Cook County Department of Corrections (CCDOC)

The Cook County Department of Corrections, expanding ninety-six acres and 8 city blocks, is one of the largest single-site jails in the country and is a comprehensive and multifaceted correctional institution, overseeing a diverse array of facilities designed to house and rehabilitate inmates securely. These facilities, each with unique historical backgrounds, architectural designs, and inmate classifications, collectively contribute to the overarching mission of maintaining public safety and providing rehabilitative services. From the venerable Division I, established in 1929, to the state-of-the-art Division XI, which opened in 1995, the Department accommodates inmates across the security spectrum, including minimum, medium, and maximum classifications. Each division, from the medical-focused Division X to the specialized Division XVI for programming participants, plays a critical role in the Department's commitment to secure, humane, and effective correctional management. Integrating advanced security systems, comprehensive inmate programs, and specialized housing units reflects the Department's dedication to setting high standards in correctional operations and inmate rehabilitation.

Division II
Located at 2700 S. California Ave., Chicago, IL 60608, Division II was constructed in 1955 with a dormitory-style design to accommodate 870 individuals. Initially serving as the City of Chicago’s House of Corrections, it was transferred to the Sheriff’s Office in 1970 and merged with Division I to establish the Cook County Department of Corrections. Presently, Division II comprises three individual three-story dormitory buildings capable of housing 592 individuals, alongside a single-story dormitory divided into two sections with a total capacity of 684 individuals. This division currently accommodates general population male inmates classified as minimum or medium security.

Division III Annex
Opened in 1985, the Division III Annex has a capacity of 434 and accommodates female inmates of minimum, medium, and maximum security classifications within the general population. Originally known as the Residential Treatment Unit, this single-floor building features 16 dormitory-style living units and dedicated areas for educational, vocational, and religious programming.

**Division IV – Currently Closed**
Situated at 2717 S. Sacramento Ave., Chicago, IL 60608, Division IV was designed to house 704 individuals. This two-story building, which opened in 1975, includes 16 wings, a stage, and a main recreation center.

Division VI
Located at 2801 S. Sacramento Ave., Chicago, IL 60608, Division VI was built in 1979. This two-story facility contains 24 wings and can house up to 992 individuals. It currently accommodates inmates classified as medium and minimum security.

Division IX
At 2834 W. 31st Street, Chicago, IL 60608, Division IX opened in December 1992 with a design capacity for 1,056 super maximum security male inmates. Presently, this division, comprising two interconnected three-story buildings, houses general population inmates with medium and maximum security classifications. It also includes Rehabilitation Units for inmates found in violation of facility rules and Protective Custody for maximum security inmates.

Division X
Division X, located at 2950 S. California Ave., Chicago, IL 60608, opened in December 1992 as a four-story maximum-security facility designed to hold 768 male inmates. In 2008, it was repurposed to serve as a medical and acute psych dose-by-dose building accommodating inmates of all security classifications. Currently, Division X houses general population males.

Division XI
Located at 3015 S. California Blvd., Chicago, IL 60608, Division XI opened in 1995 as a state-of-the-art medium-security facility covering 640,000 square feet. It consists of a central core surrounded by four housing PODS and has a capacity for 1,536 male inmates of all security classifications. The facility's activities are controlled and monitored by a touch screen security system. Division XI is home to the "Recipe for Change" culinary program, featuring an operational training kitchen for inmates.

Division XVI
Opened in 1997 with a capacity for 200 male inmates classified as minimum or medium security, Division XVI, formerly known as The Vocational Rehabilitation Impact Center (VRIC) and previously Boot Camp, was designed for court-ordered non-violent offenders. The facility is situated on a 10.2-acre complex with ten buildings, including educational structures, dormitories, a mess hall, an intake dormitory, a gatehouse, a gymnasium, and an administration building. The VRIC program was relocated in October 2017, and the space was repurposed for daytime programming under the Sheriff’s Mental Health Transition Center. Division XVI was reopened in March 2020 to serve as an isolation facility during the COVID-19 pandemic. It currently houses inmates participating in CCSO programming such as the Mental Health Transition Center.

External Operations
Located at 2834 W. 31st Street, Chicago, IL 60608, External Operations is responsible for facility perimeter security and the transportation of inmates to and from court appearances, hospitals, and the Fantus Clinic.

Inactive Individual in Custody Housing - Division I
Division I, the oldest building in the complex, located at 2700 S. California Ave., Chicago, IL 60608, opened in 1929. This division can house 1,250 maximum-security male inmates and includes the complex's largest PACE Institute program. The four-story building is divided into eight blocks.

Division III
2700 S. California Ave. Chicago, IL 60608
Division III was an overflow building set up to house minimum and medium male individuals in custody during population spikes at the jail that required additional jail tiers.

Books and magazines ordered for inmates must come directly from the publisher. This policy ensures that the items are new, untampered, and comply with the facility's regulations. Prisons and jails enforce this rule to prevent the introduction of contraband or prohibited materials. By restricting orders to publishers, the facility can better maintain security and control over the content entering the institution. Any books or magazines not received directly from the publisher will be rejected and not delivered to the inmate.

Inmate workers are chosen based on conduct and cooperation with staff. Participation in the community service program can reduce sentences by one day for every 24 hours of work. Inmate workers receive double feeding trays and two mattresses. Commissary is available weekly, with orders submitted via kiosk two days in advance. On holidays, orders may be doubled. Indigent inmates must miss two commissary days to receive a weekly indigent pack containing basic hygiene items, and indigent mail is stamped only for the Attorney of Record or the Court. Upon receiving commissary items, inmates must present their ID, check their order, and sign for it in the presence of the commissary employee.

The jail offers a phone program for outbound calls only, with inmates unable to receive incoming calls. Accepting collect calls can be expensive, sometimes exceeding $10 per call. Alternatively, setting up an account through a third-party phone company may entail high fees per minute of usage. Click here for discounts on inmate calls, especially if the communication with your inmate is frequent. It's important to remember that all phone calls are recorded, and discussing sensitive legal matters over these lines is discouraged. You may send letters and selfies to inmates with this easy-to-use app, packages starting at only $8.00.