Knox County IL Detention Center

Knox County IL Detention Center basic information to help guide you through what you can do for your inmate while they are incarcerated. The facility's direct contact number: 309-345-3737

This facility is for adult inmates.

The Knox County IL Detention Center is a medium-security detention center located at 152 S Kellogg St in Galesburg, IL. This county jail is operated locally by the Knox County Sheriff's Office and holds inmates awaiting trial or sentencing. Most of the sentenced inmates are here for less than two years. Knox County accepts inmates from surrounding towns, municipalities, the US Marshal's Service and the Galesburg Police Department who do not have their own long-term lock-up.

There are new detainees delivered to the jail daily, you can see arrest records here. Some are released after putting up bail, are released to a pretrial services caseload, are placed under supervision by a probation agency, or are released on their own recognizance with an agreement to appear in court. If there is no release, the inmate must wait here at the jail for their court appearance as a guest of the County, getting a bed and three square meals.

Trustees are inmates who work in the jail as cooks, as orderlies for the staff, in the laundry or in the commissary. The trustees are paid a very small amount for their time and some jail gives the trustees a few days off their sentence in exchange for their work.

When an inmate arrives in jail they are put together in a large holding cell with other inmates in the intake. While in intake they are under heightened observation. Violent and out of control inmates are segregated.

Can I Get Work Release?

Work release is when you are released from jail during the day so that you can go to work. At the end of the day, you return to jail for the night. There are a number of requirements to be able to get into the work-release program. Most programs require your employer to fill out some paperwork. If you want to get into the work release program then apply prior to being sentenced to jail. This will minimize the amount of time you spend in jail waiting to get into the program.

Can I call my family in Jail?

Knox County IL Detention Center has a phone program where inmates make outbound calls only, you cannot call into jail. Since you are paying for those calls don't make it a habit of accepting collect-calls, they are over $15 each. The alternative is to set up an account through their third-party phone company which charges steep fees for each minute used. You are paying for them to call you. Click here if you are going to speak a lot and need a discount on the calls.

Remember – These phone calls are recorded and conversations can be used against you or the inmate so do not discuss your case over these phone lines.

visitation Info

Knox County IL Detention Center – Visitation

VISITING HOURS:

• Thursdays:  6:00 P.M. – 10:00 P.M.
• Sundays:  11:00 A.M. – 3:00 P.M.

VISITATION RULES & REGULATIONS – All visitors are subject to search upon entering this facility.

• All persons under the age of eighteen (18) must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian to visit an inmate.  No other person may escort an underage person to visitation.
• All visits are conducted by video and last approximately 20 minutes.
• There are NO Personal Contact or Private Visits at the Knox County Jail.
• Visitors must present a valid Photo ID (Drivers License, State Issued ID, United States Military ID, School ID or FOID Cards) at the time of the visitation.
• Visitors must check-in with the Correctional Staff in the Lobby of the Knox County Law Enforcement Center.
• No person who has been arrested in the last six (6) months will be allowed to visit.
• Appropriate dress attire is required and strictly enforced.
• Children must be supervised at ALL times and are NOT allowed to play in the parking lot for their safety.
• No Food, Drinks (liquids) or Cell Phones are allowed in the visiting room.
• Profanity by inmates or visitors will NOT be tolerated and may result in the termination of your visit. 
• Lewd or disruptive behavior will NOT be tolerated and will result in permanent loss of visitation privileges.
• Failure to follow instructions or disobedience to the Correctional Staff may result in permanent loss of visitation privileges.

Permitted Items:

• Eye Glasses

All other items that the inmate needs can be bought through the commissary and will not be accepted at the visitation.

ALL items brought to the Knox County Jail are thoroughly searched prior to being given to an inmate.

ANY ATTEMPT TO BRING OR SMUGGLE CONTRABAND INTO THE KNOX COUNTY JAIL WILL RESULT IN ARREST AND/OR PERMANENT LOSS OF VISITATION PRIVILEGES