Wayne County
15,882 people, served by 3 police agencies that report to the FBI. Below: how a case moves here, from arrest to court.
How a case moves here
Wayne County follows Illinois law on arrests, release, and courts. These rules are the same in every county in the state; the full set covers prosecutors, defense, and jails too.
- Who decides release first
Illinois has no money bail. Police may release a person charged with an offense for which release can't be denied, without a judge. Anyone charged with an offense for which the state can seek detention goes before a circuit or associate judge.
725 ILCS 5/109-1- Time to see a judge
A person arrested and not released must be taken before a judge without unnecessary delay and within 48 hours, and a charge must be filed.
725 ILCS 5/109-1(a)- Money bail
Illinois abolished money bail under the Pretrial Fairness Act, which took effect September 18, 2023. Judges release people on conditions or, after a hearing on a state petition, order them detained.
725 ILCS 5/110-1.5- Courts
Illinois has one trial court, the circuit court, which hears every felony and misdemeanor. There are no city, county, or justice courts.
Ill. Const. art. VI, secs. 1, 9- Judges and magistrates
Circuit judges are nominated in party primaries or by petition and elected to six-year terms, then run in retention elections to stay. Circuit judges appoint associate judges to four-year terms. Every judge must be a licensed Illinois lawyer.
Ill. Const. art. VI, secs. 8, 10, 11, 12
Read from the statutes and court rules cited, 2026-09-30. 725 ILCS 5/110-1.5 states January 1, 2023, but the Illinois Supreme Court stayed the law until September 18, 2023 (Rowe v. Raoul); the stay is from general knowledge, not a source read here. Retention needs three-fifths of votes cast; not re-read. How small counties without a public defender office provide lawyers was not confirmed county by county.
What this county does differently
- Pretrial practice
The state Office of Statewide Pretrial Services provides pretrial services here.
Illinois Office of Statewide Pretrial Services, Pretrial Services Directory (read 2026-09-30)
Police agencies
- Wayne County Sheriff's OfficeCounty10,153 served
- Fairfield Police DepartmentCity4,766 served
- Wayne City Police DepartmentCity989 served
Agencies: FBI NIBRS master file 2025 batch headers; names from the FBI agency list, pulled 2026-09-29. An agency that serves several counties appears on each. Population served is the FBI's figure.
Crime and arrests
No figures yet