Cook County Jail - Department of Corrections Inmate Mail

Search for an Inmate or Active Arrest Warrant in Cook County

Sending Mail to Someone at Cook County Jail

The Cook County Department of Corrections is the Cook County Jail in Chicago, run by the Cook County Sheriff's Office. It is spread over several division buildings on one large campus, but every letter goes to the same main address on South California Avenue. You don't need to know which division the person is in.

Letters, legal mail, publications and money orders:
Inmate's Full Name & Booking #
Cook County Department of Corrections
2700 S. California Ave.
Chicago, IL 60608

  • Booking number: Write the person's full name and booking number on the envelope. Look it up on the Individual in Custody Locator or call the automated line at 773-674-5245.
  • Return address: Print your full name and mailing address at the top left of the envelope.
  • Photos: Prints from 3 x 5 up to 5 x 7 inches. Polaroids with a thick double backing are refused, and so are pictures with weapons, money, gang signs or nudity.
  • Books and magazines: Up to three paperbacks or magazines in one mailing, sent from the publisher. Hardcovers and spiral-bound books never get in.
  • Newspapers: A whole daily paper is not allowed, but a clipping or a printed article is fine.
  • Money orders: Each one must be $100 or less, and a cashier's check can be up to $1,000. Make it out to the person using the exact name and booking number shown on the locator. Never slip cash into the envelope. It can take up to five business days to post.
  • Perfume and stains: Mail sprayed or soaked with perfume, cologne or anything that leaves the paper sticky, greasy, wet or stained is taken as contraband and thrown out, not returned.
  • One bad item: If anything in an envelope or package is on the banned list, the whole thing goes back to the sender with an explanation.
  • Disputes: If you get a Notice of Returned Mail and disagree, write to the jail's Mail Rejection office at the same address within 10 days.

For a faster note, family can use the jail's electronic messages.

Mailing and Emailing Inmates at Cook County Jail - Department of Corrections

When mailing a letter or postcard to an inmate, please address your mail as follows:

Inmate's Full Name & Booking #
Cook County Department of Corrections
2700 S. California Ave.
Chicago, IL 60608

All mail sent to an inmate at the Cook County Jail - Department of Corrections must include the sender's name and mailing address in the top left corner of your mail.
Failure to include your return address will most likely result in your mail NOT being delivered and your letter destroyed.
Main Phone: 773-674-7100

The information below provides complete instructions regarding:
Cook County Jail - Department of Corrections Inmate Mail Policies,
Mail Instructions,
What type of mail is NOT allowed,
Rules for Mailing Letters and Photos and Postcards,
Emailing an inmate,
Policies for Sending Magazines, Newspapers, Books and Packages to Cook County Jail - Department of Corrections in Chicago, Illinois.

Follow these instructions exactly to help ensure that your inmate receives his/her mail and not have it thrown away.
The Cook County Jail - Department of Corrections has a zero-tolerance policy regarding mail violations.

Emailing Messages & Photos

Facility_name_1} with Viapath/GettingOut, the same services that handle its Inmate Phone System and Video Visitation, for sending secure messages and photos between you and your inmate. 

If you are not already registered, do so here, or Log in.

Then use the Facility Finder to:
1.  Select this facility,
2. Add your inmate to your list of contacts,
3. Add a credit or debit card to cover your costs.

How Messaging Works
1.  Messages can be up to 500 characters long, including punctuation. At the bottom of your message there is a 'character countdown' feature.  
2. After you click the “CONTINUE” button, you can review the cost to send your message to your inmate. You can also attach credits for your inmate to reply to your message.  Be sure to accept the Terms and Conditions and click the “SEND” button for your message to be successfully delivered to your inmate.

How Uploading Photos Works
1.  Select the Photos Tab.
2. Select “Take New Photo” or “Upload New Photo”.
3. Take a new photo with your webcam, or select "Choose File" to upload a photo from your computer.
4. Give your photo a Title or add it to the "Gallery" of your choice.
5. Select the "Share" button.
6. Select your inmate(s) and then select "Share".
7. Once the photo is approved, it will be shared with your inmate(s).

Customer Service Questions
Call   866-516-0115

Emailing and Photo Sharing with your Inmate

Emailing Messages & Photos

Cook County Jail - Department of Corrections contracts with Viapath/GTL/GettingOut, the same service that handles Inmate Phone Systems and Video Visitation, for sending secure messages and photos between you and your inmate.


If you are not already registered, do so here, or Log in.

Then use the Facility Finder to:
1.  Select Cook County Jail - Department of Corrections,
2. Add your inmate to your list of contacts,
3. Add a credit or debit card to cover your costs.

How Messaging Works
1.  Messages can be up to 500 characters long, including punctuation. At the bottom of your message there is a 'character countdown' feature.  
2. After you click the “CONTINUE” button, you can review the cost to send your message to your inmate. You can also attach credits for your inmate to reply to your message.  Be sure to accept the Terms and Conditions and click the “SEND” button for your message to be successfully delivered to your inmate.

How Uploading Photos Works
1.  Select the Photos Tab.
2. Select “Take New Photo” or “Upload New Photo”.
3. Take a new photo with your webcam, or select "Choose File" to upload a photo from your computer.
4. Give your photo a Title or add it to the "Gallery" of your choice.
5. Select the "Share" button.
6. Select your inmate(s) and then select "Share".
7. Once the photo is approved, it will be shared with your inmate(s).

Customer Service Questions
Call   866-516-0115

How Do You Fill Out an Envelope Mailed to an Inmate in the Cook County Jail - Department of Corrections?

Inmate's Full Name & Booking #
Cook County Department of Corrections
2700 S. California Ave.
Chicago, IL 60608

All mail sent to an inmate at the Cook County Jail - Department of Corrections must include the senders name and mailing address in the top left corner of the envelope or postcard.
Failure to include your return address will most likely result in your mail NOT being delivered and discarded.

Policies Regarding Mailing Photos to Inmates in the Cook County Jail - Department of Corrections

PHOTOGRAPHS & COMPUTER PRINTED IMAGES ARE ALLOWED

Cook County Jail - Department of Corrections allows:

  • Photo(s) that conform to size requirements: Minimum of 3"x 5" / Maximum of 5"x 7" 
  • Photo(s) that DO NOT depict nudity, sexually-suggestive content, or gang imagery
  • Photo(s) that DO NOT depict content which has been determined to compromise jail security
  • Photo(s) that ARE NOT Polaroid or double-backed.

Inmate Mail Tips

Cook County Corrections Inmate Mail Tips

  • The photograph rules apply to any computer-generated images on computer paper.
  • Mail is always scanned and inspected for contraband, obscenity and other rule infractions.
  • Assume that everything you write will be read by Cook County Jail staff, and can and will be used against you or your inmate in court.  
  • Never write anything about the inmate's court case you wouldn't want read aloud in court.
  • Mail is considered by the jail to be a privilege. Any violations of the mail policies can result in the inmate's mail privileges being suspended.
  • The introduction of contraband by you into the jail through the mail could result in criminal charges being filed against both you and the inmate.

Search for an Inmate or Active Arrest Warrant in Cook County

Human-verified information Manually curated

Every detail on this page is checked by hand, not scraped. This unofficial directory helps friends and family of incarcerated individuals find critical information — inmate lists, locations, bail resources, visitation hours, rules, and text, phone, email, and mail services — for jails, detention centers, and prisons across the United States.