Reach the 28-bed Winnebago County Jail for inmate information 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at 641-585-3632.
Following an arrest for a misdemeanor or felony in this county, suspects are brought here for booking and processing. When required by the charges, they are held until they bond out, are released on their own recognizance, or are ordered to stay until the disposition of their trial.
Search the jail’s roster of current inmates with the inmate search tool.
Inmates found guilty and sentenced to less than a year serve that sentence locally. Those sentenced to longer terms serve in the Iowa State Prison System or the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
This page explains the visitation schedule, inmate account funding, mailing an inmate, receiving inmate calls, voicemail, email and text services, tablet rentals, bail bonds, and commissary purchases.
The inmate’s booking number or jail ID is often required for communication, so save it. If it’s not online, call Winnebago County Jail at 641-585-3632.
Phone: 641-585-3632
Physical Address:
935 Hwy 69 N
Forest City, IA 50436
Mailing Address (personal mail):
Inmate's Full Name & Inmate ID #
Winnebago County Jail
935 Hwy 69 N.
Forest City, IA 50436
Mailing Address (legal mail or subscriptions):
Inmate's Full Name & Inmate ID #
Winnebago County Jail
935 Hwy 69 N.
Forest City, IA 50436
Other Jails and Prisons
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 641-585-3632 for the information you are looking for. You can also look up an offender's criminal court case and docket schedule online for Winnebago County and any other county in Iowa.
Winnebago County Jail Inmate Search
The Winnebago County Jail maintains an average of 28 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 1,160 offenders.
Iowa is one of the few states in the country where individual counties can charge an inmate a Room and Board Fee for county inmates who have been sentenced and are serving their time. Counties in this state could charge anywhere from $25-80 per day. Some of the counties who currently charge are Carroll, Black Hawk, Lyon, Worth and Des Moines Counties. Ask your inmate's lawyer if this is something you should be concerned with. Keep in mind that it has a lot to do with the charges the accused could be found guilty of as well. Ultimately, the judge will decide whether to demand this fee or not.
The following charts of Winnebago County inmate population demographics are updated daily. The information shown is for today. For research purposes we have broken down the inmates by sex, age, ethnicity, and criminal charges.
The information is compiled from the Winnebago County Corrections Department, the state of Iowa Department of Corrections, as well as the United States Department of Justice and Census Bureau records. It represents every person in custody in Winnebago County.
For complete information on how to get directions, bond, visit, mail, send and receive email and texts, receive phone calls, and send money or commissary to an inmate, find arrest information for Winnebago County and other counties surrounding this one, scroll down this page. We have a section for each.
We also provide photos of the jail that we have collected over the years.
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The 28-bed Winnebago County Jail is responsible for the housing and care of those who are accused or convicted of committing a misdemeanor or felony in Winnebago County as they wait for their trial or as they serve their sentence, usually less than one year.
It serves many law enforcement organizations including the Sheriff’s Department, local police, Immigration, and other surrounding counties as needed.
If you have questions regarding an inmate or the programs and services provided, the staff can be reached at 641-585-3632, and an online listing of all the detainees is published for your own investigation.
Upon intake, the booking process is completed, which includes a medical screening, fingerprinting and mugshots, DNA sample, along with an assessment to determine security needs, medical needs, mental health requirements, and housing assignment.
Staff is available to transport all inmates to court dates and any medical appointments or emergency needs, as well as inspecting all mail for contraband, receiving commissary funds and other money for inmates, maintaining the safety of the community and the security of the facility, and other tasks.
The Winnebago County Jail also provides several other services to inmates including basic needs in meals, laundry, and hygiene items, and programs including AA, counseling, religious programs, education, recreation, and opportunities to grow social and life skills.
Along with the efforts made by the staff, reduced recidivism is seen when inmates are able to stay in contact and supported by their family or friends who are not incarcerated so mail, phones, and visits are provided.
Visits are in person, and are via video and an account is created online to book and complete visits, allowing both visitors and inmates to schedule a visit.
Phone accounts are also registered online, and allow for inmates to make outgoing calls during the daytime and evening hours when they are not participating in a task or program.
Information for money for an inmate’s commissary can be found on our Inmate Money page.
All personal mail is sent to:
Inmate's Full Name & Inmate ID #
Winnebago County Jail
935 Hwy 69 N.
Forest City, IA 50436
Staff will open each piece and look for contraband, which is removed before it is given to the inmate.
Legal mail, money orders, books and newspaper and magazine subscriptions are mailed to:
Inmate's Full Name & Inmate ID #
Winnebago County Jail
935 Hwy 69 N.
Forest City, IA 50436
After an arrest, individuals are taken to Winnebago County Jail for the booking process, where their identity is confirmed, charges are reviewed, and decisions are made about whether they will be released on bail or detained.
The arrested individual should remain silent during booking, as anything said could be used against them. It’s important to wait for legal representation before answering questions.
The booking process at Winnebago County Jail includes the following steps:
For questions about an arrestee’s bond or bail, contact the facility at 641-585-3632.
If someone has been booked at Winnebago County Jail in Forest City, 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 641-585-3632.
There are a variety of payment methods available for bail.
For a full guide to the bail process in Winnebago County, Iowa, visit the Winnebago County Jail Bail Information Page.
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How Do You Visit an Inmate in the Winnebago County Jail? What is the Schedule?
935 Hwy 69 N
Forest City, IA 50436
641-585-3632
ON SITE VISITATION SCHEDULE - ALWAYS CALL 641-585-3632 TO CONFIRM VISITATION SCHEDULE!
| DAY | TIMES |
| WEDNESDAY | 2:00PM - 4:00PM 5:00PM - 7:00PM |
Winnebago County Jail uses the services of Reliance Telephone for video (visit) phone calls and for emailing/texting to inmates.
Note: This option may not be available for your inmate. When registering, check to see if devices are available.
Known as the 'Reliance Inmate Wallet', it makes funding jail communication easy. Payments made into an 'Inmate Wallet' account are linked to a dedicated telephone number for inmates who rent one of their Reliance Tablet Phones. Inmate Wallet funds can be used for personal inmate text messaging, voice calls and video calls.
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 641-585-3632 for further assistance.
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Can I Use My Computer or Phone to Have a Remote Video Visit with an Inmate in the Winnebago County Jail?
Video session rates for Winnebago County Jail are listed when you schedule through Reliance, so check the total before confirming. For a disputed video charge, contact Reliance first, then the jail if needed.
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 641-585-3632 for further assistance.
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How Do You Deposit Money for an Inmate in the Winnebago County Jail?
Whatever cash the inmate has on their person when booked into the facility will automatically deposited and credited to their account. When released any money left in the account will be returned to them in the form of a check from the Sheriff's Department or the Winnebago County Jail Trust Account. There may be circumstances where the inmate can give permission to have his money released to a family member or friend.
Option 1 - Dropping Money at the Jail
Option 2 - Mail the Inmate Deposit to the Jail
Mail to:
935 Hwy 69 N
Forest City, IA 50436
Failure to do this properly will delay your inmate getting their account credited and may require you to have to resubmit a second money order.
Call 641-585-3632 to ask any questions about this.
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 641-585-3632 for further assistance.
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How Do I Receive Phone Calls from an Inmate in the Winnebago County Jail?
Per-minute call rates for Winnebago County Jail are shown in the Reliance account before any call is paid for, and Reliance customer service at 1-800-896-3201 answers billing questions about a charge.
To set up your Winnebago County inmate to make phone calls to you and others, follow these instructions:
For all the information you need in order to receive phone calls from your Winnebago County inmate, or to assist them in making calls to others, including instructions, fees, cost of calls, payment methods and times that your inmate can use the phone, check out our Inmate Phone Page.
NOTE: All of your communication with your inmate will be monitored and recorded. Use discretion when discussing sensitive information about their pending case.
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 641-585-3632 for further assistance.
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How do I Mail an Inmate in the Winnebago County Jail, and what can I send them?
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 641-585-3632 for further assistance.
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Can I purchase Commissary Online for an Inmate in the Winnebago County Jail, and what can I purchase?
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 641-585-3632 for further assistance.
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How Can I Communicate with an Inmate in the Winnebago County Jail using an Online Messaging Service?
Known as the 'Reliance Inmate Wallet', it makes funding jail communication easy.
To set up your Winnebago County inmate to make to send and receive texts and emails to you and others, follow these instructions:
For all the information you need in order to send and receive texts and emails from your Winnebago County inmate, or to assist them in sending and receiving secure messages to and from others, including instructions, fees, cost of each message, tablet rentals, payment methods and times that your inmate can send messages, check out our Text/Email an Inmate Page.
NOTE: All of your communication with your inmate will be monitored and recorded. Use discretion when communicating sensitive information about their pending case.
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 641-585-3632 for further assistance.
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Do Inmates in the Winnebago County Jail have Access to Tablets or Computers?
Note: This option may not be available for your inmate. When registering, check to see if tablets are available.
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 641-585-3632 for further assistance.
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What are the other City and County Jails in Winnebago County?
What are the other Jails in the Neighboring Counties surrounding Winnebago County?
