Courts that hear local criminal cases:

• St. Clair County Courthouse
  Address: 10 Public Square, Belleville, IL 62220. Phone 618-277-6832. 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.

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

1. ICE can file an I-247A with the St. Clair 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 Fifth District Appellate Court, 14th and Main Street, Mount Vernon, IL 62864, hears local appeals. Appellate clerk: 618-242-3120.

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

Detention orders have a faster appeal under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 604(h). After appeals, a post-conviction petition (725 ILCS 5/122-1) can raise constitutional claims.

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.

The circuit court hears both (618-277-6832). Felonies (a year or more) go to Twentieth Judicial Circuit judges (618-277-6832). Associate judges take misdemeanors and traffic cases (625 ILCS 5). Federal crimes from St. Clair County go to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois.

1. Charge, lawyer and release are set within 48 hours. See our release guide.
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. A judge sets the sentence.

The St. Clair County Sheriff's Office serves circuit court warrants, while city police in the seat, East St. Louis and O'Fallon arrest on them in their cities. You can call the sheriff at 618-277-3505, and the deputy who answers can look up a warrant. Any county case is searchable by name or number in the clerk's Case Search, which shows a warrant and stands in for the statewide re:SearchIL portal. A defense attorney can set up a St. Clair County Jail surrender, and the clerk of the circuit court handles requests for a fresh date after a missed hearing. You will find that office in the courthouse at 10 Public Square, Belleville, IL 62220, phone 618-277-6832.

The county falls within 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). 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. Visit re:SearchIL (free sign-up).
2. Choose St. Clair County, then enter the name.
3. You can also try Judici.
4. Or call the county clerk at 618-277-6832.

• 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 700 North 5th Street, Belleville, IL 62220: our mail and phone guides.