When a loved one is in custody, it can sometimes be difficult to figure out how to stay in contact with them. This page provides links to search for people in custody and information about contact details and visitation.
Please note that correctional institutions have many rules you must follow for your visit to be successful. These rules include:
- Limits on who may visit and when
- Strict identification requirements
- Rules about what type of clothing you may wear
- Limits on what you may bring to a visit
Three of the most common custodial agencies in and around Cook County are:
Cook County Jail
People held in this jail are awaiting trial on a state criminal charge or are serving a short sentence of less than one year for a state misdemeanor.
To locate someone in the Cook County Jail system, use the Cook County Inmate Locator here.
To schedule an in‑person visit, please click here. Note that before visiting any detainee for the first time at the Cook County Jail, you must complete and submit an application.
To view the Frequently Asked Questions about visitation, click here.
To view the list of prohibited items, click here.
Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC)
People held in this system are serving sentences after being convicted of a state felony or are in custody for more than one year.
To locate someone in the Illinois Department of Corrections, follow this link.
Once you have found the facility where the person is housed, click this link and then select the facility name to learn where and how to visit.
Metropolitan Correctional Center (MCC)
People held in this facility have been charged with or convicted of a federal offense.
To find out whether someone is at the Metropolitan Correctional Center (MCC), follow this link.
To learn how to visit someone at the MCC, follow this link.