Illinois Inmate Search

Illinois is part of the largest prison system all over the United States. That is because the state is home to 6 federal prisons, 44 state prisons, 105 county jails, and 11 county juvenile prisons. The Bureau of Prisons (BOP) manages the federal jails; the state's jails are managed by the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC); the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice manages juvenile detention centers; and the county governments manage the county jails through the county sheriff. In addition to the conventional detention centers, the state boasts 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. 

With many state institutions, it is no surprise that the state jails have at least 41,000 inmates in addition to 23,000 inmates in the various county jails. Inmates in the county jails often await trial or serve sentences for minor crimes. Juvenile detention centers hold underage inmates, while federal jails hold inmates convicted of federal crimes. Illinois used to execute some inmates until the practice was stopped in 2011. 

Inmate Records 

Illinois holds different inmate records through the different law enforcement departments, the justice system, and the prison system. The records include all the forms, documents, images, audio, and video records that follow an inmate through the prison system. Inmate records are generated once before an inmate is suspected; an arrest warrant is issued, and all the data is generated with the inmate in custody. 

Inmate records often contain details such as the inmate's name, address, birth date, gender, age, race, height, weight, hair, mugshots, fingerprints, DNA, charges, convictions, sentencing, and eye color. Most of the records are maintained by the IDOC, but some are found with county sheriffs. 

Inmate Searches in Illinois 

Illinois has a flexible system to help people locate inmates locked up in prisons and jails. The inmates' details can be found on Individual in Custody Search and Illinois Department of Corrections - Inmate Search.  

You can search the jail roster using the inmate's birthdate, name, and IDOC number. Once you search you will be presented with the list of inmates' IDs, dates of birth, and names. You can click on the list for details such as mugshot, status, facility, physical profile, scars/tattoos/marks, release information, and full sentencing details. Federal inmate searches can be done at the BOP website, while those in jails can be found on the respective sheriff/county/jail websites.