Local criminal courts:

• Peoria County Courthouse
  Address: 324 Main Street, Peoria, IL 61602. Phone 309-672-6000. 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.

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. 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 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. A judge sets the sentence.

1. Visit re:SearchIL and register for free.
2. Select Peoria County and type the case number.
3. You can also try Judici.
4. Or phone the clerk, 309-672-6000.

Locally, juvenile court hears youth cases under 705 ILCS 405. Youth needing detention go to the Peoria County Juvenile Detention Center. Local juvenile files are not public.

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 here; check VINELink. For federal prisoners, see the Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator.

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

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. Ask for the Office of the State Appellate Defender if the person cannot pay.
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.

Detention orders have a faster appeal under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 604(h). 725 ILCS 5/122-1 allows a post-conviction petition here.

The circuit court hears both (309-672-6000). Felonies (a year or more) go to Tenth Judicial Circuit judges (309-672-6000). Associate judges hear DUI and traffic cases (625 ILCS 5/11-501). Federal crimes from Peoria County go to the U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois.

Yes. Peoria County runs an online warrant search, and the sheriff's office serves warrants countywide while local police handle many arrests inside the city. Results can trail the courthouse, so confirm with sheriff's deputies at 309-697-7858. Your attorney of record can also pull the case on re:SearchIL, the statewide records portal, where a warrant entry shows up in the docket. A hired attorney can book your surrender at the jail on Maxwell Road, and the clerk reschedules missed hearings. The clerk's office works out of the county courthouse at 324 Main Street, Peoria, IL 61602, phone 309-672-6000.

• 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.