Local criminal courts:

• Christian County Circuit Clerk, the courthouse
  Address: 101 S. Main Street, Taylorville, IL 62568. Phone 217-824-4966. 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. Visit re:SearchIL and register for free.
2. Select Christian County and type the case number.
3. You can also try Judici.
4. Or phone the clerk, 217-824-4966.

1. ICE can file an I-247A with the Christian County Correctional Center.
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.

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.

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). 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.

For a warrant check, phone the Sheriff's Office at 217-824-4961. An open case on re:SearchIL can show a warrant. The Public Defender or your lawyer can set a date (217-824-4966).

The circuit court hears both (217-824-4966). Felonies (a year or more) go to Fourth Judicial Circuit judges (217-824-4966). Associate judges take misdemeanors and traffic cases (625 ILCS 5). Federal crimes from Christian County go to the U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois.

Appeals from Christian County go to the Fifth District Appellate Court at 14th and Main Street, Mount Vernon, IL 62864. Appellate clerk: 618-242-3120.

1. Within 30 days, file a post-trial motion in Taylorville (new trial, plea withdrawal, or sentence review).
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. Next, the trial record goes to Mount Vernon and the lawyers write briefs.
5. A loss can go to the Illinois Supreme Court by petition for leave to appeal.

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

1. Within 48 hours: first appearance and release decision locally. See our release guide.
2. Preliminary hearing or grand jury, within 30 days if held (725 ILCS 5/109-3.1).
3. Arraignment in the courtroom.
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.

• Locate them with our inmate guide.
• Visits: Local visiting guide.
• Money for local accounts: money guide.
• Letters and calls to the jail at 301 West Franklin Street, Taylorville, IL 62568: our mail and phone guides.