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DUI in Cook County

After an arrest for driving under the influence (DUI) in Cook County, your first call should be to a Cook County DUI lawyer. If you are ultimately convicted of a DUI charge in Cook County, the consequences you might face can be life-altering. Every DUI conviction carries the potential for jail time, and repeat offenses could land you with a felony conviction on your criminal record. To better understand what you are facing, keep reading for a brief rundown of Cook County's courthouses, law enforcement agencies, and correctional facilities. For more information about the Cook County DUI process, contact The Law Office of Howard J. Wise & Associates today.

Cook County Courthouses

With Cook Counties' status as the largest county in Illinois, it should come as no surprise that there are a large number of courthouses throughout the county. While some of these courthouses are located in Chicago, others are spread around in villages throughout Cook County. Not every courthouse in the county handles DUI cases, however. The courthouses that hear DUI cases include:

George N. Leighton Criminal Court Building
2650 S. California Ave.
Chicago, Illinois 60608

Richard J. Daley Center
50 W Washington St.
Chicago, Illinois 60602

District 2 –Skokie Courthouse
5600 Old Orchard Road
Skokie, Illinois 60076

District 3 –Rolling Meadows Courthouse
2121 W. Euclid Ave.
Rolling Meadows, Illinois 60008

District 4 –Maywood Courthouse
1500 Maybrook Drive
Maywood, Illinois 60153

District 5 – Bridgeview Courthouse
10220 S. 76th Ave.
Bridgeview, Illinois 60455

District 6 -Markham Courthouse
16501 S. Kedzie Parkway
Markham, Illinois 60426

Cook County Law Enforcement

In Cook County, a variety of state, county, and local law enforcement agencies are responsible for enforcing Illinois DUI laws. These agencies each have their own mission but frequently work together when it comes to DUI enforcement. Some of the agencies you may encounter in Cook County include:

Illinois State Police

The statewide police force in Illinois is known as the Illinois State Police. The State Police were formed in 1922 to enforce state traffic laws in unincorporated portions of the state. In modern times, the Illinois State Police has statewide jurisdiction. They frequently work with county and local law enforcement agencies in addition to their own enforcement efforts. Cook County is served by the Chicago District of the State Police, located in Des Plaines, Illinois.

Cook County Sheriff's Office

The Cook County Sheriff's Office has jurisdiction to enforce state traffic laws throughout Cook County. The Sheriff's Office not only operates one of the largest police forces in the county, it is also responsible for the Cook County Jail. The Sheriff's Office is headquartered at 50 W. Washington, Chicago, Illinois.

Municipal Police Departments

The most populated parts of Cook County fall within the City of Chicago, which is served by the Chicago Police Department. However, there are many police departments in the county outside of Chicago, in both large villages and small. For example, the village of Skokie operates its own police force. Some of the cities and villages within Cook County that maintain their own police force include:

  • Chicago
  • Berwyn
  • Des Plaines
  • Markham
  • Oak Forest
  • Rolling Meadows
  • Hoffman Estates
  • Calumet City

Cook County Correctional Facilities

Regardless of the arresting agency, the vast majority of drivers arrested for DUI within Cook County will be taken to the Cook County Jail for processing. The Cook County Jail is a sprawling correctional facility inside the City of Chicago. The jail is located at 2700 California Avenue, Chicago Illinois.

In total, the Cook County Jail is spread across 8 city blocks. At any given time, the jail is home to at least 6,000 inmates. During the course of a year, approximately 100,000 inmates enter jail for a variety of reasons. While the jail is responsible for holding anyone arrested for DUI during their processing, it is also full of people who have been found guilty of DUI and are currently serving their sentence.

What a Cook County DUI Lawyer Can Do For You

Facing the prospect of a criminal conviction for DUI can be daunting. However, if you have been charged with a Cook County DUI, you still have a chance at avoiding a conviction entirely. By fighting the charges levied against you, there is a real chance that you avoid a DUI conviction on your record and the consequences that come with one.

To learn about how a Cook County DUI lawyer may be able to help your case, contact The Law Office of Howard J. Wise & Associates today for a free consultation.

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