Black Hawk County Jail

Step 1: Search the Black Hawk County roster

Type a surname into the sheriff's Who's In Jail roster (filters for charge and booked-from dates help with common names); a fresh Waterloo booking shows up once deputies finish intake.

Step 2: Check IowaVINE for releases and transfers

When the roster no longer lists someone, IowaVINE tells whether the Waterloo jail let them go or shipped them to prison or another county, and its free notice service reports the next change.

Step 3: Ring 319-291-2587 for the answers the roster lacks

Dial 319-291-2587: deputies confirm an East 6th Street hold, read off the pod's visiting blocks and how CIDNET booking works, quote the bond and whether it goes to the clerk or the front counter, walk through kiosk, Inmate Canteen and money-order deposits, and recite the letter rules. A birth date alongside the name speeds the Waterloo lookup.

Step 4: Look up the charges and next court date

Choosing Black Hawk County in Iowa Courts Online and entering the name returns each Waterloo count, any bond ruling and the upcoming hearing.

How to pay bail in Black Hawk County for an arrestee

Once an individual is booked at Black Hawk County Jail in Waterloo, options for their release include:

1. Release without paying bail, with a commitment to appear in court.
2. Continued detention until their court date.
3. Release upon paying a bail or bond. Call 319-291-2587 for the bail amount.

Bail can be paid through various methods.

• Bring the full cash bond to the jail's bonding window or the clerk of court and pay by cash, cashier's check or money order; many jails also take debit or credit cards for a fee through a lobby kiosk or an online bond vendor, and staff will need the inmate's full name and booking number (jail: 319-291-2587).
• A licensed bail bondsman in Black Hawk County can assist with the process.
• An owner can often pledge land or a home as bond collateral by proving clear title and equity worth at least the bond, frequently double the bond, with a deed and a recent tax or appraisal value; the court that set bail must approve the property before release.

For more details on the bail process in Black Hawk County, Iowa, visit the Black Hawk County Jail Bail Page.

How Do You Visit an Inmate in the Black Hawk County Jail? What is the Schedule?

Black Hawk County Jail On-Site Visit Times by Housing Unit

Local visits take place by video at kiosks in the lobby of the Waterloo sheriff's office. Every visit must be booked on the CIDNET portal at least 24 hours ahead, and local visits are free.

The sheriff warns that the schedule can change or be cancelled with little notice, and that A Pod times depend on the inmate's exact placement, discipline and health protocols. Open CIDNET slots for the day reflect any change.

CIDNET Handles Black Hawk County Jail Visits

Both the free lobby visits and paid remote visits at the Waterloo jail are scheduled through CIDNET, the sheriff's visitation provider. Sign up, link to the inmate and wait for jail approval before choosing a time.

Create a CIDNET account | Visitor FAQ from CIDNET | Step-by-step setup (PDF) | Guía en español (PDF)

Stuck on sign-up? Call CIDNET at 888-231-3393.

We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Black Hawk County Jail’s Inmate Visitation Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 319-291-2587 for further assistance.

Can I Use My Computer or Phone to Have a Remote Video Visit with an Inmate in the Black Hawk County Jail?

How to Join a Black Hawk County Jail Video Visit From Home

At the booked time, sign in to CIDNET, which took over Waterloo's inmate communications in March 2023, and click Launch once it shows; reloading the browser tab often makes the button appear.

Running CIDNET's Audio/Video Test a day early catches camera or microphone trouble, and solid Wi-Fi matters since billing stops the moment either side drops.

Every remote slot still needs jail approval, which the Waterloo staff at 319-291-2587 handle.

We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Black Hawk County Jail’s Video Remote Visitation Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 319-291-2587 for further assistance.

How Do You Deposit Money for an Inmate in the Black Hawk County Jail?

Funding Commissary for a Waterloo Inmate

Inmate Canteen's website (team3.inmatecanteen.com) is one way to fund a Waterloo inmate's commissary, alongside the kiosk and the mail. Support for the website is through Inmate Canteen at support@inmatecanteen.com.

How to Send a Carepack Commissary Package Directly to an Inmate in Black Hawk County

To send a commissary carepack (food, snacks and goods) directly to an inmate in Black Hawk County Jail follow these steps:

• Register to create an account, or Log in to your account at Inmate Canteen if you already have one.
• 
• Select Iowa, then Black Hawk County Jail, and then the inmate you wish to purchase commissary items for.
• Select the "Purchase Commissary Items" option.
• Follow the prompts on screen to purchase items for an inmate.
• NOTE: Black Hawk County Jail may at times only allow online deposits for your inmate to purchase their own commissary locally. 

For all information, tips and to see the hundreds of available items for shipping Commissary packages to an inmate in Black Hawk County Jail, or to see how deposit money so that your inmate can purchase their own commissary, check out our Commissary Instructions Page for Black Hawk County.

We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Black Hawk County Jail’s Inmate Money and Trust Fund Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 319-291-2587 for further assistance.

How Do I Receive Phone Calls from an Inmate in the Black Hawk County Jail?

How to Make and Receive Phone Calls and Video Phone Calls from an Inmate in Black Hawk County

To register and sign up for a phone account with CIDNET Inmate Phone Service, follow the instructions below:

• Register and create an account with CIDNET.
• 
• Type in your Email, Time Zone and First & Last Name of your Black Hawk County Jail inmate.
  1. Click the Create Account button.
  2. Read the Terms of Use, then click Agree.
  3. Login to your email and open the CIDNET email.
  4. In the email, click the Complete Your Verification link.
  5. Choose a Security PIN and a Password.
  6. Click the Sign In button.
• After logging in, from the Menu, choose the state of Iowa, then the Black Hawk County Jail, then your inmate's name.
• Once you have completed this, the Black Hawk County Jail will have to give final approval for you to set up a phone account with your inmate.

For all the information you need to know, including instructions, policies, tips and solutions to possible issues regarding making phone calls with an inmate in Black Hawk County, visit our full page guide. 

NOTE: All phone conversations are recorded. Whatever you talk about, can and will be used against your inmate in court. Never discuss their pending criminal case!

We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Black Hawk County Jail’s Inmate Phone Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 319-291-2587 for further assistance.

How do I Mail an Inmate in the Black Hawk County Jail, and what can I send them?

Black Hawk County Jail Mail Rules

Letters and drawings

Only communication belongs in the envelope. Food, drink, stationery and stamps cannot be mailed in, and the jail returns the entire piece of mail if it contains banned content: martial arts or fighting, weapons or tactics, drugs, tattoos and piercing, sexual or provocative material, racist or inflammatory writing, gang symbols, anything obscene under Iowa Code 721.8(5), or anything else that threatens safety.

Legal mail

Legal mail is not opened in the mailroom. Staff carry it to the inmate and open it in front of them, and the inmate keeps it. Correspondence with the State Public Defender or the court may also travel electronically; letters to and from a private attorney must go by post.

Books, magazines and newspapers

Only religious, educational or legal books may be sent, and only after the inmate gets Jail Administrator approval through a tablet request that names the seller. Approved books must ship from the publisher or another approved source such as Amazon.com; anything not pre-approved goes back to the sender. Each inmate may keep three books or magazines, three newspapers and three religious books at once. Individual magazine subscriptions are not allowed, and a newspaper subscription must be paid from outside the jail.

Writing back

Outgoing letters must use envelopes bought from jail commissary, since nobody may mail stamps or envelopes in.

We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Black Hawk County Jail’s Inmate Mail Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 319-291-2587 for further assistance.

Can I purchase Commissary Online for an Inmate in the Black Hawk County Jail, and what can I purchase?

Inmate Canteen and the Black Hawk County Jail

The sheriff links Inmate Canteen at team3.inmatecanteen.com for online commissary deposits. Choose Black Hawk County Jail and the inmate when you sign in. For help with the website, email support@inmatecanteen.com.

We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Black Hawk County Jail’s Commissary Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 319-291-2587 for further assistance.

How Can I Communicate with an Inmate in the Black Hawk County Jail using an Online Messaging Service?

CIDNET Messages for the Black Hawk County Jail

Register, link to the inmate and buy data, then open the Mail button to read and send messages. CIDNET notes that not every facility turns on every service, so the services shown after linking are what your inmate has.

Register for CIDNET messaging | Common CIDNET questions | English setup instructions | Instrucciones de registro

How to send a text or email to an inmate in Black Hawk County

To send and receive secure texts or emails from an inmate housed in Black Hawk County follow these instructions:

• Register and create an account with CIDNET.
• 
• Choose a Security PIN and Password.
• After logging in, from the Menu, choose the state of Iowa, then the Black Hawk County Jail, then your inmate's name.
• Once you have completed this, the Black Hawk County Jail will have to give final approval for you to communicate by email with your chosen inmate.

For all the information you need to know, including instructions, policies, tips and solutions to possible issues with Texting and Emailing an inmate in Black Hawk County, visit our full page guide. 

We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Black Hawk County Jail’s Text and Email Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 319-291-2587 for further assistance.

Do Inmates in the Black Hawk County Jail have Access to Tablets or Computers?

CIDNET and Tablets in Waterloo

CIDNET, which runs the jail's visits and phones, is listed as the tablet provider for Black Hawk County. Inmates receive the tablets from the pod officer, and the jail's free law library and staff request system run on them.

We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Black Hawk County Jail’s Tablet Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 319-291-2587 for further assistance.

What are the other City and County Jails in Black Hawk County?

Black Hawk County County Jails

Black Hawk County Juvenile Facilities

What are the other Jails in the Neighboring Counties surrounding Black Hawk County?