The Illinois Department of Corrections operates approximately 25 active correctional facilities housing around 27,000 to 30,000 incarcerated people statewide. Finding your loved one in the system, establishing communication channels, and understanding how to send support requires knowing the right tools. Here is a complete guide.
Finding Your Loved One: IDOC Inmate Search
The IDOC provides a free public inmate search at idoc.illinois.gov — navigate to "Offender Search." You can search by name or IDOC number. The search returns the current facility, sentence information, and projected release date.
If someone was recently sentenced and has not yet appeared in the IDOC database, they may still be in county jail awaiting transport to an IDOC reception and classification center. Illinois processes newly sentenced inmates through facilities including:
- Stateville's Northern Receiving Center (NRC) for men — note that Stateville's main facility closed in March 2025 but the NRC function may be handled at another location; confirm via the IDOC inmate search
- Logan Correctional Center for women — the reception function for newly sentenced women
Allow one to two weeks after sentencing before expecting the person to appear in the IDOC database.
Phone Calls: Securus Technologies
Illinois DOC uses Securus Technologies for inmate telephone services. To receive calls:
- Create a free account at securustech.net
- Register the phone number where you want to receive calls
- Add funds to your AdvanceConnect balance
- Confirm your number is on your loved one's approved call list (set through the facility)
Inmates call out — they cannot receive incoming calls. All calls except attorney-client calls are monitored and recorded. Illinois regulates per-minute rates for state prison calls.
Sending Money: JPay
Illinois DOC uses JPay for inmate trust account deposits. To deposit:
- Go to JPay.com and create a free account
- Search for the inmate by name and IDOC number under "Illinois DOC"
- Deposit using a credit or debit card — fees apply
Money orders mailed to the facility are also accepted, with the inmate's name and IDOC number on the memo line. Mail to the specific facility where they are housed, not the Springfield headquarters.
Mail and Letters
Mail directly to the inmate's facility:
[Inmate Full Legal Name] [IDOC Number] [Facility Name and Address]
All mail except legal mail is opened and inspected. Plain paper, standard envelopes, no removable attachments. Check the specific facility's current mail policy for photos and cards.
Visiting
Illinois DOC allows visits at all active facilities. You must be on the approved visitor list — the inmate submits the request through their housing officer or case manager. ID required for all adult visitors. Each facility sets its own visiting schedule; check the specific facility's page at idoc.illinois.gov. Hours can change due to lockdowns or institutional events — call ahead.
IDOC Quarterly Reports: Understanding the System
IDOC publishes quarterly reports covering population levels, assaults, incidents, programming, and other operational data at idoc.illinois.gov under "Reports and Statistics." These reports give families and advocates a documented picture of system-wide trends and can be useful context for understanding conditions at specific facilities.
Key Advocacy Resources for Illinois DOC Families
- Uptown People's Law Center (uptownlaw.org) — handles Illinois prison civil rights issues including healthcare and conditions
- MacArthur Justice Center (macarthurjustice.org) — monitors IDOC consent decrees and represents people in cases of serious rights violations
- ACLU of Illinois (aclu-il.org) — handles constitutional issues in Illinois prisons
IDOC headquarters: 1301 Concordia Court, P.O. Box 19277, Springfield, IL 62794. Main line: (217) 558-2200. Website: idoc.illinois.gov.
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.