Where local cases are heard:

• Carroll County Courthouse, Circuit Clerk
  Address: 301 North Main Street, Mount Carroll, IL 61053. Phone 815-244-0230. Hears: all criminal, traffic, juvenile (single courthouse).

Illinois abolished separate city and justice-of-the-peace courts in 1964, so city courts are gone. Under 65 ILCS 5/1-2.1-1, towns may hear ordinance tickets themselves.

1. Open re:SearchIL (free sign-up).
2. Choose Carroll County, then enter the name.
3. You can also try Judici.
4. Or phone the clerk, 815-244-0230.

For a warrant check, phone the Sheriff's Office at 815-244-9171. A case search on re:SearchIL may show a warrant on an open local case. Surrendering with a lawyer in Carroll County is often safer.

Local appeals go to the Illinois Appellate Court, Fourth District, 201 West Monroe Street, Springfield, IL 62704. Clerk: 217-782-2586.

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. Next, the trial record goes to Springfield and the lawyers write briefs.
5. The Illinois Supreme Court may take the case on petition.

Detention orders have a faster appeal under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 604(h). 725 ILCS 5/122-1 allows a post-conviction petition locally.

The circuit court hears both (815-244-0230). Felonies (a year or more) go to Fifteenth Judicial Circuit judges (815-244-0230). Associate judges hear DUI and traffic cases (625 ILCS 5/11-501). A federal charge moves the case to Rockford.

1. Within 48 hours: first appearance and release decision in the county. Details: Local bail and release.
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. Pretrial motions and plea talks.
5. Speedy trial: 120 days in custody, 160 days on release, after a demand (725 ILCS 5/103-5).
6. Sentencing: probation, county jail time or state prison.

Here, juvenile court hears youth cases under 705 ILCS 405. Detained local youth go to a juvenile detention center chosen by the court. For anyone under 18, hearings are private.

Local federal cases go to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois: Stanley J. Roszkowski U.S. Courthouse, 327 S. Church Street, Rockford, IL 61101, 815-987-4355. For someone held by the U.S. Marshals, a magistrate sets detention (Rockford, 18 U.S.C. 3142). While the case is open, the U.S. Marshals Service has custody; VINELink can help. A federal sentence moves the person to a prison listed on the Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator.

1. ICE may send a Form I-247A detainer to the Carroll County Jail.
2. The Illinois TRUST Act (5 ILCS 805/15) means this county ignores the hold request.
3. The Illinois Courthouse Civil Rights Act (705 ILCS 90) bars civil arrests of people attending court.
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.

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.

• Locate them with our inmate guide.
• Visits: Local visiting guide.
• Money for local accounts: money guide.
• Letters and calls to the jail at 301 North Main Street, Mt. Carroll, IL 61053: our mail and phone guides.