• Clerk of District Court: 301 East Main Street, Manchester, IA 52057; 563-927-4942.
• Delaware County Jail: 1225 W. Howard Street, Manchester, IA 52057; 563-927-3135, extension 6622.
• Juvenile Court Office: 350 W. 6th Street, Suite 215, Dubuque, IA 52001; 563-589-7831.
• Court Administration (scheduling): 319-833-3332.

1. Initial appearance: a magistrate reviews the arrest and sets release conditions.
2. Formal charge: for more serious cases, the prosecutor files a written trial information.
3. Arraignment: the defendant enters a plea before a district judge.
4. Pretrial stage: lawyers trade evidence, argue motions and talk about pleas.
5. Trial and sentencing, if no plea deal is reached.

Magistrates decide simple misdemeanors and most traffic tickets. Check filings on Iowa Courts Online.

Ask for counsel at your first appearance and fill out the financial affidavit. If you qualify, the court appoints a public defender or a contract attorney through the State Public Defender program. A judge may order repayment if you are convicted. For getting out of jail, read our bail guide.

Delaware County youth cases are handled by the First District juvenile court office in Dubuque, 350 W. 6th Street, Suite 215, 563-589-7831. Officers can settle small matters informally or send them to court on a petition. Some serious felonies by 16- and 17-year-olds go straight to adult court.

Federal crimes from Delaware County are filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Iowa, 111 7th Avenue SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52401, 319-286-2300. For federal custody, use our inmate search page.

At North Iowa Juvenile Detention Services, 1440 West Dunkerton Road, Waterloo, IA 50703, 319-291-2455. The hearing has to happen within 1 working day of arrival.

You can, at 563-927-1748. For help with a Delaware County case, call the clerk's office at 563-927-4942.

Ask the deputies who serve it: the Delaware County Sheriff's Office in Manchester answers at 563-927-3135, and staff can share charges and bond details by phone. Delaware deputies post no names; Iowa never built a statewide warrant search for Manchester families or anyone else. Iowa Courts Online carries the court file. If a missed hearing led to the warrant, the Clerk of District Court at 301 East Main Street, Manchester (563-927-4942), can discuss a new date.