Union County Recent Bookings

Union County recent bookings work differently from most other Illinois counties because the county uses the Jackson County jail for detention. The Union County Sheriff's Office in Jonesboro handles arrests, but people who get booked are housed at the Jackson County facility in Murphysboro. With a population of about 16,997, Union County is in the southernmost part of the state. This page explains how to search for recent bookings tied to Union County, where those records are held, and what state resources can help you find arrest data from this area.

Union County Sheriff's Office Bookings

The Union County Sheriff's Office in Jonesboro makes the arrests and files the charges. But the people they arrest get held at the Jackson County jail in Murphysboro. This is because Union County does not operate its own jail facility. It is a common setup in smaller Illinois counties. The sheriff handles law enforcement, but the neighboring county provides the detention space.

Call the Union County Sheriff's Office at 618-833-5500 to ask about recent bookings. They can tell you if someone was arrested by their office, what the charges are, and where the person is being held. Since Union County inmates go to the Jackson County jail, you may also need to contact Jackson County to confirm custody status and get details about bond or release. The Union County sheriff's staff can point you in the right direction if they are not the ones holding the person you are looking for.

This split between arresting agency and detention facility is important to understand. The arrest record belongs to Union County. The custody record lives at Jackson County. You may need to check both places to get the full picture of a recent booking tied to Union County.

How to Search Union County Recent Bookings

Start by calling the Union County Sheriff's Office at 618-833-5500. Ask about the person by name. The staff will check their records and tell you whether the person was arrested by Union County. If the person is in custody, they are most likely at the Jackson County jail. You can then call the Jackson County Sheriff's Office to confirm the person's current status, bond amount, and any upcoming court dates.

Union County does not have its own online booking roster. This is not unusual for counties that house inmates elsewhere. The booking record still exists at the Union County Sheriff's Office. It is still a public record under Illinois law. You just have to look in two places instead of one. The arrest record is with Union County. The jail roster showing current custody is with Jackson County.

For written copies of Union County booking records, submit a FOIA request to the sheriff's office in Jonesboro. Under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140), these records are public. The office has five business days to respond. Include the person's full name, approximate dates, and what records you need. The first 50 pages are typically free.

Union County and Jackson County Jail

The Jackson County jail in Murphysboro is where Union County inmates are held after booking. This means the live jail roster for Jackson County may show people arrested by the Union County Sheriff's Office. If you are looking for someone recently arrested in Union County, checking the Jackson County roster is a smart move. The roster will list the person as being held at the Jackson County facility with Union County listed as the arresting or committing agency.

Jackson County's jail handles inmates from its own county as well as from Union County. The booking details on the Jackson County roster should show the arresting agency. Look for entries that say "Union County" or "Union County Sheriff's Office" to identify which inmates are there because of Union County arrests. This is the practical side of the shared jail arrangement. The two counties are neighbors in southern Illinois, so the distance between Jonesboro and Murphysboro is manageable.

Note: Bond and court proceedings for Union County arrests still go through the Union County court system, even though the person is physically held in Jackson County.

State Resources for Union County

Illinois state databases help when local searches come up short. The IDOC inmate search covers state prison inmates. If someone arrested in Union County got convicted of a felony and was sent to state prison, they show up in the IDOC database. Search by name, DOC number, or date of birth. Results include the current facility, sentence information, and projected discharge. The IDOC system is separate from both the Union County and Jackson County jail rosters.

The IDOC contact page below shows the main office in Springfield. Call (217) 558-2200 for questions about state inmates from Union County.

The Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification keeps the central criminal history repository. Conviction data from Union County arrests feeds into their statewide system. You can reach the ISP at (815) 740-5160 for background check information.

Union County Bookings Under Illinois Law

Booking records from Union County are public. The Freedom of Information Act makes this clear. Under 5 ILCS 140/2, all public records must be open to inspection and copying. The Union County Sheriff's Office must follow this law. They have a FOIA officer as required by 5 ILCS 140/3.5 to process requests.

The Illinois FOIA statute page on the state legislature website shows the full law. The screenshot below captures that resource.

Juvenile records stay sealed. Expunged records are pulled from public databases. Active investigation details may be withheld. But standard booking data from Union County, including name, charges, arrest date, and bond, is available to anyone. Court records that follow Union County bookings can be found through the Illinois courts public access page. The VINELink notification system works for Union County inmates and sends custody change alerts by phone, email, or text at no cost.

Nearby Counties

Union County is in the southernmost part of Illinois. Arrests near the county line could end up booked in a neighboring county's jail. Check these counties if you do not find the booking record in Union County or Jackson County.