Beware of Jury Duty Scams and How to Protect Yourself A jury scam involves individuals posing as a court official or law enforcement officers. Imposters may claim you have missed jury duty and you have an outstanding warrant for your arrest for failing to appear for jury duty. Scammers use fear and intimidation to manipulate victims into providing personal information, such as social security numbers, bank details and payments in order to avoid legal consequences. Court officers, law enforcement officers or other authorities will NEVER contact a person via telephone or email and request personal information or demand payment over the phone for a fine to avoid being arrested for failing to appear for jury duty. Targeted individuals may be told that they need to go buy a money card immediately and pay a fine to avoid being arrested. Scammer will often use pressure tactics to walk you through purchasing a pre-paid debit/money card; gift card or making an electronic payment to pay the fine. If you receive a suspicious phone call or email demanding payment of a fine for failing to appear for jury service, promptly contact law enforcement. By promptly alerting authorities, you can help stop a disturbing fraudulent trend. Recommendations to safeguard yourself against being scammed: DO NOT Give Out Any of Your Personal Information; DO NOT Buy a Prepaid Debit/Money Card; Gift Card or make any type of Electronic Payment to Pay a Fine Related to Jury Duty; Avoid Pressure Tactics; and Immediately Report Suspicious Calls to Local Law Enforcement. Winnebago County Jurors The Winnebago County Jury Commission is responsible for providing a pool of qualified jurors to ensure the right of all citizens to a trial by an impartial jury. All jurors are selected for service by a computer system that randomly selects individuals from a list of county residents who hold a driver’s license, a voters registration card, a state identification card, a disabled persons identification card, or who have filed a claim for unemployment insurance. You must be at least 18 years old to serve. Citizens who report for jury service are fulfilling a responsibility and protecting a right established under the United States Constitution over two hundred years ago. Indeed, the right to a trial by an impartial jury of one's peers is an integral part of the foundation of American democracy. * INCLEMENT WEATHER REPORTING INSTRUCTIONS * NOTE: In the event the Winnebago County Courthouse must close due to inclement weather, your jury service is complete. BEFORE LEAVING HOME, PLEASE CHECK ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING RESOURCES: CHECK THE 17th CIRCUIT COURT WEBSITE. @ http://www.17thcircuit.illinoiscourts.gov MONITOR YOUR LOCAL TV AND RADIO STATIONS. IF THERE IS NO OFFICIAL CLOSING, PLEASE REPORT AS INSTRUCTED. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to contact the Jury Commission at (815) 319-4880 Frequently Asked Questions I-Juror Login Boone County Jurors Trial by jury is a fundamental principle of our system of justice. Jury service is therefore both an opportunity and an obligation of every American citizen. The following information will give prospective jurors some background information about the process and what to expect when reporting for jury duty. All jurors are selected for service by a computer system that randomly selects individuals from a list of county residents who hold a driver’s license, a voters registration card, a state identification card, a disabled persons identification card, or who are receiving unemployment compensation. You must be at least 18 years old to serve. If you have questions or comments, feel free to contact the Jury Coordinator at (815) 544-0371 Frequently Asked Questions I-Juror Login To complete the juror questionnaire from your mobile device, TEXT This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and enter your juror number. NOTE: This is a non-responsive address. To complete the juror questionnaire through the automated phone system, call (815) 547-1537. If you are unable to access the juror questionnaire online or by phone, you may call 815-547-6894 or 815-547-6906 and the jury clerk will mail you a written questionnaire for you to complete and submit.
