Storm Lake's county lockup shares a building with Sheriff Kory Elston's office on Expansion Boulevard, and its staff pick up at 712-732-2452.
Phone: 712-732-2452
Physical Address:
411 Expansion Blvd
Storm Lake, IA 50588
Mailing Address (personal mail):
Inmate's Full Name & Inmate ID #
Buena Vista County Jail
PO Box 276
Storm Lake, IA 50588
Mailing Address (legal mail or subscriptions):
Inmate's Full Name & Inmate ID #
Buena Vista County Jail
PO Box 276
Storm Lake, IA 50588
Other Jails and Prisons
Facts about Storm Lake's jail are drawn from Sheriff Kory Elston's Jail division page, the Third District's court listing for Buena Vista County, and Reliance Telephone's account record number 99 for the Box 276 facility. The sheriff's Jail page links a current inmate roster and warns that it shows "booked as" information only, under the name each person gave at booking, which may not match their true identity. Elston's site sends anyone wanting release or transfer notices to Iowa VINE at VINELink.
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Sheriff Kory Elston, elected in 2014 after joining the department in 2000, runs the Buena Vista County Jail out of the sheriff's office building at 411 Expansion Blvd, Storm Lake, IA 50588. Mail for the office and the jail uses P.O. Box 276 in Storm Lake.
The jail's own line, as printed on the sheriff's Jail division page, is 712-732-2452. The sheriff's general number is 712-749-2530, and the 911 Communications Center answers its non-emergency line at 712-749-2525. Elston's office keeps its front lobby, where the deposit kiosk stands, unlocked at every hour of every day.
The sheriff posts a current inmate roster, labeled as "booked as" information only, and points families to Iowa VINE for custody notifications through VINELink. The Buena Vista County inmate search guide weighs roster, VINE and docket lookups against each other, and the Buena Vista County booking guide follows a case from arrest to first appearance.
Every visit at the Buena Vista County Jail takes place over video conferencing, by appointment, from 8 to 11 a.m. and 2 to 4 p.m. on weekdays other than holidays. Storm Lake staff take those appointments by phone a full day or more in advance, and the Buena Vista County visiting guide covers ID and arrival rules.
Letters go to Box 276 in Storm Lake, and the jail also delivers short emails sent to its own address, treated like postal mail (Buena Vista County mail guide). Families fund accounts with Access Corrections or at the Expansion Boulevard kiosk (Buena Vista County deposit guide), while Reliance Telephone carries every outbound inmate call (Buena Vista County phone guide).
The sheriff states that medical and mental health care is provided regardless of an inmate's finances, but inmates are liable for most of those costs, which are taken from the inmate account. Mental health needs are handled by Plains Area Mental Health or Integrated Telehealth Partner.
Buena Vista County cases are part of Iowa's Third Judicial District, and the Clerk of Court works from 215 East 5th Street, Storm Lake, IA 50588 (712-749-2546). Release on bail is explained in the Buena Vista County bail steps.
After being arrested, the offender is brought to the Buena Vista 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 Buena Vista County Jail:
If you have any questions about when you can pay an offender's bond and what the cost will be, call the facility at 712-732-2452.
When an offender is arrested and brought to the Buena Vista County Jail in Storm Lake 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 Buena Vista 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 712-732-2452 to get the exact amount.
The payment of an offender's bail or bond can take many shapes.
For detailed Frequently Asked Questions and Answers about the entire bail process in Buena Vista County Iowa, check out the Buena Vista County Jail Bail Page.
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How Do You Visit an Inmate in the Buena Vista County Jail? What is the Schedule?
The sheriff holds all visitation over video conferencing, by appointment only, in two daily windows. Holidays, weekends and posted exceptions have no visiting.
| Days | Morning | Afternoon |
|---|---|---|
| Weekdays (Monday to Friday) | 8:00 to 11:00 a.m. | 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. |
Attorneys, clergy and law enforcement officers with a professional need to see an inmate in person arrange it directly with the jail.
Reliance's Box 276 Storm Lake record carries kiosk video visitation as well as a wireless version on inmate devices. Session pricing appears on Reliance's Buena Vista County facility page; log in and choose a Reliance plan to pay for sessions.
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Buena Vista County Jail’s Inmate Visitation Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 712-732-2452 for further assistance.
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Can I Use My Computer or Phone to Have a Remote Video Visit with an Inmate in the Buena Vista County Jail?
Reliance shows the price of a Buena Vista County video session on its facility listing. Contact Reliance at 1-800-896-3201 about a charge you dispute.
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Buena Vista County Jail’s Video Remote Visitation Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 712-732-2452 for further assistance.
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How Do You Deposit Money for an Inmate in the Buena Vista County Jail?
Help from Access Corrections: Frequently Asked Questions, a Video Tutorial on How it Works, the Help Pages, 1-866-345-1884 and customerservice@accesscorrections.com.
To send commissary money to an inmate in Buena Vista County Jail follow these steps:
For all information on how to Send Money to an inmate's account check out our full money and commissary guide for Buena Vista County Jail.
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Buena Vista County Jail’s Inmate Money and Trust Fund Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 712-732-2452 for further assistance.
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How Do I Receive Phone Calls from an Inmate in the Buena Vista County Jail?
Since nobody can ring into the Storm Lake jail, every call is outbound and paid one of two ways: collect, or with a calling card the prisoner buys inside.
Reliance Telephone, the contractor Elston's page names, publishes the Box 276 per-minute price in its rate listing, and the same figure appears before a family funds an account.
To set up your Buena Vista County inmate to make phone calls to you and others, follow these instructions:
For all the information you need in order to receive phone calls from your Buena Vista County inmate, or to assist them in making calls to others, including instructions, fees, cost of calls, payment methods and times that your inmate can use the phone, check out our Inmate Phone Page.
NOTE: All of your communication with your inmate will be monitored and recorded. Use discretion when discussing sensitive information about their pending case.
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Buena Vista County Jail’s Inmate Phone Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 712-732-2452 for further assistance.
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How do I Mail an Inmate in the Buena Vista County Jail, and what can I send them?
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Buena Vista County Jail’s Inmate Mail Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 712-732-2452 for further assistance.
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Can I purchase Commissary Online for an Inmate in the Buena Vista County Jail, and what can I purchase?
On My Care Pack or Access Securepak, choose Iowa and the Buena Vista County Jail, find the inmate, sign in or create an account and pay by card. For a stuck checkout, try 1-800-546-6283 or Live Chat with a Representative.
To send commissary money to an inmate in Buena Vista County Jail follow these steps:
For all information on how to Send Money to an inmate's account check out our full money and commissary guide for Buena Vista County Jail.
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Buena Vista County Jail’s Commissary Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 712-732-2452 for further assistance.
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How Can I Communicate with an Inmate in the Buena Vista County Jail using an Online Messaging Service?
Write to the jail's email address for a one-way message, or open a Reliance texting account: register with Reliance, choose the Buena Vista County Jail, and fund the wallet with texting from the services list.
To set up your Buena Vista County inmate to make to send and receive texts and emails to you and others, follow these instructions:
For all the information you need in order to send and receive texts and emails from your Buena Vista County inmate, or to assist them in sending and receiving secure messages to and from others, including instructions, fees, cost of each message, tablet rentals, payment methods and times that your inmate can send messages, check out our Text/Email an Inmate Page.
NOTE: All of your communication with your inmate will be monitored and recorded. Use discretion when communicating sensitive information about their pending case.
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Buena Vista County Jail’s Text and Email Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 712-732-2452 for further assistance.
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Do Inmates in the Buena Vista County Jail have Access to Tablets or Computers?
Device calls, video and texts are paid from a Reliance Inmate Wallet. Pricing for Expansion Boulevard is shown on Reliance's Buena Vista County page; log in and pick a wallet from the services list.
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Buena Vista County Jail’s Tablet Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 712-732-2452 for further assistance.
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What are the other City and County Jails in Buena Vista County?
What are the other Jails in the Neighboring Counties surrounding Buena Vista County?
