Menard County Jail Inmate Search
Menard County Jail Inmate Lookup
Most local arrests end up at the Menard County Jail, 315 South 6th Street, Petersburg, IL 62675 (217-632-2273). Search VINELink first. VINELink tracks custody and sends alerts when the Sheriff's Office books someone. Booking at the county jail can lag; a Cass County jail may have the person. Call 217-632-2273. Below: the county jail, jails next door, release, prison and more.
How do I search for an inmate?
- Go to VINELink and enter the last name.
- Search VINELink online, or with the VINELink app for iPhone and the VINELink app for Android.
- Still nothing? Call the Menard County Sheriff's Office at 217-632-2273.
What about youth arrested in the county?
Youth stay off the roster (705 ILCS 405/1-7). A judge here picks the juvenile detention center for detained youth. Call 217-632-2273 to learn about a detained child's hearing.
↑ Back to the question listWhere is a federal defendant from Menard County held?
The U.S. Marshals Service may hold federal defendants in county jails in this county. The Central District of Illinois hears it at 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 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 Menard County (725 ILCS 5/110). Within 48 hours, a judge rules on release (725 ILCS 5/109-1). Full details: our bail guide.
↑ Back to the question listWhere else could someone arrested in Menard County be held?
Search empty? Call each county jail next door:
- Logan County Jail, Lincoln: 217-732-2610
- Mason County Jail, Havana: 309-543-2231
- Sangamon County Detention Facility, Springfield: 217-753-6886
State prisoners show on the Illinois Department of Corrections inmate search; federal ones on the Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator.
↑ Back to the question listWill the county hold someone for ICE?
- A Form I-247A is ICE's request to the Menard County 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.
How 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 Menard County Sheriff's Office at 217-632-2273. Youth photos and most U.S. Marshals Service photos are withheld (5 U.S.C. 552). ICE records for someone held by the Sheriff's Office go through the ICE FOIA request page and list the arrest date.
↑ Back to the question listWhere do local prisoners go after sentencing?
Prison-bound inmates here go to Illinois Department of Corrections intake. For moves, use the Illinois Department of Corrections inmate search; see our Illinois state prisons guide.
↑ Back to the question listCounty inmate calls, mail, visits and money
- Calls: see our phone page.
- Deposits: our money guide.
- Snacks and supplies: Local commissary page.
- Visiting: our visitation guide.
- Letters: our mail guide.
- Email: our messaging page.
What is the population of the county?
The county has about 11,863 residents (U.S. Census Bureau Vintage 2025 estimate, released 2026). The county seat is Petersburg, IL.
↑ Back to the question listWhich police departments can I call?
No town police numbers for Menard County are on file yet; the Sheriff's Office can help.
- Petersburg, Athens: no listed number here yet; the Menard County Sheriff's Office, 217-632-2273, can direct you
Menard County Jail Inmate Services Information
Phone: 217-632-2273
Physical Address:
315 South 6th Street
Petersburg, IL 62675
Mailing Address (personal mail):
Inmate's Full Name & Inmate ID#
Menard County Jail
315 South Sixth Street
Petersburg, IL 62675
Mailing Address (legal mail or subscriptions):
Inmate's Full Name & Inmate ID#
Menard County Jail
315 South Sixth Street
Petersburg, IL 62675
Every year Menard County law enforcement agencies arrest and detain 500 offenders, and maintain an average of 25 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 Menard County and state prisons throughout the country. This information is compiled from local police and the Menard 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.
Menard County Inmate Race & Ethnicity - 10/28/2026
| Race | Inmates | % Total |
|---|---|---|
| White | 16 | 84.21% |
| Black | 1 | 5.26% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 1 | 5.26% |
| American Indian/Native Alaskan | 1 | 5.26% |
| Asian | 0 | 0.00% |
| Pacific Islander/Native Hawaiian | 0 | 0.00% |
| Other | 0 | 0.00% |
| Total | 19 | 100.0% |
Menard County Inmate Criminal Charges - 10/28/2026
(many inmates have multiple charges)
| Charge | Inmates | % Total |
|---|---|---|
| Felony (3rd Degree) | 5 | 26.32% |
| Felony (2rd Degree) | 3 | 15.79% |
| Felony (1st Degree) | 1 | 5.26% |
| State Jail Felony | 1 | 5.26% |
| Felony (Uncategorized) | 5 | 26.32% |
| Misdemeanor (Class A) | 4 | 21.05% |
| Misdemeanor (Class C) | 0 | 0.00% |
| Holds | 0 | 0.00% |
| Uncategorized | 0 | 0.00% |
Menard County Inmate Sex - 10/28/2026
| Sex | Inmates | % Total |
|---|---|---|
| Male | 17 | 89.47% |
| Female | 2 | 10.53% |
| Total | 19 | 100.0% |
Menard County Inmate Age - 10/28/2026
| Age | Inmates | % Total |
|---|---|---|
| Under 18 | 1 | 5.26% |
| 18-20 | 1 | 5.26% |
| 21-24 | 2 | 10.53% |
| 25-30 | 4 | 21.05% |
| 31-35 | 3 | 15.79% |
| 36-40 | 2 | 10.53% |
| 41-45 | 2 | 10.53% |
| 46-50 | 1 | 5.26% |
| 51-55 | 1 | 5.26% |
| 56-60 | 1 | 5.26% |
| 61-65 | 1 | 5.26% |
| 66-75 | 0 | 0.00% |
| 76-85 | 0 | 0.00% |
| Total | 19 | 100.0% |
- Jail (Main): 217-632-2273
- Sheriff: 217-632-4458
The Menard County Jail serves the following cities and towns of Menard County: Athens and Petersburg.