circuit Court of Shelby County.
The State's Attorney's page SearchSystems verified is at shelbycounty-il.gov/costatt.aspx (page title: Shelby County | States Attorney), phone 217-774-5511, which answered when SearchSystems opened it on September 23, 2026.
The Kinds of Court Files
Criminal cases, divorces, traffic tickets and evictions all end up as files of these courts, and the file is what the public sees of each.
The other Shelby County guides take the kinds of file one at a time: Shelby County criminal records, Shelby County divorce records, Shelby County traffic tickets and Shelby County DUI.
Cities in Shelby County
Wherever in the county a case arises, it is filed in the Circuit Court of Shelby County.
The cities and towns in the county are Shelbyville, Moweaqua, Windsor, Stewardson, Findlay, Strasburg, Cowden, Tower Hill, Herrick, Sigel and Oconee.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I look up a court case in Shelby County?
The court records page SearchSystems verified for the county is at apps.ilsos.gov/isairad/shelbysrch.jsp.
Which court hears felonies in Shelby County?
The Circuit Court of Shelby County, which hears every civil, criminal, family, probate, traffic and juvenile case.
Who keeps the court records in Shelby County?
The Circuit Clerk. Copies come from that office under the court's own rules.
Is there a statewide court case search in Illinois?
No. Each court's records are looked up through that court.
Is this the official Shelby County website?
No. SearchSystems.net is an independent public records guide, online since 1997. It links to the official county, court and state offices described above and does not hold records, charge for them or take requests.