Evanston Released Inmates Lookup

Evanston released inmates records come through the Cook County Sheriff's Office and the Evanston Police Department. The city borders Chicago on the north and has about 76,000 residents. Evanston Police handle arrests in the city, but there is no local jail. All inmates go to the Cook County facility at 2700 South California Avenue in Chicago for booking and holding. You can use the Cook County Inmate Locator to check on current or recently released inmates, and the police department responds to FOIA requests for arrest records.

Evanston Police Arrest Records

The Evanston Police Department is the main law enforcement agency for the city. The department sits at 1454 Elmwood Avenue. Officers handle patrols, arrests, and investigations throughout Evanston. When someone is arrested, the police process them at the station and then transfer them to Cook County jail. Evanston does not keep inmates in a local facility.

To get arrest records from the Evanston Police, file a FOIA request. The Illinois Freedom of Information Act at 5 ILCS 140 gives you the legal right to ask for these records. Write out your request with the person's name and any dates you know. The police have five business days to respond. You can send your request by mail, email, or drop it off at the station. Most simple requests cost nothing, but large document requests may have a copy fee.

Evanston sits right on the Chicago border. It is home to Northwestern University and has a mix of residential and commercial areas. The police department serves the whole city, and all arrests feed into the Cook County system for booking. If someone was picked up in Evanston and you want to know their status, you will need to check Cook County records.

Cook County Jail Records

All Evanston arrests lead to the Cook County jail. The Cook County Inmate Locator is a free search tool that shows current inmates and recent releases. You can look up a person by name and see their booking date, charges, bond amount, and whether they are still in custody. This tool covers everyone in the Cook County system, not just people from Evanston.

The Cook County jail is one of the largest in the country. It processes inmates from Chicago and more than 130 suburbs. The Cook County Sheriff's Office runs the jail and maintains all booking records. Call (773) 674-1945 for questions about an inmate or past booking. For people who have already been released, the online tool may still show their last booking. Older records might need a FOIA request to the sheriff's office.

The screenshot below shows the Illinois VINELink service, which provides free custody alerts for Evanston and all Cook County inmates.

VINELink sends alerts by phone, text, or email when an inmate's status changes.

Visit the Cook County released inmates page for more on county search tools and FOIA procedures.

Evanston Records Requests

FOIA requests work for both the Evanston Police and the Cook County Sheriff. Each agency handles its own records separately. For arrest reports from Evanston Police, send your request to the department. For jail booking records, send your request to the Cook County Sheriff. Both must respond within five business days under 5 ILCS 140.

The state also accepts FOIA requests. The Illinois Department of Corrections has a FOIA office you can reach at DOC.FOIARequest@illinois.gov or by calling 217-558-2200 ext. 4166. The IDOC FOIA page explains what records you can ask for. The first 50 pages are free. This is useful if someone from Evanston ended up in state prison and you need their corrections records.

Note: As of 2026, FOIA requests sent by email must include the full request in the email body, not as an attachment.

State Resources for Evanston

People convicted in Evanston who get more than a year go to state prison. The IDOC Offender Search covers all state inmates, past and present. Search by name, IDOC number, or date of birth. It is free and open to everyone.

The Illinois VINELink system provides free custody tracking. Register for alerts and get notified when someone is moved or released. This covers both the Cook County jail and state prison. The Illinois State Police run a name-based background check that searches criminal records from across the state. The Unified Code of Corrections at 730 ILCS 5 sets the rules for sentencing and release in Illinois.

Finding Evanston Released Inmates

The Cook County Inmate Locator is the best starting point. It shows current and recent jail inmates for free. For Evanston-specific arrest records, go through the police department with a FOIA request. State prison records are in the IDOC database.

Between the county jail search, IDOC, and VINELink, you have three free tools that cover most situations. The ISP background check is the only paid option. For records not available online, FOIA is the way to go. Both local and state agencies must respond within five business days.

• Cook County Inmate Locator for jail booking records
• Evanston Police FOIA for arrest records
• IDOC offender search for state prison inmates
• VINELink for free custody status alerts
• ISP background check for criminal history

Nearby Cities

These cities sit near Evanston along the North Shore and northern suburbs of Chicago.