Local criminal courts:

• Winnebago County Courthouse (criminal and traffic filings, Room 111)
  Address: 400 W. State Street, Rockford, IL 61101. Phone 815-319-4500. Hears: traffic court and criminal courtrooms; temporary entrance at 403 Elm Street.
• Winnebago County Criminal Justice Center (Courtrooms A to D)
  Address: 650 W. State Street, Rockford, IL 61102. Phone 815-319-4500. Hears: criminal cases.
• Winnebago County Juvenile Justice Center (Courtrooms 1 to 3)
  Address: 211 S. Court Street, Rockford, IL 61101. Phone 815-319-4500. Hears: juvenile cases.

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.

Local federal cases go to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois: Stanley J. Roszkowski U.S. Courthouse, 327 S. Church Street, Rockford, IL 61101, 815-987-4355. For someone held by the U.S. Marshals, a magistrate sets detention (Rockford, 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.

City officers in the seat, Loves Park and South Beloit make warrant arrests inside those cities, and the sheriff's office covers Roscoe, Rockton and the rest. Reach the sheriff at 815-319-6000; deputies confirm warrants by phone. City and county cases are listed on the clerk's FullCourt portal, which the county maintains instead of using the statewide re:SearchIL system, and a warrant shows up there. A defense attorney can coordinate a voluntary surrender at the Winnebago County Jail (815-319-6600); if the warrant stems from a skipped hearing, the clerk can put the case back on calendar. That office sits in the Winnebago County Courthouse at 400 W. State Street, Rockford, IL 61101, phone 815-319-4500.

Here, juvenile court hears youth cases under 705 ILCS 405. Detained youth are held at the Winnebago County Juvenile Detention Center. For anyone under 18, hearings are private.

1. ICE can file an I-247A with the Winnebago 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.

1. Go to re:SearchIL and register for free.
2. Select Winnebago County and type the case number.
3. Some counties also post on Judici.
4. Or call the county clerk at 815-319-4500.

Appeals from this county go to the Fourth District Appellate Court at 201 West Monroe Street, Springfield, IL 62704. 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. Low income? The judge can appoint the Office of the State Appellate Defender.
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.

For a detention order, Rule 604(h) sets a fast track. 725 ILCS 5/122-1 allows a post-conviction petition here.

The circuit court hears both (815-319-4500). Felonies (a year or more) go to Seventeenth Judicial Circuit judges (815-319-4500). Associate judges hear DUI and traffic cases (625 ILCS 5/11-501). Federal charges leave this county for the Northern District of Illinois.

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. 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. Pretrial motions and plea talks.
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.

• Locate them with our inmate guide.
• Visits: Local visiting guide.
• Deposits locally: our money page.
• Letters and calls to the jail at 650 West State Street, Rockford, IL 61102: our mail and phone guides.