Cook County Jail, located at 2650 South California Avenue in Chicago, is one of the largest single-site jails in the country. This guide covers the practical steps families most often need when a loved one is detained there.
Finding Your Loved One
Use the Cook County Sheriff's Inmate Locator at cookcountysheriff.org (click "Inmate Locator"). Search by name or booking number. The result shows the current division, bond/detention status, and next court date. Alternatively, call the jail's information line at (773) 674-7100.
Phone Calls
Cook County Jail uses ICSolutions for inmate phone calls. To receive calls, create a free account at icsolutions.com and add funds. The inmate dials out; the cost is deducted from your account. ICSolutions also offers video calling — scheduled video sessions from home, billed per minute. Video calls must be scheduled in advance through the ICSolutions platform; confirm availability for Cook County specifically on their site.
Sending Money
Cook County Jail uses JPay for inmate trust-account deposits. Visit jpay.com or use the JPay app. You will need the inmate's booking number and full legal name. Funds are typically available within one business day. JPay also supports electronic messaging (the inmate must purchase stamps inside the jail to reply).
Walk-in kiosk deposits are available at the jail's lobby for cash deposits; bring exact change or a debit card. Lobby hours vary — call ahead.
In-Person Visitation
Cook County Jail requires all visitors to pre-register online through the Sheriff's website at cookcountysheriff.org before visiting. Walk-in visitors without a pre-registered appointment are turned away. You must be on the inmate's approved visitor list, and the inmate must schedule you. Rules:
- Valid government-issued photo ID required.
- Dress code: no orange, red, or black clothing (resembles inmate/staff uniforms).
- No food, drinks, or packages may be brought into the visit.
- Children under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian and must be pre-approved on the visitor list.
Legal Visits and Public Defender
Attorneys may visit any day during attorney visiting hours — no advance scheduling required for legal visits. If your loved one cannot afford an attorney, contact the Cook County Public Defender's Office at (312) 603-0600. Court dates are posted in the inmate locator; you can also look up case information on the Cook County Circuit Court's case search portal at cookcountyclerkofcourt.org.
Further reading for families
For practical guidance on supporting your loved one, see our step-by-step guides on how to bail someone out of jail, how to write a letter to an inmate, and why inmate phone calls are so expensive — and what families can do to reduce those costs.
Many of these services are run by private companies. See how the main providers work, including fees and how to sign up: Securus, ViaPath (GTL), JPay, Access Corrections, CorrLinks, GettingOut. For every phone, video, money, mail, and care-package company, browse our full inmate service provider directory.