Jurisdiction

The Municipal Court shall have jurisdiction in, among others, the following cases:

Third

In all criminal cases in which the punishment is by fine or imprisonment, otherwise than in the penitentiary, and all other criminal cases which the laws may permit to be prosecuted otherwise than on indictment.

Fifth

All quasi criminal actions, excepting bastardy cases.

Sixth

All proceedings (a) for the prevention of the commission of crime; (b) for the arrest, examination, commitment, and bail of persons charged with criminal offenses; (c) pertaining to search warrants, and (d) all bastardy cases.

R. S., ch. 37, sec. 265.

No Gratuity To Be Received

Neither the clerk nor the bailiff nor their deputies shall receive any money or other valuable thing as a gratuity.

Sec. 281.

How Criminal Cases Prosecuted - Information - Complaint

All criminal cases in the Municipal Court, in which the punishment is by fine or imprisonment, otherwise than in the penitentiary, may be prosecuted by information of the state's attorney or some other person, and when an information is presented by some other person it shall be verified by affidavit of such person that the same is true, or that the same is true as he is informed and believes. Before an information is filed by any person other than the state's attorney, one of the judges shall examine the same and may examine the person presenting it and require other evidence and satisfy himself that there is probable cause for filing the same and so endorse the same. Every information shall set forth the offense with reasonable certainty, substantially as required in an indictment, and the proceedings thereon shall be the same, as near as may be, as upon an indictment in the criminal court of Cook county, excepting as is by this act otherwise provided. Any person committed for a supposed criminal offense and not admitted to bail and not tried within four months after the date of arrest, shall be set at liberty by the court, unless the delay shall happen on the application of the prisoner, or unless the court is satisfied that due exertion has been made to procure the evidence on the part of the people and that there is reasonable ground to believe that such evidence may be procured within the next sixty days, in which case the court may continue the case for such time as may be necessary, not exceeding said sixty days; provided, however, that if said person be not tried within sixty days, no further continuance shall be granted and said person shall be set at liberty.

Sec. 290.

Practice In Cases Of Fifth Class - Summons - Warrant - Police Arresting On View

The first process shall be a summons. If, however, the defendant, after being duly served with summons, fails to appear or enter his appearance, the court may proceed as in case of default and may issue a warrant for the arrest of defendant.

A warrant may issue in the first instance if the facts constituting the offense also constitute a violation of the criminal code, and if some person files a complaint under oath.

A warrant may issue in the first instance upon the affidavit of any person that an ordinance has been violated and that the person making the complaint has reasonable grounds to believe that the person charged is guilty thereof, and will escape unless arrested, and stating the facts upon which such belief is based. The judge must be satisfied, however, that the arrest should be made.

Any police officer may arrest, on view, any person seen in the act of violating within the city any ordinance, whenever such violation is made punishable by fine or otherwise.

Sec. 312.

Practice In Municipal Court To Prevent Commission Of Crimes

The Municipal Court has jurisdiction in proceedings to prevent the commission of crime, and the judges may cause warrants to issue to apprehend the persons complained of.

Sec. 313b.

Search Warrants

The Municipal Court has jurisdiction in search warrant cases. The warrant shall direct proper officer to search, in day time or night time, the house or place where stolen property or other things are believed to be concealed (which place and property or things to be searched for shall be particularly designated and described in the warrant) and to bring such stolen property and the person in whose possession it is found before the Municipal Court.

Sec. 313d.

Costs In Criminal And Quasi Criminal Cases

The costs in criminal cases and in quasi criminal cases in the Municipal Court, instituted in the name of the people, and in proceedings for the prevention of the commission of crimes, proceedings for the arrest, examination, commitment and bail of persons charged with criminal offenses, proceedings pertaining to searches and seizures by search warrants, and in bastardy cases, shall be as follows:

First

The clerk's fee, other than furnishing transcripts of record, $6 in all cases other than proceedings for the arrest, examination, commitment and bail of persons charged with criminal offenses, in which cases the fee shall be $15.

Second

The bailiff's fee shall be the same as that charged by the sheriff for similar service, except there shall be no charge for mileage. Some of the charges by the sheriff are, serving summons on each defendant, $1; serving a subpoena on each witness, $1; executing each capias, $2; returning each writ of process, 50c; committing to or discharging each prisoner from jail, 50c.

Fourth

The fees and mileage of witnesses shall be the same as those allowed by law from time to time to witnesses in the criminal court of Cook county.

No advance costs shall be required in any criminal or quasi criminal case, but in case of final judgment, all of the costs may, in the discretion of the court, be awarded against the defendant and collected by execution or otherwise, as the court may direct.

In bastardy cases, should there be a judgment against the defendant, the costs shall be taxed against him, but in case of his acquittal the costs may be taxed against the complaining witness; provided, that, in taxing costs in any criminal or quasi criminal case, no fee for the issuance of a warrant shall be included.

Sec. 320.

Costs In City Cases

Costs in quasi criminal cases in the Municipal Court, instituted in the name of the city of Chicago, shall be as follows:

First

The clerk's fee shall be $6, provided, however, that the court may, in its discretion, remit the costs.

Second

Bailiff's fees are the same as those indicated in section 320.

No advance costs shall be required.

Sec. 321.