Where local cases are heard:

• Iroquois County Circuit Clerk
  Address: 550 S. Tenth Street, Watseka, IL 60970. Phone 815-432-6950. 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.

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.

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 in the courtroom.
4. Discovery, motions and possible plea deals here.
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.

Iroquois sheriff's deputies serve warrants across a county that stretches from Milford to Gilman. Call 815-432-6992; deputies confirm warrants on the phone. A warrant is checked by the sheriff's dispatch desk or the clerk, and the county's court cases can be found on the statewide re:SearchIL portal. Your attorney can open your file there, and you can too once an e-filing of yours is accepted. Hiring a defense lawyer lets you schedule surrender at the county jail; for a missed case, ask the circuit clerk for a new date. The Iroquois County circuit clerk is at 550 S. Tenth Street, Watseka, IL 60970, reachable at 815-432-6950.

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). The U.S. Marshals Service often uses county jails in this county; check VINELink. For federal prisoners, see the Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator.

1. A Form I-247A detainer can be sent to the Iroquois 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.

1. Open re:SearchIL and register for free.
2. Choose Iroquois County, then enter the name.
3. Some counties also post on Judici.
4. Or phone the clerk, 815-432-6950.

The Third District Appellate Court, 1004 Columbus Street, Ottawa, IL 61350, hears local appeals. 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. Low income? The judge can appoint the Office of the State Appellate Defender.
4. The record goes from this county to Ottawa (815-434-5050); briefs follow.
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). After appeals, a post-conviction petition (725 ILCS 5/122-1) can raise constitutional claims.

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.

The circuit court hears both (815-432-6950). Felonies (a year or more) go to Twenty-First Judicial Circuit judges (815-432-6950). Associate judges hear DUI and traffic cases (625 ILCS 5/11-501). Federal charges leave Iroquois County for the Central District of Illinois.

• Find the person: Local inmate search.
• Plan a visit with our visitation page.
• Money for local accounts: money guide.
• Calls and mail for the county jail: phone guide and mail guide.