If you need to confirm whether or not someone has been booked into the Cook County Department of Corrections, whether it is the Cook County Jail Division 3 Annex (Women's Division) or another of the nine divisions that make up the Cook County Jail, start with the online Inmate Search. If you are looking for someone under the age of 18 who has just been arrested, their name will not be publicly listed, so your best bet is to call the jail at 773-869-7100 and explain that you are the parent or legal guardian.
Division 3 Annex is the main housing unit for women at the Cook County Jail. Unlike most divisions on the campus, which sort people into separate buildings by security level, this one holds women of every classification under one roof, from those facing low-level charges to those awaiting trial on serious felonies. Women with acute medical or psychiatric needs may instead be placed in Cermak Health Services or Division 8's treatment unit, which the Sheriff's population reports also list as housing women.
Women make up a small share of the jail. Sheriff's daily reports from 2025 and 2026 show women accounting for roughly 7 to 8 percent of everyone in custody. When state inspectors counted in December 2022, the annex held 221 women and seven men; by November 2024 the count was 232 women.
Because the building is laid out as open dorms on a single floor, women live in shared rooms rather than cells. Staff supervise each housing area, and programming takes place inside the same building. New arrivals go through screening, an admitting shower and the issue of a jail jumpsuit before being assigned a dorm.
Illinois Department of Corrections inspectors gave the annex a clean report in November 2024. They described the washrooms as clean and mostly free of mold, found the dorms clean and free of vermin, and noted that notices of detainee rights were posted. No problems were listed for the unit.
Programming is a central part of the division's purpose. State inspectors listed education, vocational training, religious services and substance-use treatment as activities held in the dorms.
The best-known program here is THRIVE, short for Therapeutic Healing Recovery Initiative for Vitality and Empowerment. It is the Sheriff's in-house addiction treatment program for women and is court-ordered, with eligibility depending on the charge and security classification. THRIVE pairs with SMART, the men's program in Division 6. In 2024 ABC7 Chicago reported that the two programs together had nearly 200 participants and more than 3,000 graduates, combining group therapy, medically supervised detox and, when needed, medication-assisted treatment provided through Cermak Health Services. Participants leave with a discharge plan, referrals to community treatment and naloxone. Cermak's medical director described it as the only accredited opioid treatment program operating in an Illinois jail.
The Sheriff's Office notes that this building previously served as the Residential Treatment Unit. A separate, much larger treatment facility under that name opened in Division 8 in 2013. A state inspection record gives a construction date of 1975, while the Sheriff dates the opening to 1985.
Women have moved between several buildings over the past decade. In 2015 Medill Reports described Division 17 as the jail's women's unit, home to a 120-day treatment track called the Women's Justice Program. In February 2016 the Sheriff closed Division 17 and the original Division 3, which together held women of all security levels, and moved them into a renovated Division 4. Sheriff's population reports from April 2020 placed women in a unit then called the RTU Annex, and by early 2022 the reports listed Division 3 Annex as the women's housing unit, with THRIVE operating inside it. Division 4 has not housed detainees in recent state inspections, and the original Division 3 building was demolished in 2017.
Across the jail, the population has declined substantially since the mid-2010s, aided by wider use of electronic monitoring and by the Pretrial Fairness Act, which ended money bond statewide that fall of 2023. The annex's 434 beds have generally been only about half filled in recent counts.
The Division 3 Annex is on the main jail campus near 26th Street and California Avenue.
Tip: For bus times and directions from your address, use the CTA Trip Planner at transitchicago.com or call CTA at 1-888-968-7282. Give yourself extra time; security lines at the jail can be long.
Jail-wide numbers: main line (773) 674-1945; find where someone is held (773) 674-5245; Visitor Information Center (773) 674-8225.
Phone: 773-869-7100
Physical Address:
2700 South California
Chicago, IL 60608
Mailing Address (personal mail):
Inmate's Full Name & Booking #
Cook County Corrections Department
2700 S. California Ave.
Chicago, IL 60608
Mailing Address (legal mail or subscriptions):
Inmate's Full Name & Booking #
Cook County Corrections Department
2700 S. California Ave.
Chicago, IL 60608
Other Jails and Prisons
To search for an inmate in the Cook County Jail Division 3 Annex (Women's Division), review their criminal charges, the amount of their bond, when they can get visits, or even view their mugshot, go to the Official Jail Inmate Roster, or call the jail at 773-869-7100 for the information you are looking for. You can also look up the Cook County Criminal Court or any court in Illinois, as well as criminal court case information regarding an offender.
The Cook County Court Clerk has a lot more specific information you can use to find more about an offender's criminal court case as well.
Cook County Jail Division 3 Annex (Women's Division) Inmate Search
The Cook County Jail Division 3 Annex (Women's Division) maintains an average of 434 offenders in custody on any given day. The Cook County Jail Division 3 Annex (Women's Division) has a monthly turnover of 40% of their inmate population, another 30% turnover every 90 days, another 20% every six months, and approximately 10% stay incarcerated between six and twelve months. Every year Cook County law enforcement agencies arrest and detain approximately 177,400 offenders.
The following charts of Cook County inmate population demographics are updated daily. The information shown is for today. For research purposes we have broken down the inmates by sex, age, ethnicity, and criminal charges.
The information is compiled from the Cook County Corrections Department, the state of Illinois Department of Corrections, as well as the United States Department of Justice and Census Bureau records. It represents every person in custody in Cook County.
For complete information on how to get directions, bond, visit, mail, send and receive email and texts, receive phone calls, and send money or commissary to an inmate, find arrest information for Cook County and other counties surrounding this one, scroll down this page. We have a section for each.
We also provide photos of the jail that we have collected over the years.
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After an arrest, individuals are transported to Cook County Jail Division 3 Annex (Women's Division) for the booking process. This procedure ensures the person’s identity, assesses charges, and determines if they will be released, eligible for bail, or detained until court.
Remaining silent during this process is vital. Anything said could be used as evidence, so it’s wise to wait for an attorney before speaking about the arrest.
Here’s a breakdown of the booking steps at Cook County Jail Division 3 Annex (Women's Division):
For questions about an arrestee’s bond, call the facility at 773-869-7100.
When an individual is arrested and booked at Cook County Jail Division 3 Annex (Women's Division) in Chicago, the outcomes include:
1. Release without bail, under the condition they appear for their court date.
2. Remain in custody until the court appearance.
3. Post a bail or bond for release. Contact 773-869-7100 for specific bail amounts.
Bail payments can be made in different ways.
For further information on posting bail in Cook County, Illinois, visit the Cook County Jail Division 3 Annex (Women's Division) Bail Information Page.
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How Do You Visit an Inmate in the Cook County Jail Division 3 Annex (Women's Division)? What is the Schedule?
You can see someone held at Cook County Jail in two ways: in person at the jail in Chicago, or by video from your own phone or computer. Both are free. This guide walks you through each step in order. Go one step at a time.
A supervisor can also deny a visit for safety reasons. If you are turned down, you may be able to apply again after a waiting period.
You must be approved before you can schedule. Do this first, and do it early. It can take about a week.
Good to know:
Once you are approved, book a time. You must book ahead. Do not just show up.
How often: You can visit once a week, on the days and times set for that person's housing unit. Each unit has its own schedule (see Where to go).
Can't book a time? It usually means you are not approved yet. Call (773) 674-8225, or email DOC.visitation@ccsheriff.org.
Plan to get there at least 30 minutes before your visit time. Everyone goes through a security check, and lines can be long, especially on weekends. If you are late, you may lose your visit.
Leave these in your car or at home. Bringing drugs, weapons or other banned items into a jail is a crime, and you can lose your right to visit.
Wear: regular, modest clothes, such as a T-shirt with sleeves and jeans or long pants that fit at the waist.
Do NOT wear:
If your clothes break these rules, you may be turned away.
Cook County Jail is a large campus on Chicago's Southwest Side, around 26th Street and California Avenue. Each building ("division") has its own visitor entrance, called a post. Go to the post for the division where the person lives.
For any other division, call the Visitor Information Unit at (773) 674-8225 to ask which post to use.
Most divisions hold visits at these times:
Each tier or unit gets only certain days. To see the exact days for your loved one's unit, find their division on the visiting schedules page, or call (773) 674-8225.
CTA buses and trains serve the area. If you drive, paid public parking is nearby.
Video visits use the free app Microsoft Teams. You can use a smartphone, tablet or computer with a camera.
Jail visiting rules can change. Before you go, call the Visitor Information Unit at (773) 674-8225 to make sure your visit is still on.
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Cook County Jail Division 3 Annex (Women's Division)’s Inmate Visitation Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 773-869-7100 for further assistance.
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Can I Use My Computer or Phone to Have a Remote Video Visit with an Inmate in the Cook County Jail Division 3 Annex (Women's Division)?
Video Visitation is done using Microsoft Teams Group Chat Software.
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Cook County Jail Division 3 Annex (Women's Division)’s Video Remote Visitation Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 773-869-7100 for further assistance.
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How Do You Deposit Money for an Inmate in the Cook County Jail Division 3 Annex (Women's Division)?
There are five ways to deposit money in an inmate's account in the Cook County Jail Corrections System:
In order to do any of these you need to know the exact name the inmate was booked under, and the booking number.
If you can't find the inmate and booking number online, call the Records Office at 773-674-2390.
Each week, an individual in custody can purchase up to $100 worth of clothing & supplies, and also $100 worth of food items.
1. Online or Telephone Deposits - Note that it my take up to two business days for the funds to show up in the inmate's account.
JailATM - You need to first register with JailATM in order to look up your inmate's name and booking number and deposit money into their trust fund account. They charge a small fee every time you make a deposit. If you have questions or prefer to use their phone service in order to deposit money, call them at 870-627-5476.
Western Union - First, you need to know the exact spelling of the inmate's name and booking number.
You also need to know these codes: The City Code is: CCDOC or COOK COUNTY DEPT CORRECTION
State Code is: ILLINOIS
Money Gram - First, you need to know the exact spelling of the inmate's name, AND their booking number.
You will also have to know the Receive Code, which is 1750.
For questions, concerns or to add funds via Money Gram over the phone, call 800-225-5227
2. Currency Exchange Facilities -
Deposit funds in-person at Currency Exchanges that offer Western Union or Money Gram services.
Codes:
Western Union
City Code: CCDOC or COOK COUNTY DEPT CORRECTION
State: ILLINOIS
Money Gram
Receive Code: 1750
JailATM
Visit JailATM to register or call 870-627-5476
3. Mailing a Payment -
* Money orders - $100 maximum
* Cashiers Checks - $1,000 maximum
When sending an inmate money by mail, the Cook County Jail Division 3 Annex (Women's Division) will only accept:
If you want to send more you can, but you need to send multiple checks that do not exceed the maximum amounts listed above.
**Important Notes**
Mailing Address:
Inmate's Full Name & Booking #
Cook County Corrections Department
2700 S. California Ave.
Chicago, IL 60608
4. Dropping off a payment at a Kiosk - $300 maximum
When dropping off an inmate's money in person, the Cook County Jail Division 3 Annex (Women's Division) will only accept.
These Kiosks are ATM machines that are managed by JailATM.
JailATM Locations at the Cook County Jail to drop off inmate money:
The following is the procedure to pick-up money from an incarcerated male or female inmate’s money account, regardless of which Cook County Jail they were in:
Once an inmate is released, they can go to the following address, and as long as they can present a government issued picture ID, they can get the balance of their Trust Fund Account issued to them.
Division 5
2700 S. California Ave.
Chicago, IL 60608
Hours: 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
If they don't have an ID, the balance will be mailed to the address that Cook County Corrections has on file.
If they are being released to another facility, upon request, the balance will be sent there.
Letters can be mailed to:
Cook County Department of Corrections
Trust/Finance Office – Individual in Custody Trust Fund
Division 5 Second Floor
2700 S California Avenue
Chicago, IL 60608
If you have any questions, call the Trust/Finance Office at 773-674-6864.
For more information, including fees, more detailed instructions, deposit limits, type of items available to purchase, and more, check out our Inmate Money page.
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Cook County Jail Division 3 Annex (Women's Division)’s Inmate Money and Trust Fund Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 773-869-7100 for further assistance.
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How Do I Receive Phone Calls from an Inmate in the Cook County Jail Division 3 Annex (Women's Division)?
Follow these instructions on how to open an account with GTL Connect Network (aka Viapath Technologies)
For full instructions on the Cook County Jail Division 3 Annex (Women's Division) Inmate Phone System, what the costs are, how it works, and tips and guidelines on rules, regulations and saving money on calls, check out our Inmate Phones Page.
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Cook County Jail Division 3 Annex (Women's Division)’s Inmate Phone Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 773-869-7100 for further assistance.
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How do I Mail an Inmate in the Cook County Jail Division 3 Annex (Women's Division), and what can I send them?
Cook County Jail Division 3 Annex (Women's Division) Inmates are allowed mail in envelopes and on postcards. They are also allowed to receive photos.
They are also allowed to receive books and magazines, but not newspapers.
Mailing Address:
Inmate's Full Name & Booking #
Cook County Corrections Department
2700 S. California Ave.
Chicago, IL 60608
To learn all the rules, policies and guidelines, and they are extensive, for sending anything in the mail to an inmate at any of the Cook County Jails, check out our Inmate Mail Page.
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Cook County Jail Division 3 Annex (Women's Division)’s Inmate Mail Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 773-869-7100 for further assistance.
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Can I purchase Commissary Online for an Inmate in the Cook County Jail Division 3 Annex (Women's Division), and what can I purchase?
There are five ways to deposit money in an inmate's account in the Cook County Jail Corrections System:
In order to do any of these you need to know the exact name the inmate was booked under, and the booking number.
If you can't find the inmate and booking number online, call the Records Office at 773-674-2390.
Each week, an individual in custody can purchase up to $100 worth of clothing & supplies, and also $100 worth of food items.
1. Online or Telephone Deposits - Note that it my take up to two business days for the funds to show up in the inmate's account.
JailATM - You need to first register with JailATM in order to look up your inmate's name and booking number and deposit money into their trust fund account. They charge a small fee every time you make a deposit. If you have questions or prefer to use their phone service in order to deposit money, call them at 870-627-5476.
Western Union - First, you need to know the exact spelling of the inmate's name and booking number.
You also need to know these codes: The City Code is: CCDOC or COOK COUNTY DEPT CORRECTION
State Code is: ILLINOIS
Money Gram - First, you need to know the exact spelling of the inmate's name, AND their booking number.
You will also have to know the Receive Code, which is 1750.
For questions, concerns or to add funds via Money Gram over the phone, call 800-225-5227
2. Currency Exchange Facilities -
Deposit funds in-person at Currency Exchanges that offer Western Union or Money Gram services.
Codes:
Western Union
City Code: CCDOC or COOK COUNTY DEPT CORRECTION
State: ILLINOIS
Money Gram
Receive Code: 1750
JailATM
Visit JailATM to register or call 870-627-5476
3. Mailing a Payment -
* Money orders - $100 maximum
* Cashiers Checks - $1,000 maximum
When sending an inmate money by mail, the Cook County Jail Division 3 Annex (Women's Division) will only accept:
If you want to send more you can, but you need to send multiple checks that do not exceed the maximum amounts listed above.
**Important Notes**
Mailing Address:
Inmate's Full Name & Booking #
Cook County Corrections Department
2700 S. California Ave.
Chicago, IL 60608
4. Dropping off a payment at a Kiosk - $300 maximum
When dropping off an inmate's money in person, the Cook County Jail Division 3 Annex (Women's Division) will only accept.
These Kiosks are ATM machines that are managed by JailATM.
JailATM Locations at the Cook County Jail to drop off inmate money:
The following is the procedure to pick-up money from an incarcerated male or female inmate’s money account, regardless of which Cook County Jail they were in:
Once an inmate is released, they can go to the following address, and as long as they can present a government issued picture ID, they can get the balance of their Trust Fund Account issued to them.
Division 5
2700 S. California Ave.
Chicago, IL 60608
Hours: 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
If they don't have an ID, the balance will be mailed to the address that Cook County Corrections has on file.
If they are being released to another facility, upon request, the balance will be sent there.
Letters can be mailed to:
Cook County Department of Corrections
Trust/Finance Office – Individual in Custody Trust Fund
Division 5 Second Floor
2700 S California Avenue
Chicago, IL 60608
If you have any questions, call the Trust/Finance Office at 773-674-6864.
For more information, including fees, more detailed instructions, deposit limits, type of items available to purchase, and more, check out our Inmate Money page.
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Cook County Jail Division 3 Annex (Women's Division)’s Commissary Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 773-869-7100 for further assistance.
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How Can I Communicate with an Inmate in the Cook County Jail Division 3 Annex (Women's Division) using an Online Messaging Service?
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Cook County Jail Division 3 Annex (Women's Division)’s Text and Email Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 773-869-7100 for further assistance.
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Do Inmates in the Cook County Jail Division 3 Annex (Women's Division) have Access to Tablets or Computers?
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Cook County Jail Division 3 Annex (Women's Division)’s Tablet Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 773-869-7100 for further assistance.
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What are the other City and County Jails in Cook County?
What are the other Jails in the Neighboring Counties surrounding Cook County?
This facility, known as "Cook County Jail Division 3 Annex (Women's Division)" is also known as Cook County Jail.
