County Jails in Illinois

All County Jails in Illinois

Browse 135 county jails across 102 counties in Illinois

135
County Jails
102
Counties

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This page lists all 135 county jails in Illinois. You can browse by county below, search for specific facilities, or navigate to related pages.

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About County Jails in Illinois

Understanding county jails in the Illinois

Welcome to the most complete and up-to-date directory of county jails and correctional facilities in Illinois. This page lists every active county-level detention facility operating across Illinois, providing families, attorneys, bail bondsmen, social workers, and the general public with fast, reliable access to accurate information about county-level incarceration. County jails are often the first longer-term facility a person is sent to after initial arrest and police booking, making this directory essential for anyone trying to locate a recently arrested loved one.

What Are County Jails and How Do They Work?

County jails in Illinois are local correctional facilities operated by the county sheriff's office or county department of corrections. They serve as the primary point of longer-term detention for individuals awaiting trial, unable to make bail, or serving shorter sentences for misdemeanor offenses.

The county jail system is decentralized — each county operates its own facility tailored to its population size, court system, and law enforcement needs. This means county jails vary significantly in size, capacity, programming, and conditions.

How County Jails Differ From Other Facilities

  • County Jails: Operated by sheriff's office. Hold pretrial detainees, those unable to make bail, misdemeanor sentences under one year.
  • City/Municipal Jails: Operated by city police. Shorter holds immediately after arrest before county transfer.
  • Police Lockups: Short-term holding (24-72 hours) during initial booking and processing.
  • State Prisons: Operated by Illinois's DOC for felony sentences over one year.
  • Federal Prisons: Operated by Federal Bureau of Prisons for federal crimes.

Types of County Correctional Facilities

  • County Jail: Standard county detention facility serving the general pretrial and sentenced misdemeanor population.
  • County Correctional Center: Larger facility with expanded programming, multiple housing units, and specialized services.
  • County Detention Center: Often houses higher proportion of pretrial detainees or federal contract inmates.
  • County Work Release Center: Minimum-security allowing day employment with evening return.
  • County Medical/Mental Health Facility: Specialized units for inmates requiring ongoing medical or mental health care.
  • County Honor Farm: Minimum-security where inmates perform outdoor work assignments.

How to Use This Directory

  • Browse the full directory of all county jails in Illinois by scrolling below.
  • Filter by county using the dropdown to narrow results to a specific county.
  • Switch states using the state selector to load county jails in any other US state.
  • Click any facility to open its dedicated page with contact details and inmate search.
  • Locate an inmate using the search feature on any facility page or our main inmate locator.

Finding an Inmate in a County Jail

County jails maintain their own inmate databases, and most offer online inmate lookup tools through the county sheriff's website. The fastest way to find someone is to identify the county where they were arrested using the directory below, then visit that facility's dedicated page to use the inmate search feature. You can also use our free US inmate locator tool to search across all county jails simultaneously.

Visitation

Policies vary considerably — some jails offer in-person contact visits, others have non-contact or video visitation only. Check visitation rules for the specific facility before planning a visit. Click any facility to view its complete visitation guidelines.

Calling an Inmate

Phone calls are outbound only from pre-approved numbers. Your number must be registered with the facility's phone provider and a prepaid account funded. Read our calling guide for complete setup instructions.

Getting Bail

Once bail is set at arraignment, pay it directly to the county jail or court, or work with a licensed bail bondsman who will post bail for a fee of 10-15% of the total amount.

Programs Available

Larger county jails typically offer GED and literacy programs, substance abuse counseling, religious services, and sometimes vocational training. Program availability varies significantly by facility size and resources.

Sheriff's Role

In most counties, the sheriff's office operates and manages the county jail. The sheriff is accountable for safe, humane, and legally compliant operation, including staffing, programming, medical services, and state/federal compliance.

Release & Reentry

Release can happen through bail, sentence completion, dismissal of charges, or court order. The transition back to daily life requires planning for employment, family reconnection, court-ordered supervision, and financial stability.

Frequently Asked Questions

The total number of active county jails and correctional facilities in Illinois is shown at the top of the directory list on this page. This count is updated regularly to reflect any openings, closures, or changes in facility operations across Illinois.

County jails in Illinois are primarily operated by the county sheriff's office. In some larger counties, a dedicated county department of corrections may manage jail operations. All county jails in Illinois are publicly accountable institutions subject to oversight by relevant state correctional standards agencies.

County jails in Illinois are locally operated facilities that hold pretrial detainees and individuals serving sentences of less than one year for misdemeanor offenses. State prisons are operated by Illinois's Department of Corrections and house individuals convicted of felonies serving sentences longer than one year. This directory covers county facilities only.

Use our free US inmate locator tool to search by name across county jails in Illinois, or click on any facility in the directory below to access its dedicated inmate search feature. Having the person's full legal name and the county where they were arrested will significantly speed up your search.

There is no fixed maximum length of stay in a county jail in Illinois. Pretrial detainees may be held for days, weeks, or months as their cases move through the court system. Those serving sentenced time for misdemeanor convictions typically serve less than one year. Some county jails also house state prison overflow inmates for extended periods.

Once bail has been set by a judge at arraignment, you can pay it directly to the county jail or court, or work with a licensed bail bondsman who will post bail on your behalf for a fee of typically 10 to 15 percent of the total amount.

Yes. Use the county filter dropdown above the directory list to instantly narrow the results to show only the county jail or jails in a specific county within Illinois. The list updates in real time without requiring a page reload. You can also use the state selector to view county jails in any other US state.

Program availability varies significantly by facility size and resources. Larger county jails typically offer GED and literacy programs, substance abuse counseling, religious services, and sometimes vocational training. Smaller county jails may offer fewer programs. Check the individual facility page in the directory for details.

County Jails by County in Illinois

View facilities organized by county

Filter County Jails by County

Illinois has County 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 County 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 County Jails in Illinois

Complete listing of county jails

Browse the Complete List of County Jails in Illinois

The full directory of county jails and correctional facilities in Illinois is displayed below. Every active county-operated detention facility is included in this listing. Each entry includes the facility name, operating county, location, address, security classification, and contact information. County jails are operated by the county sheriff's office or county department of corrections and serve as the primary detention facility for the county's pretrial population and sentenced misdemeanor offenders.

Facility Name County Action
Cook County Jail (CCDOC) - Division 3 (Annex) - INACTIVE 2700 South California Ave, Chicago, IL 60608
Cook View Details
Cook County Jail (CCDOC) - Division 4 2717 South Sacramento Ave, Chicago, IL 60608
Cook View Details
Cook County Jail (CCDOC) - Division 6 2900 South Sacramento Ave, Chicago, IL 60608
Cook View Details
Cook County Jail (CCDOC) - Division 8 RTU 2800 South California Ave, Chicago, IL 60608
Cook View Details
Cook County Jail (CCDOC) - Division 8 RTU Annex 2700 South California Ave, Chicago, IL 60608
Cook View Details
Cook County Jail (CCDOC) - Division 9 2834 West 31st St, Chicago, IL 60608
Cook View Details
Cook County Jail (CCDOC) - DOC Boot Camp 2801 South Rockwell Ave, Chicago, IL 60608
Cook View Details
Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center 1100 South Hamilton Ave, Chicago, IL 60612
Cook View Details
Cook County Sheriff's Office (CCDOC) - Main Facility 50 West Washington St, Chicago, IL 60602
Cook View Details
Crawford County IL Jail 203 South Jefferson PO Box 591, Robinson, IL 62454
Crawford View Details
Cumberland County IL Jail 166 Court House Square PO Box 56, Toledo, IL 62468
Cumberland View Details
DeWitt County IL Sheriff 101 West Washington St, Clinton, IL 61727
De Witt View Details
DeKalb County IL Sheriff's Jail 150 North Main St, Sycamore, IL 60178
DeKalb View Details
Douglas County IL Jail 920 South Washington, Tuscola, IL 61953
Douglas View Details
DuPage County IL Jail 501 North County Farm Road PO Box 957, Wheaton, IL 60187
Dupage View Details
DuPage County IL Juvenile Detention Center 420 North Farm Road, Wheaton, IL 60187-3996
Dupage View Details
Edgar County Jail 228 North Central Ave, Paris, IL 61944
Edgar View Details
Edwards County IL Jail 50 Main St, Albion, IL 62806
Edwards View Details
Effingham County IL Jail 101 North 4th St, Suite 101, Effingham, IL 62401
Effingham View Details
Fayette County IL Jail 221 South 7th, Vandalia, IL 62471
Fayette View Details
Ford County IL Jail 235 North American, Paxton, IL 60957
Ford View Details
Franklin County IL Jail 403 East Main St, Benton, IL 62812
Franklin View Details
Franklin County IL Juvenile Detention Center 409 East Washington, Benton, IL 62812
Franklin View Details
Fulton County IL Jail 268 West Washington Ave PO Box 269, Lewiston, IL 61542
Fulton View Details
Gallatin County IL Jail 484 North Lincoln Blvd West PO Box 340, Shawneetown, IL 6298...
Gallatin View Details
Page 2 of 6 (135 county jails in Illinois)

County Jails in Other States

Browse county jails in other states

Explore County Jails in Other States

Looking for county jails beyond Illinois? We've got you covered. Use the state selectors below to instantly switch to a full directory of county 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.