Where local cases are heard:

• Lee County Courts Building, Circuit Clerk (Suite 320)
  Address: 309 South Galena Avenue, Dixon, IL 61021. Phone 815-284-5234. Hears: all criminal, traffic, juvenile.

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 Fourth District Appellate Court, 201 West Monroe Street, Springfield, IL 62704, hears local appeals. Clerk: 217-782-2586.

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. Transcripts travel to Springfield (217-782-2586), then briefs are filed.
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.

The circuit court hears both (815-284-5234). Felonies (a year or more) go to Fifteenth Judicial Circuit judges (815-284-5234). Associate judges hear DUI and traffic cases (625 ILCS 5/11-501). Federal charges leave Lee County for the Northern District of Illinois.

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.

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.

Local federal cases go to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois: Stanley J. Roszkowski U.S. Courthouse, 327 S. Church Street, Rockford, IL 61101, 815-987-4355. For someone held by the U.S. Marshals, a magistrate sets detention (Rockford, 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.

1. ICE can file an I-247A with the Lee 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.

For a warrant check, phone the Sheriff's Office at 815-284-5217. An open case on re:SearchIL can show a warrant. The Public Defender or your lawyer can set a date (815-284-5234).

1. Visit re:SearchIL and register for free.
2. Choose Lee County, then enter the name.
3. You can also try Judici.
4. Or phone the clerk, 815-284-5234.

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, where the defendant pleads.
4. Motions and plea offers.
5. Trial: Illinois speedy-trial law sets 120 days for those held (725 ILCS 5/103-5).
6. A judge sets the sentence.

• 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 240 East Progress Drive, Dixon, IL 61021: our mail and phone guides.