Cook County Department of Corrections Inmate Phone & Email

Cook County Department of Corrections

Address:
2700 South California
Chicago, IL 60608

Phone:

773-869-7100

Receiving Phone Calls from an Inmate in Cook County Department of Corrections

There are three Ways to Communicate with an Inmate in the Cook County Department of Corrections by Phone

To get started you must first 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 Department of Corrections, 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.

How to deposit money for Inmate Communications:

  • Online
  • By phone by calling 877-650-4249
  • Deposit by cash, visa or mc debit and credit cards in the Cook County Department of Corrections lobby kiosk
  • By mail... Check or Money Order made out to:
    AdvancePay Service Department
    P.O. Box 911722
    Denver, CO 80291-1722
  • Cash deposits to ConnectNetwork are also available at 26,000 retail locations nationwide including Walmart, ACE, Kmart, Kroger, and more. You’ll start the payment process online in your ConnectNetwork account, then complete your transaction with cash at a participating local retail store. Plus, many of these stores are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Find a retail store near you.

Inmate Phone Calling Rates for Cook County Jail

Phone Call Rate per Minute
Local Calls $0.05 per minute
Calls within Illinois $0.05 per minute
Calls to outside of Illinois,
but within the USA
$0.05 per minute
Calls to Mexico
& Canada
$0.08 per minute
All other International
Calls
$0.13 per minute

 

Inmate Phone Calling Services - Third Party Vendors that work with Jails

There are dozens of third-party for profit companies working with Cook County Department of Corrections and other jails in Illinois to provide a way for inmates to phone friends and families at rates that are much less than what jails have been known to charge in the past.

The lower rates come at a cost to inmates though, as most of the profit from these calls pay for other benefits such as television and both indoor and outdoor recreational services from board games to sports and workout equipment.

To find out what phone service is being used for inmates housed in Cook County, call 773-869-7100, or if the phone service is not noted above, click on one of these companies below, each of which provide service for jails in the state of Illinois:



 

How to get phone Calls from your inmate at Cook County Department of Corrections

** REMINDER: You cannot call your inmate. They have to phone you.

PRE-PAYING

Using GTL you have the option of either:
- pre-paying directly into your inmate's account where they decide who to call, or
- pre-paying, where you control all phone costs and all calls come only to you.

Prepaid Option #1
If you deposit money online in the INMATE ACCOUNT, than they have the freedom to spend the money on phone calls to anyone, or any other communications services available at Cook County Department of Corrections.

Prepaid Option #2
With the FRIENDS & FAMILY ACCOUNT, you control all communication services such as phone calls, video visits and messaging. Your inmate can only call the phone number you want.

Can I call an inmate in the Cook County Department of Corrections?

No, you cannot call an inmate in the Cook County Department of Corrections. You can however call 773-869-7100, or search online to see if your inmate is in custody.

When an offender is first arrested and is being booked into jail, they are allowed one or two free phone calls to notify friends or family of their situation. If they are unable to notify someone at that point, they can try again, this time it will be a collect call that you will have to pay for if your phone service allows you to receive collect calls, once they are classified, processed, dressed and brought to their unit.

However, if the phone they call is a cell phone, which normally do not allow the receipt of collect calls, or your phone service does not allow for collect calls, then you will not be able to receive any phone calls from them until you purchase phone credits from the Cook County Department of Corrections’s inmate calling system. 

The information for this is located above, at the top of this page. If that information is missing, it is because the facility recently changed companies and you can get the details by calling 773-869-7100.

Can I leave a message for an inmate in the Cook County Department of Corrections?

It is rare that a jail (or prison) will accept messages for an inmate.  Of all the thousands of jails in the United States there are probably less than one hundred that have a message line.
There are two exceptions to this rule:

1.    Cook County Department of Corrections will accept a message if there is a family emergency such as a death in the family. In a case like this the message will be conveyed by a jail chaplain or someone that is very high ranking in leadership. Inmates are already under a lot of stress and emotion, and the staff realizes this. It is for this reason they will be very careful how they pass the message along and being watchful afterwards.

2.    Many of the inmate phone systems used by jails allow for messages to be left for a small fee, usually less than $1.00 for a minute. It is done in the form of a voicemail from you. To see if Cook County Department of Corrections offers that service call the phone company at the top of this page or call the jail at 773-869-7100.

Can an inmate in the Cook County Department of Corrections call me?

Yes, an inmate in the Cook County Department of Corrections can call you using any of the following three ways:

1.    The inmate can call you ‘collect’ if your phone service accepts collect calls.

2.    The inmate can call you using a prepaid calling card that they can purchase from the jail’s inmate commissary. 

3.    The inmate can call you using credits or money that you or someone else purchases from the jail’s inmate phone service. This information can be found at the top of this page.

If you can’t find the jail’s phone service, it means that they may have recently changed it. Call the jail at 773-869-7100 to get the information you need.

Also, it is becoming standard that when an inmate is booked in jail, they must make a list of a limited number of people that they will allow to visit them and/or make phone calls to. If the Cook County Department of Corrections requires this, then you will have to be on their list to receive phone calls.

Can an inmate in the Cook County Department of Corrections call their friends?

Yes. If a person is on the inmate’s approved phone contact list and the person accepts a collect call or the inmate has funds on their prepaid card or phone account, there are no restrictions based on whether the person and inmate are related or not.

The only exception to that is if you, as the person who funds their inmate phone account, puts restrictions on the account, so that the account can only be used to communicate with you and not other people. This allows you and not the Cook County Department of Corrections to control who the inmate can speak with.

How do I accept collect calls from an inmate in the Cook County Department of Corrections?

When you receive a collect call from a jail, you will first hear a recording that the call is a collect call and coming from a jail and the person’s spoken name. You will then be asked to respond with a prompt or by voicing “yes” that you agree to accept the call. At that point you can either accept it or refuse it.

If you continue to get calls from the jail and don’t want to receive them anymore, you can contact your phone service and request that that number be blocked.

How much am I charged for accepting a collect call from Cook County Department of Corrections?

The cost of a collect call is the most expensive call that you can make (or take). In fact, the cost (per minute) for a collect call can exceed the cost of an international call.

Expect to pay about $1.00 to 1.50 per minute for a collect call. Compared to the cost of a call going through the inmate phone service that the jail contracts with, ‘collect calls’ can be five to ten times more expensive.

Who should I contact if I’m having difficulty receiving collect calls from the jail or prison?

If you are having difficulties receiving collect calls from the Cook County Department of Corrections contact your own phone service.  Keep in mind that your land line service provider is not the same as your sell service provider.

How much does it cost for an inmate in the Cook County Department of Corrections to call me?

The federal government limits the cost of a phone call from a jail in the United States to $0.21 per minute. This is true whether the inmate is using a prepaid card or one of their friends or family members have contracted with a phone service that the jail recommends.

In general, most of these companies are honest and trustworthy.  The complete list can be found by scrolling down this page further.

There are independent companies that you can find and purchase phone time from that have fees as low as $0.05 to $0.10 per minute.  They usually accomplish this by selling you blocks of time that you may never use, or they have exorbitant fees in other areas. Be a smart consumer and study these offers carefully.

What times are inmates in the Cook County Department of Corrections allowed to make phone calls?

In general, inmates in the Cook County Department of Corrections can make phone calls between the time when breakfast ends until ‘lights out’ at the end of the evening. 

They will not allow phone calls to be made during meals, head counts or during shift changes.

Inmates who are workers (trustees), are on work release or have other responsibilities are also limited to when they can make phone calls, as their schedules take priority over personal time.

In general, other than during the scheduled events noted above, you can communicate by phone between the hours of 7:30AM and 10:00PM.

How often can inmates in the Cook County Department of Corrections make phone calls?

There is no limit to how often an inmate can make phone calls. They are limited only by how much money you are willing to give them to add phone time.

When and if there are limits, the limits never apply to phone time with their lawyer or legal matters related to their criminal court case.

There are some jails and prisons that limit how much an inmate can spend on phone calls, specifically inmates in the United States Bureau of Prisons, which limits federal prisoners to a $300 spend every month.

What is the inmate telephone service for the Cook County Department of Corrections?

The inmate telephone service for this facility can be found at the top of this page. If the information is missing that means that the facility recently changed carriers and has not updated the information. In that case, call the jail at 773-869-7100 to get the answers to your questions.

What are the phone companies that facilitate phone calls with jails and prisons? 

Each of these phone companies provide similar services, and each cannot charge more than $0.021 per minute for domestic calls, however it is a very competitive industry due to the size of the market in which their customers are literally ‘captive’ in every sense of the word.

Amtel Phones
CIDNET
City Tele Coin
Correct Solutions Group
Correct Pay
Ctel
Gettingout
GTL
Homewav
ICSolutions
Inmate Canteen
Inmate Sales
Lattice (nexus telephone)
NCIC
Paytel
Prodigy Solutions
Reliance
Securus
Smart Communications
Tiger

Can an inmate text me from the phones in the Cook County Department of Corrections

No. Inmates in the Cook County Department of Corrections cannot text from the phones, but more and more jails are bringing in a text service for inmates that can work from kiosks and tablets in their units. For more information, check out this jail’s email and text page.

Can an inmate in the Cook County Department of Corrections buy calling cards?

Almost every jail gives inmates and their contacts to either purchase calling cards from commissary or buy phone credits and time online from a phone service. There remain a few jails that still only allow collect calls which is an unfair financial burden on inmates and their families.

To see if Cook County Department of Corrections allows the purchase of phone cards, check the information at the top of this page or call the jail at 773-869-7100.

What is the most that an inmate in the Cook County Department of Corrections can spend on phone calls?

There is no limit to how often an inmate can make phone calls. They are limited only by how much money you are willing to give them to add phone time.

There are some jails and prisons that limit how much an inmate can spend on phone calls, specifically inmates in the United States Bureau of Prisons, which limits federal prisoners to a $300 spend every month, however during the holiday months that number is increased to $400 per month.

Do I need a credit card to purchase phone credits for an inmate in the Cook County Department of Corrections?

Of the dozens of phone companies listed above that do business with the jails and prisons, there are only a few that have a way for you to use cash to purchase phone credits or phone time from them, usually in an ATM machine at check cashing outlets, and only a couple that have a way for you to fund an inmate phone account by mailing them a money order or cashier check.

If you don’t have a credit or debit card from a bank, you can always get a prepaid one at thousands of check cashing locations across the country.

Most jails also have a way for inmates to purchase prepaid phone cards from their commissary. These jails usually allow the inmate’s trust account to be funded with postal money orders, negating the need for having a credit or debit card altogether. 

Call 773-869-7100 to see if your Cook County Department of Corrections’s commissary has prepaid phone cards.

What is the difference between a phone call and a video call?

A video call is no different than a video visit. It allows both the inmate and their approved contacts to see each other during the conversation. This is becoming the preferred method for inmates and their friends and family members to communicate, as visual contact communicates on a different level than just the voice.

Jails and prisons that have the option of video calls and video visits also most likely have handheld tablets for inmate use. This gives the inmate the ability to communicate from their cell or a remote corner of the unit, which adds a level of privacy that a kiosk on the wall does not offer.

To see if Cook County Department of Corrections offers video calls, go to the top of this page or the Visitation page for information. If you can’t find it there, it may be because this facility recently changed companies, so you can call them at 773-869-7100 for details on how to arrange video calls.

Can inmates in the Cook County Department of Corrections use their cell phone?

No, they cannot use their cell phone. 

Inmates have their cell phones taken from them when they are initially booked into jail and will not get them back until they are released, provided the phone is/was not kept by the arresting agency as evidence in a criminal investigation.

Is it illegal for an inmate to use a cell phone in the Cook County Department of Corrections?

Cell phones are considered contraband and a security risk to a jail or prison. All communication: Written, spoken or video, other than an inmate’s communication with their lawyer, are monitored by the facility.

If an inmate is caught with a cell phone that has somehow been smuggled into a jail, the inmate will be charged with a crime. It is considered more serious than being caught with drugs, as a cell phone can be used to intimidate potential witnesses, arrange an escape or run a criminal enterprise outside of the jail’s walls.

Can I get in trouble for accepting a call from an inmate using a cell phone in the Cook County Department of Corrections?

It is unlikely that you can get charged with a crime for communicating with an inmate using a cell phone while incarcerated in the Cook County Department of Corrections.

That said, if it is found that you knowingly were doing it, you could have your visitation or phone privileges suspended, or even permanently terminated by the jail.

If you were involved in the smuggling of the phone, that is a criminal offense, as it may be if you were adding ‘minutes’ onto a prepaid phone that you knew was smuggled into the jail and was being used for illegal purposes.

Can I Communicate By Email With An Inmate?

Cook County Corrections does not offer email services with inmates at this time.

What are the most important things to know about phone calls with Inmates

If you were unable to find the information you were looking for on this page, call GTL Connect Network at 877-650-4249 and ask their policies on getting phone calls from your inmate at Cook County Department of Corrections.

You can contact GTL online by using this online form to ask a question.

  • The Cook County Department of Corrections will sometimes restrict the amount of time that an inmate can use the phone by placing daily and monthly limits, so try to pace yourself and not use up all your time at the beginning of the month.
  • Often a unit will limit an inmate's phone time to certain hours of the day, so it is important you keep a regular schedule that works for both you and your inmate.
  • If your inmate does not call you during the time you both have scheduled, don't panic. There are often long lines for phone use. When a jail is on lockdown due to a fight or other security issue they do not allow the phones to be used.

Things you need to understand about Inmate Phone Calling

  • Phones are the only way for an inmate to hear your voice and temporarily 'escape' the loneliness of incarceration, so use your time well. Arguing about anything will leave you both feeling empty and guilty, so avoid it at all costs.
  • All phone conversations are recorded. Whatever either of you say can and will be used against your inmate in court.
  • Never discuss their pending criminal case! Even if you and your inmate believe that your 'coded' coversation will not be understood, or if you speak in another language thinking the jail staff will not understand, don't do it. The staff that monitors your recorded calls has heard it all... you are not fooling them... and you may find your conversation being used as evidence in their case... or even yours!
  • Also, be warned that some phone providers are collecting voice prints for a database which law enforcement agencies are building.

Cook County Department of Corrections In-Person Inmate Visitation

(Scroll down for Video Visitation instructions)

As long as there is a threat of inmates getting sick from COVID or other pandemic related illness, the following rules will be in affect for all inmates and their visitors:

  • Visitation will only be approved for visitors completing the Cook County Department of Corrections Visitation Application.
  • Visitation will only be allowed for inmates who have been vaccinated.
  • You must apply for a visit at least 48 hours before you request to visit.
  • To find out when your inmate is allowed to have in-person visits, look them up online and view the area of their listing that indicates the times they can have visits. (see circled area below).
  • If you fill out the application and are NOT approved, you may find the answer by looking up your inmate and seeing if they are allowed visitors, or you can call 773-674-8225 or 773-674-8194 to find out why, and what you need to do to get approved.
  • For questions regarding scheduling you can also get answers by emailing the Visitor Information Unit.

These are the in-person COVID visitation guidelines:

  • In person visits will be in an outdoor, social distancing setting.
  • All visitors will be screened by staff for symptoms of COVID-19; temperature check and brief questionnaire, prior to entry.
  • All visitors must wear a face mask that covers their nose and mouth and maintain social distancing (at least 6 feet) at all times during their in-person visit. If you don't follow this guideline, the visit will be immediately ended.
  • If you have COVID symptoms, you will not be permitted entry into the Department of Corrections.
  • If you experienced any COVID symptoms within 14 days prior to your scheduled in-person visit or have tested positive for COVID within 10 days of your scheduled in-person visit, you will not be allowed to enter the Department of Corrections.
  • If you are NOT fully vaccinated (defined as 14-90 days since receiving all doses of a COVID vaccine), the following guidelines also apply:
    **If you have been in close contact (direct physical contact, or within 6 feet for 15 minutes or more) with an individual with COVID within 10 days of your scheduled in-person visit (or within 7 days if you test negative no earlier than 5 days after close contact), please do not come to the Cook County Jail.
    **If you have returned from a state covered by the City of Chicago’s travel order in the last 10 days of your scheduled in-person visit, you will not be allowed to enter the jail unless you test negative for COVID no more than 72 hours before arriving in Chicago.

These are the general rules for visitation:

  • All visitors MUST present a valid, government issued picture ID to gain admittance.
  • Minors age 17 and under must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. If a minor is high school age, they must present a school picture ID.
  • A parent can bring up to three minors on a visit.
  • No communication is allowed with any other inmate in custody that you are not been approved to visit.
  • Scroll down for more detailed rules regarding dress code.
  • Family and friends wishing to participate and receive an In-Person Visit may consult with their loved one. Next, your detained friend or family member will need to add your name to the visitation list and you will be contacted by a Cook County Jail staff member to schedule a day and time for your visit.

Once regular in-person visitation returns in 2023, the following will link you to the actual visitation schedules for each Cook County Jail Division:


Cook County Department of Corrections Inmate Video Visitation

Video Visitation is done using Microsoft Teams Group Chat Software

  • In order to use Microsoft Teams you need to be registered and prepaid. While you can sign up for free, you get more benefits and it's easier to use with a paid version.
  • Family and friends wishing to participate and receive a Video Visit may consult with their loved one.
  • Next, your detained friend or family member will need to add your name to the visitation list and you will be contacted by a Cook County Jail staff member to schedule a day and time for your visit.
  • The following are the instructions and steps to have a video visit with your inmate after you have been added by your inmate, and you have opened your account with Microsoft Teams.
    1. Type www.skype.com in the search bar.
    2. Click 'sign in' in the upper right hand corner.
    3. Click 'New to Skype' Sign up - then 'NEXT'.

    4. Under 'Create Account', add your email address. - then 'NEXT'.
    5. Create a password, then click 'NEXT'.
    6. Enter your first and last name, then click 'NEXT'.
    7. Enter your Country/region, then your birthday, then click 'NEXT'.
    8. Download the SKYPE app to your chosen device, then ...
    9. Sign into SKYPE using your email and password you just registered under.

 

How to Deposit Money in a Cook County Department of Corrections 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 Department of Corrections 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 Jail
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 Department of Corrections 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 Department of Corrections

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.


 

How to Send Mail to an Inmate in the Cook County Department of Corrections

Cook County Department of Corrections 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 Jail
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.


 

How Do You Communicate with an Inmate in the Cook County Department of Corrections 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 Department of Corrections, 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 Department of Corrections 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.


 

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I open an inmate phone account at the Cook County Department of Corrections?
The Cook County Department of Corrections uses a third-party phone service called GTL Connect Network. If you want to communicate by phone with your inmate, you have to first open an account with GTL. They have three different types of accounts: (1)AdvancePay - which is a prepaid collect calling service which allows an inmate to call your phone number using funds that you deposit. (2)PIN Debit - which allows an inmate to call direct to anyone they choose using money that you have deposited for them, or they can use money from their commissary or trust account to purchase prepaid phone credits. (3)Inmate Voicemail - In order to leave a voicemail for your inmate you must have an active AdvancePay Account. To leave a voicemail message you will call a local number that Cook County Department of Corrections has set up, select their Inmate ID, then record the message you want to leave them. To find out the phone number you call to leave a message, call Cook County Department of Corrections at 773-869-7100 or call GTL Connect Network at 877-650-4249. Learn more about how to get phone calls from an inmate in the Cook County Department of Corrections.

How much does it cost for an inmate to make a phone call from the Cook County Department of Corrections?
Phone call rates from your inmate in the Cook County Department of Corrections to you vary and are subject to change, but in general the costs are as follows: AdvancePay Phone Calls - $0.21 per minute. PIN Debit Phone Calls - $0.21 per minute. Traditional Collect Phone Calls - $0.25 per minute. VOICEMAIL Message (one minute max) - $1.00 per minute. Learn more about how much phone calls cost in the Cook County Department of Corrections, or call GTL Connect Network at 877-650-4249.

Can inmate phone calls from the Cook County Department of Corrections connect to my mobile phone number?
Yes. When an inmate in the Cook County Department of Corrections calls you using a GTL Connect Network phone service's AdvancePay or PIN Debit account, the calls can connect to your cell phone. Learn more about how to set up a phone account for an inmate in the Cook County Department of Corrections.

Why is my Cook County Department of Corrections phone status blocked?
If your phone status at the Cook County Department of Corrections is showing being BLOCKED, there could be several reasons for this: (1)There are not enough funds on your AdvancePay or PIN Debit Account, (2)You have a new telephone number, and a restriction could be on your line, (3)You may have accidentally pressed the incorrect number when attempting to accept the incoming call and you may have blocked your line, (4)In the past you may have requested to have a block placed on your phone and you never had it removed. On any of these issues of your phone being blocked, you can resolve them by calling GTL Connect Network at 877-650-4249. Learn more about how to unblock a phone in the Cook County Department of Corrections.

Are phone calls with an inmate at the Cook County Department of Corrections recorded?
Yes. All phone calls with an inmate in the Cook County Department of Corrections are recorded. All calls except those with their lawyer. Everything you say and do are going to be heard and recorded by the jail staff. If you discuss your inmate's pending criminal case or any criminal activity, you can be assured that the conversation will end up being sent to the prosecutor and/or other law enforcement. Learn more about inmate phone calling privacy tips with an inmate in the Cook County Department of Corrections.

How do I control all phone calls with an inmate in Cook County Department of Corrections?
In order to have full control over the phone expenses and who your inmate can call while in the Cook County Department of Corrections, you need to open a GTL AdvancePay phone account. With this type of account, when you deposit money, your inmate can only call your phone number. However, since your inmate can also purchase prepaid phone time through commissary, they can use the prepaid account to phone whoever they choose, as long as the person or number is not blocked by Cook County Department of Corrections. Learn more about how to control your inmate's phone calls in the Cook County Department of Corrections.

How do I make a deposit into a Cook County Department of Corrections inmate's phone account?
GTL Connect network has five different options for making deposits for your inmate's phone account: (1) Online, at the GTL Connect network website. (2) By phone - Call - 877-650-4249. (3) At the Cook County Department of Corrections lobby kiosk. (4) By mailing a check or money order to: AdvancePay Service Department - P.O. Box 911722 - Denver, CO 80291-1722. (5) Walk-in retail locations such as Western Union Quick Collect [Blue Form], Walmart, ACE, Kmart, Kroger,  and more. Learn more about how to deposit money for an inmate's phone account in the Cook County Department of Corrections.

Who is ViaPath Technologies?
GTL Connect Network and their sister company GTL gettingout are currently undergoing a merger and rebranding into a single entity called ViaPath Technologies. During this transition, all of the current services, links and prices will remain the same. Cook County Department of Corrections, and family members and friends of inmates will not see any changes during the transition, as it will be a slow, measured, seamless process. The end result will be a more responsive company with even better services for you and your inmates.

Do inmates in the Cook County Department of Corrections have access to tablets?
Yes. Cook County Department of Corrections is transitioning to having free tablets available to all inmates for basic services. In addition, you will be able to purchase tablet subscriptions which will include, music, movie streaming, educational programming, legal research and more. Learn more about how to rent a tablet for an inmate in the Cook County Department of Corrections.