Courts that hear local criminal cases:

• Edwards County Courthouse
  Address: 50 E. Main Street, Suite 7, Albion, IL 62806. Phone 618-445-2016. 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.

The Fifth District Appellate Court, 14th and Main Street, Mount Vernon, IL 62864, hears local appeals. 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. The Office of the State Appellate Defender represents people who can't afford a lawyer.
4. Transcripts travel to Mount Vernon (618-242-3120), then briefs are filed.
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 locally.

1. Within 48 hours: first appearance and release decision here. 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, where the defendant pleads.
4. Discovery, motions and possible plea deals locally.
5. Trial: Illinois speedy-trial law sets 120 days for those held (725 ILCS 5/103-5).
6. A judge sets the sentence.

The circuit court hears both (618-445-2016). Felonies (a year or more) go to Second Judicial Circuit judges (618-445-2016). Associate judges hear DUI and traffic cases (625 ILCS 5/11-501). Federal charges leave Edwards County for the Southern District of Illinois.

1. ICE can file an I-247A with the White County Jail.
2. The Illinois TRUST Act (5 ILCS 805/15) means Edwards 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.

Call the Edwards County Sheriff's Office at 618-445-2721. An open case on re:SearchIL can show a warrant. The Public Defender or your lawyer can set a date (618-445-2016).

Local federal cases go to 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). The U.S. Marshals Service often uses county jails here; check VINELink. For federal prisoners, see the Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator.

For someone leaving the county jail for prison, classification comes first. Use the Illinois Department of Corrections inmate search and our Illinois state prisons guide.

1. Visit re:SearchIL and make a free account.
2. Choose Edwards County, then enter the name.
3. Older local cases may be on Judici.
4. Or phone the clerk, 618-445-2016.

The courthouse is open. Detainees stay at the White County Jail, 108 North Main Cross Street, Carmi, IL 62821, phone 618-382-7149.

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.

• Find the person: Local inmate search.
• Visits: Local visiting guide.
• Money for local accounts: money guide.
• Calls and mail for the county jail: phone guide and mail guide.