• Clerk of District Court: 114 North Chestnut Street, Jefferson, IA 50129; 515-386-2516; countyclerk.greene@iowacourts.gov.
• Greene County Attorney: The office prosecutes state criminal charges and county ordinance violations and presents juvenile delinquency cases. It does not give legal advice to private people.
• Greene County Jail: Law Enforcement Center, 1005 E. Lincolnway, Jefferson, IA 50129; 515-386-2136.

A magistrate goes over the complaint with the defendant, sets or confirms release conditions and asks whether a lawyer should be appointed. When the arrest was made without a warrant, the magistrate also decides whether there was probable cause.

• Magistrates: simple misdemeanors, traffic tickets and city ordinance violations.
• District associate judges: OWI, assault and other serious or aggravated misdemeanors.
• District judges: felony cases, heard in Jefferson on days when Second District judges are assigned.

1. Arrest, booking and initial appearance.
2. Trial information filed by the County Attorney, usually within 45 days.
3. Arraignment, often by written plea.
4. Discovery, depositions and motions.
5. Trial, normally within 90 days of the trial information unless that deadline is waived.
6. Sentencing after a guilty plea or verdict, usually once a presentence report is done.

Use Iowa Courts Online: choose Greene County, then search by party name or case number. Filings, bond and hearing dates are listed there.

Tell the magistrate at the first hearing and fill in the sworn statement of income and assets. If the court finds the defendant qualifies, the State Public Defender system assigns either a staff lawyer or a contract attorney, and the appointment order is filed in the case.

Juvenile court, a division of the district court, hears delinquency petitions brought by the County Attorney. Juvenile Court Services for this area works from 702 1st Avenue South, Fort Dodge, IA 50501, 515-573-1449. Juvenile records are mostly sealed from the public. A young person held before a hearing would be at the Central Iowa Juvenile Detention Center, 2317 Rick Collins Way, Eldora, IA 50627, 641-858-3852, about an hour and a half northeast of Jefferson.

Greene County is in the Southern District of Iowa's Central Division. The U.S. District Court is at 111 Locust Street, Des Moines, IA 50309, and the clerk's line is 515-284-6248. Federal cases are not on Iowa Courts Online; after sentencing, check the BOP locator.

See our Greene County bail page for the schedule, ways to post, the 2026 changes and refunds.

Keep weapons out; they are not allowed. Greene's clerk is 515-386-2516, fax 515-383-3261. If you need a hearing date, the district scheduler is at 515-574-3752.

The Greene County Sheriff's deputies serve warrants issued in Jefferson, and they also police several small towns by contract. Reach the sheriff at 515-386-2136. Greene keeps warrant names off the web; nothing statewide exists in Iowa; the case can be read on Iowa Courts Online. When a missed hearing is the reason, call the Clerk of District Court at 114 North Chestnut in Jefferson, 515-386-2516.