Local criminal courts:

• Kane County Judicial Center
  Address: 37W777 Route 38, St. Charles, IL 60175. Phone 630-232-3413. Hears: felony, misdemeanor and DUI cases.
• Kane County Juvenile Justice Center
  Address: 37W655 Route 38, St. Charles, IL 60175. Phone 630-406-7480. Hears: juvenile cases.
• Kane County Branch Court
  Address: 530 S. Randall Road, St. Charles, IL 60174. Phone 630-232-5820. Hears: traffic and ordinance cases.
• The county Branch Court
  Address: 1200 East Indian Trail Road, Aurora, IL 60505. Phone 630-232-5820. Hears: traffic and ordinance cases.
• Elgin Branch Court
  Address: 150 Dexter Court, Elgin, IL 60120. Phone 630-232-5820. Hears: traffic and ordinance cases.

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

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). 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.

The circuit court hears both (630-232-3413). Felonies (a year or more) go to Sixteenth Judicial Circuit judges (630-232-3413). Associate judges hear DUI and traffic cases (625 ILCS 5/11-501). Federal crimes from Kane County go to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.

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: the plea is entered locally.
4. Motions and plea offers.
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.

Locally, juvenile court hears youth cases under 705 ILCS 405. Detained youth are held at the Kane County Juvenile Justice Center. Local juvenile files are not public.

The Second District Appellate Court, 55 Symphony Way, Elgin, IL 60120, hears local appeals. Appellate clerk: 847-695-3750.

1. Within 30 days, file a post-trial motion in St. Charles (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 Elgin gets the record, then the briefs.
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 here.

1. ICE may send a Form I-247A detainer to the Kane County Adult Justice Center.
2. The Illinois TRUST Act (5 ILCS 805/15) means the 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.

The Kane County Sheriff's Office has a Warrants Division that serves circuit court warrants, while Aurora and Elgin police also arrest on Kane warrants in their cities. The division answers at 630-208-2015. County cases are also on re:SearchIL, a records portal that runs statewide, where a warrant entry would show. Counsel sees that entry, and so do you after you e-file and it is accepted. A local lawyer can book a voluntary surrender at the Adult Justice Center on Route 38, or the circuit clerk's office can help set a new date. Its counter is in the county judicial center, 37W777 Route 38, St. Charles, IL 60175, at 630-232-3413.

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.

1. Go to re:SearchIL and register for free.
2. Select this county and type the case number.
3. Older county cases may be on Judici.
4. Or call the county clerk at 630-232-3413.

• 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 37W755 IL Rte. 38, St. Charles, IL 60175: our mail and phone guides.