City Jails in Illinois

All City Jails in Illinois

Browse 232 city jails across 67 counties in Illinois

232
City Jails
67
Counties

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This page lists all 232 city jails in Illinois. You can browse by county below, search for specific facilities, or navigate to related pages.

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About City Jails in Illinois

Understanding city jails in the Illinois

Welcome to the most complete and up-to-date directory of city jails in Illinois. This page lists every active city jail facility operating across Illinois, giving families, attorneys, bail bondsmen, and the general public fast, reliable access to local jail information. Whether you need to locate a recently arrested loved one, find contact details for a specific facility, or simply understand how the city jail system works in Illinois, everything you need is available right here.

City Jail vs. Prison: What's the Difference?

City jails serve a very different function from state or federal prisons:

  • City Jails: Locally operated facilities that hold individuals for short periods — typically those who have just been arrested, are awaiting trial, are unable to make bail, or are serving sentences of less than one year.
  • County Jails: Similar to city jails but operated at the county level, serving a larger geographic area.
  • State Prisons: Operated by Illinois's Department of Corrections for felony offenses with sentences longer than one year.
  • Federal Prisons: Operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons for federal crimes.

If you're unsure where your loved one is held, use our free US inmate locator tool to search across all facility types at once.

How to Find Someone in a City Jail

When a loved one is arrested and taken to a city jail in Illinois, finding out exactly where they are being held is the first priority. Because city jails are locally operated, there is no single centralized database — which is exactly why this directory exists. Browse the list below, click on the relevant facility, and use the inmate search feature to locate your loved one quickly.

Booking & Intake Process

The booking process includes fingerprinting, photographing, health screening, and search of belongings. This can take a few hours to most of a day. During this period, the person is generally not accessible by phone or visitors.

Getting Bail

Bail is set by a judge at an arraignment, typically within 24-72 hours of arrest. A licensed bail bondsman can post bail on your behalf for a non-refundable fee of 10-15% of the total bail amount.

Hiring a Lawyer

Securing qualified legal representation as early as possible is critical. A criminal defense attorney can attend bail hearings, negotiate with prosecutors, and begin building a defense strategy from day one.

Calling an Inmate

Most city jails use third-party phone providers with outbound-only calls. Your number must be registered and a prepaid account set up. Read our calling guide for step-by-step instructions.

Sending Money

Inmates can receive money via online transfers, kiosk deposits, or money orders. Funds go to their commissary account for food, hygiene products, and phone credits. Click any facility for specific deposit methods.

Visitation

Visitation policies vary by facility. Some offer in-person visits while others use video only. Always check the specific facility's rules, visiting hours, and pre-approval requirements before making the trip.

Frequently Asked Questions

The total number of active city jails in Illinois is 232. This count is updated regularly to reflect any changes in facility status across Illinois.

Use the directory list on this page to find the city jail in the area where the arrest took place, then use the facility's inmate search tool to locate the person.

Yes. This page includes a built-in county filter that instantly narrows the list to show only city jails in a specific county within Illinois. Select your county from the dropdown above the list, and the results will update in real time.

Yes. Use the state selector tool on this page to switch to a complete directory of city jails in any other US state. Our database covers local jail facilities across all 50 states.

The length of time depends on the charges, bail status, and court scheduling. Pretrial detainees may be held for days, weeks, or even months as their cases move through the court system. Those serving sentences for misdemeanor convictions typically serve less than one year.

City jails in Illinois are operated by municipal authorities such as a city police department and typically serve a single city or town. County jails are operated by the county sheriff's office and serve a broader geographic area. Both hold similar populations — pretrial detainees and short-term sentenced inmates — but differ in jurisdiction and operational oversight.

City Jails by County in Illinois

View facilities organized by county

Filter City Jails by County

Illinois has City Jails spread across dozens of counties, and finding the right one quickly can be challenging without the right tools. Use the county list below to instantly narrow results and view only the City Jails in a specific county within Illinois. This is particularly helpful if you are trying to locate someone who was recently arrested in a specific area, or if you are planning a visit and need to find the closest facility to your location.

All City Jails in Illinois

Complete listing of city jails

Browse Every City Jails in Illinois

The full list of city jails in Illinois is displayed below. Each entry includes the jail's name, city, county, address, and contact information. City jails are locally operated facilities typically managed by municipal law enforcement agencies such as city police departments or local sheriff's offices. They primarily house individuals who have been recently arrested, are awaiting arraignment or bail hearings, or are serving short-term sentences.

Facility Name County Action
Benton Jail 500 West Main St, Benton, IL 62812
Franklin View Details
West Frankfort Jail 201 East Nolen St, West Frankfort, IL 62896
Franklin View Details
West Jail 1000 Blakely St, West City, IL 62812
Franklin View Details
Canton Jail Two North Main St, Canton, IL 61520
Fulton View Details
Farmington Jail 322 East Fort St, Farmington, IL 61531
Fulton View Details
Minooka Jail 121 East McEvilly Road, Minooka, IL 60447
Grundy View Details
Morris Jail 215 West Jefferson St, Morris, IL 60450
Grundy View Details
Carthage Jail 538 Wabash Ave, Carthage, IL 62321
Hancock View Details
Colona Jail 215 First St, Colona, IL 61241
Henry View Details
Kewanee Jail 401 East 3rd St, Kewanee, IL 61443
Henry View Details
Watseka Municipal Jail 201 Brianna Drive PO Box 318, Watseka, IL 60970
Iroquois View Details
Carbondale Jail 501 South Washington St, Carbondale, IL 62901
Jackson View Details
Murphysboro Jail 202 North 11th St, Murphysboro, IL 62966
Jackson View Details
Aurora Jail 1200 East Indian Trail Road, Aurora, IL 60505
Kane View Details
Batavia Jail 100 North Island Avenu, Batavia, IL 60510-1930
Kane View Details
Carpentersville Jail 1200 L.W. Besinger Drive, Carpentersville, IL 60110
Kane View Details
East Dundee Jail 120 Barrington Ave, East Dundee, IL 60118
Kane View Details
Elburn Jail 301 East North St, Elburn, IL 60119
Kane View Details
Geneva Jail 20 Police Plaza, Geneva, IL 60134
Kane View Details
Hampshire Jail 200 Industrial Drive, Hampshire, IL 60140
Kane View Details
North Aurora Jail 200 South Lincolnway St, North Aurora, IL 60542
Kane View Details
St. Charles Jail 211 North Riverside Ave, St. Charles, IL 60174
Kane View Details
Sugar Grove Jail 10 South Municipal Drive PO Box 2, Sugar Grove, IL 60554
Kane View Details
Bourbonnais Jail 700 Main St Northwest, Bourbonnais, IL 60914
Kankakee View Details
Bradley Jail 147 South Michigan Ave, Bradley, IL 60915
Kankakee View Details
Page 5 of 10 (232 city jails in Illinois)

City Jails in Other States

Browse city jails in other states

Explore City Jails in Other States

Looking for city jails beyond Illinois? We've got you covered. Use the state selectors below to instantly switch to a full directory of city jails in any other US state. Whether you need to look up facilities in a neighboring state or search across the country, our nationwide directory makes it simple to find the information you need in just a few clicks.