Where county cases are heard:

• DuPage County Judicial Center (505 Building): felony courtrooms 4th floor, misdemeanor/DUI 3rd-4th floors, traffic 1st floor, juvenile 3rd floor
  Address: 505 N. County Farm Road, Wheaton, IL 60187. Phone 630-407-8700. Hears: felony, misdemeanor, DUI, traffic, juvenile.
• First Appearance Court (501 Building, Courtroom 1000), weekdays and weekends
  Address: 501 N. County Farm Road, Wheaton, IL 60187. Phone 630-407-8700. Hears: first appearances / pretrial detention.

The 1964 reform ended city and justice-of-the-peace courts in Illinois, so local towns use the 2 courts listed above. Under 65 ILCS 5/1-2.1-1, towns may hear ordinance tickets themselves.

Locally, 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.

1. ICE can file an I-247A with the DuPage 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.

The DuPage County Sheriff's Office has a Warrants Division in Wheaton that serves circuit court warrants; it answers at 630-682-7256. City police in Naperville, Aurora, Elmhurst and other DuPage towns also arrest on these warrants. The clerk's own Public Information search shows each case and any warrant order a judge entered; the county keeps its records there rather than on the statewide re:SearchIL portal. Self-surrender at the jail can be organized by a defense lawyer; the clerk of the circuit court sets new dates. The clerk works from the Judicial Center, 505 N. County Farm Road, Wheaton, IL 60187, at 630-407-8700.

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.

The Third District Appellate Court, 1004 Columbus Street, Ottawa, IL 61350, hears local appeals. Appellate clerk: 815-434-5050.

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. Next, the trial record goes to Ottawa and the lawyers write 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 locally.

The circuit court hears both (630-407-8700). Felonies (a year or more) go to Eighteenth Judicial Circuit judges (630-407-8700). Associate judges take misdemeanors and traffic cases (625 ILCS 5). A federal charge moves the case to Chicago.

1. Charge, lawyer and release are set within 48 hours. 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. Pretrial motions and plea talks.
5. Trial: Illinois speedy-trial law sets 120 days for those held (725 ILCS 5/103-5).
6. A judge sets the sentence.

1. Go to re:SearchIL and make a free account.
2. Choose DuPage County, then enter the name.
3. Some counties also post on Judici.
4. Or call the county clerk at 630-407-8700.

The county falls within the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois: Everett McKinley Dirksen U.S. Courthouse, 219 S. Dearborn Street, Chicago, IL 60604, 312-435-5670. For someone held by the U.S. Marshals, a magistrate sets detention (Chicago, 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.

• 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.