Cook County Jail, County jail in South Lawndale, Chicago, United States
Cook County Jail is a correctional facility sprawling across roughly 96 acres and eight city blocks in southwestern Chicago, Illinois. The complex contains multiple housing divisions and processing areas for its population.
The facility opened in 1871 following the Great Chicago Fire, initially serving as a city jail before transitioning to county operation in 1929. This shift reflected growing administrative changes in Chicago's criminal justice system.
The facility appears in the musical Chicago and in recordings of a B.B. King concert from 1970 performed for inmates. These cultural works have embedded the place in American popular consciousness.
Access is restricted and controlled, with visits typically allowed during scheduled weekday hours after prior arrangement. Reaching the site by public transportation is feasible, though visitors must follow all security protocols.
The facility operates as one of the nation's largest detention centers with a significant inmate population concentrated in a single urban location. Its scale and operational scope make it a noteworthy example of how modern corrections systems function within densely populated cities.
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