Local criminal courts:

• Ford County Courthouse
  Address: 200 W. State Street, Paxton, IL 60957. Phone 217-379-9400. 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. ICE may send a Form I-247A detainer to the Ford County Jail.
2. Under the Illinois TRUST Act (5 ILCS 805/15), the 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.

For a warrant check, phone the Sheriff's Office at 217-379-2324. An open case on re:SearchIL can show a warrant. The Public Defender or your lawyer can set a date (217-379-9400).

The circuit court hears both (217-379-9400). Felonies (a year or more) go to Eleventh Judicial Circuit judges (217-379-9400). Associate judges take misdemeanors and traffic cases (625 ILCS 5). Federal crimes from Ford County go to the U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois.

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.

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.

Appeals from Ford County go to the Fourth District Appellate Court at 201 West Monroe Street, Springfield, IL 62704. Clerk: 217-782-2586.

1. Within 30 days, file a post-trial motion in Paxton (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. The appeals court in Springfield gets the record, then the 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.

1. Charge, lawyer and release are set within 48 hours. 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 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. A judge sets the sentence.

1. Go to re:SearchIL (free sign-up).
2. Select Ford County and type the case number.
3. Some counties also post on Judici.
4. Or ask the clerk: 217-379-9400.

Local federal cases go to 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.

• Locate them with our inmate guide.
• Plan a visit with our visitation page.
• Money for local accounts: money guide.
• Letters and calls to the jail at 235 N. American, Paxton, IL 60957: our mail and phone guides.