Effingham County Jail – Effingham, IL

Effingham County Jail is located in Effingham County and is the jail for this county. Are you looking for somebody incarcerated at Effingham County Jail? This page tells you info about everything a person needs to know about Effingham County Jail,such as: Find out who’s in jail at Effingham County Jail? Find mugshots and inmate photos. The jail’s address and phone number. Bail and how to get out of jail. Booking and intake procedures. Court records. And much more…

The prospect of getting arrested and going to jail is a daunting and scary prospect, not only for whoever is incarcerated, but also that person’s friends and family. This guide is meant to give information and advice you need to make the process a lot easier. If you have questions, just ask them, and any tips or comments that could be beneficial to other people in the same situation is appreciated.

Do you have a family member, loved one, or friend that is locked up and don’t know how to contact them?

Do you know someone that has been arrested and you don’t know how to find them?

In order to search who’s in jail at Effingham County Jail you will have to go to their website and use the inmate search.

The Effingham County Jail Inmate Lookup is an online list of persons who have been arrested and are in custody, which includes custody status, bail amount (if applicable), and visiting hours. Also, you can find the same information on anybody arrested and processed or discharged in the past 24 hours. Prisoners are listed alphabetically by last name. You can locate their inmate information more quickly if you’ve got their name, birth date, or arrest number.

If the person you are looking for may be in a different jail you will want to look here, too: Illinois County Jails Directory

A mugshot, also known as a jail intake picture, is a photograph that the police take when you are processed at the jail intake. A mugshot is made up of one full face photo and a profile photo. Your name and jail ID number will appear on the photos, and they will be kept on file.

Mugshots of Effingham County Jail inmates can be viewed online, or you can see them in person at the Effingham County Jail. When viewing mugshots online you will have to put in the inmate’s legal name, and the booking date, if you know it.

Want to have your mugshot erased from the Effingham County Jail site? This is difficult, because your mugshot is a matter of public record. You will need to file a Petition to Expunge in court. Basically, this means that the record of your arrest will be sealed, so no one will be able to see them. Depending on your situation, this may be a longshot.

For a more in-depth article about getting your mugshot taken down, the various mugshot sites, and the mugshot removal services: How To Remove Your Mugshot from the Internet

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If you’re arrested and put in jail, your primary thought is about when you get out. After you’ve gone through booking, bail is set by the magistrate. If you don’t get a bail set this may mean that you will either be released, or you are kept in jail until your court date.

If you are released from jail you are required to agree to go to your court date, and until then you are not allowed to go out of town.

In most cases, an inmate at Effingham County Jail will be given time off for good behavior when they follow the rules and area a good inmate while locked up.

If you follow the rules, you might be allowed to participate in work release. You will either have to go back to jail each day when you’re finished working, or you could be permitted to live in a halfway house instead of jail.

Bail is the amount of money that you will be required to pay in order to be released from jail until your court date. Your bail amount is determined by how serious your charges are. Someone you know will need to post 10% of the amount that was determined so you are able to be released from jail. If you don’t show up for your court date, the person that bailed you out of jail will lose all of the bail money.

In order to find out how much someone’s bail is, you must call the Effingham County Jail. If know the person’s info, like name, address and date of birth, they’ll tell you the bail amount. You can also check their bail amount and status on the jail website.

Bailing out of jail is an unpleasant situation, but in some cases, it is really easy. First of all, you need to find out if their bail is a “Cash Bond Only”. If it is, you will not be able to use a bail bondsman. Cash only – they will not accept a personal check. Once you have paid the bond, the inmate will be discharged. If this person doesn’t violate any of the terms of their release, you will get this money back.

If their bail has been set too high, or you can’t afford it, you will need to use a bail bondsman. Bail bondsmen will generally charge a fee of 10-15% of the total bail amount, and sometimes charge a minimum of $100. The amount you pay to the bondsman will not be returned to you and bondsmen usually only accept cash. If bail is very large, the bail bondsman will require that they use your assets, such as home, property or cars, as collateral in addition to the fee they charge.

To find a bail bondsman click here: Find a bail bondsman at Effingham County Jail

Have you ever used a Bail Bondsman for someone you know or yourself? If so, please leave a comment below and tell about your experience, and let us know how things turned out.

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• Early Release For Good Behavior
• Get Out on Work Release
• Released For Time Served
• Pre-Trial Release Programs
• Released On House Arrest
• Own Recognizance

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The jail intake process takes you through each of the following steps:

• They’ll put you in a holding cell. If there are a lot of arrests, you may not be processed immediately.
• Firstly, you must answer some simple questions, such as what your legal name is, street address, date of birth and a contact person.
• They’ll also ask you about your mental and medical history.
• You’ll be given an inmate ID.
• You will be fingerprinted.
• They will take your mugshot.
• Any personal property you have will be taken from you and stored until you get released from jail.
• You will get to use the telephone in order to talk to a member of your family, friend, or bondsman to arrange bail.
• If you are expected to be released shortly, you might be able to wear your own clothes, but if you are not expected to make bail quickly you will have to change into a jail uniform.

Have you ever been booked into jail? If you have, you should tell us what happened. How long did it take? How did the guards treat you? Can you tell us tips that might help other people that get arrested make it through the procedure?

Click here to tell about all about it

When you pay your bail, you will get released from jail. The discharge process may take between 30 minutes to hours or even all day long. So, the faster you post bail, the sooner you will get discharged from jail. Also, it can depend on whether or not you have a cash bond or if a judge must determine your bail amount. For lesser charges, you will be booked and released on your own recognizance. When you have completed your jail sentence and have a release date, expect to get discharged anywhere between the hours of 9am and 12pm.

for your arrest, or if you have to start your sentence, it is highly advisable that you follow the rules and turn yourself in willingly. If it is for a warrant, go down to the jail reception area, and tell someone that you think there may be an outstanding warrant for your arrest. A record check will be run, and if you do, they will take you into custody and begin the intake process. When reporting to serve a sentence, go to the jail at the exact time and date that the sentence order or court paperwork states. Make sure that you are not late. Be sure to only bring necessary items with you, such as your driver’s license or even photo ID, any prescription medication you might take, as well as an official sentencing order.

In order to have visitors, inmates have to list each visitor’s full name to the jail before anyone can visit them. This information will be put in a log of visitors as an Authorized visit. Each visitor will be required to provide acceptable photo identification. Visitors that gets to visitation or that does not have a visitation order will be turned away.
Jail visitation policies change often, so it would be wise to review the official site before go to the jail to visit an inmate.

Phone calls that inmates are allowed to make from jail are with a pre-paid phone card or account, or are collect calls . Calls made in jail are typically pricier than phone calls made outside of jail. Phone calls are restricted on how often you can use the phone, but you should keep in mind that every inmate wants to use the phone too, so they can call their family. If you break the rules and are disciplined, an inmate’s ability to use the phone might get reduced or eliminated altogether.

The Effingham County Jail phone number is: 217-342-2102

All inmate mail has to be sent via the actual US Postal Service. You cannot use any other form of mail or package delivery. You have to write or type the person’s name, inmate ID number, and the jail address on the letter. Do not mail a package, envelope with padding or insulation, plastic bag, or an envelope containing metal parts. Any mail gets opened and examined by the staff, and will be sent back to the person who mailed it if it can’t be delivered.

The mailing address for Effingham County Jail is:

Effingham County Jail
101 North Fourth Street
Effingham, IL 62401

Here is how you should address the letter:

[INMATE’S FULL NAME]
[INMATE ID]
Effingham County Jail
101 North Fourth Street
Effingham, IL 62401

The mail policy is always changing, so we suggest that you review the site before you send a letter to an inmate.

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If you have been arrested, you need to be aware that you still have rights, one of these is that you have the right to request a lawyer. You won’t get many phone calls in jail, so it is important to have a friend or relative locate an attorney when you call them. I know you’re probably asking yourself right now ‘but do I really need a lawyer’ You are not required to have an attorney for some criminal charges, a criminal attorney can advise you of your rights, help protect your interests and help you understand the criminal justice system. The sooner you hire a lawyer to represent you and work on your criminal case, the better.

To read more about this subject, read: Find an Attorney

If you can’t afford a lawyer, you will be given a public defender for a lawyer. The Public Defender’s Office is staffed by private investigators, crime scene and forensics experts and social case workers. You should be reassured that Public Defenders are full-fledged lawyers who are admitted to the State Bar and are licensed to represent you in court and practice law.

Have you or someone you know had to use a Public Defender or court appointed attorney? Do you think that they did a good job of defending you?

Court records are public and available to anyone who requests them. Court records contain a file containing a docket and all documents in the case. You can access your court records using the internet service, or by going to the Clerk’s office of the Court where the case was filed.

The Effingham County Clerk of Court is an officer and clerk of the court that manages the records. The Clerk of Court also administer the oath for any court participant who must be under oath, and also read the verdict when delivered by the jury. All records associated with your court case are held at the office of the Clerk of Court.

Court fees and costs are the charges associated with your court case, such as filing fees, motion fees and various court charges. If you can’t afford to pay these fees and have a Public Defender, you may not have to pay the fees.

A Magistrate is the type of judge who presides on your court case. Magistrates are judges that do many different things, which include setting your bail amount, issuing warrants for arrest, and presiding over preliminary and procedural court proceedings and detention hearings.

A pre-sentencing report is completed to include information about the arrestee’s background and details of the defendant’s life and history, which the judge will take into account when decide your sentence. Information, details, and character witnesses will be collected from the defendant, his or her family members, and in some circumstances the victim. Be sure to remember you are able to request to receive your own copy of the report before sentencing, so you can review it for accuracy and completeness, and correct any mistakes.

If you get convicted of a crime during your trial, you will be sentenced. There are a number of different options, ranging from community service, house arrest, and probation, to even incarceration in jail or prison. Depending on the severity of the crime, you could be taken into custody, right there in court, or you could get a date to surrender and report to jail to serve your jail time according to your sentence.

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Do you need to find out if somebody you know is incarcerated in jail, or has been an inmate in the past?

This is pretty simple to do, just you will have to go to the Effingham County jail website, and do a search using:

• Their name.
• Birthdate.
• Approximate booking date.
• and their inmate ID.

If you’re not sure if your friend or family member is in jail, you can also call the jail get confirmation.

If you believe you have a warrant out for your arrest, you can find out by checking the arrest warrants on the Effingham County court website or you can call the court directly. You have to have the person’s first and last name. Or, you can just go the jail in person and ask the officer in charge. Keep in mind that if there is an arrest warrant out for you, you will be taken into custody immediately.

If you know the person’s name, and the date of their arrest, contact the jail, either by phone, in person, or look online. An arrest is in the public record and these records are accessible to anyone.

Civil processes are when you get served with papers, such as a court order. You can find these civil process orders by getting in touch with the Effingham County Sheriff’s office, by phone or online.

All convicted sex offenders are registered and listed on a sex offender database. The people on these databases have been convicted in a court of law of a sex crime. You can access sex offenders online, but remember that you can’t see the exact address, but only the block of the address that they registered.

Court Records are public records. These records include a court case file containing a docket and all of the filings and documents filed in your court case. You can access the court records on the website, or at Clerk of Court in the county where the case was filed.

Every state maintains records of people’s criminal history. These databases are all connected so you are able to track criminal convictions from another state. You can go to courthouse and make an inquiry, or check online. You must know which county the crime occurred in, and in the event that it was in a different state entirely, you may have to pay a fee for a more intensive search.

A search of someone’s criminal history you are able to find out if a person has ever been arrested, charged or convicted for any of the following crimes:

• DUI or DWI.
• Drug crimes.
• Kidnapping.
• Rape or other sexual assault.
• Violent crimes like assault or murder.
• Breaking and entering, theft, larceny.

When you do a criminal history search, you generally will not discover if that person has had any infractions like moving violations:

• Speeding or reckless driving.
• Drivers license revoked or suspended.
• Traffic accidents.
• Moving violations.
• Parking Tickets.

To search for this kind of information, you have to do a driving history search.

Have you ever needed to find criminal records? Was it easy? Did you do your search online or did you have to make a phone call to the courthouse? Did you get information that was correct? There are lots of reasons that folks look up criminal backgrounds and records, and your feedback may help other people.

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Most Wanted

The FBI maintains a list of the Top Ten Most Wanted Criminals. In Effingham County, the Effingham County Sheriff’s Department has their own list of the most wanted criminals, that you can access online.

FBI Ten Most Wanted List

Effingham County Sheriff’s Department’s Ten Most Wanted List


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Life In Jail / What Its Like

Daily Life

Just the thought of spending time in Effingham County Jail is quite unpleasant, eventually you will get used to the daily routine there. Inmates get an alarm to wake up every morning at 6:00AM, and then you’ll have roll call. After roll call you will have breakfast. Following breakfast you will have to work in the work program or other activity that you are assigned. This could be working in the kitchen, laundry, or some sort of manufacturing job. While this may seem tedious, it may help you when you leave jail, as you are gaining experience in a certain field of work. Other inmates go to school, while some take part in mandated treatment programs. After lunch, there will be another roll call, then back to work. Your evening will be spent either in your cell or a common room. During this time dinner is served and you will be expected to take a shower. After another roll call, it’s lights out. Even though you will be confined to your cell, there may be enough light to read or write letters. Then again, most inmates welcome lights out, and try to get as much sleep as they can.

Most people are frightened at the idea of jail because they don’t know what to expect. If you have spent any time in Effingham County Jail, your experiences would be welcomed, if it can help another person to deal with it.

Dress Code

When incarcerated, all inmates are expected to wear the Effingham County Jail uniform. This is normally a jumpsuit or scrubs. Of note to anyone visiting an inmate – you must be properly dressed. Any clothing considered inappropriate will not be permitted.

How To Send Money to an Inmate

You will have your own ‘bank account’ while in jail. This money is used to purchase items from the Commissary. Family and friends can deposit money into this account for you, and any money you earn while in prison will also be deposited into your account. Outside money can be paid in to your account via a money order, cash or check. If someone sends a check or money order, make sure that they write your inmate ID on it. The maximum amount you are allowed in your account is $290 per month.

The procedure to send funds to someone in jail at Effingham County Jail might change, so be sure to visit the the Effingham County Jail website before you send funds to an inmate.


Commissary

The commissary is the jail store. You can purchase a number of things here, such as toiletries, snacks and writing supplies. Bear in mind that you will probably want to use the commissary daily, and any infractions will get that privilege taken away from you.

Inmate Medications

If you are on any type of prescription medication, you will be allowed to continue taking it while in jail. When you are first processed, you will be asked what medication you take. You will then be referred to the jail nurse or doctor who will be in charge of monitoring your health and prescribing your medication.

Meals

You will get three meals a day: breakfast, lunch and dinner. As expected, they are very basic, but healthy. A typical breakfast might be cereal, toast, coffee and fruit. Lunch might be spaghetti, salad, bread and milk. Dinner could be chicken casserole, rice, vegetables, dessert and milk. Contrary to popular belief, prison food has greatly improved over the years, and you might find that it’s not much different from what you would eat at home.

Pods / The Yard

The jail is designed in a ‘pod’ layout, with self-contained housing arranged around an outdoor yard. Each pod has a central control station and a common room, and the inmates take turns in using the yard. The jail is designed this way to keep certain inmates together, and others away from the general population.

Gangs

As with life in general, gangs are a part of prison life. Obviously it is best to avoid becoming a part of this environment as it will only lead to trouble. When you first enter prison, you might find yourself being ‘primed’ to join a gang, or worse, you might get their attention in a negative way. The best thing to do is keep your head down and don’t get involved.


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News and Media

News

Photos / Pictures

Videos


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Jobs

Types of Jobs at Effingham County Jail

The Deputy Sheriff is the second in command at the Effingham County Jail, overseeing the day to day operations and administration of the jail. An inmate is unlikely to have much interaction with the Deputy Sheriff, unless they have committed an infraction. Detention Officers are responsible for the custody and care of the inmates. They maintain order in the jail, and handle security. A Detention Officer is assigned to a certain pod, and therefore is responsible for the same inmates each day. They get to know the inmates on a certain level and are well equipped to handle any problems that may occur.

Apply for a Job at Effingham County Jail

Requirements:

• You have to be over the age of 21.
• You have to possess a High School Diploma or GED
• You have to be a US Citizen.
• You have to pass a Criminal, Credit and Driving History background check.
• You have to pass a drug test.
• You have to have a good level of fitness.
• You have to be in good health.
• You have to have a valid Driver’s License
• An applicant for Deputy Sheriff must possess a Law Enforcement Certification.


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Family Resources

There are resources for families of both the perpetrator of the crime and the victim. The social and emotional impact of crime is far reaching, affecting many. Families can receive professional counseling, court related assistance, social services assistance and help in navigating the criminal justice system.

If you are a family member, which resources did you find to be particularly helpful? Please let us know, as this will be helpful to other families in the same situation.

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Victim Resources

Important Note: If you, or someone you know, are in immediate danger, call 911.

Victim’s Rights

The Victim Rights Act grants victims the following rights:

• The right to protection from the accused.
• The right to notification.
• The right to attend proceedings.
• The right to speak at criminal justice proceedings.
• The right to consult with the prosecuting attorney.
• The right to restitution.
• The right to a speedy trial.
• The right to be treated with fairness, dignity and respect.

The definition of victim includes:

• Spouses and children of all victims.
• Parents and guardians of minor victims.
• Parents, guardians and siblings of mentally or physically incapacitated victims or victims of homicide.
• Foster parents or other caregivers, under certain circumstances.

There are a number of services and programs designed to help victims and their families. You can find out about these services by contacting the courthouse, or local law enforcement agency.

Victim Notification

The Department of Justice Victim Notification System (VNS) is a system that provides victims with information pertaining to their case and/or any defendants in the case. You will receive a Victim Identification Number (VIN) and a Personal Identification Number (PIN) that will allow you to access VNS via the internet or by phone. Here, you will find information about future court hearings, historical court events, and detailed information about the defendant. This will include criminal charges filed, the outcome of charges, sentence imposed, custody location, projected release date and any other release information. The VNS website is updated daily. You will also receive any ongoing information by mail or email.

Have you, a family member or friend ever used the Victim Notification System? If so, was it effective? Did you get the information in a timely manner? Was the system difficult to use? We would like to hear from you, so please post any comments here.

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Sex Offender Information and Search

All people registered as sex offenders are registered on either a national or state sex offender database. The people on these databases have been convicted of a sex or kidnapping crime. You can access this information online, but bear in mind that you will not get the exact address, rather the block that they live on.

Domestic Violence

If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, there are services to help you. Your county will have a Domestic Violence Services office. They provide free and confidential services, such as emergency shelter information, legal advocacy, support groups and domestic violence education. They will work to help you create a safe and violence-free life, and heal from the trauma of abuse.

Important Note: If you, or someone you know, are in immediate danger, call 911.


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Reviews

Reviews of this Jail

Have you ever spent any time in this jail? Do you know anybody there? Have you ever visited a prisoner at Effingham County Jail?

If your answer is yes, then we would like you to write your review about it. Write down your experience so that other people can learn what to expect.

Things you can write in what you write:

• Conditions at the jail.
• Jail and pod layout and facility
• Staff and guards
• Commissary and food
• Visitation Days
• Other Inmates.
• Safety
• Gangs
• Activities and programs


Write a Review

Tell Your Story

Anyone who’s ever been arrested and sent to jail has a story about it. How’d you get locked up? Did you get fair treatment? What happened to you while you were locked up? What about the other inmates? How did going to jail affect your life?

Tell Your Story About Effingham County Jail

Send a Message to Your Cell Mate

Did you make friends in jail? Want to get in touch with somebody you met when you were locked up? Post a message to them below.

Say Hello to Effingham County Jail

Links and Resources

Main Effingham County Jail Link
Effingham County Jail Inmate Search
Effingham County Jail Mugshots
Effingham County Jail Bail Link

Effingham County Jail Visitation Policy Link
Effingham County Jail Jail Mail Link
Find an inmate at Effingham County Jail
Effingham County Jail Warrant Inquiry Link
Effingham County Jail Arrest Lookup
Send Money to an Inmate at Effingham County Jail
Jobs at Effingham County Jail


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