Criminal Department

Circuit Court of Cook County
Information about court organization, court locations, judge information, court holidays and the trial process can be found at the Circuit Court website.

Clerk of Circuit Court Self Represented (Pro Se) Resources
The Self Help Center offers access to information and public resources with a special focus on people representing themselves (Self Represented or Pro Se litigants).

Descriptive Guide
Descriptive Guide

Glossary of Legal Terms

Illinois Code of Civil Procedure
CIVIL PROCEDURE (735 ILCS 5/) Code of Civil Procedure.

Illinois Code of Criminal Procedure – 725 ILCS 5/
725 ILCS 5/Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963

Illinois State Police
Information regarding Criminal History Searches can be obtained by contacting the Illinois State Police.

Illinois Supreme Court Rules
Illinois Supreme Court's list of Illinois Supreme Court Rules

Municipality Fees (705 ILCS 105/27.1b)

Cook and Other County Warrants

Any criminal case which originates in another county, yet the warrant has been issued and the defendant has been placed in custody in Cook County.

Criminal Actions involving Relationships

The Domestic Violence Division hears cases and makes determinations on criminal actions involving relationships defined by the Illinois Domestic Violence Act including: Class 1, 2, or 3 felonies; Class 4 felonies; misdemeanors and aggravated stalking.

Domestic Violence

Any criminal case of a domestic nature in which a dispute is resolved. Domestic violence cases involve domestic disputes and cases in which an Order of Protection is requested and/or obtained. All domestic violence cases must be accompanied by a criminal complaint.

Felony - Preliminary Hearings

Any criminal case which is punishable by over one year in state prison, or over $1,500 in fines. Preliminary hearings are held to determine if in fact a case has enough evidence to be prosecuted in the Criminal Division.

Misdemeanor cases

Any criminal case that is punishable by one year or less in jail, or up to $1,500 in fines.

Petition for Civil No Contact Order

A petition for a civil no contact order may be filed by an individual who has been the victim of non-consensual sexual conduct or non-consensual sexual penetration. Petitions for Civil No Contact Order can also be filed by a person on behalf of a minor child or an adult who has been the victim of non-consensual sexual conduct or non-consensual sexual penetration but, because of age, disability, health, or inaccessibility, cannot file the petition on their own.

Petition for Civil Orders of Protection

Civil Orders of Protection are generally petitioned by persons with an allegation of abuse by a family or household member. Petitions can be filed on behalf of a minor child or an adult who has been abused by a family or household member and who, because of age, health, disability, or inaccessibility, cannot file the petition. Petitions can also be filed on behalf of a high-risk adult with disabilities who has been the victim of abuse, neglect, or exploitation by a family or household member.

Petition for Stalking No Contact Order

A Petition for a Stalking No Contact Order may be filed when relief is not available to the petitioner under the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986: (1) by individuals who are the victim of stalking; or (2) by a person on behalf of a minor child or an adult who is a victim of stalking who are not able to file on their own due to age, disability or accessibility.

Petition for Workplace Violence

A petition that allows an employer to seek an order of protection to prohibit further violence or threats of violence if an employee of the employer has suffered unlawful violence or a credible threat of violence from a person and the unlawful violence has been carried out at the employee's place of work, or the credible threat of violence can reasonably be construed to be carried out at the employee's place of work.

Q: What are the fees for some common requests?
A: Frequently requested fees for certified copies, names searches, photo copies, expungement filing fees are set by statute CCG-0603, effective 12/01/2002 (705 ILCS 105/27.2(a)). Municipality Fees (705 ILCS 105/27.2) and copies of the relevant section are available to customers on request.

Q: How do I find out my next court date?
A: You may find out your next court date by providing our office with your name(s), alias(s), date of birth, year of arrest(s) and charge(s). The Clerk's Office will be able to locate the customer's case(s) with this information.

Q: If I am late or if I miss my court date, how do I reschedule my court date?
A: You may reschedule your court date by filing a motion. If the case is still pending, you may file a motion in the Criminal Branch Court locations on the same day with the Court Clerks. Otherwise, you may file in the Clerk's Office located in the Richard J. Daley Center, 50 West Washington Street, Room 1006 for both inactive and pending cases.

Q: How do I process my bond and how long does it take to get my bond refund check in the mail?
A: If you did not surrender your bond slip in the courtroom, you may bring the bond slip or the bond number(s), to the Richard J. Daley Center, 50 West Washington Street, Room 1006. A receipt of the transaction will be provided to you for your records.

Normally, the processing period is 21 business days (excluding weekends and holidays) from the date when the bond is presented to the Clerk's Office. Refund checks are mailed to the address indicated on the bail bond form.

Q: How do I change the address for my bond refund?
A: A valid piece of identification and a piece of mail indicating the address where you wish to have the bond check sent is required. Our office will complete a Change of Address Affidavit at the Richard J. Daley Center, 50 West Washington Street, Room 1003 based upon the information provided.

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