Search Macon County Released Inmates

Macon County released inmates records are managed by the Macon County Sheriff's Office in Decatur. The county jail sits at 333 South Franklin Street and has a capacity of 425 beds after a full remodel in 2006. If you need to look up someone who was booked or released from the Macon County Jail, the sheriff provides an online inmate inquiry tool. The system is open to the public and free to use. You can search by name to find booking details, charges, and release information for both current and past inmates held in Macon County.

Macon County Inmate Search Tool

The primary way to find released inmates in Macon County is through the NewWorld inmate inquiry system. The Macon County inmate search pulls up anyone who has been booked at the county jail. Enter a first or last name to start. Each result displays the person's charges, booking date, and current status. If the person has been released, that shows in the record too. The system updates regularly, so it stays close to real-time.

The Macon County Jail went through a big remodel in 2006 that brought the facility up to 425 beds. It now has 215 cameras and is fully PREA compliant, meaning it meets federal standards for preventing abuse in custody. Video visitation is also available, which matters because it shows the facility has modern record-keeping systems. When someone is booked in, the data goes into the search tool right away. When they leave, the record updates to show the release.

The screenshot below shows the NewWorld inmate inquiry tool used by the Macon County Sheriff's Office.

This is the main search page where you can look up Macon County inmates by name.

Note: The inmate inquiry shows current jail status, so recently released inmates may still appear for a short time after they leave.

Macon County Sheriff and Corrections

The Macon County Sheriff's Office is in charge of the county jail and all inmate records. The jail address is 333 South Franklin Street in Decatur, IL 62523. You can call 217-424-1327 to reach the corrections division. Staff there can answer questions about Macon County released inmates, confirm booking dates, and tell you if someone is still in custody. The office handles everything from intake to release.

The sheriff's corrections page gives more detail on how the jail operates. The facility runs on a 24-hour schedule. Guards and staff work around the clock. Under 730 ILCS 5, the Illinois Unified Code of Corrections, the county must follow state rules on how it holds and releases people. This includes things like good time credit, which can change when someone gets released from the Macon County Jail. If an inmate earns enough credit, their release date moves up.

Here is the Macon County Sheriff's Office homepage where you can find contact info and links to all divisions from the sheriff's website.

The site links to corrections, records, patrol, and other divisions within the sheriff's office.

Macon County Released Inmates FOIA Requests

Illinois law at 5 ILCS 140 gives the public the right to request government records. This includes Macon County released inmates data. The sheriff has a dedicated FOIA page and a broader records section on the website. You can use either to start a records request. Include the full name of the person, any dates or case numbers, and what specific records you want. The county must respond within five business days.

The types of records you can get through FOIA include booking sheets, release documents, charge records, and arrest reports tied to Macon County cases. Some records may be partially blacked out if they involve minors or ongoing investigations. But most released inmates information is public under Illinois law. If your request is denied, the county has to tell you why and cite the specific exemption in 5 ILCS 140 that applies.

Below is the Macon County Sheriff's corrections division page from the corrections section.

The corrections page has details on jail operations, visitation, and inmate services.

The following screenshot shows the Macon County Sheriff's FOIA and records request page at the records FOIA section.

Use this page to file a formal request for released inmates records from the sheriff's office.

Note: Large records requests may come with a copy fee, but most simple lookups cost nothing.

State-Level Inmate Records for Macon County

When someone convicted in Macon County gets sent to state prison, the Illinois Department of Corrections takes over. The IDOC Offender Search covers all state prison inmates past and present. You can look up anyone who served time in an Illinois facility after a Macon County case. The database shows conviction details, sentence length, release dates, and parole status. It is free and does not need a login.

The Illinois VINELink system works for both county and state inmates in Macon County. Register for alerts and the system will let you know when an offender is moved, released, or transferred. This is useful if you are tracking a specific person who was recently in the Macon County Jail. Call 1-866-277-7477 for help with the service. It costs nothing to use.

For criminal history checks that go beyond a single county, the Illinois State Police background check searches records statewide. This paid service pulls conviction records from all 102 counties. It can show if someone has Macon County released inmates records alongside cases from other parts of the state.

How to Get Macon County Released Inmates Info

You have a few options to get Macon County released inmates records. The fastest is the online inmate inquiry. Go to the NewWorld portal and search by name. Results come up quickly. This works best for recent bookings and releases.

For older records or more detail, call the jail at 217-424-1327. Tell them the name of the person and any dates you have. They can pull up booking history and confirm release dates. You can also visit the jail in person at 333 South Franklin Street in Decatur. Written FOIA requests give you the most thorough results. Under 5 ILCS 140, the county must respond within five business days. Put your request in writing and send it to the sheriff's FOIA officer.

• Search the NewWorld inmate inquiry for current Macon County data
• Call the jail at 217-424-1327 for phone lookups
• File a FOIA request for formal released inmates records
• Check IDOC for state prison records from Macon County
• Use VINELink to track custody changes for specific inmates

Cities in Macon County

Decatur is the county seat and largest city in Macon County. All released inmates from Decatur and other towns in the county go through the Macon County Jail. The sheriff's inmate search covers the entire county, so you can look up anyone booked in the area through the same tool.

Nearby Counties

These counties sit next to Macon County. Each has its own jail and inmate records system. If someone was arrested outside Macon County, you would need to search that county's records.