Benton County Jail
Benton County Jail
About the Benton County Jail and Its Inmate Services
Sheriff Upah's jail sits on East 3rd Street in downtown Vinton and holds people arrested by deputies and by the towns' police across Benton County. Combined Public Communications provides inmate phones through prepaid accounts at inmatesales.com, while jail-account money comes through the lobby's Stellar Teller kiosk, JailATM online deposits or a mailed money order. Since November 2024, friends' and family letters are scanned at a Kentucky mail center, PO Box 76550 in Highland Heights, and only legal mail and money orders come to Vinton. In-person visits run every day of the week in 20-minute slots, three per inmate per week. Work-release prisoners prepay $75 a day on Benton County sentences, cash only, and jail staff answer 319-472-2337, option 2.
Inmate Services
Other Jails and Prisons
Step 1, use IowaVINE to see whether Benton County holds the person: With no Benton County roster on the web, IowaVINE is where a name entered under Iowa shows Benton County Jail as the holding facility. Our Benton County Jail inmate search page repeats these instructions, and VINE notifications cost nothing and flag a release.
Step 2, find the Sixth District court case filed against the Vinton prisoner: After picking Benton as the county, Iowa Courts Online displays counts, the bond amount and the coming court appearance.
Step 3, reaching Vinton jail staff by phone: Staff at 319-472-2337, option 2 confirm whether the person is held, give the daily visiting hours and the three-visit weekly limit, quote the bond and explain paying it, describe the Stellar Teller kiosk and JailATM deposits, and explain the Kentucky letter address versus legal mail to Vinton. An inmate ID or birth date shortens the call.
⇓ Learn more ⇓ Show lessBenton County Jail in Vinton, IA: Inmate Search, Visiting Hours, Phones, Money and Mail
From Vinton and Belle Plaine to Urbana, Shellsburg, Atkins, Van Horne, Keystone, Blairstown, Walford and Norway, a Benton County arrest means booking on East 3rd Street. The jail belongs to Sheriff David Upah's office on East 3rd Street (number 113, Vinton, IA 52349), reached at 319-472-2337, option 2.
Checking the Vinton jail population: vinelink.vineapps.com confirms custody by name, and Iowa Courts Online, set to Benton County, lays out charges, bond and hearing dates.
Benton County visiting hours: Monday through Thursday 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., and Friday through Sunday 1:00 to 4:30 p.m. Visits run 20 minutes with a cap of three per inmate per Sunday-to-Saturday week. A group of up to three may visit together, all with photo ID and minors only alongside a legal guardian, and any electronic device used during a visit costs the inmate visiting privileges; video visits follow the sheriff's posted conduct rules and may be recorded.
Phones through CPC: prepaid phone accounts come from Combined Public Communications at inmatesales.com or 877-998-5678.
Deposits to a Vinton jail account: the sheriff's page offers the lobby's Stellar Teller cash machine, deposits on JailATM, and money orders mailed on their own to the East 3rd Street jail.
Mail, changed November 15, 2024: personal letters go to [inmate name and ID], Benton County Jail, IA, PO Box 76550, Highland Heights, KY 41076, where they are scanned; legal mail and money orders go to 113 E. 3rd Street, Vinton. Envelopes must carry a return address and fit a sheet-fed scanner, and only up to 10 photos on photo paper may be enclosed.
Bond schedule: the sheriff posts $300 for a simple misdemeanor, $1,000 serious, $2,000 aggravated, $5,000 Class D felony, $10,000 Class C and $25,000 Class B, with no bond on Class A felonies or domestic abuse and no-contact violations until a judge acts; the Sixth District clerk at 111 East 4th Street (319-472-2766) handles court-set bonds.
- Jail (Main): 319-472-2337
What is the booking process for the Benton County Jail?
After being arrested, the offender is brought to the Benton County Jail for booking, which is the detailed process of identifying, classifying, deciding on charges, and whether the person will either be released on their own recognizance, allowed to be released on bail, or moved into the jail until their court date.
The first thing every newly arrested person must do is close their mouth. Everything an offender says may be used against them, so the best thing to do is remain silent when questioned about the arrest and what led to it.
These are the steps of booking someone into the Benton County Jail:
- Personal identification.
- Mugshot(s).
- Questions about medical history, mental health, drug and alcohol use, and gang affiliations.
- Possible DNA.
- Full body search.
- Property forfeiture.
- Free phone call.
If you have any questions about when you can pay an offender's bond and what the cost will be, call the facility at 319-472-2337.
How do you pay bail for someone who has been arrested in Benton County?
When an offender is arrested and brought to the Benton County Jail in Vinton for booking, there are several outcomes after being processed.
1. The offender will be released with no bail, promising to return on a specific date to appear before a judge in either Municipal or Benton County Court.
2. The offender is ordered to remain in jail until their court date.
3. The offender is allowed to be released after paying a specified bond or bail. Call 319-472-2337 to get the exact amount.
The payment of an offender's bail or bond can take many shapes.
- A cash bond is paid in full at the jail's bonding window or the clerk of court, usually by cash, cashier's check or money order, and many jails also take debit or credit cards through a lobby kiosk or an online bond vendor for an added fee; bring the inmate's full name and booking number, and the jail's number is 319-472-2337.
- It can be paid using a bail company, licensed to do business in Benton County.
- Many courts accept land or a home as bond collateral; the owner shows clear title and equity of at least the bond amount, often double, using a deed and a recent tax or appraisal value, and the court that set bail approves the property.
For detailed Frequently Asked Questions and Answers about the entire bail process in Benton County Iowa, check out the Benton County Jail Bail Page.
⇓ Learn more ⇓ Show lessHow Do You Visit an Inmate in the Benton County Jail? What is the Schedule?
Benton County Jail Visiting Hours
Benton County Jail, 113 East 3rd Street, Vinton, IA 52349
Jail line: 319-472-2337, option 2
| Days | Visiting times |
|---|---|
| Monday through Thursday | 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. |
| Friday, Saturday and Sunday | 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
- Each visit lasts 20 minutes, and an inmate may have no more than three visits in a week, counted Sunday through Saturday.
- Every visitor must bring a photo ID.
- No more than three visitors at a time.
- Visitors under 18 must come with their legal guardian.
- Using any electronic device during a visit is prohibited, and a violation costs the inmate visiting privileges.
Phone ahead at 319-472-2337 so a trip to Vinton isn't wasted.
Setting Up a Video Visit Account
According to CPC, video visitors request access and get verified through their InmateSales account, following the steps shown when they schedule. Jail staff at 319-472-2337 can confirm whether Benton County video visits are booked through InmateSales. CPC's help line is 877-998-5678, and its friends and family page answers account questions.
To schedule from a phone, CPC offers its app on the Apple App Store and Google Play.
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Benton County Jail’s Inmate Visitation Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 319-472-2337 for further assistance.
⇓ Learn more ⇓ Show lessCan I Use My Computer or Phone to Have a Remote Video Visit with an Inmate in the Benton County Jail?
Getting Ready for a Video Visit
- Create an InmateSales account and complete the verification steps CPC asks for.
- Video visiting is a privilege the jail can suspend for misconduct, under the sheriff's posted video-visit conduct rules.
- Pick a private spot, dress as you would in public, and keep anyone else off camera.
- CPC's line, 877-998-5678, helps with sign-in or "invalid token" errors; its friends and family page has more.
Video visit accounts can be managed in InmateSales for iPhone and iPad or Android phones.
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Benton County Jail’s Video Remote Visitation Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 319-472-2337 for further assistance.
⇓ Learn more ⇓ Show lessHow Do You Deposit Money for an Inmate in the Benton County Jail?
Three Ways a Deposit Reaches the Benton County Jail
- At the Law Enforcement Center: a deposit at the Stellar Teller unit in the sheriff's entryway.
- From home: a deposit on JailATM.
- By mail: a money order sent by itself to the jail's street address in Vinton, never to Kentucky.
Fees and processing times for each method come from the jail at 319-472-2337 or the deposit company.
How to Deposit Money Online for an Inmate in Benton County
To deposit money online for an inmate in Benton County Jail follow these steps:
- Register to open an account, or Sign In to JailATM, the deposit service used for inmates at Benton County.
- After registering and signing in, select 'Send Money Now'.
- Choose Iowa, then choose Benton County Jail
- Type in your inmate's last name or their Inmate ID.
- Select your inmate.
- Input an amount to deposit to your inmate in Benton County Jail, and then input your payment method.
- NOTE: JailATM's support page lists a deposit limit of $300 a week per inmate and says the limit can be different at each facility.
- If you need to phone JailATM customer support, call 877-810-0914.
For all information, tips and procedures for sending money to an inmate in Benton County Jail, or depositing money at the jail, over the phone or by mail, check out our Send Money Page for Benton County.
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Benton County Jail’s Inmate Money and Trust Fund Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 319-472-2337 for further assistance.
⇓ Learn more ⇓ Show lessHow Do I Receive Phone Calls from an Inmate in the Benton County Jail?
How Do Inmates in Benton County Jail Make Phone Calls?
To receive phone calls from inmates in Benton County, or to assist them in making phone calls to other people, follow these steps:
- Benton County Jail uses the services of a company named Inmate Sales.
- Register with them online or call them at 877-998-5678.
- Agents are available M-F from 8:00 AM - 12:00 midnight EST, Saturdays from 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM, and speak both English & Spanish.
- Services for Benton County inmates and their families and friends include: Collect Calling, PIN Debit, Purchasing Calling Cards, Deposits, Messaging & Video Visitation.
For all the information regarding phone calls with Benton County inmates; rules, policies, phone calling times, limits and more visit our Inmate Phone Page.
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Benton County Jail’s Inmate Phone Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 319-472-2337 for further assistance.
⇓ Learn more ⇓ Show lessHow do I Mail an Inmate in the Benton County Jail, and what can I send them?
What the Benton County Jail Accepts by Mail
Size and paper
Every piece must be letter size, 8 ½ by 11 inches or smaller, no heavier than light card stock, and able to go through a sheet-fed scanner. Envelopes and paper must be white.
Photographs
Photos are the only enclosures allowed: up to 10 per envelope, printed on photo paper. Internet printouts, colored pages and provocative pictures are destroyed.
Not allowed in or on the mail
Stamps, blank envelopes and stationery; cash, checks or other currency; address labels, stickers, homemade or musical cards, paintings, tracing paper or coloring-book pages; drawings in colored ink, marker, crayon or glitter; raised decorations; and paint, white-out, glue or any other liquid. Threats, escape or smuggling plans, gang codes, obscene language and requests for money from anyone other than family or close friends are also barred.
Returned to sender
Legal mail or money orders not sent to the Vinton street address, certified mail that needs the inmate's signature, and anything with postage due.
Books and magazines
Books and magazines don't fit Benton County's mail rules: every item must be letter size and able to go through a sheet-fed scanner, and photos on photo paper are the only enclosure allowed, so a bound book or magazine sent to the Kentucky address is destroyed rather than delivered.
Benton County Jail Inmate Mail Policies and Address - What Can You Send, and Where?
For inmates receiving mail in the Benton County Jail there are different addresses and policies depending on the inmate's status, as well as what type of mail they are receiving; personal mail, legal mail, subscriptions or books sent from a third-party such as Amazon.
All mail is to be shipped to the Benton County Jail:
Inmate's Full Name & Inmate ID #
Benton County Jail, IA
PO Box 76550
Highland Heights, KY 41076
For complete information on mail policies, what you can send an inmate and what address to send them, check out our Inmate Mail page.
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Benton County Jail’s Inmate Mail Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 319-472-2337 for further assistance.
⇓ Learn more ⇓ Show lessCan I purchase Commissary Online for an Inmate in the Benton County Jail, and what can I purchase?
Benton County Jail Commissary and Care Packs Through JailATM
Sheriff Upah's jail page names JailATM for online deposits to an inmate's account. That site also handles ready-made care packs for Vinton: pick Iowa and Benton County Jail, look up the inmate by name or ID, and the order ships to the jail for you. The Vinton commissary typically includes, as at most other Iowa county jails, snacks, drink mixes, hygiene products and writing supplies, paid from the inmate's account. Groceries or toiletries mailed from home are not passed along, and personal letters go to the Kentucky scanning address, which accepts no enclosures but photos. Staff at 319-472-2337, option 2 will confirm when the next commissary order goes in.
How to Send a Carepack Commissary Package Directly to an Inmate in Benton County
To send a commissary carepack (food, snacks and goods) directly to an inmate in Benton County Jail follow these steps:
- Go to JailATM, choose Iowa, then choose Benton County Jail
- Type in your inmate's last name or their Inmate ID.
- Select your inmate, and then you will be prompted to Register with them to open an account.
- Select the products you want shipped to them at Benton County Jail, and then input your payment method.
- NOTE: There may be a limit on how much product you can send your inmate in Benton County at any one time.
- If you need to phone customer support, call 877-810-0914
For all information, tips and available items for shipping Commissary packages or sending money to an inmate in Benton County Jail check out our Commissary Instructions Page for Benton County.
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Benton County Jail’s Commissary Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 319-472-2337 for further assistance.
⇓ Learn more ⇓ Show lessWhat are the other City and County Jails in Benton County?
Benton County County Jails
Benton County Juvenile Facilities
⇓ Learn more ⇓ Show lessWhat are the other Jails in the Neighboring Counties surrounding Benton County?
The Benton County Jail serves the following cities and towns of Benton County: Blairstown, Keystone, Urbana and Vinton.