Courts that hear local criminal cases:

• Pike County Courthouse
  Address: 100 East Washington Street, Pittsfield, IL 62363. Phone 217-285-6612. 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. Motions and plea offers.
5. Trial within 120 days if held in jail (725 ILCS 5/103-5), unless delayed by the defense.
6. Sentencing: probation, county jail time or state prison.

The circuit court hears both (217-285-6612). Felonies (a year or more) go to Eighth Judicial Circuit judges (217-285-6612). Associate judges hear DUI and traffic cases (625 ILCS 5/11-501). Federal crimes from Pike County go to the U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois.

Call the Pike County Sheriff's Office at 217-285-5011. An open case on re:SearchIL can show a warrant. The Public Defender or your lawyer can set a date (217-285-6612).

1. Open re:SearchIL and register for free.
2. Select Pike County and type the case number.
3. Older local cases may be on Judici.
4. Or phone the clerk, 217-285-6612.

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.

1. ICE can file an I-247A with the Pike County Jail.
2. Under the Illinois TRUST Act (5 ILCS 805/15), this 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.

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). 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.

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

1. Within 30 days, file a post-trial motion in Pittsfield (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 Springfield (217-782-2586), then briefs are filed.
5. The Illinois Supreme Court may take the case on petition.

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

For someone leaving the county jail for prison, classification comes first. Use the Illinois Department of Corrections inmate search and our Illinois state prisons guide.

• Find the person: Local inmate search.
• Visits: Local visiting guide.
• Money for local accounts: money guide.
• Calls and mail for the county jail: phone guide and mail guide.