Local criminal courts:

• Grundy County Courthouse
  Address: 111 E. Washington Street, Morris, IL 60450. Phone 815-942-9024. 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 Grundy County Sheriff's Office enforces circuit court warrants, and city police in Coal City, Minooka and the seat itself arrest on them inside their towns. Call 815-942-6645; deputies confirm warrants by phone, for any case filed in the county. A judge's warrant shows in the Grundy case on re:SearchIL, which most circuit clerks statewide use. A defense lawyer sees that entry; filing on your own, you see it once the clerk links your email. Surrender at the Grundy County Jail is something a criminal defense lawyer can schedule, and the clerk resets missed dates at 111 E. Washington Street, Morris, IL 60450, 815-942-9024.

Local federal cases go to 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.

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. ICE may send a Form I-247A detainer to the Grundy County Jail.
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.

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. 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. Trial: Illinois speedy-trial law sets 120 days for those held (725 ILCS 5/103-5).
6. Sentencing: probation, county jail time or state prison.

The circuit court hears both (815-942-9024). Felonies (a year or more) go to 13th Judicial Circuit judges (815-942-9024). Associate judges take misdemeanors and traffic cases (625 ILCS 5). Cases under federal law go to the Chicago federal court.

1. Go to re:SearchIL and make a free account.
2. Choose Grundy County, then enter the name.
3. Some counties also post on Judici.
4. Or ask the clerk: 815-942-9024.

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

1. Within 30 days, file a post-trial motion in Morris (new trial, plea withdrawal, or sentence review).
2. Notice of appeal: within 30 days, to the county clerk (Rule 606).
3. Low income? The judge can appoint the Office of the State Appellate Defender.
4. The record goes from the county to Ottawa (815-434-5050); briefs follow.
5. A loss can go to the Illinois Supreme Court by petition for leave to appeal.

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

• Find the person: County inmate search.
• Plan a visit with our visitation page.
• Money for local accounts: money guide.
• Letters and calls to the jail at 111 East Washington Street, Morris, IL 60450: our mail and phone guides.