Since Tony Libri was elected Circuit Clerk in 1996, the Circuit Clerk’s dedicated staff has worked tirelessly to professionalize the office, streamline services, utilize the latest technology, make the office accessible to all, save taxpayer dollars and create new streams of county income. The accomplishments are detailed by year below.

Here are the top 10 highlights:

          1.     Saved and generated more than $7.5 million for taxpayers:  The office streamlined
                  services and created efficiencies that saved the taxpayers $1.9 million.  Innovative
                  programs generated an additional $5.6 million income.
 

          2.      Scanned more than 10 million documents and used technology whenever possible
                   to save paper for a greener environment, time for employees and citizens using the
                   court system, and money for taxpayers.
 

          3.      Made court record searches available online.
 

          4.     Collected $529,358.46 in outstanding traffic fines and fees after beginning a
                   collection process with a contractor in January 2011.  These funds  previously were
                   considered uncollectible.
 

          5.     Reduced 10 employee positions despite an increase in workload, focusing on goal of
                  doing more with less.
 

          6.      Developed and maintained one of the first Circuit Clerk websites in the state of
                   Illinois to provide information and services.
 

          7.     Made the Circuit Clerk’s office accessible to people with special and diverse needs
                  exceeding governmental standards.
 

          8.     Opened a dialog with the public by presenting Public Outreach Meetings
                  throughout Sangamon County and bringing Circuit Clerk services such as
                  passports to the community.
 

          9.      Began offering free access to legal aid in the office and online.
 

       10.     Created the Connect with Cash Program that lists unclaimed funds within the
                 Circuit Clerk’ office on the website.

 

Circuit Clerk Accomplishments

BY YEAR

2012

Circuit Clerk Phone App developed for smartphones.  This App will allow users to lookup court information for free from their smartphone and iPad.  Currently the Android App is available on the Google App Store.  iPhone, iPad App will be available on the Apple Store after Apple testing and approval.

Video Wayfinding equipment installed first, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh floors to assist customers in locating the correct courtroom for their case.  Kiosk installed on the first floor so customers can lookup their case by name or number for that day.  Daily courtroom appearance listing is also available on the Circuit Clerk's website in real time.

Video screen installed outside of the entrance to the Circuit Clerk’s office and the first floor displaying daily judge and courtroom assignments.

Public and private wireless Internet systems for the Courthouse designed and implemented with the assistance of the Circuit Clerk’s office.

Seventh Judicial Circuit Video Arraignment system was designed and implemented with the assistance of personnel from the Circuit Clerk’s office.

Printers installed in each courtroom making documents available on demand.

Milestone achieved: scanned more than 10 million court documents.

Traffic Citations now being scanned for inclusion in paperless court project.

Customer service assistance for the public added before official opening hours.

Computer equipment installed in the Record's Division to perform records lookup and printing of scanned documents.  This saves time for the customer by allowing self service.

Genealogy Project Circuit Clerk probate indexes from 1821 to 1982 are available on the website.

Guardianship of Minors packets made available that includes forms and instructions as provided by the judiciary.

Circuit Clerk Presents now available on the Circuit Clerk website and YouTube, A collection of free video's that explain various topics.   
 

2011

Free legal advice offered with access to computers in the Circuit Clerk’s office or online. The in‐office service includes headphones and printing capabilities. Video presentations from legal experts are available online. A link to Legal Aid Online is available 24 hours a day: http://sangamon.illinoislegalaide.org

Disaster Recovery Plan completed for back‐up of main computer systems and all court information, court records now are protected during disasters or power outages.

Disaster site (Hotsite) established in a secure facility where all electronic records and scanned documents are duplicated.

Electronic delivery of an Emergency Order of Protection to the Sangamon County Sheriff’ Department began, allowing faster implementation of the Emergency Order.
 

2010

Outstanding traffic fines and fees began to be collected by Harris & Harris, generating substantial income for Sangamon County.

Video screens installed in the front counter area to display Circuit Clerk office and court information.

BrowseAloud added to website. The free software allows the visually impaired to listen to the website content.

Civil Division relocated from the basement vault area to the front counter on the fourth floor to provide more efficient and convenient customer service.

Computer server upgraded and paid for with fund balance, eliminating the need for a lease and saving the county approximately $4,000 in interest.
 

2009

Court Clerk Division created with the reorganization of present staff to better serve the judicial needs of the Sangamon County Courts.

Individual printing of file requests eliminated, resulting in a savings of printer toner and more than 120 reams of paper each year.

Additional scanning stations installed to improve the way pleadings are processed. Pleadings are scanned before they are docketed.

Reports printed on both sides of paper, saving paper and promoting a greener environment.

Court records made available for free on the website. Court records now are available from any computer that has web access. Sangamon County is the second largest county in the state of Illinois to offer court information without cost.

2008

Attorney email notification system began. The email notifies attorneys of new hearing dates or changes in hearing dates involving their cases.

Court schedules made available by email to attorneys by request.

Small Claims Manual made available in Spanish.
 

2007

Free legal assistance video programs made available to the public in the office or on the website and on Access 4 television.

New security program implemented for evidence vault with electronic recording access keypad and sign‐in procedures.
 

2006

Video screens installed at the entrance of the Sangamon County Courthouse, the entrance to the Circuit Clerk’s office and on each court floor to display daily court information.

E‐Pay system implemented to allow customers to pay fines over the Internet with a credit card.

Computer‐generated warrants printed instead of handwritten warrants, creating more accuracy and saving staff time.

New storage and handling procedures of evidence implemented after outside expert auditor made recommendation in 2005.
 

2005

Evidence in storage audit successfully completed by an outside expert contractor.

Information booklets and brochures printed to assist customers.

Historical Records Preservation program developed in partnership with the University of Illinois.

Nightly data upload of court records began for the Victim Impact Notification system, a national program that provides information to victims of crimes.

Attorneys and judges began meeting quarterly to review quality control of office procedures and performance.

Many court forms automated, eliminating clerks manually completing forms and saving hours of court preparation.

2004

Website developed – one of the first by Circuit Clerks in Illinois to allow free download of forms, fee schedules and other information.

Attorney Look‐Up System created. Law offices charged a fee for information access.

The media was given access at no charge.

All forms (except multi‐part forms) made available on the Internet for free.

“Green”recycling program began for paper, printer cartridges and computers.
 

2003

Circuit Clerk Investment Plan created. Now recommended by the Illinois Association of Court Clerks for other counties to implement.

Office procedural manuals written.

“Minute entries” taken over by Circuit Clerk, previously created by court reporters.
 

2002

Document imaging program implemented.

Employee incentive programs (such as flex time) initiated and increased production.

2001

Voice Response Unit installed to allow citizens to pay fines over the telephone.

Employee turnover reduced from 33 percent a year to under 15 percent with innovative programming.

Citizen incoming telephone call duration reduced from average of 14 minutes to 4 minutes or less through better training and automation. Average of 5,000 calls per week.

Voice Response Unit automated information system created for child support information. People can access their records a day without a live operator.

2000

Financial records review discovers $487,595.91.  Court fines, forfeited bonds and interest on certain accounts had not been transferred to the proper account by prior administrations. Money was transferred to Sangamon County General Fund.

Implementation of new audit procedures places the Circuit Clerk's financial records in balance for the first time in many years.

Courtrooms equipped with computers.

Collection programs created to collect past‐due fines and fees.

Passport Program started generating additional income for Sangamon County, providing convenience for residents.

1999

Community Outreach program began. Informational programs designed for civic groups, schools and more. Topics include child support, record expungement, landlord/tenant rights, and wills.

Automatic posting of child support payments from the State Disbursement Unit began. Sangamon County was one of the first and remains one of only a handful of counties that have automatic posting.

Office made accessible to anyone with disabilities and compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act regulations. Improvements included: Alterations to counters and computers available to anyone. Previously, physically challenged individuals had to wait along the wall for someone to help them because the counters weren’t accessible.

1998

Preservation of 19th Century records began. Record books dating back to the creation of Sangamon County were bound and protected for the first time. This ongoing and expensive program has been paid for with existing funds.

Progressive discipline program instituted for problem employees.

Quarterly evaluation program for all employees began.

1997

Automated Disposition Reporting System began with the Administrative Office of Illinois Courts.

Training program for employees began, improving the quality and quantity of completed work.