Clay County Jail Inmate Search
Searching for an Inmate in Clay County
In Clay County, the main lockup is the Clay County Jail, 300 Broadway, Louisville, IL 62858 (618-665-3316). To find someone, start with the sheriff inmate search. VINELink also covers this county, with free alerts for local bookings. Empty result? The person may be in Effingham County; the sheriff at 618-665-3316 can confirm. Each step below covers a place the person could be, from the county to Effingham County.
How do I search for an inmate?
- Go to the Clay County Sheriff inmate search and type the full name.
- Try VINELink on the web or the VINELink app for iPhone or the VINELink app for Android.
- Ask the sheriff's office directly at 618-665-3316.
Money, mail and visits for county inmates
- Calls: see our phone page.
- Deposits: our money guide.
- Commissary: Local commissary guide.
- Visits: Local visitation rules.
- Letters: our mail guide.
- Messages: Local inmate email.
Can I get a booking photo?
Illinois treats adult booking photos as public (5 ILCS 140/2.15). Ask the Clay County Sheriff's Office with an Illinois Freedom of Information Act request, or call 618-665-3316. Juvenile photos are not released. Most U.S. Marshals Service photos stay private too, under 5 U.S.C. 552. ICE records for someone held by the Sheriff's Office go through the ICE FOIA request page and mention the county.
↑ Back to the question listWill this county hold someone for ICE?
- A Form I-247A is ICE's request to the Clay County Jail.
- Under the Illinois TRUST Act (5 ILCS 805/15), this county won't keep the person the extra 48 hours.
- Agents may wait outside the County Jail.
- After an ICE arrest, use the ICE Online Detainee Locator System with the A-number of the detainee.
Where is a federal defendant from Clay County held?
The U.S. Marshals Service may hold federal defendants in county jails in this county. Hearings take place in East St. Louis, at Melvin Price U.S. Courthouse, 750 Missouri Avenue, East St. Louis, IL 62201; the Southern District of Illinois clerk is at 618-482-9371. Use VINELink before sentencing; the Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator after.
↑ Back to the question listWhere do county prisoners go after sentencing?
Someone given prison leaves the county jail for Illinois Department of Corrections intake. Each transfer is on the Illinois Department of Corrections inmate search; our Illinois state prisons guide explains it.
↑ Back to the question listCan I pay bail for someone here?
Illinois ended cash bail in 2023 under the Pretrial Fairness Act, so there's no money to post in Clay County (725 ILCS 5/110). Within 48 hours, a judge rules on release (725 ILCS 5/109-1). More on our pretrial release guide.
↑ Back to the question listWhat other jails should I check besides Clay County?
Search empty? Call each county jail next door:
- Effingham County Jail, Effingham: 217-342-3866
- Fayette County Jail, Vandalia: 618-283-2141
- Jasper County Jail, Newton: 618-783-8477
- Marion County Jail, Salem: 618-548-2141
- Richland County Jail, Olney: 618-395-7483
- Wayne County Jail, Fairfield: 618-842-6631
State prisoners show on the Illinois Department of Corrections inmate search; federal ones on the Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator.
↑ Back to the question listWhat about youth arrested locally?
Youth stay off the roster (705 ILCS 405/1-7). A judge here picks the juvenile detention center for detained youth. Call 618-665-3316 to learn about a detained child's hearing.
↑ Back to the question listWhat is the population of the county?
The county has about 12,793 residents (U.S. Census Bureau Vintage 2025 estimate, released 2026). Louisville, IL is the county seat.
↑ Back to the question listWhich police departments can I call?
If an officer from Flora or another town made the arrest, call:
- Flora Police: 618-662-9111
- Louisville: no listed number here yet; the sheriff's office, 618-665-3316, can direct you
Clay County Jail Inmate Services Information
Phone: 618-665-3316
Physical Address:
300 Broadway
Louisville, IL 62858
Mailing Address (personal mail):
Clay County Jail
PO Box 267
Louisvillve, IL 62858
Mailing Address (legal mail or subscriptions):
Clay County Jail
PO Box 267
Louisvillve, IL 62858
Every year Clay County law enforcement agencies arrest and detain 360 offenders, and maintain an average of 18 inmates (county-wide) in their custody on any given day.
The weekly turnover rate of inmates is approximately 55%, meaning that every week more than half of these inmates are released and then replaced with new offenders being booked into jail.
The charts below break down the men, women, races, ethnicities and the types of crimes that people are arrested and incarcerated for in both Clay County and state prisons throughout the country. This information is compiled from local police and the Clay County Sheriff's Department, as well as the state of Illinois and the United States Department of Justice and Census Bureau.
If you are looking for a prisoner in Illinois or Federal custody, click on the appropriate institution below.
If you are searching for an inmate being held in another county in Illinois, click below.
STATE OF Illinois COUNTY JAILS
If you are searching for a prisoner in a Illinois State Prison click below.
If you are searching for a United States Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate click below.
Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate Search
For ICE Detainees (Immigration) being held at a detention facility in the United States, click below.
Clay County Inmate Race & Ethnicity - 10/28/2026
| Race | Inmates | % Total |
|---|---|---|
| White | 12 | 92.31% |
| Black | 1 | 7.69% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 0 | 0.00% |
| American Indian/Native Alaskan | 0 | 0.00% |
| Asian | 0 | 0.00% |
| Pacific Islander/Native Hawaiian | 0 | 0.00% |
| Other | 0 | 0.00% |
| Total | 13 | 100.0% |
Clay County Inmate Criminal Charges - 10/28/2026
(many inmates have multiple charges)
| Charge | Inmates | % Total |
|---|---|---|
| Felony (3rd Degree) | 3 | 23.08% |
| Felony (2rd Degree) | 2 | 15.38% |
| Felony (1st Degree) | 1 | 7.69% |
| State Jail Felony | 1 | 7.69% |
| Felony (Uncategorized) | 3 | 23.08% |
| Misdemeanor (Class A) | 3 | 23.08% |
| Misdemeanor (Class C) | 0 | 0.00% |
| Holds | 0 | 0.00% |
| Uncategorized | 0 | 0.00% |
Clay County Inmate Sex - 10/28/2026
| Sex | Inmates | % Total |
|---|---|---|
| Male | 12 | 92.31% |
| Female | 1 | 7.69% |
| Total | 13 | 100.0% |
Clay County Inmate Age - 10/28/2026
| Age | Inmates | % Total |
|---|---|---|
| Under 18 | 1 | 7.69% |
| 18-20 | 1 | 7.69% |
| 21-24 | 2 | 15.38% |
| 25-30 | 3 | 23.08% |
| 31-35 | 2 | 15.38% |
| 36-40 | 2 | 15.38% |
| 41-45 | 1 | 7.69% |
| 46-50 | 1 | 7.69% |
| 51-55 | 0 | 0.00% |
| 56-60 | 0 | 0.00% |
| 61-65 | 0 | 0.00% |
| 66-75 | 0 | 0.00% |
| 76-85 | 0 | 0.00% |
| Total | 13 | 100.0% |
- Jail (Main): 618-665-3316
- Sheriff: 618-665-3316
The Clay County Jail serves the following cities and towns of Clay County: Flora, Louisville and Xenia.