Local criminal courts:

• Macon County Courthouse
  Address: 253 E. Wood Street, Decatur, IL 62523. Phone 217-624-4442. 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.

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. Pretrial motions and plea talks.
5. Trial: Illinois speedy-trial law sets 120 days for those held (725 ILCS 5/103-5).
6. A judge sets the sentence.

For a warrant check, phone the Sheriff's Office at 217-424-1332. An open case on re:SearchIL can show a warrant. The Public Defender or your lawyer can set a date (217-624-4442).

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 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.

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. ICE may send a Form I-247A detainer to the Macon County Jail.
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 circuit court hears both (217-624-4442). Felonies (a year or more) go to Sixth Judicial Circuit judges (217-624-4442). Associate judges hear DUI and traffic cases (625 ILCS 5/11-501). Federal charges leave Macon County for the Central District of Illinois.

1. Open re:SearchIL (free sign-up).
2. Choose Macon County, then enter the name.
3. Older county cases may be on Judici.
4. Or phone the clerk, 217-624-4442.

The Fifth District Appellate Court, 14th and Main Street, Mount Vernon, IL 62864, hears local appeals. Clerk: 618-242-3120.

1. Within 30 days, file a post-trial motion in Decatur (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. Transcripts travel to Mount Vernon (618-242-3120), 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 locally.

• 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 333 South Franklin Street, Decatur, IL 62523: our mail and phone guides.