Local criminal courts:

• Alexander County Courthouse and Circuit Clerk
  Address: 2000 Washington Avenue, Cairo, IL 62914. Phone 618-734-0107. Hears: all criminal, traffic, juvenile (single courthouse).

The 1964 reform ended city and justice-of-the-peace courts in Illinois, so local towns use the county. Under 65 ILCS 5/1-2.1-1, towns may hear ordinance tickets themselves.

Alexander County's sheriff, working out of the courthouse at the state's southern tip, serves the warrants that local circuit judges issue. Call 618-734-2141 and a deputy will run the warrant check for you. The Alexander case file on the statewide re:SearchIL search is the paper trail to read; an issued warrant is logged there. Counsel reads it; otherwise, phone the clerk. The county has no lockup of its own, so anyone picked up goes to the Pulaski County Detention Center in Ullin, and that is where a lawyer-planned surrender usually ends. The circuit clerk can put a missed case back before the judge from the office at 2000 Washington Avenue, Cairo, IL 62914, reachable at 618-734-0107.

No. The courthouse is open, but people held on local cases stay at the Pulaski County Detention Center, 20 Justice Drive, Ullin, IL 62992 (618-845-3512).

1. First appearance (48 hours): the judge covers charges and release. Details: Local bail and release.
2. Probable cause: preliminary hearing or grand jury, generally within 30 days for those in custody.
3. Arraignment: the plea is entered in this county.
4. Discovery, motions and possible plea deals in the county.
5. Trial within 120 days if held in jail (725 ILCS 5/103-5), unless delayed by the defense.
6. A judge sets the sentence.

1. ICE may send a Form I-247A detainer to the Pulaski County Detention Center.
2. The Illinois TRUST Act (5 ILCS 805/15) means Alexander County ignores the hold request.
3. The Illinois Courthouse Civil Rights Act (705 ILCS 90) bars civil arrests of people attending court.
4. If ICE arrests the person, they are often moved out of Illinois; search the ICE Online Detainee Locator System.
5. Immigration consequences matter; tell the public defender or your lawyer before any plea.

1. Go to re:SearchIL (free sign-up).
2. Choose Alexander County, then enter the name.
3. You can also try Judici.
4. Or phone the clerk, 618-734-0107.

The Fifth District Appellate Court, 14th and Main Street, Mount Vernon, IL 62864, hears local appeals. The appellate clerk answers at 618-242-3120.

1. First, a motion in the court within 30 days.
2. Notice of appeal: within 30 days, to the county clerk (Rule 606).
3. Low income? The judge can appoint the Office of the State Appellate Defender.
4. The clerk sends the record to Mount Vernon; both sides file briefs.
5. The Illinois Supreme Court may take the case on petition.

Rule 604(h) covers quick appeals of local detention orders. Constitutional claims can later be raised under 725 ILCS 5/122-1.

For someone leaving the county jail for prison, classification comes first. Each move shows on the Illinois Department of Corrections inmate search site; see our Illinois state prisons guide.

The First Judicial Circuit handles both, for every town in the county. Felonies (a year or more) go to First Judicial Circuit judges (618-734-0107). Lesser cases, like DUI and traffic, are often heard by associate judges of the First Judicial Circuit. A federal charge moves the case to East St. Louis.

Youth cases go to the juvenile division of the circuit court under the Juvenile Court Act (705 ILCS 405). When detention is needed, the judge sends youth to a juvenile detention center. For anyone under 18, hearings are private.

The county falls within the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois: Melvin Price U.S. Courthouse, 750 Missouri Avenue, East St. Louis, IL 62201, 618-482-9371. In a federal case, detention is the first hearing (East St. Louis, 18 U.S.C. 3142). While the case is open, the U.S. Marshals Service has custody; VINELink can help. For federal prisoners, see the Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator.

• Find the person: Local inmate search.
• Visits: Local visiting guide.
• Money for local accounts: money guide.
• Calls and mail for the county jail: phone guide and mail guide.