Find DeKalb County Inmate Population

DeKalb County inmate population records are maintained by the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office based in Sycamore, Illinois. The county jail went through an expansion in 2018 that nearly doubled its capacity, and it now runs close to full most days. You can search for current inmates through the sheriff's office or use the remote visitation portal to connect with someone in custody. This page has all the tools, phone numbers, and procedures you need to look up DeKalb County inmate population data or request official records.

DeKalb County Inmate Population Search

To find someone in the DeKalb County Jail, contact the sheriff's office directly. The jail phone number is (815) 895-4177. Staff can tell you if a person is in custody and provide basic booking information. The administration line is (815) 895-7260 for more general questions about the DeKalb County inmate population or records. Sheriff Andrew Sullivan's office is at 150 North Main Street in Sycamore, IL 60178.

The sheriff's website at dekalbcountyilsheriff.org may have additional information about current inmates. You can also email the office at asullivan@dekalbcounty.org if you have questions about the inmate search process. Keep in mind that someone who was just arrested might not be fully processed for several hours after booking.

For people who have already been sentenced to state prison, use the Illinois Department of Corrections search at idoc.illinois.gov. That system tracks inmates across all state facilities. The county jail only holds people who are awaiting trial or serving short sentences locally.

DeKalb County Jail Facility

The DeKalb County Jail is at 150 North Main Street in Sycamore, IL 60178. It shares the building with the sheriff's administrative offices. The jail originally had just 89 beds. That was not enough. In 2018, the county completed an expansion that brought capacity to 140 beds. The average daily population sits around 136, so the DeKalb County inmate population stays close to capacity on a regular basis.

The expansion was a big deal for a county this size. Before 2018, overcrowding forced DeKalb County to board inmates out to other facilities, which cost taxpayers more money. Now the jail can handle most of its own population. Sheriff Sullivan manages day-to-day jail operations along with patrol, civil process, and court security duties across the county.

Note: The DeKalb County Jail is a pre-trial detention facility and does not hold state-sentenced inmates long term.

DeKalb County Jail Visitation

DeKalb County uses ViaPath for inmate visitation. All visits are done by video. You can schedule a remote visit through the portal at dekalbga.gtlvisitme.com. Visits are available daily from 9:00 AM to 9:30 PM. Each visit lasts up to 30 minutes. The cost is $0.20 per minute, so a full 30-minute visit runs about $6.00.

You need to create an account on ViaPath before you can book a visit with a DeKalb County inmate. Add funds to your account ahead of time. The system deducts the per-minute charge as the visit runs. Video visits let people connect from anywhere, which helps families who do not live near Sycamore. The daily hours are generous compared to many other Illinois county jails that only allow visits on specific days of the week.

DeKalb County Inmate Records

Public records about the DeKalb County inmate population fall under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act. Under 5 ILCS 140, records held by the sheriff's office are presumed open unless a specific exemption applies. Send your request in writing to the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office at 150 North Main Street, Sycamore, IL 60178. The office must respond within five business days. Your first 50 pages are free.

Arrest reports are public records and must include the person's name, age, and charges per 5 ILCS 140/2.15. Booking logs and daily inmate counts are also available through FOIA. Medical records and psychological files are off limits per 730 ILCS 5/3-5-1 and require a court order. Be as specific as possible when making a request. Vague or broad requests can trigger delays.

The Circuit Clerk at 133 West State Street in Sycamore handles court records. Call (815) 895-7138 for case file inquiries. The State's Attorney at the same address can be reached at (815) 895-7164. Under the Uniform Conviction Information Act at 20 ILCS 2635, only conviction data can be released publicly through criminal history checks.

State Resources for DeKalb County

The Illinois Department of Corrections manages everyone sentenced to state prison. If a DeKalb County inmate gets a state sentence, they transfer out of the county jail. Search state records at idoc.illinois.gov. IDOC currently holds about 28,991 adults across its facilities statewide. The Prisoner Review Board at prb.illinois.gov handles parole hearings and can be reached at 217-782-7273.

VINELink at vinelink.com provides victim notification for both county and state inmates in Illinois. You can register to get alerts when an offender's custody status changes. This is free and works for DeKalb County jail detainees as well as state prison inmates. The victims toll-free line through the PRB is 1-800-801-9110.

Nearby Counties

DeKalb County is surrounded by several other counties in northern Illinois. Each county operates its own jail and inmate lookup system. Check which county covers the location of an arrest to find the right search tool.