Search Chicago Jail Mugshots
Chicago jail mugshots come from one of the most active law enforcement systems in the state. The Chicago Police Department runs its own adult arrest search tool where the public can look up booking data on people who have been taken into custody. Cook County also keeps jail records for all who pass through its large detention center. If you need to find a mugshot or check on an arrest in Chicago, there are both city and county tools you can use. Start with the CPD search or check Cook County records for more jail details.
Chicago Quick Facts
Cook County Handles Chicago Bookings
Chicago sits in Cook County. All jail bookings go through Cook County systems once a person moves past the initial arrest stage. The Chicago Police Department handles arrests within city limits. After that, the Cook County Sheriff takes over for jail intake and detention. This means mugshots can show up in two places: the CPD arrest search and the Cook County inmate lookup.
The Cook County Jail is one of the largest single-site county jails in the whole country. It holds people from Chicago and dozens of other towns across Cook County. The Cook County inmate locator lets you search for anyone held at the jail. You can also call the Cook County Sheriff's Office at (312) 603-6444 for help. For a full look at how Cook County manages jail records, booking data, and mugshot access, visit the Cook County jail mugshots page.
Chicago Police Department Arrest Search
The CPD runs a public search tool for adult arrests. You can find it at chicagopolice.org/adult-arrest-search. The site says: "By using this website, you will be able to view public records on individuals who have been arrested." It is free to use and does not need an account. Just type in a name and look through the results. Each record shows the charge, arrest date, and basic booking info.
The Chicago Police Department website is the main hub for all CPD services and public data. The adult arrest search page pulls records from CPD's own database. It does not show Cook County Jail data. So if you need the full picture, check both. The CPD tool is best for recent arrests made by Chicago officers. The Cook County tool is best for people currently in jail or who have been through the county system.
Juvenile arrest records are not part of this search. The CPD site makes that clear. Illinois law keeps juvenile records sealed in most cases. Only adult arrests show up in the public tool.
The Chicago Police Department is based at 3510 S. Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60653. For questions that are not an emergency, call 311. That line can help with general police matters and point you in the right direction for record requests.
| Agency | Chicago Police Department |
|---|---|
| Address | 3510 S. Michigan Avenue Chicago, IL 60653 |
| Non-Emergency | 311 |
| Website | chicagopolice.org |
| Arrest Search | Adult Arrest Search |
The CPD main page is shown here. It serves as the starting point for all police services in Chicago, including links to the adult arrest search tool.
From the main page, you can get to the arrest search portal. That tool is specific to adult cases handled by CPD within city limits.
How to Find Chicago Jail Mugshots
There are a few ways to search for jail mugshots in Chicago. The fastest is the CPD adult arrest search. Go to the site, type a name, and browse the results. You do not need to pay or sign up. Each result shows basic arrest details. This tool covers arrests by Chicago police only.
For people held in Cook County Jail, use the Cook County Sheriff Inmate Information Center. This site shows who is in custody right now and may include booking photos. It covers all of Cook County, not just Chicago. The inmate locator can be useful when you know someone was booked but the CPD tool does not show their record yet. Processing times vary, so one system may update before the other.
The CPD adult arrest search page is shown below. This is where you start a name-based search for Chicago arrest records and booking data.
Results on this page come from CPD data. Cook County Jail records are kept in a different system.
You can also file a FOIA request with the Chicago Police Department. Under 5 ILCS 140/2.15, arrest information like the person's name, age, address, and photograph must be made available within 72 hours of each arrest. This is part of the Illinois Freedom of Information Act. A FOIA request can get you records that may not be in the online search tool, such as older cases or records with more detail.
Note: The CPD arrest search does not include juvenile records, which are sealed under Illinois law.
Chicago Mugshot Laws in Illinois
Illinois has clear rules on how jail mugshots can be shared and used. Under 5 ILCS 140/2.15, law enforcement must release arrest data, including photographs, within 72 hours. But the same law says police cannot post booking photos on social media for civil offenses, petty offenses, business offenses, Class C misdemeanors, or Class B misdemeanors. The only exception is if the photo helps find a missing person or fugitive. This rule applies to the Chicago Police Department and all other agencies in the state.
The Uniform Conviction Information Act (20 ILCS 2635) is another law that shapes how criminal records work in Chicago. It makes conviction data available to the public through the Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification. You must use a special form to request this data. Each form has a unique control number, so copies will not work. This law only covers convictions, not arrests that did not lead to a conviction.
Illinois also has a law that protects people from mugshot extortion. Under 815 ILCS 505/2QQQ, it is illegal for any website to charge a fee to take down a mugshot or change criminal record data. Sites that break this rule can face action from the Illinois Attorney General. People whose records are posted with errors can sue for $100 per day until the mistake is fixed. The site must correct wrong data within five days of being told about it.
Chicago Arrest Record Fees
The CPD adult arrest search is free to use online. No account is needed. But getting copies of full arrest reports or booking records may cost a fee. Under 5 ILCS 160, agencies can charge for copies of arrest records. The fee cannot be more than the actual cost to copy the records. Labor costs for making the copies cannot be added to the price.
If you want state-level criminal history data, the Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification handles those requests. The BOI is at 260 N. Chicago Street in Joliet. You can reach them at 815-740-5160 or email ISP.BOI.Customer.Support@illinois.gov. They are open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Keep in mind that BOI records cover the full state, not just Chicago.
Cook County may have its own fees for jail records and inmate data. Contact the Cook County Sheriff's Office at (312) 603-6444 for details on how to get booking records from the county jail. The Cook County Sheriff website has info on available services including the inmate locator and visitation.
Note: Online searches through CPD are free, but formal records requests may have copy fees.
State Inmate Search for Chicago
If someone arrested in Chicago ends up in state prison, their records move to the Illinois Department of Corrections. The IDOC inmate search lets you look up anyone in state custody. This is different from the Cook County Jail search, which covers local detention. IDOC handles people who have been sentenced to state prison terms.
IDOC also links to other tools like the wanted fugitives list and the sex offender registry. The department is based at 1301 Concordia Court in Springfield, IL 62794. You can call them at 217-558-2200. For people who were arrested in Chicago and then sent to a state facility, IDOC is where you will find their current custody status and related records.
Nearby Cities with Jail Mugshots
Chicago borders several other cities in the metro area. Each has its own police force, but arrests often go through Cook County for jail processing. These nearby cities also have jail mugshot records you can search.
All of these cities fall within Cook County or border it. Their jail records tie back to the Cook County Sheriff system for detention and booking.
Cook County Jail Mugshots
Chicago is in Cook County. All jail bookings from CPD arrests go through the Cook County Jail system. The county handles over 5 million residents across dozens of cities and towns. For the full county guide on jail records, inmate search tools, and booking data, check the Cook County page.