NCJ Number
59167
Date Published
1979
Length
80 pages
Annotation
THIS REPORT PROVIDES A GUIDE TO THE FORMAL ORGANIZATION OF THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY (ILL.), PROCEDURES BY WHICH CRIMINAL CASES ARE PRESENTED, AND SOURCES OF DATA FROM THE COURTS.
Abstract
WHEREAS THE REST OF THE STATE IS DIVIDED INTO JUDICIAL CIRCUITS WHICH HANDLE ALL TYPES OF LEGAL MATTERS, COOK COUNTY IS DIVIDED INTO A MUNICIPAL AND A COUNTY DEPARTMENT, SUBDIVIDED GEOGRAPHICALLY AND/OR FUNCTIONALLY AS FOLLOWS: MUNICIPAL DISTRICT ONE COVERS CHICAGO ONLY, AND DISTRICTS TWO THROUGH SIX COVER THE COOK COUNTY SUBURBS. THESE MUNICIPAL COURTS PROCESS ALL KINDS OF CASES, ALTHOUGH DISTRICT ONE HANDLES FELONIES ONLY IF THERE IS A PLEA OR DISMISSAL. THE COUNTY DEPARTMENT CRIMINAL DIVISION ENCOMPASSES THE ENTIRE COUNTY, BUT ITS CRIMINAL CASELOAD IS CONFINED TO FELONIES; IT FUNCTIONS AS THE TRIAL COURT FOR ALL FELONY CASES FROM MUNICIPAL DISTRICT ONE AND FOR A FEW CASES TRANSFERRED FROM THE SUBURBS. MOST CASES ENTER THE COURTS AT THE MUNICIPAL DISTRICT LEVEL. BOND IS SET, AND PRELIMINARY HEARINGS ARE HELD TO DETERMINE WHETHER PROBABLE CAUSE EXISTS TO BIND DEFENDANTS OVER FOR TRIAL AND FINAL ADJUDICATION. IN ADDITION, THE STRUCTURE OF THE COOK COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT CLERK'S OFFICE TENDS TO FOLLOW THAT OF THE CIRCUIT COURT, WITH THE COUNTY DEPARTMENT AND MUNICIPAL DEPARTMENT MAINTAINING SEPARATE RECORDS AND SUBMITTING SEPARATE REPORTS. THE MANUAL AND COMPUTER RECORD-KEEPING SYSTEM FOR EACH DEPARTMENT IS DESCRIBED. THE CHIEF PROBLEM FOR RESEARCHERS ARISES FROM THE ABSENCE OF LINKAGE BETWEEN THE MUNICIPAL AND COUNTY COMPUTER SYSTEM. OBTAINING A SINGLE COMPUTER RECORD OF ANY FELONY CASE WHICH WENT THROUGH BOTH COURT SYSTEMS IS IMPOSSIBLE. FOUR APPENDIXES TO THIS REPORT CONTAIN SEVERAL SAMPLES OF THE FORMS USED AND THE STATISTICAL REPORTS REGULARLY PRODUCED BY THE COURTS. A CHART, MAP, AND FOOTNOTES ARE INCLUDED. (WJR)