Illinois State Departament Of Corrections Inmate Search

Illinois has a higher prison population than most other states in the United States, with an incarceration rate of 497 per 100,000 persons. The number of prisoners has increased over the last 30 years. The increase is a result of the convictions for class 4 felonies. These are typically drug and nonviolent crimes.  

The high population of prisons has put a strain on resources, inmates, and staff in correctional facilities. The state is trying to come up with various alternatives to prison sentencing and system to reduce the population in the facilities. This includes improving the jail and prison system to play their rehabilitation role more effectively.  

How to Find Inmate Records in Illinois 

You can search for an inmate in Illinois by contacting the Illinois Department of Corrections. The department offers public access to inmate information through several mediums. You can call the department at (217) 558-2200.  

You can also perform the search using the Illinois inmate lookup tool. Search using their last name, IDOC number, or birthday. The search will give you other results, including release information, admission date, offense, and physical profile.  

Most county jails allow you to search for an inmate through an online web search. Each county jail has a different way you can perform the search, so be sure to check specific jails of interest.  

Illinois Prison and Jail System  

Illinois has five federal prisons and four federal prison camps. The North Central Regional Office manages the federal prisons. The federal prisons hold inmates for a long time and don't have the parole option. There are 28 state prisons and 92 county jails in the state. State prisons are managed by the state, while the municipalities run the jails. The Illinois Department of Corrections is responsible for running all the prisons.  

As per Illinois law, an inmate cannot be sentenced for more than 364 days in County jails. The adult corrections facility can hold 740 inmates. The average prison sentence in Illinois is four years. However, there are also those sentenced to life without the option of parole.  

The inmates in Illinois prisons access various vocational and educational programs. Furthermore, they also get mental and medical health care. The major goal of the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) is to enhance behavior change and help inmates re-integrate after release.  

Contacting an Inmate 

Inmates in Illinois correctional facilities aren't allowed to receive calls. However, they are permitted to call persons on their approved call list. Individual correctional facilities have set times when calls can be made. All the calls are monitored and recorded by the staff unless the call is from an inmate's attorney.  

Three-way calls are prohibited by the authorities and can lead to disciplinary actions. To receive a call from an inmate, you should create a prepaid account before accepting calls. Set up the account by through Securus. 

You can also contact an inmate through an electronic messaging system. Create and send the message via Global Tel* Link's (GTL) ConnectNetwork.com. Your message is printed and delivered to the inmate. The message is also screened and monitored according to the laid down policies.  

Sending Money  

You can deposit money in an inmate’s commissary account. Send the money through Western Union, JPAY, GTL, and Money Gram. You must include crucial details such as the inmate's full name and IDOC number. You cannot send an amount exceeding $3,000 for MoneyGram.  

Money sent through MoneyGram is credited within four business days, while the others are completed within two days. You shouldn't send more than $999.99 through a money order.  

Visiting an Inmate  

The Illinois Department of Corrections has visitation rules for each of the facilities. The visiting time ranges from two hours on weekdays and an hour on weekends. To visit, you should be on the approved visitation list.  

Schedule your visit at least a week before by signing up for a visit on the specific correctional facility website. You should arrive at the facility at least ten minutes before your visit time. You cannot get into the facility with your items or electronic devices. Carry your state-issued photo I.D. and other identification documents according to the rules in the specific facility you are visiting.