Complete a Free Illinois Parole Search (Verify Parolees’ Status)

Conduct a free Illinois parole search right away via the online resources and government departments covered in this streamlined article.

Before searching, it helps to know the difference between parole and probation — as these terms are often confused and used interchangeably — but they’re two different types of supervision. Parole happens when a person serves time on a sentence and receives a reduction of their sentence. Probation may be granted instead of jail time, but still entails supervision by an official in the community.

Utilize this resource for helpful links, guidance, and tips for finding information on any parolee in Illinois.

How To Perform an Illinois Parole Search for Free

The Illinois General Assembly states that all public records are to be available to the public to create accountability for all levels of the state’s government and promote open records.

This is detailed in Act 5 of the Illinois Compiled Statutes 140 – Freedom of Information Act.¹ The act does not allow an invasion of personal privacy beyond the extent of publicly available records. It also limits the time spent on fulfilling requests when it disrupts the work of the issuing agency.

Agencies that offer assistance with these requests include the Illinois Department of Corrections, Prisoner Review Board, U.S. Parole Commission and the State Police.

The Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) website provides a webpage to assist with a parole search and offers a link to sign up for community notifications of inmates’ early release.

The search page provides an option to search using:

• Last Name
• IDOC Number
• Birthdate

When using the last name, requesters can also add the first name in this format: Smith, John. This will narrow the search down. A list of records will appear and the requester can simply highlight the one they’re looking for, and open it. The record will include the list of offenses, personal identification information and parole information such as the projected parole date and the last parole date.

Be aware that the data provided by these links may need to be updated. If in doubt, send a verification request to:

Illinois Department of Corrections – Public Information Office
1301 Concordia Court
Springfield, IL 62794

Phone: 217-558-2200

The links are as follows:

IDOC Exits (March 1, 2020, to December 31, 2020): Consists of historical records, including parole information, downloaded as an MS Excel file.

Earned Discretionary Sentence Credit: Opens a page with a table containing the offenders who earned a limited sentence credit’s IDOC number, name, parole date, alias name(s), residence county and offense county.²

Clicking on the IDOC number brings up their case detail page with parole information.

Earned Sentence Credit Program: A table appears with the offenders who earned a sentence credit’s IDOC number, name, parole date, alias name(s), residence county and offense county for an offender. Their case detail is found by clicking on the IDOC number.

Supplemental Sentence Credit Offenders: This link leads to a webpage with the offender’s DOC number, name, parole date, alias name(s), residence county and offense county. Additional information, including parole status, is located by clicking on the IDOC number.

Meritorious Good Time Offenders: This only includes offenders awarded credit before the Meritorious Good Time program in December 2009 was canceled.

The report appearing for this link includes a table with the offenders who received credit for good behavior’s DOC number, name, parole date, alias name(s), residence county and offense county. More data about their crime and parole is available by clicking the IDOC number.

Electronic Detention Offenders: This report includes information on defenders awarded electronic detention and their DOC number, name, parole date, alias name(s), residence county and offense county. The IDOC number takes users to the offender’s information page.

Find Parole Violators & Absconders in Illinois

The IDOC provides several search options to check whether individuals are in violation or absconding from their parole. These include:

Individuals in Custody: This search function shows information of past arrest, whether the individual is eligible or on parole and their release or parole date.

Wanted Fugitives: Lists offenders with a warrant for their arrest.³ Each listing includes a photo and their IDOC number and name. Clicking on the link with the fugitive’s information takes the user to a record page with the absconder’s additional picture(s), information about their warrant, parole, incarceration statuses and a list of criminal charges. To assist the public with identifying the fugitive, their physical profile includes details about their race, height, weight, age, eyes and any tattoos or scars they may have.

Illinois Sex Offender Information: Those who have been convicted of certain sex offences and sex offences against children have to register on the Illinois Sex Offender Database.⁴ Before accessing the search function, applicants have to accept the disclaimer.

Once accepted, it leads to a search function where searchers can use the county, city, zip code, release date or date range to search. It will reveal the IDOC, name, address, release date and warrant issued.

These resources facilitate a parole search in Illinois by providing essential criminal information.

For fugitives, there’s an option to sign up for notifications if the person’s custody status changes. It also offers information to contact the IDOC by calling +1-877-795-4519 if the fugitive is sighted. For armed and dangerous fugitives, the IDOC includes a warning not to apprehend but to call the IDOC or 911.

The Judicial Circuit Court of Illinois houses the Illinois Prisoner Review Board. Parole search inquiries for Illinois can be requested by calling 800-666-6744. For federal parole inquiries, searchers can approach the U.S. Parole Commission.

Illinois Prisoner Review Board 
319 East Madison Street, Suite A
Springfield, IL 62701

Phone: 217-782-7273
Fax: 217-524-0012
Victim’s Toll-Free: +1-800-801-9110

U.S. Parole Commission
90 K Street, NE, Third Floor
Washington, DC 20530

Phone: +1-202-346-7000
Email: public.inquiries@usdoj.gov

Look Up Inmates in Any Illinois State Prison

The Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) offers several resources when determining if someone is on parole or incarcerated within the state. The IDOC individual in custody search allows searchers to find inmates in any state prison throughout Illinois.⁵ Users can enter a partial last name and first name in any order or use the offender’s IDOC number or birth date.

Once submitted, the next page displays a frame with a list of possible inmates. Users can scroll through the names until they find the actual inmate. Clicking on the name will highlight the record, and after clicking ‘query a highlighted inmate,’ their record history appears on a new page.

The record reveals the following information.

• Inmate’s Name
• Parent Incarceration Institution
• Offender Status
• Current Location
• Physical Profile
• Weight
• Hair
• Sex
• Height
• Race
• Eye Color
• Any marks, scars or tattoos
• Admission, release or discharge information
• A list of sentencing information and details

The record includes the inmate’s photos, an option to print the record with or without photos and an option to sign up for notifications if the inmate’s status changes.

Individuals can also find custody information by calling the Illinois Department of Corrections at 217-558-2200. The ability for citizens to search for inmates in Illinois is a result of FOI laws and assures the public has access to information to help them remain safe.

They can also find the information through the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC).⁶

Illinois Department of Corrections – Springfield
1301 Concordia Court, P.O. Box 19277,
Springfield, IL 62794-9277

Phone: 217-558-2200

IDOC – Chicago
555 West Monroe, 6th Floor Suite 600-S
Chicago, IL 60661

Run a Search for an Illinois Parole Officer & Check the Next Hearing Date

The State of Illinois Prisoner Review Board (PRB) is separate from the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC).⁷ Governor-appointed members administer the PRB and regulate conditions for inmates released from prisons in Illinois.

The agency determines parole eligibility based on good conduct and lack of violations. Its board can also revoke or restore good conduct credits inmates earn toward parole.

The PRB is also responsible for notifying crime victims and their family members when an inmate is released and makes closed recommendations for executive clemency petitions to the governor. Parole hearings conducted by the PRB are listed by dates on its website, and there’s an option to watch parole hearings live online.

For a list of past inmates released on parole, the PRB provides an updated page with each parolee’s information.⁸

Interested parties can contact the PRB at:

Illinois Prisoner Review Board
319 East Madison Street, Suite A
Springfield, IL 62701

Phone: 217-782-7273
Fax: 217-524-0012
Victims Toll-Free: +1-800-801-9110

To locate a parole officer in Illinois, searchers can call the Parole Office at 800-666-6744. Information may be obtained in person by visiting or emailing the Illinois Department of Corrections.

Illinois Department of Corrections
1301 Concordia Court
Springfield, IL 62794-9277

Phone: 217-558-2200

IDOC – Chicago office
555 West Monroe, 6th Fl., Ste. 600-S
Chicago, IL 60661

Phone: 217-558-2200

Searchers can use the IDOC’s contact form to lodge a request too.

See if Someone Is on Probation Throughout Illinois

Before requesting information on probation, it helps to know the differences between probation and parole. Probation is offered on lesser offenses, and parole is for more serious offenses where the person has served a portion of their sentence already.

The Illinois State Police adheres to the state’s FOIA laws and offers a document or audio file request form for citizens to request copies of public records, including probation information.⁹ The form can be completed online and submitted or printed and mailed to the Freedom of Information Officer, or mailed to:

Illinois State Police
Freedom of Information Officer
801 South 7th Street, Suite 1000-S
Springfield, Illinois 62703

Phone: 217-782-1320
Email: ISP.FOIA.Officer@illinois.gov

The first 50 pages of letter or legal pages are cost-free, and anything over 50 pages incurs a cost of 15 cents per page. Copies of photos, digital images, instant print images, illustrations and videos come with a fee. The Illinois State Police will inform requesters of the charge before completing the order. Records are sent once payment is received.

At county level, requesters can request the information from the circuit courts or county clerks offices, depending on where the information is stored. For instance, in Cook County, users should address the request to the presiding judge at the circuit court, known as the chief judge.¹⁰ They can send the request to:

Circuit Court of Cook County
50 West Washington Street, Room 2600 Richard J. Daley Center,
Chicago, IL 60602

To successfully perform an Illinois parole search, use this concise resource containing all the links and resources an inquirer needs.