Winnebago County, Illinois Inmate Search
In accordance with the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, inmate records are accessible for public review and duplication. Consequently, individuals are permitted to conduct inmate searches to obtain descriptive profiles of those in custody, details regarding their incarceration, and the legal grounds for their detention.
Winnebago County adult inmates are held in the Winnebago County Jail, whose management and operations are overseen by the county sheriff’s office. The facility serves the entire county; inmates brought into the jail may be arrested by any law enforcement agency within the county, including the sheriff’s office and the Rockerford Police Department.
There is another detention center in the county: the Winnebago County Juvenile Detention Center, where juveniles who require detention may be confined.
How to Find an Inmate in Winnebago County Jail
Most inmates in Winnebago, aside from those transferred to state prisons and juvenile offenders, are held in the county jail, which is run by the Sheriff’s Office. If one suspects that a person has been arrested and detained, one can use any of the public avenues provided by the Winnebago Sheriff’s Office to locate an inmate or confirm their detention.
There are three practical ways to search the inmate records in the county:
- Online using the Sheriff’s free InmateSearch system.
- By completing and submitting the Sheriff’s online FOIA form.
- By calling the Sheriff’s Office or jail at (815) 319-6000.
Below is the address of the Winnebago Sheriff’s Office and Jail.
650 West State Street
Rockford, Illinois
How to Use the Winnebago County Jail Roster
The public can monitor individuals in custody at the Winnebago County Jail through the Sheriff’s dedicated online jail roster (Inmate Search tool).
- Visit the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office main website.
- Scroll to the "Winnebago County Sheriff’s Resources" section at the end of the page, and select "Helpful Links."
- On the page that loads, select "Inmate Search" from the "Links - ARCHIVE" section to be redirected to the official inmate roster.
- Once on the search interface, enter an inmate’s last name or the first letter of their last name, complete the CAPTCHA, and click "Search."
The system will return results that closely match the user’s entry.
What Information is Included in the Winnebago County Inmate Roster
An inmate search is often conducted to verify an individual’s custody status or as part of a background investigation. Publicly accessible information from the Winnebago County inmate roster typically includes an inmate’s physical description, booking number, and specific charges. Specifically, the records feature the following details:
- Full name and mugshot
- Booking date and current custody status
- Physical attributes: Height, weight, race, hair color, and eye color
- Case details: Bail amount and next scheduled court date
As with other records subject to the Freedom of Information Act, certain details are restricted from public view and may be accessed only by law enforcement, legal counsel, court officials, or by a valid court order. For example, information concerning an inmate’s mental health or medical status is not disclosed to the general public. Furthermore, private identifiers, such as an inmate’s social security number, are excluded from publicly available records.
Contact Details for Winnebago County Jail or Sheriff’s Office
To facilitate public inquiries, the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office maintains a formal directory. This resource is intended for individuals seeking information regarding inmate lookups, record requests, visitation protocols, and other related inquiries. This contact information is compiled below.
Contact Category | Details |
|---|---|
Physical Address (Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office & Jail) | 650 West State Street Rockford, IL 61102 |
Sheriff’s Main Phone | (815) 319-6000 |
Sheriff’s Main Fax | (815) 962-8551 |
Sheriff’s Records Phone | (815) 319-6100 |
Sheriff’s Records Fax | (815) 319-6101 |
Jail Main Phone (General Information, including visitation, next court dates, block inmate calls, billing) | (815) 319-6600 (24/7 availability) |
Jail Administration Reception | (815) 319-6700 |
Jail Chaplain | (815) 319-6625 |
Booking Phone | (815) 319-6602 |
Bond Out | (815) 319-6614 |
Booking Fax | (815) 969-1970 |
Sheriff’s Office Website | |
Other Administrative Contacts |
Jail Facility Overview in Winnebago County
Winnebago County’s correctional system comprises two separate facilities:
- Winnebago County Jail: Occupying 385,000 square feet, the jail serves as the county’s primary holding facility, housing inmates pending court proceedings or serving short sentences. The jail has 1,324 beds and hosts several programs that are beneficial to inmates, including religious education, life skills, and substance abuse education. The facility also provides food services and mental health programs, among others. All local bookings take place in this facility. Inmates held here are classified and housed based on their specific needs, and are also monitored through direct supervision.
- Winnebago Juvenile Detention Center: Home to juveniles awaiting court hearings, including those waived to adult court. It houses minors aged 10 to 20. Juveniles held in this facility are evaluated against certain criteria, and only those who meet them are housed here. The facility has a capacity of 48 beds.
The following details of the sheriff’s office and both facilities are listed below:
Agency | Office and Mail Address | Phone Number | Office Hours | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Winnebago County Jail | 650 West State Street Rockford, IL 61102 | (815) 319-6600 | Admin: 8.00 a.m. - 5.00 p.m. Mondays - Fridays | |
Winnebago County Juvenile Detention Center | 5350 Northrock Drive Rockford, IL 61103 | (815) 516-2980 | Admin: 8.00 a.m. - 4.30 p.m. Mondays - Fridays | N/A |
How to Send Money to an Inmate in the Winnebago County Jail
To deposit inmate funds in person, visit the Winnebago County Jail and use the kiosk provided by the approved private service vendor. Users can make deposits using debit cards, credit cards, or cash; however, transactions must be for the exact amount since the machine does not dispense change. $1 bills and coins are not permitted. Before a payment can be processed, the depositor must have their valid ID card swiped by the machine.
Alternatively, funds can be transferred online or by phone. For online deposits, the payer must visit the vendor’s website. Phone deposits can be made by calling the same vendor’s customer line.
The minimum deposit amount is $25, and the maximum is $100. Each inmate is limited to five transactions per week, with a maximum total spending limit of $200.
Funds deposited into an inmate’s account may be used to cover mandatory fees, pay for phone calls, and purchase commissary items.
Inmate Search by Jail Facility
There are two separate inmate/detainee rosters maintained in Winnebago County for the Winnebago County Jail and Winnebago County Juvenile Detention Center, respectively. For the adult inmate roster, individuals can search the Winnebago Sheriff’s Office online jail roster or make the request directly (in person, by phone, etc.). Meanwhile, for juvenile records maintained by the 17th Judicial Circuit Court (which oversees the Juvenile Detention Center), the inquirer must contact the facility directly; however, juvenile records are confidential in Illinois.
Winnebago County Visitation Rules and Schedules
Each inmate at the Winnebago County Jail is allowed one visit per week. The visit must be pre-scheduled, and visits can only take place during the weekend. Scheduling a visit is the inmate’s responsibility; they must submit a request by 12:00 p.m. on the Thursday before the scheduled visit.
Personal visits are conducted at the Winnebago County Justice Center, 650 West State Street, Rockford, IL 61102, in the room designated for video visits. Visitors who do not arrive at least 15 minutes before the scheduled visit will have the visit canceled.
Inmates housed in the Winnebago County Jail may also be visited by their attorneys, pre-trial, probation officers, and clergy members from religious groups. These visits take place from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Visitors must provide identification, and all property is subject to search. No cell phones are permitted in the visitation area.
The facility provides an online visitation schedule for members of the public to review.
Mailing and Commissary Information
Personal mail intended for inmates at the Winnebago County Jail must be sent via the post office to the facility’s digital processing center. The mail should be addressed as follows:
Winnebago County Jail, Rockford IL
Inmate’s Name, MID#
P.O. Box 247
Phoenix, MD 21131
Mail sent to the center is scanned and digitally delivered to the recipient inmate via tablet.
To ensure that mail is delivered to the inmate, senders must include their full name and physical address, neatly written in the top left corner of the envelope.
Mail that does not meet facility requirements, or that contains books, magazines, checks, cash, money orders, labels, jewelry, staples, envelopes, or stamps, or that contains inappropriate content, will be returned to the post office or sender. Personal mail is subject to screening.
Senders can mail letters, drawings, or pictures. However, inmates may only possess 10 photographs at a time.
Privileged mail, on the other hand, is sent directly to the jail facility and is not subject to screening. However, incoming mail is limited to 25 sheets of paper or fewer per envelope.
Privileged mails should be addressed as follows:
Inmate’s Name and MID Number
Winnebago County Jail
650 West State Street
Rockford, IL 61102