• Benton County Jail, 113 E. 3rd Street, Vinton, IA 52349; 319-472-2337.
• Linn County Correctional Center, 53 3rd Avenue Bridge, Cedar Rapids, IA 52401; 319-892-6300.
• Black Hawk County Jail, 225 E. 6th Street, Waterloo, IA 50703; 319-291-2587.
• Buchanan County Jail, 210 5th Avenue NE, Independence, IA 50644; 319-334-2017.
• Tama County Jail, 100 N. Main Street, Toledo, IA 52342; 641-484-3760.
• Iowa County Jail, 960 Franklyn Avenue, Marengo, IA 52301; 319-642-7307.
• Johnson County Jail, 511 S. Capitol Street, Iowa City, IA 52240; 319-356-6025.
• Poweshiek County Jail, 4802 Barnes City Road, Montezuma, IA 50171; 641-623-5679.

Visits run Monday through Thursday from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m., and Friday through Sunday from 1 to 4:30 p.m. Each visit lasts 20 minutes, an inmate gets no more than three a week, and up to three visitors may come at once. Everyone needs photo ID, anyone under 18 must come with a legal guardian, and using a phone or other device during a visit costs the inmate visiting rights.

Prepaid phone accounts are opened with the jail's phone provider by calling 877-998-5678. Our phone guide and messaging guide have general tips.

Since November 15, 2024, personal mail must go to: Inmate Name and ID, Benton County Jail, IA, PO Box 76550, Highland Heights, KY 41076. Legal mail and money orders go to the jail itself at 113 E. 3rd Street, Vinton, IA 52349. Letters need a return address and must be letter size; up to 10 photos printed on photo paper are allowed, but no stamps, stickers, homemade or musical cards, cash or checks. Mail that breaks the rules is destroyed. See our mail page.

Use the deposit kiosk in the front entry of the sheriff's office or deposit online at the deposit website the sheriff links to. Read our money guide and commissary page for more.

Court-ordered time must be scheduled with the jail by phone. Work release needs a signed agreement approved by the sheriff, and its fees are paid in cash ahead of time: $75 a day on a Benton County sentence and $85 a day on an order from another county.

Use the Iowa DOC offender search for state prison, the BOP locator for federal prison and the ICE locator for immigration custody. A VINE registration at 888-742-8463 alerts you by call, text or email after a release or transfer.

At the Central Iowa Juvenile Detention Center, 2317 Rick Collins Way, Eldora, IA 50627, 641-858-3852. Juvenile names are confidential, so a parent should call the center rather than search online.

Vinton's jail does not put booking images online as far as we could confirm. Press requests go to the sheriff at 319-472-2337. Should the person be in ICE custody, their photo can be sought only by an approved ICE FOIA filing. Anyone arrested federally stays out of the public photo record too, except for any image the Marshals Service decides to publish.

Ring the sheriff's office at 113 East 3rd Street in Vinton, 319-472-2337; deputies there handle Benton warrants and will check the name with you. There's no list on the county website and no statewide warrant search in Iowa for families, although Iowa Courts Online lists the court case. The steadiest path is turning in at the Benton County Jail with a lawyer. After a skipped Vinton hearing, the clerk's office on East 4th Street (319-472-2766) is the place to start.

In Vinton, most first bonds follow the statewide uniform bond schedule; for serious charges, Vinton's magistrate sets it. Call 319-472-2337 for amounts.

• How to pay at 319-472-2337: cash, surety or Iowa property.
• Guide: our bail guide.
• Hearings: our court guide, or the clerk at 319-472-2766.

Iowa Courts Online lists charges and dates by name; Vinton's clerk answers at 319-472-2766. Under Iowa Code 815.10 a judge can appoint the State Public Defender; Vinton's first appearance follows promptly (Iowa Code 804.22).

In Vinton, federal arrests go to the U.S. Marshals Service; its Cedar Rapids office answers at 319-362-4411. Cases are heard by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Iowa; its clerk is at 111 7th Avenue SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52401, 319-286-2300. After a federal sentence, check the BOP inmate locator. Bond at 113 East 3rd Street, Vinton, IA 52349 cannot lift a federal hold; only 319-286-2300 can.

1. The Benton County Jail receives DHS Form I-247A from ICE.
2. Iowa Code chapter 27A makes the jail in Vinton honor it, holding someone 48 hours longer at most (8 CFR 287.7(d)).
3. After 48 hours without ICE at 113 East 3rd Street, Vinton, IA 52349, the hold ends.
4. The ICE detainee locator tracks transfers by A-number or name.

In Vinton, once bond clears at 113 East 3rd Street, Vinton, IA 52349, release usually takes a few hours; 319-472-2337 knows. Prison sentences move people to the Iowa DOC offender search. Another county's hold keeps them; ask 319-472-2337. Federal or ICE holds go via 319-362-4411.

In Vinton, new bookings can lag; call 319-472-2337. Anyone moved from Vinton, or released, may show in the Iowa DOC offender search, or the BOP inmate locator. Juveniles are never listed (Iowa Code 232.147). If unsure, ask 319-472-2337.

In Vinton, a magistrate reviews the arrest within 24 hours (Iowa Code 804.22). Bond can be changed later (Iowa Code 811.2). If money is short, the State Public Defender may be appointed. The clerk (319-472-2766) has the next date.

Yes. Vinton's judges may release on a promise (Iowa Code 811.2), or with conditions, sometimes supervised by the Department of Correctional Services. Skipping court means forfeiture (Iowa Code 811.6) and a warrant; Vinton's clerk (319-472-2766) has the terms.

In Vinton, the clerk (319-472-2766) refunds cash bail (111 East 4th Street #4, Vinton, IA 52349) at case end, to the payer. A 10% bondsman fee is never returned; call 319-472-2337.

In Vinton, judges can bar contact at hearings (Iowa Code 664A.3). Breaking it is a new crime (Iowa Code 664A.7). Only judges can change it; Vinton's clerk (319-472-2766) keeps a copy at 111 East 4th Street #4, Vinton, IA 52349.

In Vinton, a free lawyer depends on income (Iowa Code 815.9). Ask in court on day 1, or call 319-472-2766. The State Public Defender covers most cases in Vinton; families may hire private counsel.

In Vinton, the Benton County Jail never takes gift cards or crypto; call 319-472-2337 before paying anyone. Vinton's bond goes only to the clerk (319-472-2766) or the jail at 113 East 3rd Street, Vinton, IA 52349. Report scam calls to the Iowa Attorney General.

• Benton County Sheriff's Office, 113 E. 3rd Street, Vinton, IA 52349: 319-472-2337; countywide dispatch and patrol of rural areas and towns without police.
• Vinton Police Department, 310 A Avenue, Vinton, IA 52349: 319-472-2321.
• Belle Plaine Police Department, 1207 8th Avenue, Belle Plaine, IA 52208: 319-444-2323; sheriff's dispatch answers it around the clock.
• Iowa State Patrol District 11, 5400 16th Avenue SW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404: 319-396-1944.
• Emergencies: 911.