StateCourts.org
Illinois Inmate Search
Please enter First Name
Please enter Last Name
Please select a State
Please enter Case Number
Please select a State
  1. Home
  2. Inmate Search
  3. Illinois

What are Illinois Inmate Records?

Illinois inmate records are all the forms, documents, images, audio, and video records that follow an inmate through the prison system. These records begin at the time of arrest or even before when a warrant is obtained through the courts. The records continue as the person is moved through the justice system attending court appearances and being moved from jail to prison or released.

Typically, these records contain basic information about the inmate, such as name, address, birth date, gender, age, race, height, weight, hair, and eye color. They may also include more detailed things like mugshots, fingerprints, DNA, charges, convictions, sentencing, and other details.

The Illinois Department of Corrections is the agency in charge of most inmate records. However, other inmate or related records may be found within the court system, with local law enforcement, or other government agencies.


Illinois Prison and Jail System

Illinois has a large prison system, including 28 state prisons. The state also has two boot camps, four adult transition centers, two life skills re-entry centers, one rehabilitation and treatment center (for addiction and mental health issues), and five work camps. There are about 41,000 inmates in Illinois state prisons. 

The state also has dozens of local county jails holding roughly 23,000 inmates. These inmates are awaiting trial or bail/bond. Sometimes the jails hold inmates who are serving very small sentences (usually less than one year). 

How to Search for Inmates in Illinois

Illinois has an offender locator feature on their website where you can easily search for an inmate by last name, IDOC Number, or birthdate. Once you enter the information in and hit “Find,” you will see a very simple results list with the person’s ID, date of birth, and name. You can click any of them to see further details.

However, once you do, you will see a lot more information, including a mugshot, status, facility, physical profile, scars/tattoos/marks, release information, and full sentencing details. From within that page, you can click a link to send money to the inmate or receive notifications when they will be released. 


Types of Jails in Illinois

How to Contact, Send Money to or Visit an Inmate in Illinois

Before visiting an inmate in an Illinois prison, you must first fill out an application and submit it, and then await approval. You can find the forms here.

Anyone wishing to send money to an inmate can do so easily using the GTL, JPAY, Western Union, or by money order. You can send up to $5,000 to an inmate in prison. The details of doing so are here.

You cannot call an inmate in prison, but they can make collect calls to you. Illinois uses the Securus phone service for inmate phone calls. The details about using this service are here.

Friends and family can email inmates in the Illinois prison system. The service they use is called Global Tel, and you can learn all about it on this page. 

Federal Jails

  • Chicago MCC
    Address: 71 West Van Buren Street, Chicago, IL 60605
    Phone: 312-322-0567     More
  • Chicago RRM
    Address: 200 W. Adams St, Rm 2915, Chicago, IL 60606
    Phone: 312-886-2317     More
  • Greenville FCI
    Address: 100 U.s. Hwy 40, Greenville, IL 62246
    Phone: 618-664-6200     More
  • Marion USP
    Address: 4500 Prison Road, Marion, IL 62959
    Phone: 618-964-1441     More
  • Pekin FCI
    Address: 2600 S. Second St., Pekin, IL 61554
    Phone: 309-346-8588     More

Police Departments in Illinois

Illinois Counties

© 2024 StateCourts.org. All Rights Reserved.
Accessibility Settings

DISCLAIMER: The mission of StateCourts.org is to provide easy, affordable, and prompt access to government-generated public records. StateCourts.org is not operated by, affiliated with, or associated with any federal, state, or local government or agency. Because we are not the original source of the information provided through StateCourts.org, we cannot ensure or guarantee that the information is correct, accurate, comprehensive, or current. StateCourts.org is not a consumer reporting organization as determined by The Fair Credit Reporting Act, 15 USC § 1681 et seq ("FCRA"), and information provided cannot be used to establish a person's eligibility for personal credit or employment, tenant screening, or evaluate risk connected with a business transaction, or for any other purpose under the FCRA. Use of StateCourts.org for illegitimate reasons like stalking or harassing others may subject users to civil and criminal lawsuits and fines. To carry out research on StateCourts.org, users must consent to the StateCourts.org Terms of Service and our Privacy Policy and must agree that they will not use StateCourts.org for any purpose under the FCRA per our notice.