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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
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 |
|---|---|---|
|
Decatur Jail
1 Gary K. Anderson Plaza, Decatur, IL 62523
|
Macon | View Details |
|
Mt. Zion Jail
400 West Main St, Mt. Zion, IL 62549
|
Macon | View Details |
|
Bunker Hill Jail
801 South Franklin St, Bunker Hill, IL 62014
|
Macoupin | View Details |
|
Carlinville Jail
570 North Broad, Carlinville, IL 62626
|
Macoupin | View Details |
|
Alton Jail
1700 East Broadway, Alton, IL 62002
|
Madison | View Details |
|
Bethalto Jail
213 North Prairie St, Bethalto, IL 62010
|
Madison | View Details |
|
Collinsville Jail
200 West Clay St, Collinsville, IL 62234
|
Madison | View Details |
|
East Alton Jail
211 North Shamrock St, East Alton, IL 62024
|
Madison | View Details |
|
Glen Carbon Jail
149 North Main St, Glen Carbon, IL 62034
|
Madison | View Details |
|
Highland Jail
820 Mulberry St, Highland, IL 62249-0218
|
Madison | View Details |
|
Livingston Jail
601 Livingston Ave, Livingston, IL 62058
|
Madison | View Details |
|
Worden Jail
115 West Wall St
PO Box 355, Worden, IL 62097
|
Madison | View Details |
|
Centralia Jail
222 South Poplar, Centralia, IL 62801
|
Marion | View Details |
|
Toluca Jail
102 North Main St, Toluca, IL 61369
|
Marshall | View Details |
|
Havana Jail
226 West Market St, Havana, IL 62644
|
Mason | View Details |
|
Bushnell Jail
127 Ludwig, Bushnell, IL 61422
|
McDonough | View Details |
|
Algonquin Jail
2200 Harnish Drive, Algonquin, IL 60102-5995
|
McHenry | View Details |
|
Cary Jail
654 Village Hall Drive, Cary, IL 60013
|
McHenry | View Details |
|
Crystal Lake Jail
100 West Woodstock St, Crystal Lake, IL 60014
|
McHenry | View Details |
|
Huntley Jail
10911 Main St, Huntley, IL 60142
|
McHenry | View Details |
|
Johnsburg Jail
3611 Chapel Hill Road, Johnsburg, IL 60051
|
McHenry | View Details |
|
Lakewood Jail
2500 Lake Ave, Lakewood, IL 60014
|
McHenry | View Details |
|
Marengo Jail
142 East Prairie St, Marengo, IL 60152
|
McHenry | View Details |
|
Bloomington Jail
305 South East St, Bloomington, IL 61701
|
McLean | View Details |
|
LeRoy Jail
207 South East St, LeRoy, IL 61752
|
McLean | View Details |
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.