WOODSTOCK – Starting in April, hundreds of misdemeanor domestic violence cases filed in McHenry County each year will be handled in a special court designed to move them along more quickly and get more offenders complying with the terms of their sentences.

“We’re reinventing the way that we’re handling these cases, from start to finish,” said Dan Wallis, court administrator for the 22nd Judicial Circuit serving McHenry County. “And by start to finish, I’m talking from once the case initially comes before the court until the case is terminated on the release date.”

Last year, 610 domestic violence cases were filed in McHenry County court. The majority – 504 cases – were misdemeanors.