Where county cases are heard:

• The courthouse
  Address: 401 Market Street, Mount Carmel, IL 62863. Phone 618-262-5362. 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. Detained local youth go to a juvenile detention center chosen by the court. For anyone under 18, hearings are private.

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.

1. Visit re:SearchIL and make a free account.
2. Select Wabash County and type the case number.
3. You can also try Judici.
4. Or ask the clerk: 618-262-5362.

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). 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 circuit court hears both (618-262-5362). Felonies (a year or more) go to Second Judicial Circuit judges (618-262-5362). Associate judges hear DUI and traffic cases (625 ILCS 5/11-501). Federal crimes from Wabash County go to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois.

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

1. First, a motion in the court within 30 days.
2. Notice of appeal: within 30 days, to the county clerk (Rule 606).
3. The Office of the State Appellate Defender represents people who can't afford a lawyer.
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). 725 ILCS 5/122-1 allows a post-conviction petition here.

1. ICE can file an I-247A with the Wabash 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 county seat sits on the Wabash River, and the sheriff's office there serves every warrant a local judge signs; the number is 618-262-2706. Deputies will look up a warrant for anyone who calls, whether the case started in Allendale or in town. For the court record, open the Wabash case on the statewide re:SearchIL portal: a judge's order is entered on the docket. Counsel can open it, or you after e-filing. Most people clear a warrant by having hired counsel arrange a surrender at the local jail, or by asking the clerk to reschedule a missed hearing. The circuit clerk keeps its office in the courthouse at 401 Market Street, Mount Carmel, IL 62863 (618-262-5362).

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 in the courtroom.
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.

• 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.