Kane County is one of Illinois most populous counties. According to the 2020 Census, it had a population of 516,522 residents spread across a land area of 519.37 square miles. The county’s seat, Geneva City, is popular for its tourist attractions along the Fox River.  

Courts in Kane County

Kane County’s court system consists of the Kane County Circuit Court and Administrative Adjudication. The 16th Judicial Circuit of Illinois serves Kane County. The circuit court consists of five divisions: Civil, Family, Felony, Juvenile, and Misdemeanor/Traffic.

The civil division hears civil matters like claims to money or property, landlord-tenant matters, and foreclosures. The court handles small claims of $10,000 or less through a less formal procedure. Litigants in small claims do not need to be represented by a lawyer. The division also runs an Arbitration Center, which hears all money claims of amounts between $10,000 and $50,000. Probate matters like trusts, wills, and administration of the estate of a deceased also fall within the jurisdiction of the civil division.

The felony division adjudicates over allegations of serious offenses in the county. Some examples of felony offenses that the division presides over include first-degree murder, predatory criminal sexual assault, home invasion, and aggravated domestic battery. Other lesser criminal offenses, like ordinance violations, misdemeanors, and traffic violations, come before the Misdemeanors and Traffic division of the Circuit Court.

In addition to the felony and misdemeanor divisions, the Circuit Court also runs Specialty Courts to help offenders struggling with certain issues rather than incarcerating them. The Specialty Courts include the Adult Drug Court, DUI Court, Treatment Alternative Court, and Veteran Treatment Court. 

Similarly, juvenile matters are handled separately from the adult courts. The juvenile division is responsible for handling juvenile matters, including delinquency cases, adoption, and certain guardianship cases. However, family matters like divorce, child support, and custody cases fall within the jurisdiction of the family division. ​

Finally, Kane County also runs administrative adjudication which is presided over by administrative adjudication officers. The authority of these officers covers cases of county ordinance violation, public nuisance, waste disposal, maintenance of buildings and structures, and zoning.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Kane County

The office of the Kane County Circuit Court Clerk maintains records of court cases in the county. Interested residents can view and get copies of these records by requesting them from the clerk’s office in person or via email. A research fee of $6 per case applies for search requests not containing case numbers. Also, copies of court records cost $2 for the first page, 50 cents each for the next 19 pages, and 25 cents each for other pages. Kane County court records are also digitally accessible on the Circuit Court’s eServices portal.

Types of Public Court Records in Kane County

Kane County Court records refer to information pertaining to cases heard by courts in the county.  These include documents submitted by the parties, exhibits, records of the proceedings, parties filings, dockets, and court judgments. Most Kane County records are accessible to the public unless declared confidential by law or by a court order. Examples of public court records in the county are:

• Civil and small claims case records
• Felony case records
• Misdemeanor and traffic case records
• Probate case records
• Records of administrative adjudication proceedings

Confidential Court Records in Kane County

Certain Kane County court records are protected by law or court order due to their sensitivity. Because of this, such records are only accessible to parties to the cases. Juvenile criminal records and adoption filings are common examples of confidential court records in Kane County.  Furthermore, parties may also redact personal identifying information contained in court documents, such as the following:

• Social Security number
• Driver’s license number
• Names of minor children
• Date of birth
• Financial account number

Juvenile Delinquency in Kane, IL

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

In 2017, a total of 274 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Kane County. Of that total, 85% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 232 court cases. Another 15% were dependency cases that accounted for 42 of the juvenile cases.

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

Government of Kane County, IL

https://www2.illinois.gov/

County Seat:	Geneva
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Dillon's Rule
Year Organized:	1836
Total Square Miles:	524
2019 Population:	534,667
Persons/Square Mile:	0.00
County Contact:	719 S Batavia Ave County Government Center Geneva , IL 60134-3077 http://www.countyofkane.org/

Kane County, IL Courts