Address:
935 Hwy 69 N
Forest City, IA 50436
Phone:
641-585-2828
Staff at the Winnebago County Jail is making it easier to connect with inmates by using a third-party service for phone communication. Using this service, explained below, allows you to purchase phone time for your inmate to either call you or to call other people in their network. If you have any questions call the facility at 641-585-2828.
Winnebago County Jail inmates are allowed to use the phones for personal use at any time, except during scheduled meals and during evening lockdown which begins after 10:00 PM.
Rules, guidelines and schedules on phone use are listed on this page. Failure to adhere to them will result in your inmate and you losing your phone privileges.
Winnebago County Jail uses the services of Reliance Telephone for receiving phone calls from inmates.
Phone Options:
1. Phone Cards: These are sold in $10, $20, $50, and $100 denominations, can be purchased online by friends and family of inmates. Phone cards can be transferred and used at any jail in the Reliance Telephone network. Additionally, remaining balances from phone cards can be transferred easily to a Reliance Inmate Wallet (texting) account. Costs range from $0.21 - 0.50 per minute.
2. Collect Calls: Prepaying for collect calls is a way for friends and family to receive calls from inmates by funding specific telephone numbers. These calls can be sent directly to a cell phone and/or landline. Costs range from $0.21 - 0.25 per minute.
How Does An Inmate Make A Phone Call From Winnebago County Jail?
Collect Calls
Direct Calls
Communicating by Text or Email in Winnebago County Jail
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. Cost of texting is $4.00 per month for rental of the Reliance Tablet Phone + $0.09 per message sent or received up to 160 characters.
Important Tips About Jail Phone Calls
If you were unable to find the information you were looking for on this page, call Winnebago County Jail at 641-585-2828 and ask their policies on getting phone calls from your inmate.
Many jails and prisons are increasingly restricting the amount of time that an inmate can use the phone by placing daily and monthly limits, so try to pace yourself and not use up all your time at the beginning of the month.
Jails limit an inmate's phone time to certain hours of the day, so it is important you keep a regular schedule that works for both you and your inmate.
If your inmate does not call you during the time you both have scheduled, don't panic. There are often long lines for phone use. When a jail is on lockdown due to a fight or other security issue they do not allow the phones to be used.
Phones are the only way for an inmate to hear your voice and temporarily 'escape' the loneliness of incarceration, so use your time well. Arguing about anything will leave you both feeling empty and guilty, so avoid it at all costs.
All phone conversations are recorded. Whatever you talk about, can and will be used against your inmate in court. Never discuss their pending criminal case!
Also, be warned that some phone providers are collecting voice prints for a database which law enforcement agencies are building.
Go to the official jail website for additional information.
To set up an account to schedule and visit your Winnebago County inmate, follow these instructions:
For all the information you need in order to schedule and visit your Winnebago County inmate, or to assist them in visiting with others, including instructions, fees, cost of each visit, requirements for free visits, tablet rentals that can be used for visits, payment methods and times that your inmate can have a visit, check out our Visit Inmate Page.
NOTE: All of your visits with your inmate will be monitored and recorded. Use discretion when discussing sensitive information about their pending case.
To set up your Winnebago County inmate to make 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.
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.
