Perform a Madison County Mugshot Search Free of Charge

Run a free Madison County mugshot search in no time to stay informed about individuals recently arrested in the county.

Mugshots are taken by law enforcement agencies for transparency, identification and public safety. In line with the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, these records are made public and accessible through official custodians, mostly for free.

This article provides instructions to efficiently navigate available resources for accessing arrest and inmate records —particularly mugshots —within Madison County, Illinois.

Access Mugshots at No Cost: Where To Look

Mugshots are commonly seen in arrest and inmate records, which can be accessed through various means. Crime-related records, including mugshots, are maintained by the Madison County Sheriff’s Office.

The sheriff’s office makes these records publicly accessible, though they do not have an online database.

The alternative lookup and mugshot request methods will be outlined in detail below.

Additionally, city law enforcement agencies – particularly the police departments – also provide access to this information, especially for recent arrests. Furthermore, the Illinois Department of Corrections makes mugshots of incarcerated individuals accessible by the public through their online database.

A Guide to Finding Madison County Mugshots for Free

The public may access mugshots for various reasons: to identify if someone has a criminal record, for victims to be aware of the offender status, or just to satisfy curiosity.

In Madison County, official records of arrest are kept and maintained by the sheriff’s office. The office serves as the central law enforcement agency in the county and provides access to public records, including mugshots. However, they do not host online jail roster.

In order to view the offender’s photo, interested individuals may need to contact the Madison County Sheriff’s Office directly.¹ See their contact information below.

Madison County Sheriff’s Office
405 Randle St. 
Edwardsville, IL 62025 

Phone: 618.692.6087
Fax: 618.656.1210
Office Hours: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM | Monday-Friday

Another option is by reaching out to the Madison County Jail by phone at 618.692.1064.² Third party providers, like VINELink can also be a valuable option when searching for arrest or inmate information, but note that online search results don’t show mugshots.

For more insights, interested residents can also refer to the instructions on searching arrest records in Madison County.

Detention Center Inmate Services: Madison County Illinois

The Madison County Jail Division offers essential services for inmates and their loved ones to maintain connections and support during their time incarcerated.

Provided below is a brief outline and explanation of the inmate services offered by the Madison County Jail.

Posting Bond/Bail: Based on the SAFE-T Act, Illinois courts – including those in Madison County – no longer use a cash bail system; they use a pretrial release system instead.³ To find out the type of bond set by the court and the required payment, interested individuals may contact the Madison County Circuit Court or the court where the case is pending.

Inmate Visitation: Unlike other correctional facilities in Illinois, the Madison County Jail doesn’t allow on-site visitation.⁴ Visitation can only be done remotely through video or phone calls.

Anyone who wants to visit an inmate must create an account and schedule their visits at least 24 hours in advance.

Note: Each visit only lasts 30 minutes and calls are recorded and monitored for security.

Sending Mail: The jail does not accept non-privileged or personal mail sent physically, so mail should be delivered digitally.⁵ However, books, newspapers and magazines are still accepted – but only if they are from the authorized publisher. When sending letters, it is important to make sure that the full name and sheriff ID is included on the envelope.

All mail must be addressed to:

Madison County Jail (Illinois)
PO BOX 247
Phoenix, MD 21131

Detainee Phone Calls: Detainees can stay in touch with their families through various communication options offered by the Madison County Jail.⁶ Phones and jail-issued tablets are accessible by inmates from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM.

Unwanted calls can be blocked by contacting the county jail directly at 618.692.1064 for security.

For additional questions and concerns regarding these services, call the Madison County Jail Division or visit their FAQs page.

Locating Mugshots Through Cities Within Madison County IL

In Madison County, some local jail and police departments also provide access to mugshots and arrest records. However, city police departments in the county also don’t offer online options to access these records. Instead, the requester may need to submit a record request or contact the police department directly.

For instance, when requesting records from the Edwardsville Police Department, citizens must submit a FOIA request.⁷

Alternatively, requests can also be made through phone, by email, or by visiting the department in person.

Edwardsville Police Department
333 South Main St.
Edwardsville, IL 62025

Phone: 618.656.2131
Email: [email protected]

The Alton Police Department also accommodates city, state, and federal inmates.⁹ To access jail booking records and obtain police reports, directly request these through the Records Division by contacting 618.463.3505 ext. 660.

You may also need to visit the office in person. Their address is provided below:

Alton Police Department
1700 E. Broadway
Alton, IL 62002

Office Hours: 8:00AM – 5:00PM | Monday – Friday

If the arrest took place in Granite City, you can request records by reaching out to the city’s police department at:

Granite Police Department
2330 Madison
Granite City, IL 62040

Phone: 618.877.6111 / 618.876.9027¹⁰

The process of obtaining records may differ depending on the particular agency. Use Google or any search engine and enter the keyword “[City Name] Police Department”. Reach out to the appropriate agency to learn the proper procedure for obtaining these police photographs.

Prisoner mugshots can also be accessed through state and federal resources. The following section outlines the process.

Finding Mugshots of State & Federal Prisoners (Illinois)

Although the city and county custodians don’t offer an online search tool for accessing mugshots, state-level resources can provide this information.

Mugshots and inmate records from all over the state can be accessed through the Illinois Department of Corrections’ Individual in Custody Search Tool.¹¹ This search tool has 3 search criteria: inmate’s name, IDOC number and birthdate. To begin, select which one you prefer, then fill in the required fields.

Results will show a list of matching records, with the offender’s full name, identification number and birth date. Select the specific individual of interest, then hit the “Query A Highlighted Inmate” button to view more detailed information.

Offender’s mugshots can be seen at the top portion of the profile page, along with the relevant inmate’s physical description, admission/release/discharge details and sentencing information.

It is important to note that search results won’t include those individuals recently booked and waiting for trial or bond.

For more information, visit the department’s FAQ page or contact the Illinois Department of Corrections through phone at 217.558.2200 or visit the office in-person.¹²

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

Chicago – Illinois Department of Corrections
555 West Monroe
6th Fl. Ste. 600S
Chicago, IL 60661

Additionally, for public awareness, the IDOC also offers a list of wanted fugitives across the state with their mugshots and full name. Residents may also be able to search for registered sex offenders in the area.

Furthermore, if the offender is under the custody of the federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP), records can be accessed by utilizing the Inmate Locator —searchable by name or BOP registered number.¹³

This search tool allows the public to view federal prisoners information, but won’t include prisoner photos. Since mugshots may not be included in the online results, you may need to contact the BOP directly.

The Illinois Freedom of Information Act guarantees that public records —including mugshots— are publicly accessible in all levels within its jurisdictions.¹⁴ Remember that it’s strictly prohibited to use this information for stalking, harassment, intimidation, or any illegal purpose.

The public must comply with the laws and regulations set out by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and outlined in the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).

If curious for more county public records and wanting to learn about the process for obtaining each record, refer to the tutorial on accessing Madison County public records; this resource includes search options for other record types as well, such as arrests, warrants, crimes, court case details, and more.

By following the appropriate steps for conducting a Madison County mugshot search, individuals can obtain the information they need while staying within the bounds of local and state laws.