Search Illinois Booking Releases
Illinois booking releases are public records held by county sheriff offices and the state Department of Corrections. Each of the 102 counties in Illinois keeps its own jail booking and release data at the local sheriff office. The Illinois Department of Corrections tracks state prison intake and discharge records across the whole system. You can search for booking releases online through sheriff websites, the IDOC database, or by sending a FOIA request to the right agency. Several counties post booking releases on their sites for free. This guide covers the main search tools, laws, and resources for finding booking releases across Illinois.
Illinois Booking Releases Quick Facts
Illinois Booking Releases Online
The Illinois Department of Corrections runs the main state database for booking releases. IDOC tracks all people held in state prisons. You can search by last name, first name, birth date, or IDOC number. Results show the facility where someone is held, their case facts, and projected release dates. The Individual in Custody Search is the fastest way to check if someone is in state custody right now. It pulls from live data that IDOC updates on a regular basis.
The IDOC Offender Search Portal puts several search tools in one place for Illinois booking releases. It covers the in-custody search, wanted fugitives, sex offender data, and parolee information. You can check any of these tools from home at any time. IDOC also runs a notice program for early releases. Victims and residents who want alerts can sign up at the community notification page to find out before someone leaves custody. The main IDOC office is at 1301 Concordia Court in Springfield, IL 62794. Their phone is 217-558-2200.
The IDOC main page is the starting point for all statewide Illinois booking release searches.
From here you can reach all IDOC search tools, FOIA forms, and contact information for the department.
The Offender Search Portal gives access to multiple Illinois booking release databases on a single page.
It shows who is in custody, who has been released, and who is wanted by state law enforcement in Illinois.
FOIA for Booking Releases
The Freedom of Information Act gives you the right to get booking releases from any public agency in Illinois. Under 5 ILCS 140, all government records are open to the public unless a specific law blocks them. This includes jail records, arrest logs, and booking data held by county sheriffs and the state. The law says that all persons are entitled to full and complete information about the affairs of government. That means booking releases are yours to ask for.
To make a FOIA request, write to the sheriff or agency that holds the records. State that you want records under the Freedom of Information Act. Describe what you need in clear terms. Include your full name, mailing address, email, and phone number. IDOC accepts requests by mail, fax, or special carrier at their FOIA office. You can also email requests to DOC.FOIARequest@illinois.gov for state-level records. Each request is processed in the order it comes in.
The IDOC FOIA page lays out how to request Illinois booking releases and other records from the state.
The FOIA officer can be reached at 217-558-2200 ext. 4166 or by fax at 217-558-5612.
Agencies must respond within five working days. They can take five more days with written notice. The first 50 pages of any request are free. After that, copies cost about $0.15 per page for black and white. Color or odd-size copies cost more. Electronic records are given when it makes sense to do so.
The full text of the Illinois FOIA law is on the ILCS website for anyone who wants to read the exact rules.
This statute defines what records are public and what agencies must do when someone asks for booking releases in Illinois.
Arrest Record Laws in Illinois
Section 2.15 of the FOIA (5 ILCS 140/2.15) sets strict rules on what booking release data must be shared with the public. State and local criminal justice agencies must hand over certain arrest information within 72 hours of any request. This is not optional. The law lists the exact data points that must be released for all booking releases in Illinois.
The information agencies must disclose includes:
- The person's name, age, and address
- A photograph when one is on file
- Charges tied to the arrest
- Time and place of the arrest
- Name of the arresting agency
- If held in custody: date received, discharged, or transferred
The 5 ILCS 140/2.15 statute page sets out the exact booking release data that agencies must hand over in Illinois.
This law covers both state and local agencies across all of Illinois.
Section 2.15 also puts limits on mugshot use. Law enforcement cannot post booking photos on social media for petty offenses, business offenses, or Class C and B misdemeanors. They can post photos to help find missing people, fugitives, or people wanted for serious crimes. This rule shapes how agencies share booking releases with the public on their own websites and social pages.
The Criminal Identification Act (20 ILCS 2630) adds more rules on how arrest data moves between agencies in Illinois. All police must send arrest data to the Illinois State Police within 30 days. This includes fingerprints and descriptions for felonies and Class A and B misdemeanors. Section 5.2 of that act covers when records can be expunged or sealed, which can affect what shows up in a booking release search.
The 20 ILCS 2630 statute page covers how arrest and booking release data flows between agencies in Illinois.
Under this law, the Illinois State Police hold a central database of all arrest records from across the state.
County Sheriff Booking Releases
Most booking releases in Illinois come from county sheriff offices. Each sheriff runs the county jail and keeps records of who comes in and who goes out. Some counties post this data online for anyone to see. Others share it only by phone or through a FOIA request. The system varies a lot from one county to the next.
Large counties like Cook, DuPage, Lake, and Will have online inmate search tools on their sheriff websites. You can look up current and recent booking releases by name or booking number. Cook County uses the Individual in Custody Locator which updates within 24 hours of an arrest and shows booking ID, housing location, bond amount, and next court date. Kane County has a Detainee Search that lets you look up people by name or date range. Winnebago County runs its own Inmate Inquiry System where you search by last name.
Smaller counties may not have a website for booking releases. Call the jail line and ask about a specific person. Staff can check the log and tell you the status. About 27 of the 87 counties with over 10,000 people have some form of online search. The rest handle requests by phone, in person, or by written FOIA filing. Each county sets its own process, but the state law on booking releases applies in every part of Illinois.
Note: Some counties use third-party systems like JailTracker, iSOMS, or NewWorld for their booking release records.
Statewide Search Tools
VINE (Victim Information and Notification Everyday) lets you search for inmates across the whole country. The Illinois part of VINELink covers state and county facilities. You can sign up for alerts when someone is moved or released from custody. The service is free to use and runs around the clock. Call 1-866-277-7477 for help using VINE by phone.
The VINELink search page provides nationwide access to Illinois booking release data and inmate status updates.
You can search by name and sign up for automatic alerts on any inmate in the system.
Many counties also use their own online portals for booking releases. LaSalle County runs the iSOMS Portal which shows jail intake and release data from the last 24 to 72 hours. Kendall County posts both current inmates and released inmates on their sheriff site. Several other counties use similar tools. Check the county page for links to each local booking release system in Illinois.
Browse Illinois Booking Releases by County
Each county in Illinois has its own sheriff who keeps booking release records. Pick a county below to find local search tools, contact info, and FOIA details for booking releases in that area.
Booking Releases in Major Illinois Cities
City police make arrests, but the county sheriff handles jail booking and release in most cases. Pick a city below to find which county holds booking releases for that area and how to search them.