Courts that hear local criminal cases:

• Massac County Courthouse
  Address: 1 Superman Square, Metropolis, IL 62960. Phone 618-524-9359. 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. ICE may send a Form I-247A detainer to the Massac County Detention Center.
2. Under the Illinois TRUST Act (5 ILCS 805/15), the county won't add the 48 hours.
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. Charge, lawyer and release are set within 48 hours. Details: Local bail and release.
2. Preliminary hearing or grand jury, within 30 days if held (725 ILCS 5/109-3.1).
3. Arraignment: the plea is entered here.
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.

Local federal cases go to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois: Melvin Price U.S. Courthouse, 750 Missouri Avenue, East St. Louis, IL 62201, 618-482-9371. For someone held by the U.S. Marshals, a magistrate sets detention (East St. Louis, 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.

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.

The circuit court hears both (618-524-9359). Felonies (a year or more) go to First Judicial Circuit judges (618-524-9359). Associate judges hear DUI and traffic cases (625 ILCS 5/11-501). Federal charges leave Massac County for the Southern District of Illinois.

1. Visit re:SearchIL (free sign-up).
2. Select Massac County and type the case number.
3. Some counties also post on Judici.
4. Or ask the clerk: 618-524-9359.

Appeals from Massac County go to the Fifth District Appellate Court at 14th and Main Street, Mount Vernon, IL 62864. The appellate clerk answers at 618-242-3120.

1. Within 30 days, file a post-trial motion in Metropolis (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.

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.

The Massac County Sheriff's Office serves warrants across the county, and city police arrest on them in the city. Call 618-524-2912; a deputy confirms warrants by phone. Massac cases go to re:SearchIL, the statewide records portal, which logs a warrant the moment the judge enters it. Represented people look through their lawyer; others look once the clerk records their email or accepts their e-filing. Surrender at the Massac County Detention Center can be scheduled by a local lawyer, and the clerk at the Superman Square courthouse can set a new date. The courthouse sits at 1 Superman Square, Metropolis, IL 62960, and the circuit clerk answers at 618-524-9359.

• Locate them with our inmate guide.
• 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.