Winnebago County Jail

To search for an inmate in the Winnebago County Jail, review their criminal charges, the amount of their bond, when they can get visits, or even view their mugshot, go to the Official Jail Inmate Roster, or call the jail at 815-319-6600 for the information you are looking for. You can also look up the  Winnebago County Criminal Court or any court in Illinois, as well as criminal court case information regarding an offender.

Winnebago County Jail Inmate Search

The Winnebago County Jail maintains an average of 1324 offenders in custody on any given day. The Winnebago County Jail has a monthly turnover of 40% of their inmate population, another 30% turnover every 90 days, another 20% every six months, and approximately 10% stay incarcerated between six and twelve months. Every year Winnebago County law enforcement agencies arrest and detain approximately 27,440 offenders.

How to handle bail after an arrest in Winnebago County

If someone has been booked at Winnebago County Jail in Rockford, their next steps may include:

1. Release without posting bail, provided they agree to attend court.
2. Detainment until their trial.
3. Posting bail or bond to secure release. For the exact amount, call 815-319-6600.

There are a variety of payment methods available for bail.

• The usual way to post a cash bond is to pay the full amount at the jail bonding window or the clerk of court by cash, cashier's check or money order; many jails also offer card payment through a lobby kiosk or online bond vendor for a fee, and you should bring the inmate's full name and booking number (call 815-319-6600 for the jail).
• Assistance is available from licensed bail bond companies in Winnebago County.
• Real property bonds are accepted in many courts: an owner may offer land or a home after showing clear title and equity of at least the bond, often double, with a deed and a recent tax or appraisal value, and the court that set bail approves it.

For a full guide to the bail process in Winnebago County, Illinois, visit the Winnebago County Jail Bail Information Page.

How Do You Visit an Inmate in the Winnebago County Jail? What is the Schedule?

Winnebago County Jail ON-SITE (at the jail) VIDEO VISITATION SCHEDULE
650 West State Street
Rockford, IL 61102
815-319-6600

Schedule Video Visits online with gettingout

• On-site Visits are free.
• Visits are 15 minutes.
• Visitation schedule subject to change.
• Inmates are allowed one visit per week
• A maximum of one adult is allowed per an On-site video session.
• Visits must be arranged by an inmate and requests must be submitted by 12:00 p.m. on the Thursday prior to the visit.

Winnebago County Jail REMOTE (at home) VIDEO VISITATION SCHEDULE

• All visits must be scheduled at least 24 hours in advance.
• Visitation Schedule subject to change.
• Remote visits, when allowed, have a fee.

Winnebago County Jail uses Viapath / GettingOut for their Remote Video Visitation and/or Visit Scheduling. 



There are three ways to remotely visit your inmate:
1.  Using the Viapath/GettingOut/GTL Kiosk at the jail.
2. Using your computer from home.
3. Using your phone on the GettingOut or GTL apps.

How it Works with GettingOut
1.  Register an account.
2. Select Winnebago County Jail
3. Choose either an INMATE ACCOUNT or FRIENDS & FAMILY ACCOUNT.   

• **NOTE** Friends and Family must have funds in their "Friends & Family Account" to respond to inmate messages. 
• If you deposit money online in the INMATE ACCOUNT, than they have the freedom to spend the money on visits or phone calls to anyone, or any other communications services available at Winnebago County Jail.
• With the FRIENDS & FAMILY ACCOUNT, you control all communication services such as phone calls, video visits and messaging. Your inmate can only call the phone number you want.

4. You will then receive prompts to validate both your identity and phone number .
5. Again, choose your inmate's facility, then type their name and select your inmate.

GettingOut will then guide you through the steps needed to arrange your remote visit.

Customer Service for GettingOut
If you have any questions, you can call them at 866-516-0115.
GettingOut online contact form
The GettingOut App is available on Google Play and Apple Store.

How Do You Visit an Inmate in Winnebago County Jail?

To visit an inmate in Winnebago County, whether by video or in person 'at the jail', follow these steps:

Other than 'at the jail' visits between you and your inmate, which is explained and outlined in detail on our Visit Inmate Page, Winnebago County remote video inmate visitation can be done using the services of Viapath / GettingOut. 



There are three ways to remotely visit your inmate in Winnebago County Jail:
1.  Using the GettingOut Kiosk at the jail.
2. Using your computer from home.
3. Using your phone on the Viapath / GettingOut apps.

To remotely visit an inmate in Winnebago County follow these steps:
1.  Start by confirming that Winnebago County Jail's Video Visitation is working correctly by looking up Winnebago County here.
2.  The next step is to create an account here for Viapath / GettingOut.
3. Then add funds to your account.
4. Last, select Winnebago County Jail, and then the inmate you wish to communicate with.

Other Winnebago County Services provided by GettingOut:
 - Phone Calls & Voicemail 
 - Email, Photo & Video Sharing
-  Inmate Tablet Rental
-  Deposits

Customer Service
If you have any questions about the Winnebago County Jail Visitation Services you can call them at 866-516-0115.

* All the information you need to have complete knowledge about inmate visitation; policies, rules, fees, schedules, tips, dress codes, and children, lawyers and clergy visitation in Winnebago County, can be found on our Visit Inmate Page.

Winnebago County Jail Phone: 815-319-6600

We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Winnebago County Jail’s Inmate Visitation Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 815-319-6600 for further assistance.

Can I Use My Computer or Phone to Have a Remote Video Visit with an Inmate in the Winnebago County Jail?

Winnebago County Jail uses Viapath/ GettingOut for their Remote Video Visitation and/or Visit Scheduling. 



There are three ways to remotely visit your inmate:
1.  Using the Viapath/GettingOut/GTL Kiosk at the jail.
2. Using your computer from home.
3. Using your phone on the GettingOut or GTL apps.

How it Works with Viapath/GettingOut
1.  Register an account.
2. Select Winnebago County Jail
3. Choose either an INMATE ACCOUNT or FRIENDS & FAMILY ACCOUNT.   

• **NOTE** Friends and Family must have funds in their "Friends & Family Account" to respond to inmate messages. 
• If you deposit money online in the INMATE ACCOUNT, than they have the freedom to spend the money on visits or phone calls to anyone, or any other communications services available at Winnebago County Jail.
• With the FRIENDS & FAMILY ACCOUNT, you control all communication services such as phone calls, video visits and messaging. Your inmate can only call the phone number you want.

4. You will then receive prompts to validate both your identity and phone number .
5. Again, choose your inmate's facility, then type their name and select your inmate.

GettingOut will then guide you through the steps needed to arrange your remote visit.

Customer Service for GettingOut
If you have any questions, you can call them at 866-516-0115.
GettingOut online contact form
The Viapath/GettingOut App is available on Google Play and Apple Store.

We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Winnebago County Jail’s Video Remote Visitation Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 815-319-6600 for further assistance.

How Do You Deposit Money for an Inmate in the Winnebago County Jail?

How to Deposit Money into an Inmate's Account in Winnebago County Jail

To deposit money into the account of an inmate in Winnebago County, follow these instructions:

• Create an account with Touchpay Services, a GTL company.
• 
• Select Illinois.
• Select Winnebago County Jail
• Enter the Inmate ID of your inmate.  This can be found by calling 815-319-6600 or by looking up the inmate's name in the Inmate Search link.
• Enter your billing information and send money.
• You can also deposit cash using the kiosk at the Winnebago County Jail.  To do this you need the Inmate's ID Number and the Facility Locator Number for Winnebago County.

For all the information you need regarding making an inmate deposit, what it costs, how much you can send, how long it takes for your inmate to receive funds and more, and to get the Facility Locator Number, check out our Send Money Page.

We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Winnebago County Jail’s Inmate Money and Trust Fund Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 815-319-6600 for further assistance.

How Do I Receive Phone Calls from an Inmate in the Winnebago County Jail?

How Do You Communicate with an Inmate in the Winnebago County Jail by Phone

Follow these instructions on how to open an account with GTL Connect Network (aka Viapath Technologies)

• Advance Pay - This phone account allows you to prepay so that your inmate can call you (and only you) whenever he/she wants and the cost of each call is deducted from your balance. You can even be notified by text when your balance gets low. You still have the option of accepting or rejecting each call.
• Pin Debit  -  This option allows you to fund an inmate's commissary account and lets him pay for phone calls to you and others with the money. You will have no control over who your inmate calls.
• Voicemail  -  You can leave a secure voicemail without having to contact the facility. When you call the local phone number for a facility offering Inmate Voicemail (call Customer Service at 877-650-4249 to get the local voicemail number for Winnebago County Jail, you will be informed of the cost for leaving a message. To leave your message, simply select the inmate by ID number. Then, record your voicemail.

For full instructions on the Winnebago County Jail Inmate Phone System, what the costs are, how it works, and tips and guidelines on rules, regulations and saving money on calls, check out our Inmate Phones Page.

We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Winnebago County Jail’s Inmate Phone Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 815-319-6600 for further assistance.

How do I Mail an Inmate in the Winnebago County Jail, and what can I send them?

Winnebago County Jail Inmate Mail Guidelines

Postcards
The Winnebago County Jail allows inmates to receive pre-metered postcards like the type purchased from the post office. They may also allow certain photo postcards as long as they have not been tampered with or contain images that may be considered to be obscene or violent in nature. It is best to only use blue or black ink. Always include your name and return address.

Envelopes
The Winnebago County Jail also allows envelopes to be mailed to inmates. It is best to only use blue or black ink.

Postcards and envelopes MUST HAVE the sender's full name and return address on the envelope. 

Postcards and envelopes MUST be mailed to the following address:
Inmate's Full Name & MID#
Winnebago County Jail, Rockford IL
P.O. Box 247
Phoenix, MD 21131

Legal Mail

Send all legal Mail to this Address:
Inmate's Full Name & MID#
Winnebago County Jail
650 West State Street
Rockford, IL 61102

Newspapers
No newspapers may be delivered.

Magazines
No magazines may be delivered.

Books
No books may be delivered.

TextBehind enables you to communicate with your incarcerated loved ones located inside the United States from anywhere in the world using text letters, kids' drawings, and custom greeting cards. Unlimited inmate reply letters are processed for electronic delivery to your smartphone and email at no extra charge.
The cost to send an electronic letter is approximately $1.00.

Here’s how it works for Winnebago County Jail:
1.    All offender mail (paper and electronic) is addressed and delivered to TextBehind. Electronic mail is sent through the apps (iphone, Google Play). Paper mail is sent to the address below:
Inmate Name and Inmate Number
Winnebago County Jail Illinois (note: please do not abbreviate the name)
P.O. Box 247
Phoenix, MD 21131
2.    If it was sent via TextBehind's app (iphone, Google Play), TextBehind can process it within one business day.
3.    An additional step is involved in processing mail that is sent using the U.S. Postal Service. TextBehind will  use a scanner to make digital files of the contents of the mailing—including cards, photos or artwork.
4.    All digital files are then forwarded to the offender’s assigned prison.
5.    Winnebago County Jail mailroom prints approved pages and delivers them to the inmate.

IMPORTANT NOTES:

• TextBehind does not deliver any mail to the inmate directly, nor do they guarantee delivery of your letters to the inmates by the courier, jail or prison staff. Once they process your mail and ship them out on your behalf, they are out of the loop entirely. However, at times they may offer to resend your letters under certain strict conditions as a courtesy. 
• Inmates do not receive any invites when you add them, and neither do they need to accept the use of TextBehind service. Once you add the inmate, you can create letters for them. 

Here’s what happens when TextBehind receives a letter from an inmate:

• Upon receiving, TextBehind staff open their letters, scan, and upload high-quality images to your TextBehind account as a complimentary service. You are not required to have any money or credits balance in your TextBehind account to receive inmate letters.
• Next, you will receive a text and email alert to notify you of any new incoming reply letters. At that time, you can log into the TextBehind website or mobile app and view letters in your CONTACTS >> Click on Conversation Icon. 

YOU NEED TO KNOW THIS...

• Inmates do require a stamp to send out their letters to TextBehind using Postal Service.
• The cash or credit balance from your TextBehind account will not be shared with inmates as a substitute for the stamps. 
• All letters printed and shipped by TextBehind nationwide to virtually any jail or prison facility are delivered to the jails/prisons by couriers such as the USPS or FedEx as their standard process.
• After the shipments, TextBehind has no control over the process.
• The delivery of your letters depends on couriers and prison staff taking necessary action on time.

IMPORTANT TextBehind LINKS:
Register / Log in with TextBehind
Contact TextBehind with Questions
Add an Inmate to your list of Contacts

** Address to Mail letters using TextBehind **
Inmate Name and Inmate Number
Winnebago County Jail Illinois (note: please do not abbreviate the name)
P.O. Box 247
Phoenix, MD 21131

Why is TextBehind used by Lockups?
Due to the problem of letters and postcards containing, or soaked in contraband (drugs), TextBehind electronic and physical letters is replacing the former policy of allowing mail to be sent directly from inmate’s friends and family members, and vice versa.

We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Winnebago County Jail’s Inmate Mail Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 815-319-6600 for further assistance.

Can I purchase Commissary Online for an Inmate in the Winnebago County Jail, and what can I purchase?

Winnebago County Jail allows pre-determined commissary packs to be purchased by friends and family of inmates.  

The service they use is called icaregifts.

Instructions

1.    Register here.
2.    Click the "Find an Inmate" button and enter your loved one’s first name, last name, or inmate number. When the information is entered correctly, click the “Search” button to confirm they are in the system.
3.    Select the icare gift you want to send them.
4.    Confirm the order in your confirmation email.
5.    Winnebago County Jail has up to 30 days to give your icaregift pack to your inmate.
6.    You will receive a confirmation email when it is delivered.

There are a total of fourteen (14) pre-determined icaregift packs available to choose from. 

They range in price from $10.49 for ten pre-stamped envelopes, 2 pens and a pad of writing paper…

… to $104.99 for a box of 85 snack and food items…

… with many gift packs priced in between.

Resources
Frequently Asked Questions (you must have an inmate chosen in order to review these FAQs for Winnebago County Jail

Contact Info:
888-439-5020 - 8AM–9PM ET, 7 days a week.

How to Send a Carepack Commissary Package Directly to an Inmate in Winnebago County

To send a commissary carepack (food, snacks and goods) directly to an inmate in Winnebago County Jail follow these steps:

• Register here to create an account with icaregifts for Winnebago County.
• 
• Choose Illinois, then Winnebago County Jail, and then the products you want shipped to them, and input your payment method. 
• NOTE: There may be a limit on how much product you can send your inmate in Winnebago County at any one time.
• There are a total of fourteen (14) pre-determined icaregift packs available to choose from. 
• The gift packs for inmates in Winnebago County range in price from $10.49 for ten pre-stamped envelopes, 2 pens and a pad of writing paper, to $104.99 for a box of 85 snack and food items.

For all information, tips and available items for shipping Commissary packages to an inmate in Winnebago County Jail, as well as sending money to the inmate so that they can purchase their own items, check out our Commissary Instructions Page for Winnebago County.

We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Winnebago County Jail’s Commissary Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 815-319-6600 for further assistance.

How Can I Communicate with an Inmate in the Winnebago County Jail using an Online Messaging Service?

Emailing and Texting Messages, Photos & Videograms

Winnebago County Jail contracts with Viapath/GettingOut, the same service that handles Inmate Phone Systems and Video Visitation, for sending secure messages and photos between you and your inmate.


If you are not already registered, do so here, or Log in.

Then use the Facility Finder to:
1.  Select Winnebago County Jail,
2. Add your inmate to your list of contacts,
3. Add a credit or debit card to cover your costs.

How Messaging Works
1.  Messages can be up to 500 characters long, including punctuation. At the bottom of your message there is a 'character countdown' feature.  
2. After you click the “CONTINUE” button, you can review the cost to send your message to your inmate. You can also attach credits for your inmate to reply to your message.  Be sure to accept the Terms and Conditions and click the “SEND” button for your message to be successfully delivered to your inmate.

How Uploading Photos Works
1.  Select the Photos Tab.
2. Select “Take New Photo” or “Upload New Photo”.
3. Take a new photo with your webcam, or select "Choose File" to upload a photo from your computer.
4. Give your photo a Title or add it to the "Gallery" of your choice.
5. Select the "Share" button.
6. Select your inmate(s) and then select "Share".
7. Once the photo is approved, it will be shared with your inmate(s).

Customer Service Questions
Call   866-516-0115

How to Communicate with an Winnebago County Jail Inmate by Mail and by Email

To mail or email an inmate in Winnebago County follow these steps:

When mailing a letter or postcard to an inmate, please follow these instructions:

• All mail sent to an inmate at the Winnebago County Jail must include the sender's name and mailing address in the top left corner of the envelope or postcard.
• All mail must include the facility's address, as well as the inmate's name and assigned number.
• Failure to include your return address will most likely result in your mail NOT being delivered and your letter destroyed.
• The Winnebago County Jail has a zero-tolerance policy regarding mail violations. 
• All the information you need to understand mail and email policies can be found on our Inmate Mail Page and our Text/Email an Inmate Page.

Emailing Messages & Photos

Facility_name_1} contracts with Viapath/GTL/GettingOut, the same service that handles iInmate Phone Systems and Video Visitation, for sending secure messages and photos between you and your inmate.
 
If you are not already registered, do so here, or Log in.

Then use the Facility Finder to:
1.  Select Winnebago County Jail,
2. Add your inmate to your list of contacts,
3. Add a credit or debit card to cover your costs.

• Messages can be up to 500 characters long, including punctuation. At the bottom of your message there is a 'character countdown' feature.  
• After you click the “CONTINUE” button, you can review the cost to send your message to your inmate. You can also attach credits for your inmate to reply to your message.  Be sure to accept the Terms and Conditions and click the “SEND” button for your message to be successfully delivered to your inmate.
• You can also send your Winnebago County inmate photos and videos.

Customer Service Questions
Call   866-516-0115

Go here to this FAQ to get answers to how the transition to ViaPath from GTL and gettingout will affect your account.

All the information you need to understand mail and email policies for Winnebago County can be found on our Inmate Mail Page and our Text/Email an Inmate Page.

We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Winnebago County Jail’s Text and Email Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 815-319-6600 for further assistance.

Do Inmates in the Winnebago County Jail have Access to Tablets or Computers?

Winnebago County Jail allows inmates access to tablets to use for the services provided by Viapath / gettingout.

The devices are similar to common handheld tablets, but are made exclusively by GettingOut, a GTL / Viapath company.
Tablets offer specialized content and services for inmates to use during their stay at Winnebago County Jail, such as:

• Music
• Books
• Games
• Education
• News
• Radio
• Television
• Read mail and messages
• Video visits

-  Free services are already available for use on the device at Winnebago County Jail.
-  Subscription services are funded separately by family and friends with deposits made into an inmate’s Debit Link account.
-  Winnebago County Jail Inmates will then be able to purchase subscription services and premium content to enjoy.

What Does a Tablet Cost?

To estimate costs for tablets and other services such as phone calls, sign in to your account and click “Rate & Fees Calculator” in the footer (bottom of the page), but the following gives you a general idea.

Game Center:

30-Day Subscription: $4.99, with an additional $1.00 service infrastructure charge ($5.99)

Fourteen-Day Subscription: $2.99, with an additional $0.75 service infrastructure charge ($3.74)

Seven-Day Subscription: $1.99, with an additional $0.50 service infrastructure charge ($2.49)

Unlimited eBooks:

Thirty-Day Subscription: $1.99, with an additional $1.00 service infrastructure charge ($2.99)

Fourteen-Day Subscription: $0.99, with an additional $0.75 service infrastructure charge ($1.74)

Seven-Day Subscription: $0.49, with an additional $0.50 service infrastructure charge ($0.99)

Streaming Music:

Thirty-Day Subscription: $8.99, with an additional $16.00 service infrastructure charge ($24.99)

Fourteen-Day Subscription: $5.99, with an additional $9.00 service infrastructure charge ($14.99)

Seven-Day Subscription: $2.99, with an additional $5.00 service infrastructure charge ($7.99)

Newsfeed

Thirty-Day Subscription: $3.99, with an additional $6.00 service infrastructure charge ($9.99)

Fourteen-Day Subscription: $1.99, with an additional $5.00 service infrastructure charge ($6.99)

Seven-Day Subscription: $0.99, with an additional $3.00 service infrastructure charge ($3.99)

Same Day Subscription Services

Game Center: $0.99, with an additional $0.50 service infrastructure charge ($1.49)

Unlimited eBooks: $0.25, (Total = 0.25)

Newsfeed: $0.24, with an additional $0.75 service infrastructure charge ($0.99)

FM Radio: $0.24, with an additional $0.25 service infrastructure charge ($0.49)

All Subscription and message credit pricing is subject to state and local taxes. 

Replacement Components - should your inmate break it...

Tablet: $249.99 per each

Charger: $8.99 per each

Earbuds: $2.99 per each

How Inmates Can Use a Tablet to Access Services at Winnebago County Jail

To find out how to get access to a tablet for inmate read the following:

1.  First, Register or Sign In to Viapath/GettingOut/GTL

2.  Purchase the services you want for your Winnebago County Jail inmate.
3. All inmates have free access to the tablets to read their letters from family & friends, but there are many other services available to keep your inmate busy while incarcerated... such as Games, Books, Music and Movies. These other services come with fees that you can pay for when you pay for phone service.

To learn more about Tablet Rentals for inmates, including the cost, all the services available and everything else you need to know, check out our Tablet Rental Page.

We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Winnebago County Jail’s Tablet Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 815-319-6600 for further assistance.

What are the other City and County Jails in Winnebago County?

Winnebago County County Jails

Winnebago County Juvenile Facilities

What are the other Jails in the Neighboring Counties surrounding Winnebago County?