Jefferson County Jail Inmate Search
Jefferson County Inmate Search
Most local arrests end up at the Jefferson County Jail, 81 Elkins Rd, Mt. Vernon, IL 98339 (618-244-8004). Search the inmate search first. VINELink tracks custody and sends alerts when the Sheriff's Office books someone. Booking at the county jail can lag; a Franklin County jail may have the person. Call 618-244-8004. The sections below run from the county jail to state and federal custody.
How do I search for an inmate?
- Start at the inmate search and enter the last name.
- Use VINELink, or the VINELink app for iPhone or the VINELink app for Android.
- Still nothing? Call the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office at 618-244-8004.
How does release work after an arrest?
There's no cash bail in Jefferson County: the Pretrial Fairness Act ended it in 2023. Within 48 hours, release or detention is decided (725 ILCS 5/110-6.1). Full details: our bail guide.
↑ Back to the question listWhere do county prisoners go after sentencing?
Prison-bound inmates here go to Illinois Department of Corrections intake. Each transfer is on the Illinois Department of Corrections inmate search; our Illinois state prisons guide explains it.
↑ Back to the question listHow do I request a mugshot?
Illinois treats adult booking photos as public (5 ILCS 140/2.15). Send an Illinois Freedom of Information Act request to the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office (618-244-8004). Juvenile photos are not released. Most U.S. Marshals Service photos stay private too, under 5 U.S.C. 552. ICE records for someone held by the Sheriff's Office go through the ICE FOIA request page and mention the county.
↑ Back to the question listWhat if someone from Jefferson County faces federal charges?
The U.S. Marshals Service may hold federal defendants in county jails nearby. Hearings take place in East St. Louis, at Melvin Price U.S. Courthouse, 750 Missouri Avenue, East St. Louis, IL 62201; the Southern District of Illinois clerk is at 618-482-9371. Use VINELink before sentencing; the Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator after.
↑ 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 618-244-8004 to learn about a detained child's hearing.
↑ Back to the question listHow do I find someone from Jefferson County taken by ICE?
- A Form I-247A is ICE's request to the jail.
- The Illinois TRUST Act (5 ILCS 805/15) stops the 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.
Money, mail and visits for county inmates
- Phone calls: County inmate phone guide.
- Deposits: our money guide.
- Snacks and supplies: Local commissary page.
- Visits: Local visitation rules.
- Letters: our mail guide.
- Email: our messaging page.
Which nearby jails take people from Jefferson County?
Search empty? Call each county jail next door:
- Franklin County Jail, Benton: 618-438-8211
- Marion County Jail, Salem: 618-548-2141
- Perry County Jail, Pinckneyville: 618-357-5212
- Washington County Jail, Nashville: 618-327-8273
- Wayne County Jail, Fairfield: 618-842-6631
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 many people live in the county?
The county has about 36,147 residents (U.S. Census Bureau Vintage 2025 estimate, released 2026). The county seat is Mt. Vernon, IL.
↑ Back to the question listWhich police departments can I call?
If an officer from Mount Vernon or another town made the arrest, call:
- Mount Vernon Police (non-emergency): 618-242-2131
- Ina: no listed number here yet; the sheriff's office, 618-244-8004, can direct you
Jefferson County Jail Inmate Services Information
Phone: 618-244-8004
Physical Address:
81 Elkins Rd
Mt. Vernon, IL 62864
Mailing Address (personal mail):
Inmate's Full Name & Inmate ID #
Jefferson County Jail
6696 Center Grove Road
Box 272
Edwardsville, IL 62025
Mailing Address (legal mail or subscriptions):
Inmate's Full Name & Inmate ID #
Jefferson County Justice Center
911 Casey Ave
Mt. Vernon, IL 62864
Every year Jefferson County law enforcement agencies arrest and detain 4,980 offenders, and maintain an average of 249 inmates (county-wide) in their custody on any given day.
The weekly turnover rate of inmates is approximately 55%, meaning that every week more than half of these inmates are released and then replaced with new offenders being booked into jail.
The charts below break down the men, women, races, ethnicities and the types of crimes that people are arrested and incarcerated for in both Jefferson County and state prisons throughout the country. This information is compiled from local police and the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department, as well as the state of Illinois and the United States Department of Justice and Census Bureau.
If you are looking for a prisoner in Illinois or Federal custody, click on the appropriate institution below.
If you are searching for an inmate being held in another county in Illinois, click below.
STATE OF Illinois COUNTY JAILS
If you are searching for a prisoner in a Illinois State Prison click below.
If you are searching for a United States Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate click below.
Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate Search
For ICE Detainees (Immigration) being held at a detention facility in the United States, click below.
Jefferson County Inmate Race & Ethnicity - 10/28/2026
| Race | Inmates | % Total |
|---|---|---|
| White | 135 | 70.68% |
| Black | 28 | 14.66% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 12 | 6.28% |
| American Indian/Native Alaskan | 4 | 2.09% |
| Asian | 4 | 2.09% |
| Pacific Islander/Native Hawaiian | 4 | 2.09% |
| Other | 4 | 2.09% |
| Total | 191 | 100.0% |
Jefferson County Inmate Criminal Charges - 10/28/2026
(many inmates have multiple charges)
| Charge | Inmates | % Total |
|---|---|---|
| Felony (3rd Degree) | 54 | 28.27% |
| Felony (2rd Degree) | 37 | 19.37% |
| Felony (1st Degree) | 14 | 7.33% |
| State Jail Felony | 13 | 6.81% |
| Felony (Uncategorized) | 39 | 20.42% |
| Misdemeanor (Class A) | 34 | 17.80% |
| Misdemeanor (Class C) | 0 | 0.00% |
| Holds | 0 | 0.00% |
| Uncategorized | 0 | 0.00% |
Jefferson County Inmate Sex - 10/28/2026
| Sex | Inmates | % Total |
|---|---|---|
| Male | 170 | 89.01% |
| Female | 21 | 10.99% |
| Total | 191 | 100.0% |
Jefferson County Inmate Age - 10/28/2026
| Age | Inmates | % Total |
|---|---|---|
| Under 18 | 2 | 1.05% |
| 18-20 | 9 | 4.71% |
| 21-24 | 21 | 10.99% |
| 25-30 | 41 | 21.47% |
| 31-35 | 33 | 17.28% |
| 36-40 | 27 | 14.14% |
| 41-45 | 21 | 10.99% |
| 46-50 | 13 | 6.81% |
| 51-55 | 10 | 5.24% |
| 56-60 | 9 | 4.71% |
| 61-65 | 3 | 1.57% |
| 66-75 | 1 | 0.52% |
| 76-85 | 1 | 0.52% |
| Total | 191 | 100.0% |
- Jail (Main): 618-244-8004
The Jefferson County Jail serves the following cities and towns of Jefferson County: Belle Rive, Bluford, Ina, Mt. Vernon, Waltonville and Woodlawn.