The Winnebago County Jail has seen an increase in bookings this year and is requesting six new deputies to man a previously unused area. Oct. 16, 2025. PC: Fox 11 Online
OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — The Winnebago County Jail has seen an increase of 600 jail bookings this year.
The jail booked 3,698 people and carried a daily average of 258 inmates through September, up from 3,100 and 254 from last year.
At times this year, the jail has re-opened its C-pod, which houses between 64 and 68 inmates. It was last open during 2021 due to COVID-19.
“We’re seeing more serious crime,” said Lt. Amber Rozek, corrections lieutenant with the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office.
Inmate bookings have increased each year since 2022 and nearly every month thus far in 2025. The jail also has seen an increasing number of women booked, who need to be housed in a separate pod.
“The homicide rate is up for us, and then crimes against the body,” said Rozek. “Assaults, sexual assaults, rapes. We’re seeing an uptick in those types of crimes that are keeping the population high because they’re here longer.”
The jail can hold up to 355 inmates at one time. The sheriff’s office said it needs more deputies to man the extra pod and inmates.
“It’s important that we keep our staff safe,” said Rozek. “The people in our care, having them here keeps the community safe.”
Winnebago County is willing to add six deputies who would start on July 1, 2026.
“It will give the sheriff the authority to hire for those positions as need,” said Winnebago County Executive Gordon Hintz. “Hopefully there’s a way to manage that, and if we don’t need those, we won’t have to fill it.”
Six deputies for just six months would cost the county $417,000 — a cost the county will discuss with the rest of its annual budget. The budget will be proposed before the county board Oct. 27.
“Public safety is one of the core priorities of government,” said Hintz. “We need to keep the public safe. We also need to keep the men and women that work in our jail safe. Anytime you’re bumping up against the capacity, you’re creating an environment that is more challenging.”
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