As municipalities around the county respond to the COVID-19 crisis, Stephenson and Winnebago counties have joined the growing number of communities to restrict or prohibit access to county jails. | Wikimedia commons
As municipalities around the county respond to the COVID-19 crisis, Stephenson and Winnebago counties have joined the growing number of communities to restrict or prohibit access to county jails. | Wikimedia commons
As municipalities around the county respond to the COVID-19 crisis, Stephenson and Winnebago counties have joined the growing number of communities to restrict or prohibit access to county jails.
The Winnebago County Sheriff's office ended all visitations with prisoners though attorneys are able to continue to meet with their clients. However, sheriff’s office PIO Mark Karner told 13-WREX news the office is discouraging attorneys from making in-person visits.
The Stephenson County Jail has also suspended visitation with inmates until further notice.
The jail’s website notes that outside phone calls to inmates are not allowed, and that the jail will not deliver messages to inmates if someone does attempt to call the jail.
However, Stephenson county does have a provision for those on the outside to arrange for a prepaid calls from inmates to a party outside the prison. Information on how to arrange a call with an inmate is available on the county jail’s website.
The 15th Judicial Circuit has also been affected by coronavirus concerns, and Judge Val Gunnarsson recently announced a suspension of most pending cases to be heard before the court. The court has advised litigants to contact their attorneys for updates on when they may need to next appear in court.
Alternatively, those with questions about their cases can contact the circuit clerk at 815-244-0230 to find out further instructions.
A stay-at-home order by Gov. J.B. Pritzker was extended through April 30 after numbers of confirmed COVID-19 cases continued to increase across the state.
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