Adult Court Services

Rock Island County Court Services provides a number of services for both adults and juveniles in Rock Island County, Illinois. The Adult Probation Department consists of the following programs:

  • Domestic Batterer's Program
  • Drug Court
  • Driving Under the Influence (DUI) Supervision
  • Mental Health Court
  • Pre-Sentence Investigation (PSI)
  • Pre-Trial Release
  • Probation Intake
  • Probation Supervision
  • Public/Community Service

The Domestic Batterer's Program was developed in 1998 to provide supervision for the increasing number of persons convicted of domestic violence offenses. Supervision involves the monitoring of court orders, making referrals to a domestic violence program, and keeping in contact with the victims of domestic violence. Once a defendant is found guilty or pleads guilty to either a misdemeanor or felony Domestic Battery, he or she is placed on Conditional Discharge or Probation. In either case, the offender is ordered to obtain a domestic violence/anger management evaluation and complete all recommended treatment. Recommended treatment could also involve alcohol and drug treatment, and mental health services. The domestic violence/anger management program lasts for 24 sessions. These sessions include learning how to control anger, how to "fair fight," how to take time outs, and how to better communicate with their partners without using verbal or physical confrontation.

Rock Island County Drug Court began on July 31, 2000, Sobriety, Opportunity, Accountability, Responsibility (SOAR) Program. We are a post plea/predisposition model. In July, 2017 the Rock Island County Court was certified by the Illinois Supreme Court as part of the new state problem solving court standards. The Rock Island County Court partners with the following signatory agencies; Chief Judge's Office, the State's Attorney's Office, the Public Defender's Office, the Sheriff's Department, the Center for Alcohol and Drug Services (CADS), the Riverside Chemical Dependency Treatment Center, the Robert Young Center, and Rock Island County Council on Addictions (RICCA). Drug Court cases are confidential, and clients earn graduation from the program.  

DUI Supervision assists persons convicted of Driving Under the Influence. Two officers deal with the Level III or high risk offender. Frequent contacts with the client and treatment agencies are required. The remainder of the DUI caseload, approximately 1200, is monitored by one officer.

Mental Health Court: In 2007, Rock Island County Court Services in conjunction with the Chief Judge’s Office, the State's Attorney's Office, the Public Defender's Office, the Robert Young Center and Transitions Mental Health implemented a Mental Health Court program in Rock Island County. In July, 2017 the Rock Island County Mental Health Court was certified by the Illinois Supreme Court as part of the new state problem solving court standards. The target population for mental health court is non-violent misdemeanor and felony offenders. The Live It Fully Everyday (LIFE) program is a voluntary one. Of priority are those offenders who criminality appears to be a consequence of their mental illness. These clients are given supportive services through the mental health court and in the community to assist them in removing the stigma that follows them as a result of their illness, and assist them with re-integrating back into the community as responsible, productive, and valuable individuals with something to offer those around them.

Pre-Sentence Investigations are also performed by the Intake Unit. The PSI includes all the information in a probation intake plus victim impact/restitution information and available community resources for successful integration into the community. This formal report is submitted to the Court to assist with sentencing.

In 1975, Rock Island County was the pioneer in the State of Illinois in developing Pre-Trial Release. Approximately 100 offenders per month are interviewed for possible release on recognizance bond. The primary function of the program is to interview, screen and verify information on all bailable offenders and present the data to the court for the purpose of setting appropriate bail. When appropriate, felony offenders are recommended for release on recognizance and supervised by Court Services to ensure communication and appearance for hearings.

Probation Intake includes the gathering of social history information, criminal histories, verification of case information, and reviewing probation conditions with the probationer. Any specific conditions, such as evaluations and assessments, are usually scheduled during this initial period on probation.

Probation Supervision clients are seen in the office, at their homes, places of employment, at treatment programs and any other location where the officer can supervise and provide input to effectuate the clients' successful completion of probation. Probation officers must be able to identify and address a number of issues such as substance abuse, family, education, employment, mental and physical health. Since 1984, the supervision caseload has increased from a total of 640 to nearly triple that amount at the end of 1999. Within the supervision unit, caseload assignments are specialized to meet the specific needs of clients in such areas as substance abuse, mental illness, intellectual deficiencies, sexual deviance, gang involvement, as well as female offender issues.

Public/Community Service provides the Court an alternative sentence in which the offender performs work at a not-for-profit community agency. Over the years, Court Services has worked with many area agencies, and presently has 125 active worksites involved in the program.