• Clay County Jail, 3115 W. 4th Street, Spencer, IA 51301; 712-264-4242.
• Buena Vista County Jail, 411 Expansion Blvd, Storm Lake, IA 50588; 712-732-2452.
• Cherokee County Jail, 111 North 5th Street, Cherokee, IA 51012; 712-225-6738.
• Dickinson County Jail, 1802 Hill Ave, Spirit Lake, IA 51360; 712-336-2793.
• Emmet County Jail, 114 North 6th Street, Suite 2, Estherville, IA 51334; 712-362-2639.
• O'Brien County Jail, 240 1st Street NE, Primghar, IA 51245; 712-957-5245.
• Osceola County Jail, 309 6th Street, Sibley, IA 51249; 712-754-2556.
• Palo Alto County Jail, 2002 10th Street, Emmetsburg, IA 50536; 712-852-3535.
• Pocahontas County Jail, 22 SE Court Street, Pocahontas, IA 50574; 712-335-5071.

The county does not publish visiting days or rules. Call the Jail Division at 712-264-4242 to ask about the schedule, the ID you need and whether you must sign up ahead of time.

People held in Spencer can place outgoing calls, but nobody can call in to them. Ask jail staff which company runs the phones and how to set up an account. Our phone guide and texting guide cover the usual providers.

Send letters to the person's full name, Clay County Jail, 3115 W. 4th Street, Spencer, IA 51301, with your return address on the envelope. Legal mail uses the same address. Our mail page explains common limits.

The sheriff lists commissary accounts among its services but posts no deposit details. Call 712-264-4242 to learn how to add money for commissary items, and see our money guide for general advice.

Teens who must be held go to the Northwest Iowa YES Center, 1231 West Cedar Loop, Suite 110, Cherokee, IA 51012, 712-225-5777. The Spencer jail does not hold juveniles unless a judge has sent the case to adult court. The juvenile office in Spencer, 712-262-5938, can confirm where a youth is.

Check the Iowa DOC offender search after a prison sentence, the BOP locator for federal prisons, and the ICE locator for immigration custody. For release help, use our bail guide.

Not that we could confirm; no Spencer roster with pictures came up. A journalist can call 712-264-4242 to ask for a photo that isn't public. ICE keeps its own images, available only after an approved records request. Federal mugshots are withheld from all requesters but may be put out by the U.S. Marshals, for instance on a fugitive.

Dial 888-742-8463 for Iowa VINE. It runs nonstop and can phone you if the person is released.

Sheriff's deputies based at 3115 W. 4th Street in Spencer serve the county's warrants, and the office at 712-262-3221 can confirm one. Spencer police may hold city warrants separately. Clay keeps names private and Iowa runs nothing statewide; Iowa Courts Online shows the case. An attorney can set up a surrender at the Clay County Jail, whose desk answers at 712-264-4242. After a skipped Spencer hearing, the clerk at 712-262-4335 can explain the next step.

In Spencer, most first bonds follow the statewide uniform bond schedule; for serious charges, Spencer's magistrate sets it. Call 712-264-4242 for amounts.

• How to pay at 712-264-4242: cash, surety or Iowa property.
• Guide: our bail guide.
• Hearings: our court guide, or the clerk at 712-262-4335.

Iowa Courts Online lists charges and dates by name; Spencer's clerk answers at 712-262-4335. Under Iowa Code 815.10 a judge can appoint the State Public Defender; Spencer's first appearance follows promptly (Iowa Code 804.22).

In Spencer, federal arrests go to the U.S. Marshals Service; its Sioux City office answers at 712-252-3077. Cases are heard by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Iowa; its clerk is at 320 6th Street, Sioux City, IA 51101, 712-233-3900. After a federal sentence, check the BOP inmate locator. Bond at 3115 W. 4th Street, Spencer, IA 51301 cannot lift a federal hold; only 712-233-3900 can.

1. The Clay County Jail receives DHS Form I-247A from ICE.
2. Iowa Code chapter 27A makes the jail in Spencer honor it, holding someone 48 hours longer at most (8 CFR 287.7(d)).
3. After 48 hours without ICE at 3115 W. 4th Street, Spencer, IA 51301, the hold ends.
4. The ICE detainee locator tracks transfers by A-number or name.

In Spencer, once bond clears at 3115 W. 4th Street, Spencer, IA 51301, release usually takes a few hours; 712-264-4242 knows. Prison sentences move people to the Iowa DOC offender search. Another county's hold keeps them; ask 712-264-4242. Federal or ICE holds go via 712-252-3077.

In Spencer, new bookings can lag; call 712-264-4242. Anyone moved from Spencer, 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 712-264-4242.

In Spencer, 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 (712-262-4335) has the next date.

Yes. Spencer'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; Spencer's clerk (712-262-4335) has the terms.

In Spencer, the clerk (712-262-4335) refunds cash bail (215 West 4th Street, Spencer, IA 51301) at case end, to the payer. A 10% bondsman fee is never returned; call 712-264-4242.

In Spencer, misdemeanor terms are served at 3115 W. 4th Street, Spencer, IA 51301 (Iowa Code 903.1). Longer terms mean prison; see the Iowa DOC offender search. Work release or weekends in Spencer, Iowa, need a judge's OK; 712-264-4242 schedules it.

In Spencer, 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; Spencer's clerk (712-262-4335) keeps a copy at 215 West 4th Street, Spencer, IA 51301.

In Spencer, a free lawyer depends on income (Iowa Code 815.9). Ask in court on day 1, or call 712-262-4335. The State Public Defender covers most cases in Spencer; families may hire private counsel.

In Spencer, the Clay County Jail never takes gift cards or crypto; call 712-264-4242 before paying anyone. Spencer's bond goes only to the clerk (712-262-4335) or the jail at 3115 W. 4th Street, Spencer, IA 51301. Report scam calls to the Iowa Attorney General.

• Clay County Sheriff's Office: 3115 W. 4th Street, Spencer, IA 51301; 712-262-3221, office hours weekdays 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Spencer Police Department: 712 Grand Avenue, Spencer, IA 51301; 712-262-2151.
• Iowa State Patrol District 6: 503 W. 44th Street, Spencer, IA 51301; 712-262-1424.