Cook County Jail - Cermak
Cook County Jail - Cermak
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 - Cermak 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 773-674-7100 and explain that you are the parent or legal guardian.
Cermak Health Services – Cook County Jail's Health Care Operation
Cermak Health Services is the medical, dental, pharmacy and mental health provider for everyone held at the Cook County Jail. It is run by Cook County Health, the county's public hospital system, not by the sheriff's office. Cermak operates the jail's infirmary and acute psychiatric beds on the main campus and staffs exam rooms in every housing division. Cook County Health describes it as the largest single-site correctional health service in the United States.
At a glance
- Address: 2800 S. California Ave., Chicago, IL 60608
- Operator: Cook County Health (formerly the Cook County Bureau of Health)
- Location in the jail: Division 8, alongside the Residential Treatment Unit
- Patients: every detainee in the jail, men and women, at intake and throughout custody
- Services: primary and specialty care, dental, mental health, rehabilitative care, pharmacy, infirmary, opioid treatment
- Accreditation: National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC), 2009 and again in 2024
Who is treated here
Cermak sees each person booked into the jail, starting with medical and psychiatric screening at intake. Patients who are too sick for regular housing stay in the infirmary, sometimes called Cermak Hospital, while those in psychiatric crisis go to its acute psychiatric unit or the Psychiatric Special Care Unit. Detainees with chronic conditions, injuries or dental problems are treated in clinics inside the divisions or brought to Cermak. Cases that need a full hospital are sent to outside facilities such as Mount Sinai Hospital, a short distance from the jail.
Mental health care is a large part of the workload. Around a third of the jail's population has been estimated to have a serious mental illness, and the Chicago Tribune reported in 2015 that eight of 25 budgeted mental health positions were vacant, prompting the county to propose raising psychiatrist pay from $190,000 to $230,000.
Programs and services
- Opioid treatment: Cermak runs the only Certified Opioid Treatment Program inside an Illinois correctional facility, recertified in 2023. Patients can continue methadone, buprenorphine (Suboxone) or Vivitrol, and care coordinators link them to community clinics on release.
- Naloxone: Pharmacists give departing detainees Narcan kits and teach them how to use the nasal spray.
- Medicaid enrollment: Screeners sign eligible detainees up for coverage. A Cook County Health official estimated in 2018 that roughly four in five new detainees qualify.
- Discharge prescriptions: A 30-day supply of medication is sent to the Stroger Hospital pharmacy for pickup after release.
- Discharge planning: Medical social workers arrange coordinated releases for lower-functioning patients, and those needing involuntary hospitalization are transferred by ambulance after a psychiatrist's evaluation.
Oversight and accreditation
Cermak employees answer to the county health system rather than the sheriff. Federal civil rights investigators said in July 2008 that this split caused communication breakdowns and blame-shifting and that delays of six to twelve months in releasing Cermak records were stalling internal investigations of force by officers. The report also found inadequate medical and mental health care across the jail.
A 2010 agreed order in federal court required Cermak to improve staffing, medication distribution, unified health records, suicide prevention and access to specialists, with independent monitors for medical and mental health care. Federal oversight of the sheriff's part ended in June 2017, and WTTW reported in June 2018 that supervision of the jail's medical center had ended as well, eight years after it began. Cermak earned NCCHC accreditation in 2009, and after a review in summer 2023 it was accredited again in April 2024 for full compliance with national jail health standards.
History and changes
Cermak has long been based in Division 8, and in 2013 the county opened a new $86 million building there that combined the Residential Treatment Unit with a modern medical and psychiatric screening center staffed by Cermak clinicians. Dr. Nneka Jones Tapia, a clinical psychologist who once served as Cermak's chief psychologist, became the jail's executive director in 2015, one of the first mental health professionals to run a major U.S. jail.
In the news
- 2016: During a January flu scare, Cermak Hospital Unit 3 South was one of three jail units where movement and visits were halted, CBS Chicago reported.
- 2023 deaths: Injustice Watch counted 18 deaths at the jail in 2023, the highest yearly mortality rate in decades, and pointed to gaps in monitoring and oversight.
- 2025 lawsuit: Injustice Watch reported in June 2025 that the family of a man who died in 2024, less than two days after booking, sued the sheriff and about 30 county employees, including 11 Cermak staff members. The suit says he was denied bipolar medication and that he died after an incident in a holding cell in the basement of the jail's medical building. His death was ruled a homicide by the county's forensic pathologists, though prosecutors declined to file charges.
- 2026 settlement: Cook County approved a $4.5 million payout in June 2026 over a detainee's Christmas Day 2023 suicide. The suit said Cermak staff repeatedly cleared him to leave the Psychiatric Special Care Unit and approved disciplinary segregation despite psychosis and suicide threats.
Notable detainees
Because every person in the jail is a Cermak patient, it has treated the facility's best-known detainees. In 2022, when actor Jussie Smollett's family said he was housed in a psychiatric unit, the sheriff's office referred all questions about his mental health care to Cermak Health Services.
Getting there by bus or train
Cermak's visitor entrance is the post at 2700 S. California Ave., the jail's main entrance.
- Bus #60 Blue Island/26th: ride to 26th and California. Overnight, use the #N60.
- Bus #94 California: get off at 26th or 27th Street on California Avenue.
- Bus #52 Kedzie/California: another route that reaches the area.
- Train: take the Pink Line to California (2011 S. California Ave.), then the #94 bus south about a mile.
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.
Other buildings at the Cook County Jail
- Division 2 / Division 6 Annex, 2700 S. California Ave., Chicago, IL 60608 (visitors use the post at 2800 S. Sacramento Ave.)
- Division 3 Annex (women), main jail campus, 2700 S. California Ave., Chicago, IL 60608
- Division 6, 2801 S. Sacramento Ave., Chicago, IL 60608 (visitor post at 2800 S. Sacramento Ave.)
- Division 8 Residential Treatment Unit (RTU), 2700 S. California Ave., Chicago, IL 60608
- Division 9, 2834 W. 31st St., Chicago, IL 60608 (visitor post at 2854 W. 31st St.)
- Division 10, 2950 S. California Ave., Chicago, IL 60608
- Division 11, 3015 S. California Ave., Chicago, IL 60608
- Division 16, main jail campus, 2700 S. California Ave., Chicago, IL 60608
Jail-wide numbers: main line (773) 674-1945; find where someone is held (773) 674-5245; Visitor Information Center (773) 674-8225.
Inmate Services
Phone
773-674-7100Mailing address (personal mail)
Cook County Corrections Department
2700 S. California Ave.
Chicago, IL 60608
Mailing address (legal mail or subscriptions)
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 - Cermak, 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 773-674-7100 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 - Cermak Inmate Search
The Cook County Jail - Cermak maintains an average of 870 offenders in custody on any given day. The Cook County Jail - Cermak 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 177,880 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.
⇓ Learn more ⇓ Show lessImportant Chicago Area Law Enforcement and Legal Phone Numbers
- Jail (Main): 773-674-7100
- Administration: 773-674-1945
- Adult Probation: 773-674-3280
- Arrest Warrants: 708-865-4902
- Booking: 773-674-1979
- Chicago Police: 312-744-4000
- Cook County Jail Visitation: 773-674-8225
- Criminal Court: 773-674-3160
- District Attorney: 312-603-1880
- Drug Court - Adults: 773-674-7366
- Inmate Accounts: 773-674-6864
- Inmate Info: 773-674-5245
- Juvenile: 312-433-7102
- Juvenile Court: 312-433-4881
- Juvenile Probation: 312-433-6569
- Public Defender - Adults: 312-603-0600
- Public Defender - Juveniles: 312-433-7047
- Records: 773-674-5200
- Sheriff: 708-865-4700
- Victims Help: 312-433-7000
What happens during booking at Cook County Jail - Cermak?
After arrest, individuals are processed at Cook County Jail - Cermak, where they undergo a series of steps that determine their charges and whether they’ll be released on their own recognizance, allowed to post bail, or held until their court date.
The first rule for anyone arrested is to remain silent. Anything they say can be used in court, so it’s best to speak only to an attorney about the incident.
Here are the typical stages of the booking process at Cook County Jail - Cermak:
- Verifying the person’s identity.
- Taking mugshots.
- Questions regarding medical and mental health history, along with drug and gang affiliations.
- Collecting DNA if necessary.
- Conducting a physical search.
- Confiscating personal belongings.
- Providing a phone call.
If you need details about an offender’s bail or bond, contact the facility at 773-674-7100.
How do you post bail in Cook County?
If someone is taken to Cook County Jail - Cermak in Chicago for booking, the next steps depend on their case:
1. The individual may be released without bail, under a promise to appear at a court hearing.
2. They could be held in custody until their trial.
3. They may post a bail or bond for release. To find out the exact bail amount, call 773-674-7100.
Bail payments can be handled in various ways.
- Cash bonds are paid in full, normally at the jail's bonding window or with the clerk of court, by cash, cashier's check or money order, and card payments are often possible through a kiosk in the lobby or an online vendor for a convenience fee; have the inmate's full name and booking number ready, and reach the jail at 773-674-7100.
- Licensed bail bond agents in Cook County can facilitate payment.
- Property bonds are available in many courts: an owner may pledge land or a home after proving clear title and equity of at least the bond amount (often double) with the deed and a recent tax or appraisal figure, and the court that set bail decides whether to accept it.
For a comprehensive guide to the bail process in Cook County, Illinois, visit the Cook County Jail - Cermak Bail FAQ page.
⇓ Learn more ⇓ Show lessHow Do You Visit an Inmate in the Cook County Jail - Cermak? 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.
- Who can visit and who cannot
- Step 1: Get approved to visit
- Step 2: Schedule an in-person visit
- Step 3: The day of your visit (what to wear, what to bring)
- Where to go: visitor entrances by division
- Video visits from home
- Phone numbers and help
Who can visit and who cannot
You can visit if:
- You are 18 or older and the jail has approved you to visit that person.
- You bring a photo ID that is not expired and shows your address.
Children (17 and younger):
- Children do not fill out an application.
- A child must come with an approved parent or guardian who is visiting the same person.
- One approved adult can bring up to three children.
- Teens of high school age need a state ID or a school photo ID.
- An adult must watch the children the whole time.
The jail can say no to you if you:
- Got out of a jail or prison in the last 60 days.
- Are in your first year of parole or probation.
- Are on house arrest.
- Have an open criminal case or are out on bond (minor traffic cases do not count).
- Have a warrant out for your arrest, or an immigration (ICE) hold.
- Have an order of protection involving the person you want to see.
- Are behind on a required registration (such as the sex offender registry).
- Gave information on your application that is wrong or cannot be checked.
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.
Step 1: Get approved to visit
You must be approved before you can schedule. Do this first, and do it early. It can take about a week.
- Get an email address if you do not have one. You will need one that works. You cannot change it later.
- Make an account on the Sheriff's visitor page: iic.ccsheriff.org/Account/Register.
- Type your name exactly as it is on your ID.
- Have your ID with you. You will type in the ID number and the date it expires.
- Make a password with at least 8 characters. Mix capital letters, small letters, numbers or symbols.
- Check your email. Open the message from the Sheriff's Office and follow it to turn on your account.
- Find the person you want to visit using the jail search: iic.ccsheriff.org. Search by first and last name, or by booking number (type it with no dash).
- Click "Register online" next to their photo and fill out the visitor application. Answer every question.
- Wait about 7 business days (weekdays). The jail runs a background check.
- Not sure if you are approved? Call the Visitor Information Unit at (773) 674-8225 or (773) 674-8194, Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Good to know:
- You need a separate application for each person you want to visit.
- If the person moves to a different building inside the jail, you do not apply again.
- If the person is released and later comes back to jail, you do apply again.
- No computer? You can also get an application in the lobby of the building where the person is held, or at the entrance of any Cook County courthouse.
Step 2: Schedule an in-person visit
Once you are approved, book a time. You must book ahead. Do not just show up.
- Find the person's booking number and division. Look them up at iic.ccsheriff.org, or call (773) 674-5245. The housing location starts with the division (for example, "DIV10") followed by the tier or unit.
- Go to the scheduling page: dvv.ccsheriff.org.
- Fill in the form:
- The person's booking number, first name and last name
- Type of visit and their division
- How many visitors are coming (1 or 2 adults)
- Your phone number, email and name. Add the second visitor's name and email if someone is coming with you.
- The date and time you want
- Choose "Yes" for reminders if you want a text message before your visit.
- Click Submit.
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.
Step 3: The day of your visit
When to arrive
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.
Bring only these things
- Your photo ID. It must not be expired, must show your address, and must be the same ID you used on your application.
- Your car keys.
- If you need a bag: a clear plastic bag, no bigger than about 12 x 6 x 12 inches, or a small clear purse about the size of a gallon zip bag. Diaper bags for babies are allowed case by case.
Do NOT bring
- Cell phones, cameras, music players or any electronics
- Food or drinks
- Cigarettes, vapes, lighters or matches
- Alcohol or drugs
- Knives, weapons, tools or nail clippers
- Books, magazines, newspapers or any papers
- Needles or syringes
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.
What to wear
Wear: regular, modest clothes, such as a T-shirt with sleeves and jeans or long pants that fit at the waist.
Do NOT wear:
- Short dresses, miniskirts, short shorts or skirts with high slits
- Low-cut tops, tank tops, sleeveless shirts, halter tops, tube tops or spaghetti straps
- See-through or mesh clothing
- Anything that shows your stomach, back, chest, underwear or rear
- Pants that sag below the waist
- Hats or caps
- Clothes with gang signs or bad words or pictures
- Clothes that look like a police, guard or inmate uniform
If your clothes break these rules, you may be turned away.
At the jail
- Go to the correct entrance (post) for the person's division.
- Show your ID.
- Empty your pockets. You may be scanned or patted down.
- Follow the officer to the visiting area.
During the visit
- Stay calm and polite. Yelling, arguing or cursing can end the visit.
- Talk only to the person you came to see.
- Do not leave the visiting area and come back unless an officer says you can.
- Visits may be watched and recorded.
Where to go: visitor entrances by division
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.
- Division 6 and Division 6 Annex: post at 2800 S. Sacramento Ave., Chicago, IL 60608
- Division 8 RTU and Cermak (health unit): post at 2700 S. California Ave., Chicago, IL 60608
- Division 9: post at 2854 W. 31st St., Chicago, IL 60608
- Division 10: post at 2950 S. California Ave., Chicago, IL 60608
- Division 11: post at 3015 S. California Ave., Chicago, IL 60608
For any other division, call the Visitor Information Unit at (773) 674-8225 to ask which post to use.
Visiting days and hours
Most divisions hold visits at these times:
- Saturday and Sunday: 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
- Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday: 3:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
- Thursday and Friday: usually no visits.
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.
Getting there
CTA buses and trains serve the area. If you drive, paid public parking is nearby.
Video visits from home
Video visits use the free app Microsoft Teams. You can use a smartphone, tablet or computer with a camera.
- Set up Microsoft Teams. Download the free app and make an account with your email: Get Microsoft Teams.
- Talk to your loved one. Tell them you want video visits.
- They add your name to their visiting list inside the jail.
- Wait for a call or message. Jail staff will contact you to set a day and time.
- At visit time, be ready in Teams with your camera on.
Video visit rules
- The same jail rules apply as in person.
- No drinking, smoking, nudity or rude behavior on camera.
- Breaking the rules can end your visits.
Video visit phone lines (call with questions)
- Division 2 (6 Annex): (773) 674-3745
- Division 3 Annex: (773) 674-4894
- Division 4: (773) 674-5713
- Division 5: (773) 674-0667
- Division 6: (773) 674-5336
- Division 8, Cermak: (773) 674-5761
- Division 8, RTU: (773) 674-0077
- Division 9: (773) 674-2295
- Division 10: (773) 674-7640
- Division 11: (773) 674-3722
- Division 16 (MHTC): (773) 674-7159
Phone numbers and help
- Visitor approval and visiting questions: (773) 674-8225 or (773) 674-8194 (Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.)
- Scheduling questions by email: DOC.visitation@ccsheriff.org
- Find where someone is held: (773) 674-5245 or iic.ccsheriff.org
- Help for visitors with a disability (wheelchair, sign language and more): call the ADA office at (773) 674-7768 during business hours, or email CCSO.ADA@ccsheriff.org. Ask ahead of time.
Quick checklist
- ☐ Approved to visit
- ☐ Visit booked at dvv.ccsheriff.org
- ☐ Photo ID (same one as your application)
- ☐ Phone and other items left in the car
- ☐ Clothes follow the rules
- ☐ Arriving 30 minutes early at the right entrance
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 - Cermak’s Inmate Visitation Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 773-674-7100 for further assistance.
⇓ Learn more ⇓ Show lessCan I Use My Computer or Phone to Have a Remote Video Visit with an Inmate in the Cook County Jail - Cermak?
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Cook County Jail - Cermak’s Video Remote Visitation Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 773-674-7100 for further assistance.
⇓ Learn more ⇓ Show lessHow Do You Deposit Money for an Inmate in the Cook County Jail - Cermak?
How to Deposit Money in a Cook County Jail - Cermak Inmate's Account
There are five ways to deposit money in an inmate's account in the Cook County Jail Corrections System:
- Online or Telephone deposits
- Currency Exchange facilities
- JailATM
- United States Postal Service
- Jail lobby kiosks
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
- Select Send Money, then Send Money to an Individual in Custody and follow Western Union's instructions.
- For questions, concerns or to add funds via Western Union over the phone, call 800-225-5227.
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 - Cermak will only accept:
- US Postal Money Orders, or
- Certified Bank Cashier Checks
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**
- The check/money order must be payable to the Inmate's Name AND Booking Number. Look up the inmate's booking number here if you don't have it.
- You can also get the inmate's booking number by calling the Inmate Information Line at 773-674-2390.
- The Cook County Jail reserves the right to decline or return deposits that violate Department Policies.
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 - Cermak will only accept.
- Cash
- Visa or Mastercard
These Kiosks are ATM machines that are managed by JailATM.
JailATM Locations at the Cook County Jail to drop off inmate money:
- External Post 5 [Front Gate Entrance] – 2700 S. California Ave. Chicago, IL 60608
- External Post 7 – 2834 W. 31st Street Chicago, IL 60608
- External Post 9 – 2805 S. Sacramento Chicago, IL 60608
- Division 10 Lobby – 2950 S. California Chicago, IL 60608
- Division 11 Lobby – 3015 S. California Blvd. Chicago, IL 60608
- Division 5 Lobby – 2700 S California Ave. Chicago, IL 60608
Rules Regarding Picking up Money When an Inmate is Released from the Cook County Jail - Cermak
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 - Cermak’s Inmate Money and Trust Fund Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 773-674-7100 for further assistance.
⇓ Learn more ⇓ Show lessHow Do I Receive Phone Calls from an Inmate in the Cook County Jail - Cermak?
How Do You Communicate with an Inmate in the Cook County Jail - Cermak by Phone
Follow these instructions on how to open an account with GTL Connect Network (aka Viapath Technologies)
- Advance Pay - This phone account allows you to prepay so that your inmate can call you (and only you) whenever he/she wants and the cost of each call is deducted from your balance. You can even be notified by text when your balance gets low. You still have the option of accepting or rejecting each call.
- Pin Debit - This option allows you to fund an inmate's commissary account and lets him pay for phone calls to you and others with the money. You will have no control over who your inmate calls.
- Voicemail - You can leave a secure voicemail without having to contact the facility. When you call the local phone number for a facility offering Inmate Voicemail (call Customer Service at 877-650-4249 to get the local voicemail number for Cook County Jail - Cermak, you will be informed of the cost for leaving a message. To leave your message, simply select the inmate by ID number. Then, record your voicemail.
For full instructions on the Cook County Jail - Cermak 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 - Cermak’s Inmate Phone Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 773-674-7100 for further assistance.
⇓ Learn more ⇓ Show lessHow do I Mail an Inmate in the Cook County Jail - Cermak, and what can I send them?
How to Send Mail to an Inmate in the Cook County Jail - Cermak
Cook County Jail - Cermak 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 - Cermak’s Inmate Mail Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 773-674-7100 for further assistance.
⇓ Learn more ⇓ Show lessCan I purchase Commissary Online for an Inmate in the Cook County Jail - Cermak, and what can I purchase?
How to Deposit Money in a Cook County Jail - Cermak Inmate's Account
There are five ways to deposit money in an inmate's account in the Cook County Jail Corrections System:
- Online or Telephone deposits
- Currency Exchange facilities
- JailATM
- United States Postal Service
- Jail lobby kiosks
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
- Select Send Money, then Send Money to an Individual in Custody and follow Western Union's instructions.
- For questions, concerns or to add funds via Western Union over the phone, call 800-225-5227.
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 - Cermak will only accept:
- US Postal Money Orders, or
- Certified Bank Cashier Checks
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**
- The check/money order must be payable to the Inmate's Name AND Booking Number. Look up the inmate's booking number here if you don't have it.
- You can also get the inmate's booking number by calling the Inmate Information Line at 773-674-2390.
- The Cook County Jail reserves the right to decline or return deposits that violate Department Policies.
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 - Cermak will only accept.
- Cash
- Visa or Mastercard
These Kiosks are ATM machines that are managed by JailATM.
JailATM Locations at the Cook County Jail to drop off inmate money:
- External Post 5 [Front Gate Entrance] – 2700 S. California Ave. Chicago, IL 60608
- External Post 7 – 2834 W. 31st Street Chicago, IL 60608
- External Post 9 – 2805 S. Sacramento Chicago, IL 60608
- Division 10 Lobby – 2950 S. California Chicago, IL 60608
- Division 11 Lobby – 3015 S. California Blvd. Chicago, IL 60608
- Division 5 Lobby – 2700 S California Ave. Chicago, IL 60608
Rules Regarding Picking up Money When an Inmate is Released from the Cook County Jail - Cermak
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.
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