Lake County covers the northeastern area of Illinois. Its population is over 700,000, making it the third most populous county in the state. The county seat is the City of Waukegan, which is also its most populated city.

Courts in Lake County

Legal matters in Lake County are brought before the 19th Judicial Circuit Court. The Circuit Court is the primary trial court of general and original jurisdiction. It is divided into the civil, family, felony, misdemeanor, and juvenile divisions.

The Civil Division has jurisdiction over non-criminal cases arising in the county. Cases heard in the court include chancery cases, eminent domain cases, evictions, foreclosure cases, guardianships, and civil actions where the amounts in disputes exceed $50,000. It also hears small claims cases up to $10,000, probate matters, and holds a mandatory arbitration program for civil suits where the damages are between $10,000 and $50,000.

The Circuit Court’s Felony Division handles murders, robberies, aggravated assault, and other serious criminal offenses punishable by incarceration for a year or more and fines up to $25,000. In addition to felonies, this division hears involuntary commitments, contempt of court, and miscellaneous crimes, such as asset forfeiture, fugitive from justice, and eavesdropping.

The Misdemeanor/Traffic Division of the Lake County Circuit Court handles misdemeanors and traffic violations. Misdemeanor criminal cases involve crimes that are punishable by a year or less of incarceration and fines of up to $2,500. This division also hears cases involving the violation of local ordinances, domestic violence, and DUIs.

Family law matters in Lake County are under the jurisdiction of the Family Division of the Circuit Court. Proceedings held at the Circuit’s Court Family Division involve the dissolution of marriages, adoptions, termination of parental rights, truancy, child abuse, and offenses that are committed by minors. The Juvenile Division addresses cases involving minors, including juvenile delinquency, child protection, and abuse and neglect cases.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Lake County

Public court records in Lake County are maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk. The Clerk's office is responsible for keeping records of all traffic, civil, juvenile, and criminal cases filed and heard in the county. These records can be accessed online or at the Circuit Court Clerk's office. Individuals can visit the Clerk's office to request copies of needed records or send a written request via mail.

Types of Public Court Records in Lake County

In Lake County, the following types of public court records are generally available to the public:

• Criminal Court Records
• Civil Court Records
• Probate Records
• Traffic Court Records
• Small Claims Records
• Family Court Records

Confidential Court Records in Lake County

Certain court records in Lake County are sealed by the court by request or to comply with Illinois laws. Unlike public court records, confidential court records in Lake County are exempt from general public access, but they are available only to the individuals who filed the case or anyone with a court order. The following court records are confidential in Illinois:

• Adoption records
• Juvenile records
• Mental health records
• Sealed or expunged court records

Juvenile Delinquency in Lake, IL

Unfortunately, in many areas of the Lake County, juvenile delinquency issues are on the rise. There are many reasons for the rise in youth offenders. The juvenile sentence in Illinois often depends on the severity of the crime, the number of crimes, and other family matters.

In 2017, a total of 932 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Lake County. Of that total, 77% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 722 court cases. Another 19% were dependency cases that accounted for 178 of the juvenile cases.

A lot of counties, including, Lake County, are focusing on family therapy and relationships rather than punishment for juvenile crimes. Future Lake County juvenile delinquency numbers will show whether or not this approach is working.

Government of Lake County, IL

https://www2.illinois.gov/

County Seat:	Waukegan
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Dillon's Rule
Year Organized:	1839
Total Square Miles:	1,368
2019 Population:	703,520
Persons/Square Mile:	0.00
County Contact:	18 N County Street County Courthouse and Administrative Complex Waukegan , IL 60085-4304 http://www.lakecountyil.gov/

Lake County, IL Courts