Find Bloomington Inmate Population

Bloomington inmate population records fall under the McLean County Sheriff's Office, which operates the detention facility at 104 W. Front Street. If someone gets arrested in Bloomington, they are taken to the McLean County Jail for holding and processing. The sheriff has a mobile app that lets you search for inmates on your phone. This page goes over how to look up Bloomington inmates, what the jail looks like, how to set up visits, and what you need to know about getting records from the county.

McLean County Runs Bloomington Jail

Bloomington is the county seat of McLean County. The McLean County Sheriff's Office handles all jail operations for the city. Bloomington police arrest people, but the county takes over from there. After booking, inmates go to the McLean County Detention Facility. That is the pattern across Illinois. Cities run police. Counties run jails.

The McLean County Sheriff's Office is at 104 W. Front Street in Bloomington, IL 61701. The main phone number is (309) 888-5034. The jail line is (309) 888-5069. You can visit the sheriff's page at mcleancountyil.gov/95/Sheriff for more details on the office and its services. The sheriff handles patrol, court security, civil process, and the detention facility. If you are trying to find a Bloomington inmate, the sheriff's office is your first stop.

Bloomington Inmate Population Search

The McLean County Sheriff's Office offers an inmate search through a mobile app. Download the "McLean County Sheriff, IL" app on your phone to look up who is in the jail right now. The app lets you search by name and see basic booking information for current inmates. It is free to download and use. This is the main way the sheriff's office shares Bloomington inmate population data with the public.

The McLean County Sheriff's page gives you an overview of the department and its jail operations. Check the McLean County Sheriff page for links and contact info.

If you cannot find someone through the app, they may have been released or transferred. People sentenced to state prison go to an Illinois Department of Corrections facility. Use the IDOC inmate search for those cases. You can search by last name, IDOC number, or date of birth. For quick answers about a specific Bloomington inmate, call the jail at (309) 888-5069. Have the full name and date of birth ready.

McLean County Detention Facility

The McLean County Detention Facility is at 104 W. Front Street in Bloomington. The jail has 205 beds. That is a significant increase from its original 89-bed capacity before a 2018 expansion. The average daily inmate population sits around 136 people. Most of the Bloomington inmate population here consists of pre-trial detainees who are waiting for court dates or who could not post bond.

The McLean County Circuit Clerk is in the same building at 104 W. Front Street, Room 404, in Bloomington. You can call them at (309) 888-5301 for court record questions. The State's Attorney is also in the same building, Room 605, at (309) 888-5400. Having the case number speeds up any search you need to do through either office. If you need to check on a Bloomington inmate's court status, the circuit clerk can help with hearing dates and case info.

Visiting Bloomington Inmates

The McLean County Jail uses IC Solutions for its visitation system. You must register at least 24 hours before your visit. General population visiting hours run Tuesday through Friday from 9:00 to 11:00 AM, 1:00 to 4:00 PM, and 7:00 to 9:00 PM. Weekend hours are Saturday and Sunday from 9:00 to 11:00 AM and 1:00 to 4:00 PM.

Each inmate gets two 30-minute visits per week. That is the limit. You need to plan ahead and register through IC Solutions to lock in a time slot. Bring valid photo ID if you visit in person. Do not go to the jail if you have an active warrant. You could end up detained yourself. That rule applies to all visitors at the McLean County facility, not just Bloomington residents.

Note: Walk-in visits without a reservation are not accepted at the McLean County Detention Facility.

Bloomington Inmate Records and FOIA

You can request Bloomington inmate records from the McLean County Sheriff's Office through the Freedom of Information Act. Under 5 ILCS 140, public bodies in Illinois are required to share records when you ask in writing. Send your request to the sheriff's office at 104 W. Front Street, Bloomington, IL 61701. Clearly state what records you need and that the request is under FOIA.

The office has five business days to respond. Extensions of five more days are allowed with written notice. The first 50 pages are free. After that, you pay the actual cost of copying. Common requests for Bloomington inmate population data include daily jail population reports, booking logs, and release records. Be specific so your request does not get delayed.

Certain records are confidential. Under 730 ILCS 5/3-5-1, medical files and psychological reports need a court order. The Uniform Conviction Information Act at 20 ILCS 2635 means only conviction data is public. Arrest records without convictions may have restrictions. For criminal history searches, contact the Illinois State Police instead of the sheriff's office. The Criminal Identification Act at 20 ILCS 2630 sets the rules for how criminal history records get maintained and challenged in Illinois.

Bloomington Inmate Population and State System

If a Bloomington inmate gets sentenced to state prison, they leave the McLean County Jail and go to an IDOC facility. The Illinois Department of Corrections headquarters is at 1000 Converse Street in Springfield. Their phone is (217) 558-2200. The IDOC website has search tools, FOIA contact info, and visitation rules for all state prisons in Illinois.

The Illinois Prisoner Review Board in Springfield handles parole hearings, revocation hearings, and clemency petitions. Reach them at 217-782-7273. Victims can call 1-800-801-9110 for updates. If someone from Bloomington is in the state system and you want to know about parole status, the review board is the right place. Under 5 ILCS 140/2.15, arrest reports must include the person's name, age, and charges. That applies to Bloomington arrests that go through the McLean County system.

McLean County Inmate Population Page

For the full details on the McLean County jail, all contact numbers, and search tools, visit the main county page.

Nearby Cities

These cities are near Bloomington. Normal shares McLean County. The others are in different counties with their own jails and inmate search systems.