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 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.

How to post bail for a loved one in Winnebago County

Once booked at Winnebago County Jail in Forest City, the individual has several possible outcomes:

1. Release without posting bail, with a commitment to appear in court.
2. Remaining in custody until their court date.
3. Posting bail or bond for release. For the exact amount, call 641-585-3632.

Several payment methods are available for bail.

• Cash bonds are settled in full at the jail's bonding window or the clerk of court with cash, a cashier's check or a money order, and card payments are often available at a lobby kiosk or through an online bond vendor for a fee; bring the inmate's full name and booking number, and the jail can be reached at 641-585-3632.
• Licensed bail bondsmen in Winnebago County can assist with the process.
• Many courts accept land or a house as bond collateral; the owner proves clear title and equity worth at least the bond amount, often double, with a deed and a recent tax or appraisal value, and the court that set bail approves the property.

For more details on the bail process in Winnebago County, Iowa, 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 VISITATION SCHEDULE

935 Hwy 69 N
Forest City, IA 50436
641-585-3632

• Visits are 20 minutes.
• You must be on the inmate's visitor list, and complete a visitor registration form each month.
• The actual visitation times may depend on the inmate and their housing location. Call 641-585-3632 and get your inmate's times and make an appointment to visit.
• Inmates are allowed two visitations per visitation day.
• A maximum of 2 guests are allowed per inmate.
• Visitors must have a government issued photo ID.
• Dress professionally with non-revealing clothing.
• A visit must be scheduled by calling the Jail at 641-585-3632 between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. on the Saturday or Sunday before the visitation on Wednesday.

ON SITE VISITATION SCHEDULE - ALWAYS CALL 641-585-3632 TO CONFIRM VISITATION SCHEDULE!

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.

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.

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

Depositing Money in an Inmate's Commissary Account at 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

• Bring money to the jail in person. 
• Either the jail personnel will process the Inmate Account payment or you will use a self-serve kiosk in the lobby that accepts cash, debit or credit cards.

Option 2 - Mail the Inmate Deposit to the Jail

• Mailing a deposit takes more time to process than the other methods but can be done if you live too far away to bring it in person.
• Never send cash. Always send a Money Order or Cashier's Check from the US Post Office, a reputable bank or Western Union.
• Make the Money Order out to the inmate and put their Inmate ID# in memo section of the Money Order.

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.

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.

How Do Inmates in Winnebago County Jail Make Phone Calls?

To set up your Winnebago County inmate to make phone calls to you and others, follow these instructions:

• Register and set up a new account with RELIANCE Telephone, or log in if you already have an account.
• 
• Review your communication options and choose a plan.
• Select Winnebago County Jail, then select your inmate who you will be funding.

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.

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.

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.

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

Winnebago County Jail uses the services of Reliance Telephone for emailing/texting to inmates.

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.  

How Do Inmates in Winnebago County Jail Send and Receive Texts and Emails?

To set up your Winnebago County inmate to make to send and receive texts and emails to you and others, follow these instructions:

• Register and set up a new account with RELIANCE Telephone, or log in if you already have an account.
• 
• Review your communication options and choose the option for sending secure messages.
• Select Winnebago County Jail, then select your inmate who you will be funding.

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.

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

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 tablets 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 Tablet Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 641-585-3632 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?