Access Jefferson County Released Inmates

Jefferson County released inmates records are available through the sheriff's office in Mount Vernon, Illinois. Unlike many smaller counties, Jefferson County has a real-time online inmate search tool. You can look up anyone who has been booked at the Jefferson County Justice Center and see their status right from your computer or phone. The search shows booking dates, charges, and notices. For older records or more detailed information, you can contact the sheriff's office at (618) 244-8004 or file a public records request.

Jefferson County Online Inmate Search

Jefferson County is one of the few mid-size counties in Illinois that offers a real-time inmate lookup. The Jefferson County Inmate Lookup tool lets you search by name. Results start showing as you type. Each entry displays the booking date, the charges filed, and any notices tied to the case. This is the fastest way to check if someone is still in custody or has been released from the Jefferson County Justice Center.

The screenshot below shows the Jefferson County inmate lookup portal.

Type a name into the search bar and results will appear in real time.

The system gets updated on a regular basis with new booking data. Keep in mind that it shows the current status of an inmate. If someone was released a while back, their record may no longer show up in the active search. For those older cases, you would need to contact the sheriff's office or file a formal records request.

Jefferson County Sheriff's Office

The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office is at 911 Casey Ave, Mount Vernon, IL 62864. For emergencies, dial 911. For non-emergency questions about released inmates, call (618) 244-8004. The sheriff's office runs the Justice Center where all inmates in the county are housed. They handle booking, custody, and release.

Visit this site for contact information and links to the inmate search tool.

The Justice Center also has a TDD accessible phone line for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. If you need to reach the office through TDD, call the main number and ask to be connected. Staff can answer questions about current inmates, recent releases, and how to get copies of booking records. Mount Vernon is the county seat, and all county-level arrests get processed here.

Records Requests in Jefferson County

The Illinois Freedom of Information Act at 5 ILCS 140 gives you the right to request public records from any government body in the state. That includes the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office. You can ask for booking logs, release records, arrest reports, and other jail documents. Put your request in writing. Include the person's full name, any dates you know, and what records you want. Send it to the sheriff's office at 911 Casey Ave, Mount Vernon, IL 62864.

The county has five business days to respond. They can extend that by five more days for large or complicated requests. The first 50 pages of records are free under Illinois law. After that, you pay the actual cost of copies. If you want electronic records, the cost is based on the recording medium. Phone requests work too. Call (618) 244-8004 and explain what you need.

Note: Email FOIA requests must contain all text in the email body, not in attachments, per state law.

State Level Records for Jefferson County

Some people arrested in Jefferson County end up in state prison. When that happens, the Illinois Department of Corrections takes over their records. Use the IDOC Offender Search to find anyone from Jefferson County who was sentenced to a state facility. The database covers current inmates, parolees, and people who have been fully released. It is free to use.

The Illinois VINELink system lets you track custody changes for inmates at both the county and state level. Sign up for text, phone, or email alerts. The service is free and runs 24 hours a day. Call 1-866-277-7477 if you need help. The Prisoner Review Board at prb.illinois.gov handles parole hearings and release decisions for state inmates, and their victim hotline is 1-800-801-9110.

The Illinois Unified Code of Corrections at 730 ILCS 5 governs sentencing, credit time, and release conditions for state inmates. If someone from Jefferson County was sent to prison, these rules apply to their case.

Jefferson County Background Searches

The Illinois State Police run a name-based background check that pulls criminal history records. This is a paid service through the Bureau of Identification. Results can show arrests, convictions, and time served. It covers all of Illinois, not just Jefferson County. This is a good choice if you want to see if someone has a record across the whole state.

The Illinois Sheriffs' Association is a resource that links to sheriff's offices in all 102 counties. You can use it to find contact info for Jefferson County or nearby counties if your search extends beyond the local area.

• Search the online inmate lookup at inmatelookup.jeffco.us
• Call (618) 244-8004 for direct inmate inquiries
• Submit a written FOIA request for detailed records
• Check IDOC for state prison records
• Use VINELink for custody alerts
• Run an ISP background check for statewide history

Nearby Counties

Jefferson County is in southern Illinois. These neighboring counties have their own jails and records systems. If someone was arrested outside Jefferson County, check the relevant county's records.