Will County Adult Detention Facility

Will County Adult Detention Facility is a county jail operated by the Will County Sheriff's Office, located at 95 S Chicago Street in Joliet, Illinois — a city approximately 30 miles southwest of downtown Chicago. The facility holds adults who have been arrested within Will County, including those awaiting arraignment, those detained pre-trial, people serving short sentences, and individuals held on various judicial, immigration, or other orders. With a listed capacity of about 1,000 beds and federal survey data indicating a rated and design capacity of 909, this is one of the largest county jails in the Chicago metropolitan area.

Federal facility records indicate a peak population of 724, with approximately 627 adult men and 87 adult women held at the time of the most recent census. Our directory contains more than 14,003 historical arrest and booking records associated with this facility — a cumulative historical count, not the current population. The facility can be reached at 815-727-7950 (fax: 815-727-8565), with corrections information at www.willcosheriff.org/corrections.

About Will County and the Detention Facility

Will County is one of the fastest-growing counties in the United States, with a population now exceeding 700,000. Anchored by Joliet — historically famous as the home of Joliet Correctional Center (now closed) and a longtime transportation and manufacturing hub — the county spans a broad area from the Chicago suburbs to rural farmland to the south. Its rapid population growth has led to significant growth in demand for law enforcement and corrections over the past two decades.

The Will County Adult Detention Facility is the county's primary adult holding facility, processing arrests from Joliet, Bolingbrook, Romeoville, Plainfield, Orland Park, and the dozens of other communities within Will County's jurisdiction. The facility operates under the authority of the Will County Sheriff's Office, which is also responsible for court security and civil process serving.

Illinois has a state imprisonment rate of approximately 237 per 100,000 residents — below the national average, reflecting reforms and a large urban population — with a prison population of about 29,729 and roughly 16,490 individuals held in county jails statewide. Will County accounts for a significant portion of that regional detention population.

How to Find an Inmate at Will County Adult Detention Facility

If you believe a loved one has been booked at Will County Adult Detention Facility, there are several reliable ways to confirm:

• PrisonAssist.com: Search by name to check our records for Will County facility entries.
• Will County Sheriff online lookup: The Sheriff's Office maintains an inmate search on the corrections page at www.willcosheriff.org/corrections. Bookings are typically posted within a few hours of intake, though late-night or early-morning bookings may not appear until later in the morning.
• Phone: Call the facility at 815-727-7950. Have the person's full legal name and date of birth available. Staff can confirm whether someone is in custody and provide basic booking information.

Note that if someone is sentenced to Illinois state prison (sentences exceeding one year are typically served in state facilities), they will be transferred to an Illinois Department of Corrections intake facility. At that point, they will appear in the IDOC offender search rather than the county system.

Visitation at Will County Adult Detention Facility

Will County Adult Detention Facility facilitates regular visitation, recognizing its importance for the well-being of incarcerated individuals and for maintaining the family connections that support successful reentry. Here is a detailed guide to planning a visit:

• Visitor registration and approval: All visitors must be registered and approved before their first visit. The registration process typically involves submitting personal information through the facility's visitor management system. A background check may be conducted. Start the process as early as possible — approval can take several days to a week.
• Visiting schedule: Visiting days and hours are set by housing unit and can vary. The schedule is published on the Will County Sheriff's corrections website and is subject to change. Confirm the current schedule before traveling — unannounced lockdowns, holidays, and facility operations can alter or cancel visiting periods.
• Photo ID: All adult visitors must present a valid government-issued photo ID at check-in. Acceptable forms include driver's licenses, state ID cards, passports, and military IDs. Expired IDs are typically not accepted.
• Dress code: The facility enforces a dress code. Clothing that resembles jail uniforms, clothing that is overly revealing, and items with inappropriate imagery are prohibited. Solid colors commonly associated with inmate clothing — typically orange, khaki, and sometimes solid navy or blue — may be restricted. Check current rules before your visit.
• Children visiting: Minor visitors must be accompanied by an adult on the approved visitor list. Additional documentation such as birth certificates may be required. Contact the facility to confirm requirements for minors before bringing children.
• Items permitted: Personal bags, phones, and food are typically not allowed in visiting areas. A small amount of cash or a debit card may be needed for vending machines, but confirm which items are permitted with the facility. Lockers are usually available for personal belongings before entering the secure area.

Sending Mail to Will County Jail

Mail is a consistent, low-cost way to stay connected that does not depend on scheduling or in-person visits. For mail to reach an inmate at Will County Adult Detention Facility:

• Address the envelope with the inmate's full committed name, their booking number, and the facility address: 95 S Chicago St, Joliet, IL 60432.
• Use plain white envelopes. Colored envelopes, padded mailers, envelopes with internal patterns or metallic finishes, and oversized envelopes are commonly rejected in the mailroom.
• Write on plain white, unlined or lined paper. Avoid colored paper, construction paper, and anything with stickers, adhesive, or foreign objects attached.
• Photographs are generally permitted within limits. Typical rules allow standard-size photos (4x6 inches) in small quantities (usually no more than 5 per envelope), printed on photo paper, with no explicit content. Confirm current photo rules with the facility.
• Do not include cash, money orders, or gift cards in letters — these will be confiscated and may result in disciplinary action for the inmate.
• Books and magazines typically must be ordered new from a publisher or approved retailer and shipped directly to the facility — they generally cannot be included in personal letters.

Our letter service formats, prints, and mails your letters in compliance with Will County's rules, reducing the risk of rejection. If you have photos to share, we handle printing and packaging in accordance with the facility's guidelines so your images reach your loved one.

Phone Calls from Will County Adult Detention Facility

Inmates at Will County Adult Detention Facility can make outgoing calls through the facility's contracted telephone system. The way this works:

• Inmates establish a personal phone account through the facility's contracted carrier. They can typically add approved phone numbers through the carrier's kiosk at the facility or through the carrier's website.
• Family members can fund a prepaid account through the carrier's website or app, which is generally more cost-effective than accepting collect calls.
• All calls are recorded and monitored, with the exception of attorney-client calls. Be mindful of what is discussed on jail phone calls.
• Call lengths are limited, typically to 15–30 minutes per call. Inmates may need to wait briefly between calls if they want to reconnect.

Phone costs from county jails can add up quickly for families who want to stay in regular contact. Our discounted phone call service lowers per-minute rates, making consistent communication more affordable without any changes to the inmate's phone setup.

Commissary Deposits and Sending Money

Every inmate at Will County Adult Detention Facility has access to a commissary (jail store), where they can purchase approved personal items using funds held in their inmate account. Commissary typically includes hygiene products (soap, shampoo, deodorant, toothbrush, toothpaste), food and snacks, writing materials, stamped envelopes, and sometimes over-the-counter medications. Regular commissary access contributes meaningfully to an inmate's daily comfort.

To add funds to an inmate's account, check the Will County Sheriff's corrections website for currently accepted deposit platforms. Options typically include an online transfer portal linked from the corrections page, a payment kiosk in the facility lobby, or money orders sent by mail to the facility's finance address. Allow one to two business days for deposits to reflect in the account after submission.

Care Packages

Some county jails offer care package programs through approved vendors, allowing families to send curated packages of food, hygiene items, or personal care products. Whether the Will County Adult Detention Facility accepts outside care packages and which vendors are authorized can change over time. Confirm current availability and approved vendors through the facility's website or by calling 815-727-7950 before placing any order. Packages submitted through non-approved channels will be refused at intake.

Posting Bail at Will County

Bail in Illinois is governed by the Illinois Pre-trial Fairness Act, which took effect in September 2023 and made Illinois the first state in the nation to completely eliminate cash bail. Under this law:

• There is no longer a cash bail amount to pay for release in Illinois. People cannot be held in jail solely because they cannot afford to pay bail.
• Detention decisions are made by a judge at a detention hearing. Prosecutors must petition for detention; otherwise, the person must be released with conditions.
• For serious offenses or where the court determines the person poses a safety threat or a risk of willful flight, the judge can order pre-trial detention regardless of financial means.
• For all other cases, the court orders release with conditions — such as electronic monitoring, check-ins, or no-contact orders.

This is a significant shift from how bail has traditionally worked in Illinois. If your loved one has been arrested and detained in Will County, the key question is whether a detention hearing has been held and what conditions, if any, govern their release. Contact the Will County Circuit Court or a criminal defense attorney for current status on a specific case.

Illinois's Criminal Justice System

Illinois has undertaken significant criminal justice reform in recent years, including the Pre-trial Fairness Act and earlier reforms to mandatory minimums and juvenile justice. The state prison population has declined from its peak, though it remains substantial at around 29,729. Will County, as one of the collar counties surrounding Chicago, handles a broad mix of cases — from urban-adjacent issues in Joliet and Bolingbrook to the more rural dynamics of the county's southern communities.

If someone is sentenced to the Illinois Department of Corrections, they will be transferred to Stateville Correctional Center (also in Joliet) or another IDOC intake facility for processing and classification before being assigned to a permanent institution.

Reentry and Community Support in Will County

Will County has several organizations that support people leaving incarceration and their families. The Will County Health Department offers behavioral health services, and local nonprofits, including faith-based organizations, provide employment assistance, referrals to transitional housing, and peer support. Staying in regular contact with a loved one throughout their time at the detention facility — through visits, letters, and calls — helps maintain the family ties that research consistently links to lower recidivism after release.

Mental Health and Special Needs Populations at Will County

Will County Adult Detention Facility, like most large county jails, holds a population that includes a significant proportion of individuals with mental health conditions, substance use disorders, or both. The facility works with county health and mental health services to provide screening and basic care for these populations. If a loved one has a diagnosed mental illness or is managing a substance use disorder, notifying facility staff of these conditions is important — it can affect housing assignment and ensure they receive appropriate monitoring and care during their time at the facility.

For families concerned about a loved one's mental health during detention, the Will County Health Department's behavioral health division and local crisis services may be able to guide communicating concerns to facility medical staff. The Will County Public Defender's Office can also be a resource for individuals who need mental health considerations addressed in their legal proceedings.

What to Expect If Your Loved One Is Transferred to Illinois DOC

If someone detained at Will County Adult Detention Facility is ultimately sentenced to a term of more than one year, they will be transferred to the Illinois Department of Corrections intake facility — typically the Stateville Correctional Center Reception and Classification Unit, also located in Joliet, just a short distance from the county detention facility. Once at Stateville R&C, the classification process determines their permanent IDOC assignment. Families should update mail addresses and visitor registration information when a transfer occurs, as Will County's rules and addresses no longer apply once someone enters the state system.

Inmate service providers at Will County Adult Detention Facility

Like most US jails and prisons, Will County Adult Detention Facility relies on private companies for phone calls, video visits, money transfers, and care packages, each with its own fees and sign-up steps. Nationwide the most common providers are Securus and ViaPath (GTL) for calls and video, JPay and Access Corrections for sending money, and Access Securepak for care packages.

Not sure which company serves Will County Adult Detention Facility? Our inmate service provider directory explains how each one works, what it charges, and how to set up an account before you pay.