Local criminal courts:

• Bond County Circuit Clerk (Courthouse)
  Address: 200 W. College Avenue, Greenville, IL 62246. Phone 618-664-3208. Hears: all criminal, traffic, juvenile (single courthouse).

Since 1964, Illinois has had no city or justice-of-the-peace courts; towns in this county send arrests to the county. Village hearing officers may take ordinance tickets (65 ILCS 5/1-2.1-1).

The Fifth District Appellate Court, 14th and Main Street, Mount Vernon, IL 62864, hears local appeals. Appellate clerk: 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. Ask for the Office of the State Appellate Defender if the person cannot pay.
4. The record goes from here to Mount Vernon (618-242-3120); briefs follow.
5. The Illinois Supreme Court may take the case on petition.

Rule 604(h) covers quick appeals of county detention orders. 725 ILCS 5/122-1 allows a post-conviction petition here.

1. A Form I-247A detainer can be sent to the Bond County Jail.
2. Under the Illinois TRUST Act (5 ILCS 805/15), this county won't add the 48 hours.
3. Illinois law also shields people going to and from court from civil immigration arrests (Illinois Courthouse Civil Rights Act, 705 ILCS 90).
4. Detainees often leave Illinois; check the ICE Online Detainee Locator System.
5. Immigration consequences matter; tell the public defender or your lawyer before any plea.

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. For someone held by the U.S. Marshals, a magistrate sets detention (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.

The Juvenile Court Act (705 ILCS 405) sends local youth cases to juvenile court in Greenville. A youth who must stay in custody goes to a center the judge picks. Local juvenile files are not public.

Arrest warrants from the Bond County circuit court are served by the sheriff's office. Call 618-664-4689 to ask whether a warrant is active; sheriff's deputies handle those questions themselves. Your own case record on Illinois' statewide re:SearchIL site is the next best look, because a judge's warrant gets written into it. Access runs through your lawyer, or through your own accepted e-filing if you have none. It is far better to surrender at the county jail, with an attorney beside you, than to wait for deputies to come looking. Missing a hearing is the usual cause, and the circuit clerk at 200 W. College Avenue, Greenville, IL 62246, can book a new date when you call 618-664-3208.

The circuit court hears both (618-664-3208). Felonies (a year or more) go to Third Judicial Circuit judges (618-664-3208). Associate judges hear DUI and traffic cases (625 ILCS 5/11-501). Cases under federal law go to the East St. Louis federal court.

A prisoner sent from the county jail goes to state intake first. Use the Illinois Department of Corrections inmate search and our Illinois state prisons guide.

1. Go to re:SearchIL (free sign-up).
2. Select Bond County and type the case number.
3. You can also try Judici.
4. Or phone the clerk, 618-664-3208.

1. Charge, lawyer and release are set within 48 hours. More in our pretrial release page.
2. Preliminary hearing or grand jury, within 30 days if held (725 ILCS 5/109-3.1).
3. Arraignment: the plea is entered locally.
4. Motions and plea offers.
5. Trial: Illinois speedy-trial law sets 120 days for those held (725 ILCS 5/103-5).
6. A judge sets the sentence.

• Find the person: Local inmate search.
• Visits: Local visiting guide.
• Money for local accounts: money guide.
• Stay in touch by phone or mail while the case runs.