Sheriff's Office
Dustin D. Heuerman, County Sheriff
Champaign County Coronavirus Response Webpage
About Us
The Champaign County Sheriff’s Office provides primary law enforcement service for approximately 50,000 residents in the unincorporated areas of Champaign County and assists municipalities who have their own law enforcement agencies. Champaign County is the fifth largest county in Illinois by area (approximately 1,050 square miles) and the tenth largest in Illinois by population (approximately 210,000 residents). The Sheriff’s office is also responsible for oversight of two correctional facilities, providing court security at the Champaign County Courthouse, and overseeing emergency management within the county.
The Law Enforcement Division
The Law Enforcement Division consists of 56 persons (including the Sheriff and Chief Deputy). The Law Enforcement Captain provides leadership to three Lieutenants, who in turn provide leadership to deputies in the following areas: patrol deputies (31), patrol Sergeants (8), Investigators (5), patrol K-9 handlers (3), civil process service deputies (2) and school resource officers (2). There are also several support-staff positions in the Law Enforcement Division, including records clerks and a crime analyst.
In 2023 there were approximately 14,591 calls for service in the County, deputies made 576 custodial arrests and issued 170 Notices to Appear (NTAs) that were unrelated to traffic violations.
In 2023 the division wrote 1,965 traffic citations, gave 1,586 written warnings, and investigated 407 traffic crashes, including 2 fatalities.
The division is also responsible for service of civil process, and in the 2023 calendar year served 4,950 papers of various types (subpoena, summons, court orders, etc.).
The Court Security Division
By Illinois law, the Sheriff is required to provide security to the Courthouse and be
present in every court proceeding conducted within. This is accomplished through the
assistance of the Court Security Division. This division includes 1 court security
Sergeant and 12 court security officers, all of whom are sworn officers. Court Security
Officers provide security at the front entrance of the Courthouse, as well as the entire
building, handle prisoners, tend to juries, and provide individual courtroom security for
11 courtrooms.
The Corrections Division
The Corrections Captain/Jail Superintendent provides leadership to three Lieutenants, who in turn provide leadership to 50 corrections officers and 8 corrections Sergeants. There are 6 full-time and 6 part-time Master Controllers who help in maintaining security and communications in the Correctional Center. There are 3 support staff to assist in clerical duties and coordinating inmate programs. Outside contractors provide meal preparation, medical and mental health services.
There were 4,503 jail intakes in 2023. The average daily population of the jail in 2023 was 302, with 256 not sentenced and 46 serving a sentence. The average number of days in custody for an inmate who had not yet been sentenced was 25 days, and 23 days for a sentenced inmate.
The corrections division also oversees Electronic Home Detention (EHD) for qualifying, sentenced inmates. The average number of EHD clients per month in 2023 was 15, serving an average sentence of 33 days.
Emergency Management Agency
In Champaign County, the Emergency Management Agency (EMA) also falls under the Sheriff’s office. EMA consists of a Director and Deputy Director and is charged with emergency management and planning throughout the county. EMA works closely with other municipalities in Champaign County to ensure proper preparedness for any emergencies that might arise.
