Where county cases are heard:

• Champaign County Courthouse: Traffic Court in Courtroom L (1st floor), criminal courtrooms on the 2nd and 3rd floors
  Address: 101 E. Main Street, Urbana, IL 61801. Phone 217-384-3725. Hears: all criminal, traffic, juvenile (single courthouse).

Illinois abolished separate city and justice-of-the-peace courts in 1964, so city courts are gone. Some villages run their own ordinance hearings (65 ILCS 5/1-2.1-1).

The sheriff's office serves Champaign County warrants, and police in Champaign, Rantoul and the seat itself also make warrant arrests. The sheriff's main number is 217-384-1205. Deputies there will run your name for warrants. A case on re:SearchIL, the statewide portal most Illinois circuit courts feed, lists a warrant in its events; a represented party sees it through the lawyer, and a self-represented one after an accepted e-filing or once the clerk adds their email. Your lawyer can call ahead and set a surrender time at the jail; the clerk handles questions about a new date. The clerk's office is at 101 E. Main Street, Urbana, IL 61801, and answers at 217-384-3725.

The circuit court hears both (217-384-3725). Felonies (a year or more) go to Sixth Judicial Circuit judges (217-384-3725). Associate judges take misdemeanors and traffic cases (625 ILCS 5). Federal charges leave Champaign County for the Central District of Illinois.

1. Go to re:SearchIL and make a free account.
2. Select Champaign County and type the case number.
3. You can also try Judici.
4. Or call the county clerk at 217-384-3725.

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. ICE can file an I-247A with the Champaign County Jail.
2. Under the Illinois TRUST Act (5 ILCS 805/15), this county won't add the 48 hours.
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.

1. Within 48 hours: first appearance and release decision here. See our release guide.
2. Preliminary hearing or grand jury, within 30 days if held (725 ILCS 5/109-3.1).
3. Arraignment, where the defendant pleads.
4. Motions and plea offers.
5. Speedy trial: 120 days in custody, 160 days on release, after a demand (725 ILCS 5/103-5).
6. Sentencing in this county, which may mean probation, jail or prison.

The county falls within the U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois: U.S. Courthouse, 600 E. Monroe Street, Springfield, IL 62701, 217-492-4020. For someone held by the U.S. Marshals, a magistrate sets detention (Springfield, 18 U.S.C. 3142). Until trial, the U.S. Marshals Service may hold a defendant in a county jail; check VINELink. For federal prisoners, see the Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator.

Locally, juvenile court hears youth cases under 705 ILCS 405. Youth needing detention go to the Champaign County Juvenile Detention Center. Local juvenile files are not public.

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 appeals court in Mount Vernon gets the record, then the briefs.
5. The Illinois Supreme Court may take the case on petition.

For a detention order, Rule 604(h) sets a fast track. 725 ILCS 5/122-1 allows a post-conviction petition here.

• Locate them with our inmate guide.
• Visits: Local visiting guide.
• Money for local accounts: money guide.
• Calls and mail for the county jail: phone guide and mail guide.