Find an Inmate in Hancock County
Most local arrests end up at the Hancock County Jail, 98 Buchanan Street, Carthage, IL 62321 (217-357-2115). Your first stop is VINELink. VINELink tracks custody and sends alerts when the Sheriff's Office books someone. Booking at the county jail can lag; an Adams County jail may have the person. Call 217-357-2115. Below: the county jail, jails next door, release, prison and more.
How do I search for an inmate?
- Start at VINELink with the person's name.
- Use VINELink, or the VINELink app for iPhone or the VINELink app for Android.
- Still nothing? Call the Hancock County Sheriff's Office at 217-357-2115.
What other jails should I check besides Hancock County?
Search empty? Call each county jail next door:
- Adams County Jail, Quincy: 217-277-2202
- Henderson County Jail, Oquawka: 309-867-4291
- McDonough County Jail, Macomb: 309-833-5245
- Schuyler County Jail, Rushville: 217-322-4366
For state prisons, use the Illinois Department of Corrections inmate search. For federal holds, use the Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator.
↑ Back to the question listHow does release work after an arrest?
Illinois ended cash bail in 2023 under the Pretrial Fairness Act, so there's no money to post in Hancock County (725 ILCS 5/110). Within 48 hours, release or detention is decided (725 ILCS 5/110-6.1). Full details: our bail guide.
↑ Back to the question listWill Hancock County hold someone for ICE?
- ICE may send the jail a Form I-247A detainer.
- The Illinois TRUST Act (5 ILCS 805/15) stops this county from honoring the 48-hour hold.
- Agents may wait outside the County Jail.
- After an ICE arrest, use the ICE Online Detainee Locator System with the A-number of the detainee.
Where do county prisoners go after sentencing?
Someone given prison leaves the county jail for Illinois Department of Corrections intake. Families can follow moves on the Illinois Department of Corrections inmate search, then see our Illinois state prisons guide.
↑ Back to the question listStaying in touch with an inmate
- Phone calls: Local inmate phone guide.
- Deposits: our money guide.
- Commissary: Local commissary guide.
- Visiting: our visitation guide.
- Mail: County inmate mail rules.
- Email: our messaging page.
Where is a federal defendant from Hancock County held?
The U.S. Marshals Service may hold federal defendants in county jails nearby. Their case is in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois, U.S. Courthouse, 600 E. Monroe Street, Springfield, IL 62701 (217-492-4020). Check VINELink while the case is open, and the Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator after sentencing.
↑ Back to the question listHow do I request a mugshot?
Illinois treats adult booking photos as public (5 ILCS 140/2.15). File an Illinois Freedom of Information Act request with the Hancock County Sheriff's Office at 217-357-2115. Youth photos and most U.S. Marshals Service photos are withheld (5 U.S.C. 552). An ICE photo request goes on the ICE FOIA request page and mention the county.
↑ Back to the question listWhat about youth arrested in this county?
Youth stay off the roster (705 ILCS 405/1-7). A judge locally picks the juvenile detention center for detained youth. Call 217-357-2115 to learn about a detained child's hearing.
↑ Back to the question listHow many people live in the county?
This county has about 16,803 residents (U.S. Census Bureau Vintage 2025 estimate, released 2026). The county seat is Carthage, IL.
↑ Back to the question listWhich police lines cover Hamilton and other towns here?
No town police numbers for Hancock County are on file yet; the Sheriff's Office can help.
- Hamilton, Carthage, Warsaw, La Harpe: no listed number here yet; the sheriff's office, 217-357-2115, can direct you