Access Decatur Released Inmates

Decatur released inmates records are held by the Macon County Sheriff's Office and the Decatur Police Department. With about 70,000 people, Decatur is the county seat of Macon County in central Illinois. The city police make arrests, and all inmates go to the Macon County jail for booking. The sheriff runs an online inmate inquiry tool, and you can file FOIA requests with either agency to get records on specific individuals. State tools like the IDOC offender search also cover Decatur cases where someone was sent to prison.

Decatur Police Arrest Records

The Decatur Police Department is the primary law enforcement agency for the city. The department handles patrols, investigations, and all arrests within city limits. When someone is arrested by Decatur Police, they get taken to the Macon County jail for booking. The city does not operate its own jail facility. All inmates go through the county system regardless of what they were charged with.

You can get arrest records from the Decatur Police by filing a FOIA request. The Illinois Freedom of Information Act at 5 ILCS 140 gives anyone the right to ask for public records. Write your request and include the person's name and any dates that could help narrow down the search. The department has five business days to respond. You can send requests by mail or email. If the records are straightforward, there is usually no charge.

Decatur is the largest city in Macon County by a wide margin. That means the police department generates most of the county's arrest volume. The department has patrol officers, detectives, and specialized units. All of their arrests feed into the Macon County jail system for processing.

Note: Decatur Police records are separate from Macon County jail records, so check both sources.

Macon County Inmate Search

The Macon County Sheriff runs the county jail and maintains all booking records for Decatur inmates. The Macon County Inmate Search is an online tool where you can look up people currently held in the jail. Search by name to see booking dates, charges, and bond info. The tool is free to use.

The Macon County jail holds everyone arrested in Decatur and the surrounding area. This includes people waiting for court hearings and those serving short sentences. Inmates with longer sentences usually get transferred to the Illinois Department of Corrections. For released inmates who are no longer in the county system, you may need to file a FOIA request with the Macon County Sheriff's Office. They keep records on past inmates even after release.

The screenshot below shows the Illinois Department of Corrections contact page with phone numbers and addresses for reaching the state agency about Decatur inmates who went to prison.

You can call IDOC at (217) 558-2200 for questions about state inmates from Decatur.

For more on Macon County resources, see the Macon County released inmates page.

Decatur FOIA Requests

Both the Decatur Police Department and the Macon County Sheriff accept FOIA requests. Each agency holds different records. The police have arrest reports, incident reports, and investigation files. The sheriff has jail booking records, release data, and inmate info. You may need to file separate requests with each agency depending on what you need.

Under 5 ILCS 140, all public records are presumed open. The agency can deny parts of a request only if the information falls under a specific exemption in the law. Both agencies must respond within five business days. They can extend this by five more days with written notice. As of 2026, FOIA requests by email must include the full text in the email body rather than as an attachment per state law updates.

State Resources for Decatur

Decatur inmates who receive state prison sentences show up in the IDOC Offender Search. This free tool covers current inmates, released offenders, and parolees. Search by last name, IDOC number, or date of birth. If someone from Decatur went to prison for more than a year, they will be in this system.

The Illinois VINELink gives you free custody alerts. Register with the offender's info and get notified by phone, text, or email when their status changes. This works for both the Macon County jail and state prison. Call 1-866-277-7477 for VINELink help.

The Illinois State Police offer a name-based background check through the CHIRP system. This is a paid service that searches statewide criminal records. The Illinois Unified Code of Corrections at 730 ILCS 5 lays out the rules for sentencing, credit, and release. The Prisoner Review Board handles parole hearings for inmates serving time from Decatur convictions.

Finding Decatur Released Inmates

The Macon County Inmate Search is the best starting point. It shows current inmates for free. For Decatur arrest records, file a FOIA request with the police department. State prison records are in the IDOC database.

VINELink helps track custody changes over time. The ISP background check gives you a broader picture of someone's criminal history in Illinois. Between these tools, you can cover most situations.

• Macon County Inmate Search for current jail records
• Decatur Police FOIA for local arrest records
• IDOC offender search for state prison data
• VINELink for free custody alerts
• ISP background check for statewide history
• Prisoner Review Board for parole hearing info

Nearby Cities

These cities are near Decatur in central Illinois. Each falls under a different county for jail and inmate records.