Illinois inmate search

Scott County Inmate Search

No jail operates in Scott County now. Its sheriff works from 101 East Market, Winchester, IL 62694, while adult bookings go to the Morgan County Jail, 300 West Court, Jacksonville, IL 62650 (217-245-4143). 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; a Greene County jail may have the person. Call 217-742-3141. Below: the county jail, jails next door, release, prison and more.

How do I search for an inmate?

1. Start at VINELink and enter the last name.
2. Try VINELink on the web or the VINELink app for iPhone or the VINELink app for Android.
3. Ask the Scott County Sheriff's Office directly at 217-742-3141.

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How 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 Scott County (725 ILCS 5/110). Within 48 hours, release or detention is decided (725 ILCS 5/110-6.1). More: our bail and release page.

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How do I request a mugshot?

Illinois treats adult booking photos as public (5 ILCS 140/2.15). Ask the Scott County Sheriff's Office with an Illinois Freedom of Information Act request, or call 217-742-3141. Juvenile photos are not released. Most U.S. Marshals Service photos stay private too, under 5 U.S.C. 552. An ICE photo request goes on the ICE FOIA request page and mention this county.

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What about youth arrested in Scott County?

Youth stay off the roster (705 ILCS 405/1-7). A judge locally picks the juvenile detention center for detained youth. Call 217-742-3141 to learn about a detained child's hearing.

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Where do local 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.

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Will this county hold someone for ICE?

1. A Form I-247A is ICE's request to the Morgan County Jail.
2. Under the Illinois TRUST Act (5 ILCS 805/15), Scott County won't keep the person the extra 48 hours.
3. Agents may wait outside the County Jail.
4. After an ICE arrest, use the ICE Online Detainee Locator System with the A-number of the detainee.

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What if someone from Scott County faces federal charges?

The U.S. Marshals Service may hold federal defendants in county jails nearby. The case goes to the Central District of Illinois: U.S. Courthouse, 600 E. Monroe Street, Springfield, IL 62701, 217-492-4020. Use VINELink before sentencing; the Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator after.

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Where else could someone arrested in Scott County be held?

Search empty? Call each county jail next door:

• Greene County Jail, Carrollton: 217-942-6901
• Morgan County Jail, Jacksonville: 217-245-4143
• Pike County Jail, Pittsfield: 217-285-5263 (press 1)

For state prisons, use the Illinois Department of Corrections inmate search. For federal holds, use the Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator.

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County inmate calls, mail, visits and money

• Phone calls: County inmate phone guide.
• Deposits: our money guide.
• Commissary: Local commissary guide.
• Visiting: our visitation guide.
• Letters: our mail guide.
• Email: our messaging page.

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How many people live locally?

The county has about 4,866 residents (U.S. Census Bureau Vintage 2025 estimate, released 2026). Winchester, IL is the county seat.

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Which police departments can I call?

No town police numbers for Scott County are on file yet; the Sheriff's Office can help.

• Winchester: no listed number here yet; the sheriff's office, 217-742-3141, can direct you

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Scott County Jail Inmate Services Information

Phone: 217-742-3141

Physical Address:
101 East Market
Winchester, IL 62694

Every year Scott County law enforcement agencies arrest and detain 0 offenders, and maintain an average of 0 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 Scott County and state prisons throughout the country. This information is compiled from local police and the Scott 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.

Illinois Prison Inmate Search

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.

ICE Detainee Search

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