How do I search for an inmate in Cook County Jail?

Use the official Cook County Sheriff's Individual in Custody Locator. Search with the person's full first and last name, or use the booking ID without a hyphen. Newly processed jail records are typically published about four to six hours after booking.

What is the Cook County Jail inmate information phone number?

Cook County Department of Corrections lists the Individual in Custody Information line as 773-674-JAIL, or 773-674-5245. The automated help line is available in English and Spanish.

Why can I not find someone in the Cook County inmate locator?

A newly arrested person may not appear immediately because Cook County says locator results are typically published four to six hours after booking and processing. The person also may have been released before full booking, transferred, listed under another spelling, or held by another agency.

Where is the Cook County Jail located?

The main Cook County Department of Corrections address is 2700 South California Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60608. The jail is a multi-division complex, so visitors should identify the person's current division before traveling.

Do I need approval before visiting Cook County Jail?

Yes. Adult visitors must submit a visitor application and pass a background check. Cook County recommends waiting seven business days after submitting the application before calling the Visitor Information Center at 773-674-8225 to check status.

How do I send money to someone in Cook County Jail?

Cook County allows trust-account deposits through approved online or telephone vendors, participating currency-exchange facilities, JailATM, mailed money orders or cashier's checks, and jail lobby kiosks. You need the exact name and booking number. Online and telephone deposits generally take one to two business days to post.

Does Illinois still use cash bail for new Cook County criminal cases?

Illinois eliminated cash bail for criminal cases under the Pretrial Fairness Act beginning September 18, 2023. Initial Appearance Court now determines whether a newly charged defendant is released or detained. Cook County's Bond Room remains relevant to limited older matters, including certain warrants issued before September 18, 2023 and Child Support Body Attachments.

How do I check a Cook County criminal case?

Use the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County Online Case Information service. The electronic docket provides summaries of court filings and events, but the Clerk states that the online docket is not the official court record.

What number do I call for a Cook County Jail mental health concern?

The Cook County Sheriff's Office Mental Health Hotline operates 24 hours a day at 773-674-CARE, which is 773-674-2273.

Cook County, IL Jail Inmate Search & Roster

Q: How do I find which Cook County Jail division an inmate is in?

Search the Individual in Custody Locator or call 773-674-5245. The beginning of the listed housing location identifies the division, such as DIV09 or DIV10. Use that division to determine the correct visitation entrance and schedule.

Q: Do children need a Cook County Jail visitor application?

Children age 17 or younger do not submit a visitor application, but they must be accompanied by an approved parent or guardian. High-school-age minors must present a current state or school photo ID. One approved adult may accompany up to three children.

Q: What is the mailing address for Cook County Jail inmates?

Address personal mail using the individual's name and booking number followed by 2700 South California Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60608. If you do not know the booking number, use the official locator or call 773-674-5245.

Cook County, Illinois · Jail lookup and family action guide

Cook County Booking Lookup, Housing Division, Visits, Court and Release Help

Cook County operates its own official Individual in Custody Locator, so families do not need to depend on scraped inmate lists or paid people-search websites. Search by the person’s full first and last name or by booking ID, then use the housing code to figure out the correct jail division.

Finding the name is only the first step. This guide explains the 4–6 hour booking delay, housing codes, visitor approval, division-specific visits, Illinois’ no-cash-bail system, trust-fund deposits, mail, phone and text services, property pickup, court records, mental-health help, PREA reports and discharge questions.

Search the official jail locator Call 773-674-JAIL No inmate found?

Do not identify someone from a name or booking photo alone. Confirm the booking number, birth information, booking date, court case and housing details. An arrest or criminal charge is an allegation and does not establish guilt.

Official search

Full first + last name or booking ID.

Booking delay

New locator records commonly take 4–6 hours.

Custody line

773-674-5245

Main jail

2700 S. California Ave., Chicago.

Checked

August 17, 2026.

Start here

Choose the fastest Cook County inmate-search route

You know the full name

The official locator requires the full first name and full last name for a name search.

You have the booking ID

Enter the booking ID without a hyphen. This is usually the cleanest way to separate people with similar names.

The arrest was just made

Allow for processing. Cook County says locator information is typically published about four to six hours after booking.

Best workflow: Locator → booking number → housing division → visitation schedule → court case. Save the booking number before doing anything else because it is also needed for mail and trust-fund deposits.

Official locator

How to search Cook County Jail correctly

The Sheriff’s search page provides two direct search methods. A name search requires both the full first and full last name. A booking-number search accepts the Booking ID without a hyphen.

Open the official Individual in Custody Locator Use the Cook County Sheriff’s own search system rather than a copied jail roster.

Use full first and last name Enter the person’s complete first name and complete last name as they are likely to appear in the booking record.

Or use the Booking ID Remove the hyphen if you copied the booking number from another document. The official search gives an example in a continuous numeric format.

Open the matching custody result Compare the person’s identifiers, booking details and current housing location.

Save the booking number You will need it for mailed funds, personal mail, trust-account questions and many other jail services.

Read the housing location carefully The first part of the housing location identifies the division, such as DIV09 or DIV10.

Check the court case separately Jail custody information and the Circuit Court docket answer different questions. Save the legal case information for the Clerk’s online system.

Run the live Cook County search Call the automated jail line

What to save from the Cook County inmate result

Turn the custody result into useful next steps
Result detail	Why it matters	Use it for
Booking ID	Uniquely identifies the current booking more reliably than a common name.	Deposits, mail, Records Office questions and identity verification.
Housing location	Identifies the division and often the tier or living unit.	Choosing the correct visitor entrance and schedule.
Booking date	Helps distinguish the current arrest from an older Cook County booking.	Same-name verification and recent-arrest troubleshooting.
Court information	Connects the custody record to the Circuit Court case.	Checking hearings, case history and release/detention orders.
Custody status	Shows whether the person is presently reported in Sheriff’s custody.	Planning visits, deposits, mail or release pickup.

Cook County terminology: The Sheriff’s Office generally uses the phrase individual in custody rather than “inmate” on its current public pages. Searchers may use either phrase, but the official system is called the Individual in Custody Locator.

Troubleshooting

Why someone may not appear in the Cook County jail search

Arrest happened less than 4–6 hours ago The person may still be going through booking and processing. Cook County says new locator results typically appear about four to six hours after processing.

The person posted release conditions quickly Cook County notes that some people who are released after initial court proceedings may not complete the same full jail booking process.

Name spelling is wrong The search requires full first and last name. Check legal spelling, compound surnames and aliases.

You have a booking number with a hyphen Enter the Booking ID as continuous numbers without the hyphen.

The person was transferred The person may now be under another county, Illinois DOC, federal or medical custody.

You are looking for a court case, not custody Use the Cook County Clerk case-information system even when the person is no longer in jail.

Useful phone script “I’m trying to confirm whether [full legal name], date of birth [date if known], is currently in Cook County custody. The arrest occurred around [date/time]. I have [booking number if known]. Can you confirm whether booking is complete and what housing division is currently listed?”

Individual in Custody Information

773-674-5245

Automated help is available in English and Spanish.

Records Office

773-674-2390

Useful when you need help confirming a booking identification number.

Housing decoder

How to turn the housing code into the correct Cook County Jail location

Cook County Jail is not one simple building. It is a large multi-division correctional campus. The first characters in the locator’s housing location identify where the person is assigned.

Major Cook County correctional locations families commonly need
Housing / division	Visitor entrance or address	What to know
Division 6 / Annex	2800 S. Sacramento Ave., Chicago, IL 60608	Use the housing tier/dorm to identify the correct visit day.
Division 8 RTU / Annex	2700 S. California Ave., Chicago, IL 60608	Treatment-unit schedules are different from general jail divisions.
Cermak	2700 S. California Ave., Chicago, IL 60608	Medical housing uses its own schedule by floor/unit.
Division 9	2854 W. 31st St., Chicago, IL 60608	Visitor entrance is on 31st Street; schedule depends on living unit.
Division 10	2950 S. California Ave., Chicago, IL 60608	Maximum/general-population housing with tier-specific visiting periods.
Division 11	3015 S. California Blvd., Chicago, IL 60608	Use the division-specific schedule before traveling.

Simple rule: Never plan a Cook County visit from the main jail address alone. First identify the housing division, then use that division’s entrance and tier schedule.

Cook County Jail phone numbers and which one to call

Cook County corrections contact guide
Your question	Office	Phone / hours
Is the person in custody? Which division?	Individual in Custody Information	773-674-5245
Bonding, discharge, property, court time, trust-fund question	Corrections Customer Service	773-674-1945 7 days, 8 a.m.–8 p.m.
Visitor application or approval status	Visitor Information Center	773-674-8225
Booking identification number	Records Office	773-674-2390
Trust-account deposit problem	Trust/Finance Office	773-674-6864 8 a.m.–4 p.m.
Mental-health concern	Mental Health Hotline	773-674-CARE (2273) 24 hours
General complaint/comment	Corrections Customer Service	773-674-1866

Cook County Department of Corrections

2700 South California Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60608

Main corrections line: 773-674-1945

Cook County Sheriff’s Office

3026 South California Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60608

This is the Sheriff’s Office address, not necessarily the entrance for the person’s housing division.

Important Illinois change

Cook County bond and release after Illinois eliminated cash bail

Do not use an old Cook County “cash bail” guide for a new 2026 arrest. Illinois eliminated cash bail for criminal cases effective September 18, 2023 under the Pretrial Fairness Act.

For a newly charged criminal case, the important question is now whether the judge orders release, release with conditions, or pretrial detention. Initial Appearance Court replaced the old cash-bail process for new cases.

Arrest and processing The person enters law-enforcement custody and is processed for the criminal case.

Initial Appearance Court A judge reviews the case and determines whether the defendant should be released or detained under Illinois pretrial law.

Release may include conditions Court-ordered conditions can include reporting requirements, restrictions or electronic monitoring when legally authorized.

Detention requires a court decision In qualifying cases, prosecutors may seek detention and the court determines whether statutory detention standards are met.

Custody status updates The jail locator and court docket may update at different times, so use both when release appears imminent.

Why does Cook County still have a Bond Room?

The Clerk’s current Criminal Division guidance explains that the Division 5 Bond Room remains operational for limited legacy or non-standard matters, including people with an outstanding warrant issued before September 18, 2023 or a Child Support Body Attachment.

Initial Appearance Court

George N. Leighton Criminal Court Building

2650 S. California Ave., Room 111
Chicago, IL 60608

Division 5 Bond Room

2700 S. California Ave.
Chicago, IL 60608

Current Clerk information lists it as open 10 a.m.–6 p.m., seven days a week, including holidays, for matters it still handles.

Practical question to ask: “Is this a new Pretrial Fairness Act case, an older monetary-bond matter, an outstanding pre-September-18-2023 warrant, or a child-support body attachment?” The answer determines which process applies.

Visitor approval

Cook County Jail visitor application: approval, denial and children

Cook County requires adult visitors to submit an application before visiting. The application triggers a background check and is tied to the specific individual in custody.

Find the individual in custody Search the official locator first so you apply for the correct person.

Submit the visitor application The Sheriff strongly encourages using the online process, although applications may also be available at divisional lobbies and Cook County courthouse entrances.

Wait for the background check Do not assume submission means approval.

Allow seven business days Cook County asks applicants to wait seven business days after submitting before checking the status.

Confirm approval Call the Visitor Information Center at 773-674-8225 or use the Sheriff’s published visitation contact.

Schedule the in-person visit Once approved, use Cook County’s visitation scheduling system and select an available time compatible with the person’s division/tier.

Important visitor-application rules

Application is person-specific

If you want to visit more than one person in custody, submit an application for each person.

Re-incarceration

If the person is discharged and later re-incarcerated, Cook County requires a new visitor application.

Children

Visitors age 17 or younger do not submit an application, but must be accompanied by an approved parent or guardian.

High-school-age minors: Cook County requires a current state or school photo ID. One approved adult may accompany up to three children.

Reasons an adult visitor may be denied

Invalid, inaccurate or unverifiable application information.
Applicant is age 17 or younger and therefore should not apply as an adult visitor.
Applicant is within the first year of parole or probation.
Applicant is on house arrest.
Applicant is on bond or has an open criminal case, excluding qualifying misdemeanor traffic matters.
Applicant was released from Cook County DOC, Illinois DOC or another verified correctional facility during the previous 60 days.
Applicant has an outstanding warrant, including applicable immigration detainers.
Applicant has failed to maintain legally required registration information.
A protective order applies between the applicant and the individual they want to visit.
CCSO determines that a safety or security reason requires denial.

Submit visitor application Schedule approved in-person visit

Division-specific visits

Cook County Jail visitation times depend on division and living unit

There is no single visitation schedule that works for every Cook County Jail resident. The housing code determines the division, and the tier or dorm may determine the exact day.

Current examples of division-specific visit windows
Housing	Published visiting pattern	Entrance
Division 6 Annex – Dorm 2	Sunday 8 a.m.–1 p.m.; Tuesday 3:30–8:30 p.m.	Post at 2800 S. Sacramento Ave.
Division 6 Annex – Dorm 3	Wednesday 3:30–8:30 p.m.; Saturday 8 a.m.–1 p.m.	Post at 2800 S. Sacramento Ave.
Division 8 RTU Annex – 2D, 2F, 2M	Sunday and Wednesday 3:30–8:30 p.m.	2700 S. California Ave.
Division 8 RTU Annex – 2B, 2E, 2L	Tuesday and Saturday 3:30–8:30 p.m.	2700 S. California Ave.
Division 10	Different units use Sunday/Saturday daytime or afternoon, plus Monday–Wednesday evening periods. Thursday and Friday are currently no-visit days.	2950 S. California Ave.
Division 9	Unit-specific Sunday/Saturday periods plus Monday–Wednesday evening schedules. Thursday and Friday are currently no-visit days.	2854 W. 31st St.
Cermak 2N, 2S, 2E	Sunday 8 a.m.–1:30 p.m.; Tuesday 3:30–8:30 p.m.	2700 S. California Ave.
Cermak 3N, 3W, 3S male housing	Sunday 3:30–8:30 p.m.; Tuesday 3:30–8:30 p.m.	2700 S. California Ave.
Cermak 2W, 3E, 3S female housing	Monday 3:30–8:30 p.m.; Saturday 3:30–8:30 p.m.	2700 S. California Ave.

Never use only the division number: In several Cook County divisions the exact living unit, tier, floor or dorm controls the visiting day. Recheck the housing location shortly before the visit because transfers can change the schedule.

Video visits

Cook County also provides family video visitation through Microsoft Teams for participating housing locations. The visitor needs an active Microsoft Teams account associated with an email address. Jail rules still apply during the video visit.

Video-visit conduct: Drinking, smoking, nudity, inappropriate conduct and other violations of CCDOC rules can end the session and can result in loss of future visiting privileges.

Trust fund and commissary

How to send money to someone in Cook County Jail

Every person in Cook County Department of Corrections custody has a trust-fund account. The money can be used for approved commissary purchases and other permitted jail services.

Weekly commissary limit

Cook County currently allows purchases of up to $100 per week in approved clothing, supplies or food items.

What commissary offers

Clothing, stamped envelopes, toiletries, phone cards and supplemental food items.

Trust/Finance Office

773-674-6864

Published hours: 8 a.m.–4 p.m.

What you need before depositing money

Exact spelling of the person’s name

Cook County Booking Identification Number

Current custody confirmation

Receipt or confirmation number after payment

Cook County trust-account deposit methods
Method	Cook County instruction	Processing note
Western Union	Use city code CCDOC or COOK COUNTY DEPT CORRECTION, State Illinois.	Online/telephone deposits generally take 1–2 business days.
MoneyGram	Cook County publishes receive code 1750.	Keep the transaction receipt.
JailATM	Register using the exact inmate identity information; no Cook County receive code is listed.	Online/telephone deposit option.
Currency exchange	Participating locations may provide Western Union, MoneyGram or Cash Pay Today services.	Confirm vendor fees at the location.
USPS money order	Money orders accepted up to $100.	May take up to 5 business days after receipt.
USPS cashier’s check	Cashier’s checks accepted up to $1,000.	May take up to 5 business days after receipt.
Jail lobby kiosk	Cash or credit card may be used at listed kiosks around the correctional compound.	Use exact name and booking ID.

Money-order / cashier’s-check address

Address exactly with the inmate identity

Cook County Department of Corrections
[INDIVIDUAL IN CUSTODY NAME], [BOOKING IDENTIFICATION NUMBER]
2700 S. California Avenue
Chicago, IL 60608

Never mail cash. Cook County explicitly states that cash is not accepted through the mail under any circumstances.

Large balances: Cook County reserves the right to place unusually large deposits on hold when the department considers the amount a safety or security concern.

Personal mail

Cook County Jail mailing address and prohibited items

Personal letter format

NAME:
BOOKING #:
2700 S. California Ave.
Chicago, IL 60608

The booking number is essential. Use the official locator or call 773-674-5245 if you do not have it.

Common items that Cook County says cannot be mailed

Food and consumables

No candy, food, cigarettes, cigars or tobacco-related items.

Clothing and personal items

No underwear, shirts, socks, gym shoes, cosmetics, jewelry, keys or identification cards.

Hard or hazardous materials

No batteries, aerosol cans, glass, wood, metal objects, matches or cigarette lighters.

Adhesives

No adhesive tape or glue.

Hygiene products

No bar soap, dental floss, toothpaste, dental powder, combs, brushes or hair accessories.

Financial / contraband items

No credit cards, illegal substances or unauthorized materials.

Prevent a rejected mailing: Confirm the person is still housed in Cook County, copy the name exactly from the locator, include the booking number and avoid adding gifts or personal-care products to the envelope.

Communication

Cook County inmate phone accounts and text messaging

Cook County uses ViaPath/ConnectNetwork-related communication services for available inmate phone and messaging functions.

Phone account support

Family and friends can establish prepaid communication accounts using the provider identified by Cook County.

Customer support: 877-650-4249

Text messaging

Cook County currently lists a $0.06 fee per message sent by friends or family to the individual in custody.

The individual in custody can respond and send messages back to friends and family without that per-message charge.

Block unwanted jail calls

To block an individual in custody or the facility from contacting your telephone number through the communication provider, Cook County directs users to customer service at 1-866-516-0115 and the applicable blocking prompts.

Account problem? First confirm that the person is still housed at Cook County Jail. A transfer or discharge can explain why a communication account stops working.

Court case lookup

How to check Cook County charges, court dates and case status

The Sheriff’s locator is a custody tool. The Clerk of the Circuit Court maintains the court docket. Use both instead of treating the jail result as the complete criminal case history.

Copy the defendant’s legal name and case information Use the jail result or court paperwork rather than guessing the spelling.

Open Cook County Online Case Information Search the Clerk’s electronic docket for the relevant criminal case.

Review all matching cases A person may have multiple misdemeanor, felony, warrant or older cases.

Check recent docket events Review available summaries for hearings, court orders and case activity.

Do not treat the web docket as a certified record The Clerk states that the online electronic docket contains brief summaries and is not the official court record.

Call the correct court office when necessary For Cook County Criminal Division felony cases in Chicago, the Clerk lists 773-674-3140.

Criminal Division

George N. Leighton Criminal Court Building
2650 S. California Ave.
5th Floor, Room 526
Chicago, IL 60608

Phone: 773-674-3140

Clerk Customer Service

Phone: 312-603-5030

Useful for court-service questions and Initial Appearance Court information.

Search Cook County court cases

Property release

How to pick up property from Cook County Jail

Property pickup can take time. Cook County tells visitors to expect a wait of approximately one to two hours and requires valid identification to enter the jail.

Division 5 property location

2700 S. California Ave.
Chicago, IL 60608

Published hours: Sunday–Saturday, 9 a.m.–7 p.m.

Bring identification

Cook County requires valid ID to enter the jail for property pickup.

If the individual is in Division 6, 9 or 11

Go to the person’s housing division Division 6: 2801 S. Sacramento Ave.; Division 9: 2834 W. 31st Street; Division 11: 3015 S. California Blvd.

Ask for a Correctional Liaison Cook County lists liaison public-assistance availability Monday–Friday from 9 a.m.–1:30 p.m.

Obtain the signed release form The individual in custody must authorize release of the property.

Take the signed form to Division 5 Property is then recovered through the Division 5 process.

If the person already transferred to IDOC or another facility

Before transfer, the individual may complete and mail a property-release form to the intended recipient. Once the recipient receives that signed form, it can be brought to Division 5 for property recovery.

Mental-health help

What family members should do about a Cook County Jail mental-health concern

24-hour Mental Health Hotline

773-674-CARE

773-674-2273

When to call

Use the hotline when you are concerned about a person’s mental health, emotional condition, crisis risk or the impact of serious family news.

Family communication tip from the Sheriff’s mental-health program: If you need to tell someone in custody about a death, serious injury, major health problem or another highly distressing family event, Cook County encourages family members to notify the Mental Health Care Line so support can be arranged around the conversation.

Immediate emergency: Do not rely on an email or web form when there is an imminent safety threat. Alert correctional staff or emergency services immediately.

Safety reporting

How families can report sexual abuse or harassment in Cook County Jail

Cook County states that the Sheriff’s Office and Department of Corrections have a zero-tolerance policy for sexual abuse, sexual harassment and voyeurism in custody.

Who can report?

The individual in custody.
A person who has already been discharged.
A family member.
A friend.
An attorney.
Another third party with information.

Useful information to include

Victim’s name and custody number if known

Alleged offender’s name if known

Description of what happened

Dates, times and locations

Names of possible witnesses

Your contact information if you choose to provide it

Cook County Sheriff PREA reporting

Email: CCSO.PREA@ccsheriff.org

The Sheriff states that reports concerning past incidents are accepted regardless of how long ago they occurred, although prompt reporting may preserve more evidence.

Discharge and transfer

Cook County Jail release: what “discharge” actually means

Court ordered release The jail must still receive and process the court paperwork before the person physically exits.

Legacy bond posted Cook County says the discharge process can take approximately two to three hours after bond is posted in a matter where monetary bond still legally applies.

Another agency hold exists Release from one Cook County matter does not necessarily override another valid hold.

Transferred to IDOC The person may disappear from the county jail system and later appear in the Illinois state corrections locator.

Housing disappears from locator Call before assuming the person has walked out of the facility.

Pickup planned Confirm completed discharge before driving to the jail, especially when traveling from outside Chicago.

Use Cook County’s discharge tracker for the final live action: The Sheriff’s locator includes an Individual in Custody Discharge function for current release-processing information.

Check Cook County discharge

What to do after you find the person

DIV

Save housing division

You cannot plan visitation correctly without the division and living unit.

Save booking ID

Needed for mail, trust funds and many jail-service questions.

VIS

Apply to visit

Adult visitors need approval before scheduling an in-person visit.

Use exact identity for deposits

Do not send money until name and booking number match the locator.

CRT

Check the court docket

Determine whether the judge ordered release, detention or another condition.

REL

Confirm discharge

Do not treat a court order or disappearance from housing as completed physical release.

Cook County Jail map and arrival planning

The jail is a campus, not a single front door. The main corrections address is 2700 S. California Avenue, but Divisions 6, 9, 10 and 11 use other entrances. Check the locator’s housing code before driving.

Confirm current custody

Copy the Booking ID

Identify division and living unit

Confirm visitor approval

Check exact division schedule

Bring required government photo ID

Live Cook County tools you actually need

The detailed procedures are already included above. These links are retained only for actions that require a live government or approved service system.

Find the person

Run Cook County Individual in Custody search

Apply / schedule visitation

Visitor application

Schedule approved in-person visit

Check court case

Cook County Online Case Information

Check discharge

Cook County discharge tracker

Information reviewed: Cook County Sheriff’s Individual in Custody Locator, visitor rules and division schedules, Department of Corrections contacts, mail rules, trust-account procedures, property-release instructions, mental-health resources, PREA reporting, Cook County Clerk criminal information and Illinois Pretrial Fairness Act guidance. Last checked August 17, 2026.

Cook County Jail inmate search FAQs

How do I search for someone in Cook County Jail?

Use the official Cook County Individual in Custody Locator. Search with the full first and last name or the booking ID without a hyphen.

How long does a new Cook County booking take to appear?

The Sheriff’s Office says locator information is typically published about four to six hours after an individual has been booked and processed.

What number do I call to find someone’s housing location?

Call 773-674-5245. The beginning of the housing location indicates the person’s jail division.

What is the main Cook County Jail address?

Cook County Department of Corrections is at 2700 South California Avenue, Chicago, IL 60608. Individual divisions may use different visitor entrances.

Do I need approval to visit?

Yes. Adult visitors submit an application and undergo a background check. Cook County asks applicants to wait seven business days before calling to check approval status.

Do children need a visitor application?

No application is required for visitors age 17 or younger, but they must accompany an approved parent or guardian. High-school-age minors must have a current school or state photo ID.

How much can an inmate spend on commissary?

Cook County currently states that an individual in custody can purchase up to $100 worth of approved clothing, supplies or food items each week.

Can I mail cash to Cook County Jail?

No. Cook County specifically states that cash is not accepted through the mail.

Does Cook County still require cash bail?

Illinois eliminated cash bail for new criminal cases effective September 18, 2023. Judges now determine release or pretrial detention through the Pretrial Fairness Act process. The Bond Room still handles limited older or special matters.

How do I check a Cook County criminal court case?

Use the Clerk of the Circuit Court’s Online Case Information system. The web docket is useful for case status but is not the official certified court record.

What is the Cook County Jail mental-health hotline?

Call 773-674-CARE, or 773-674-2273. The Sheriff’s Office lists the hotline as available 24 hours a day.

How can a family member report sexual abuse in the jail?

Third parties may report PREA concerns to the Cook County Sheriff’s Office. The Sheriff publishes the email address CCSO.PREA@ccsheriff.org and asks reporters to provide as much identifying and incident information as possible.

Independent public-information and presumption-of-innocence notice: This website is not the Cook County Sheriff’s Office, Cook County Department of Corrections, Clerk of the Circuit Court, ViaPath or a live government database. Custody, housing, visitation, court and release information may change without notice. An arrest, booking entry or criminal charge is an allegation and does not establish guilt. Confirm time-sensitive information through the responsible government office before traveling, paying money or making safety decisions.

Cook County, IL Jail Inmate Search & Roster 2026