The consequences for a conviction of driving under the influence (DUI) in DuPage County can be severe. Even first offenders face a maximum of one year in jail, and repeated offenses can result in a felony conviction and a lengthy prison sentence. To understand the potential consequences, it is helpful to know about the courts, law enforcement agencies, and detention facilities within DuPage County. For questions about the DUI arrest process in DuPage County, contact The Law Office of Howard J. Wise & Associates.
DuPage County Courthouses
The central courthouse for DuPage County, Illinois is the DuPage County Judicial Center. This large facility is located at:
505 North County Farm Road in Wheaton
The Judicial Center is home to the majority of misdemeanor DUI cases in DuPage County. It is also the location for all felony DUI charges.
Inside the DuPage County Judicial Center is the DUI Evaluation Unit. A division of the Department of Probation and Court Services, the DUI Evaluation Unit is tasked with screening all defendants charged with DUI regarding their drug and alcohol use.
Field Courts
There are additional branches of the Judicial Center in other parts of DuPage County. Known as Field Courts, these branch courts are intended to primarily hear traffic violations. However, in some cases, the courts will hear a limited number of misdemeanor cases. The DuPage County Field Courts are:
Addison Field Court
Addison Municipal Center
3 Friendship Plaza
Addison, Illinois 60101
Downers Grove Field Court
4000 Saratoga Avenue
Downers Grove, Illinois 60515
DuPage County Law Enforcement
Like with most counties in the United States, there is a patchwork of law enforcement agencies that patrol throughout DuPage County, Illinois. These include statewide agencies like the Illinois State Police, down to officers of the city police department. Here are the agencies most commonly involved in DUI arrests in DuPage County.
Illinois State Police
The statewide police force for the State of Illinois is known as the Illinois State Police. Founded in 1922, the State Police were originally created to enforce state traffic laws outside the jurisdiction of cities and incorporated areas. Over the years, the State Police have moved into all areas of law enforcement and frequently make DUI arrests on major highways through the state and DuPage County. DuPage County is serviced by ISP District 2, which is located at 777 S. State Street, Elgin, Illinois. The Second District also covers DeKalb, Kane, Lake, and McHenry counties.
DuPage County Sheriff
The DuPage County Sheriff's Office is responsible for enforcing the law throughout DuPage County, and they are the primary law enforcement agency for any part of the county that is not within a municipality. According to their 2017 annual report, the Sheriff's Office is the primary law enforcement agency for more than 100,000 residents of the county that live in unincorporated areas. In total, the Sheriff's Office was involved in more than 40,000 incidents and arrests in 2017. The Sheriff's Office is located at 501 N. County Farm Road, Wheaton, IL.
Local Police
The bulk of police patrols within DuPage County are made by officers from local police units. From the largest cities in the county to the smallest, nearly all of them have their own autonomous police force that patrols their borders. Below are some of the largest police departments in the county.
- Chicago Police Department
- Naperville Police Department
- Aurora Police Department
- Wheaton Police Department
- Batavia Police Department
- Oak Brook Police Department
DuPage County Jails
If you have been arrested for DUI in DuPage County, the jail you are held in will depend primarily on the law enforcement agency that arrests you. If you are arrested by the state police or the sheriff's office, there is a good chance you will be taken to the county jail. But if you are arrested within a municipality or by local police, you may be taken to the municipal jail instead.
DuPage County Jail
The DuPage County Sheriff's office operates a county-wide jail, known as the DuPage County Jail. Arrests made by sheriff's deputies, by state police, or in unincorporated parts of the county will result in the arresting officer taking you to the county jail.
Municipal Jail
If you are arrested by a city police officer, or in some cases if you are arrested by a county or state officer inside city limits, you may be taken to the municipal jail upon your arrest. Not every city or town in DuPage County has a city jail, but there are municipal jails in larger towns like Aurora.
What a DuPage County DUI Lawyer Can Do For You
An arrest for DUI in DuPage County doesn't necessarily have to result in a conviction. With the right DUI defense attorney, you have a chance to prevail at trial and avoid a conviction entirely. To learn about your options, contact The Law Office of Howard J. Wise & Associates today.