Jail
The Polk County Jail serves as the county detention facility for people held in the custody of the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. This article explains how to locate current and recently released inmates, review booking and release information, prepare for visitation, send inmate mail and photographs, arrange property pickup, handle court clothing, understand room-and-board charges, and identify which county office handles court or arrest-related questions. It also explains several distinctions that can prevent common mistakes, including the difference between jail records and court case dispositions.
Jail Facility and Operations
The Polk County Sheriff’s detention page is the main county source for information about the jail facility. The current facility opened on November 1, 2008. It contains approximately 325,000 square feet, sits on 40 acres north of Des Moines, and has 1,500 beds. The facility was designed with the ability to expand by another 1,000 beds.
The jail operates as a direct-supervision facility. It includes on-site kitchen and laundry operations as well as medical services. The Sheriff’s Office is responsible for secure custody of inmates and also manages inmate transportation outside the facility.
Transportation responsibilities may include taking inmates to medical appointments, moving inmates to and from state institutions, and retrieving people from agencies elsewhere in Iowa or around the country when they have charges pending in Polk County. These transportation functions are separate from public transportation to the jail; the county detention page also indicates that DART bus service is available to the jail.
The public lobby is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Specific services may use narrower hours, so visitors should not assume that every jail-related transaction is available during the entire lobby schedule. For example, inmate property release for people who remain in custody has its own weekday cutoff.
Current Inmate and Arrest Records
The Sheriff’s Office provides several different jail record searches, and choosing the correct one depends on whether the person is currently in custody, was recently booked, was recently released, or left custody sometime during the previous year. The county’s jail and arrest information page explains the available categories, while the county-operated Polk Inmates system provides the actual jail and arrest information.
Current Inmate Listing
The Current Inmate Listing contains people presently in the custody of the Sheriff. This is the appropriate place to begin when trying to determine whether someone is currently being held at the Polk County Jail.
The listing does not include inmates with federal charges. That limitation also applies to the county’s booking and release listings. As a result, failing to find a name in a county jail list should not automatically be treated as proof that the person was never arrested or is not being held elsewhere.
Recent Booking Records
For recent admissions to the facility, the county separates booking information into two categories:
Bookings Previous 24 Hours: people booked into the Polk County Jail during the previous 24 hours.
Bookings Prior Date: people booked at the jail on the prior date.
These lists serve a different purpose from the Current Inmate Listing. A booking record documents a jail admission during the period covered by the list, while the current listing reflects people who are in Sheriff’s custody at the time the listing is viewed.
Recent Release Records
The county also separates recent releases into a previous-24-hour list and a prior-date list. For older releases, the Released Inmate Search covers Polk County Jail records for inmates released during the previous 365 days.
Using the correct time period can save considerable confusion. Someone released several months ago would not be expected to appear in a current inmate list or a 24-hour release list, but the released-inmate search may still contain a record within its 365-day coverage period.
Arrest Records and Court Results
A jail record and a court case record are not the same thing. Polk County specifically states that a record of arrest is not an indication of guilt. The Sheriff’s Office also does not provide case dispositions through the jail information system.
That distinction matters when a user is trying to determine what happened after an arrest. Jail records can show custody, booking, and release information, but they should not be treated as the final outcome of a criminal case. The county advises users to verify accuracy through the arresting agency or Iowa Courts Online when appropriate.
Questions about the arrest itself or police reports should be directed to the arresting agency rather than the jail. Court date, court time, and courtroom-number questions are handled by the Clerk of Court. The county jail guidance gives the Clerk of Court number as 515-286-3765.
Public Jail Court Viewing
Jail court proceedings may be viewed by members of the public from the jail lobby through closed-circuit television. This is different from searching a jail record or contacting the Clerk of Court about a scheduled hearing. The jail viewing option concerns access to proceedings being shown at the facility, while court scheduling information comes from the court system.
Visiting an Inmate
The Sheriff’s Office provides both on-site and remote personal visitation. The county’s inmate visitation instructions contain the official schedules, registration requirements, visitor rules, and fee information.
Registration and Identification
Visitors must pre-register at least 24 hours before a visit. Registration must use the legal name of the primary visitor. Visitors age 18 or older must have valid picture identification. The county lists examples including a driver’s license, state identification card, passport, or military identification.
Visitors younger than 18 must be accompanied and supervised by an adult. The county allows parents and grandparents to visit together, or one adult and one minor. After registration, the visitor must schedule the visit.
Visits must be scheduled at least 24 hours in advance and may be scheduled up to three weeks ahead. People planning a remote visit must also download and test the required visitation application on a supported computer or mobile device before scheduling.
Public Visitation Hours
Public on-site visits are available Sunday through Thursday. The listed schedule is:
Sunday: 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Monday through Thursday: 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Friday and Saturday: no public on-site visitation.
Public remote visitation is generally available Sunday through Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. However, no visits are allowed daily from 11:00 a.m. to noon, 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., or 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. The county states that visitation hours may be adjusted for holidays or other events.
Each visitation session may last up to 25 minutes, with the timer beginning at the scheduled start time. A visitor who connects late may be admitted up to 10 minutes after the scheduled start, but the missed portion of the session is lost.
Visit Limits and Availability
Individuals are allowed one on-site visit and one remote visit at no cost per week. Inmates may receive up to five remote visits per day.
A scheduled time does not necessarily mean the inmate will be available. The county specifically warns that an inmate cannot participate in a visit while involved in another program or activity, including court, work assignments, attorney visits, or classes.
Remote Visit Fees
Home visits cost $0.25 per minute. A 25-minute off-site session therefore requires at least $6.25 in the visitor’s prepaid visitation account when the visit is scheduled. The charge is taken when the visit is scheduled.
If the visitor cancels or the facility cancels before the scheduled start, the $6.25 is returned to the prepaid account. If the visit lasts less than the full 25 minutes, unused minutes are refunded after the session. The county states that internet connectivity problems during an off-site visit are not refundable.
Visitation Rules and Restrictions
Personal visits are monitored and recorded. Visitors must agree to the visitation rules during registration, and the county makes clear that not knowing the rules does not excuse a violation.
Several restrictions are particularly important before a scheduled visit:
Everyone participating must remain visible to the camera.
Unauthorized communication between inmates is prohibited.
Visitors may not display drugs, drug paraphernalia, guns, violent imagery, or gang-related clothing or symbols.
A visitor may not operate a motor vehicle while participating in a visit.
Visits may not be streamed, recorded, or photographed.
Third-party calls are prohibited during the visit.
Only the inmate selected when scheduling may participate.
Visitors may not engage in sexually explicit behavior or wear prohibited clothing.
Visitors who appear to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs will not be permitted to visit.
People with pending felony charges known to jail staff may be denied visitation. Possession of illegal contraband may result in arrest and criminal prosecution. At the on-site visiting area, tobacco products, gum, soda, and other food items are prohibited.
A violation can cause the current visit to be terminated and may result in loss of future visitation privileges or potential criminal prosecution. These rules are especially important for remote visits because a home visit is still treated as an official jail visitation session.
Mail and Photographs
The county’s jail service instructions explain how inmate mail, photographs, property, court clothing, phone communication, and other common requests are handled.
Mailing Letters to Inmates
Inmate mail must enter the jail through the United States Postal Service. The sender must include a complete name and address in the return-address portion of the envelope. Mail without that information will be returned to the Post Office.
The envelope should identify the inmate by complete name and be directed to the Polk County Jail. Using the inmate’s complete name is a basic but significant requirement because jail staff need to identify the intended recipient within the facility.
Photograph Limits
An inmate may possess a total of five photographs. Photos must measure 4 by 6 inches or smaller. Polaroid-type photographs are not accepted.
Photographs must be mailed to the inmate rather than delivered in person. A visitor who arrives at the jail with photographs should therefore not expect staff to accept them at the lobby.
Packages and Personal Property
The Sheriff’s Office does not accept packages or other personal property for inmates. The office and jail staff also do not accept responsibility for lost or stolen items. Property left for more than 10 days is considered abandoned and will be discarded.
This restriction is separate from the rules for jury-trial clothing. Court clothing has a specific approval and delivery process and should not be treated as a general property drop-off.
Inmate Property Pickup
Property belonging to an inmate who remains in custody is released only Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. This cutoff is earlier than the general public-lobby closing time, so arriving near 4:00 p.m. may be too late for a property release.
Different rules apply when an inmate has been transferred to Oakdale. Before transfer, the inmate must complete a Property Release identifying who may receive the property. The person picking it up must present photo identification. For this type of transferred-inmate property, the county states that release may occur on any day and at any time.
Court Clothing for Inmates
Clothing for a jury-trial appearance may be brought in only with prior approval from the jail. A maximum of two outfits is allowed.
Approved court clothing must be delivered to Court Staging at 110 6th Avenue in Des Moines. Delivery hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. This procedure applies specifically to clothing for jury-trial appearances and should not be used as a way to deliver ordinary personal items to an inmate.
Commissary and Phone Accounts
Money placed in an inmate’s commissary account can be used by the inmate to purchase available commissary items. The Sheriff’s Office also permits the purchase of a CarePack. The current county instructions for these transactions are maintained on the jail service page linked above.
Telephone funds are handled separately from commissary money. Keeping those account types distinct can prevent a common error: money intended for telephone communication should not be assumed to become available for commissary purchases, and commissary deposits should not be treated as telephone-account deposits.
The jail also permits voicemail messages through its current inmate telephone service. The county states that voicemail is available 24 hours a day, that a message can be up to 30 seconds long, and that the listed charge is $0.25 per message.
Room and Board Charges
The Inmate Room and Board page explains charges assessed under Iowa Code 356.7. The statute authorizes a Sheriff’s Office to seek reimbursement from inmates convicted in state court, and Polk County charges for time spent in custody according to the applicable Iowa Code guidelines.
Payment Deadline After Sentencing
People who receive a room-and-board bill have 10 days from the sentencing date to make full payment or enter into a payment plan with the Polk County Attorney. The jail accepts payments only after sentencing.
Failure to pay or establish a payment plan within that period may result in the Sheriff filing a Claim for Reimbursement with the Court. According to the county, the Court will approve the claim without a hearing, and the approved claim has the effect of a judgment for enforcement purposes.
Disputes and Reexamination
A person who disagrees with an order approving a Claim for Reimbursement may appeal directly to the Sheriff’s Office or apply to the Court to reexamine the decision. An application for reexamination must be filed with the Court within 10 days after the order is filed.
The Sheriff’s Office also provides a review process for people who believe there is an error in their room-and-board charges. Payments may be made in person at the Polk County Jail or mailed to the jail’s Room and Board operation.
Weekly Reports and Jail Data
Users seeking jail-wide information rather than information about one inmate have two additional county sources. The Sheriff’s weekly jail status report page provides a weekly snapshot of inmates in the custody of the Sheriff.
The Jail Analytics Dashboard provides monthly statistical information about jail population trends. The dashboard includes data such as total bookings, total releases, common offenses, demographics, and other monthly measures.
These reports should not be confused with the individual inmate search. The current inmate listing is intended for locating people in custody, while the weekly report and monthly dashboard are broader views of jail population and operational trends.
Inmate Rules and Facility Policies
The Polk County Jail maintains written rules for inmates and makes them available to the public through the Jail Rule Books page. The county provides both an Inmate Rule Book and a Spanish-language manual.
The published rule books are useful when a family member or other interested person needs to understand the rules governing daily inmate conduct and facility expectations. They are separate from public visitation rules, which govern visitor conduct during on-site and remote visits.
Common Jail Service Mistakes
Several jail-related tasks use systems that look similar but serve different purposes. Recognizing these distinctions can prevent delays and incorrect assumptions.
Do not treat an arrest record as a conviction. The Sheriff’s Office expressly states that an arrest record is not proof of guilt.
Do not use jail records to determine a final case disposition. Case outcomes belong to the court system rather than the Sheriff’s jail record system.
Do not rely on only the current inmate list for someone recently released. The county provides separate release searches, including a search covering the previous 365 days.
Remember the federal-charge limitation. Inmates with federal charges are excluded from the county current, booking, and release listings described by the Sheriff.
Do not arrive for property pickup at the end of lobby hours. In-custody inmate property releases stop at 3:45 p.m. on weekdays.
Do not bring photographs to the jail for hand delivery. Photos must be mailed and must meet the jail’s size and format restrictions.
Do not bring ordinary packages or personal property. The Sheriff’s Office does not accept them for inmates.
Do not assume a scheduled visit guarantees inmate availability. Court appearances, work assignments, classes, attorney visits, and other programs can make an inmate unavailable.
Do not wait until the day of a personal visit to register. Registration and scheduling must be completed at least 24 hours in advance.
Keep commissary, telephone, and room-and-board payments separate. They are different types of transactions with different purposes and procedures.
Jail Offices and Contacts
Polk County Jail
1985 NE 51st Place
Des Moines, Iowa 50313-2517
(515) 323-5400
Polk County Jail Room & Board
1985 NE 51st Place
Des Moines, Iowa 50313
(515) 323-5411
Polk County Sheriff
5995 NE 14th Street
Des Moines, Iowa 50313
(515) 286-3814
Jail FAQs
How do I sign up for victim notifications about an inmate?
Polk County directs victims who want custody-status notifications to begin with the inmate’s record in the Current Inmate Listing. After locating the correct person, follow the victim-notification link provided with that inmate record to register through VINE. Because notification options are tied to the inmate record, confirm that the name and identifying information match the person you are monitoring before completing registration. The county explains this process on its official jail services and inmate assistance page.
Can I register for a jail visit at the facility instead of online?
Yes. The Polk County Jail has an ICSolutions kiosk in the front lobby that members of the public may use to register an account and schedule visits. Registration must still meet the jail’s advance-registration requirements, so using the lobby kiosk does not allow a visitor to bypass scheduling rules. Visitors should register under the legal name of the primary visitor and make sure required identification is available for the scheduled visit. The county’s official visitation instructions explain the registration and scheduling process.
Are confidential visits available for attorneys and other qualified professionals?
Yes. Polk County provides separate visitation arrangements for qualified professionals, including confidential in-person and remote visits. These visits use different schedules from ordinary public visitation. The county also states that qualified professionals may schedule certain remote visits with as little as one hour of notice. Anyone seeking this type of access should use the professional visitation procedures rather than scheduling a standard personal visit.
Are all video visits recorded at the Polk County Jail?
Personal visits are monitored and recorded, according to the Sheriff’s Office. However, the county separately identifies confidential visitation options for qualified professionals. This distinction is important for attorneys and other approved professionals who require confidential communication: they should use the designated professional visitation process rather than the ordinary public video-visitation system.