• Clerk of District Court: 203 Main Street, Dakota City (P.O. Box 100, Dakota City, IA 50529); 515-332-1806; countyclerk.humboldt@iowacourts.gov.
• Humboldt County Attorney: 203 Main Street, P.O. Box 23, Dakota City, IA 50529; 515-332-7139. The office prosecutes state crimes and county ordinance violations and presents delinquency cases; it does not represent private individuals.
• Humboldt County Jail: 430 Sumner Avenue, Humboldt, IA 50548; 515-332-2471.

At the initial appearance, a magistrate tells the defendant what is charged, addresses bail and release terms and decides whether to appoint counsel. A warrantless arrest needs a judge's probable-cause finding within 48 hours.

• Magistrates hear simple misdemeanors, traffic offenses and ordinance tickets.
• District associate judges hear OWI, assault and other mid-level misdemeanor cases.
• District judges preside over felony cases on days set by the Second District.

1. Arrest, booking at the Sumner Avenue jail and the initial appearance.
2. The County Attorney's trial information, normally inside 45 days.
3. Arraignment, frequently waived with a written plea.
4. Depositions, discovery and motions.
5. Trial within 90 days of the trial information, absent a speedy-trial waiver.
6. Presentence report and sentencing.

Go to Iowa Courts Online, pick Humboldt County, and search a name or case number for charges, bond status and hearing dates.

Ask for one at the initial appearance and sign the affidavit of financial condition. If eligible, the court appoints a lawyer through the State Public Defender, often a contract attorney serving north-central Iowa.

Before a district judge acting as juvenile judge, on petitions filed by the County Attorney. Juvenile Court Services for the area is at 702 1st Avenue South, Fort Dodge, IA 50501, 515-573-1449. For secure detention, youths go to the Central Iowa Juvenile Detention Center, 2317 Rick Collins Way, Eldora, IA 50627, 641-858-3852.

Federal prosecutions from here are filed in the Northern District's Central Division, with the clerk's office in Sioux City at 320 6th Street, IA 51101, 712-233-3900; the court itself sits in Fort Dodge, the closest federal courthouse to Humboldt, and in Mason City. Federal records are on PACER, and sentenced prisoners turn up in the BOP locator.

See our Humboldt County bail page for amounts, posting methods and refunds.

Humboldt County's clerk, at 515-332-1806, or by fax at 515-332-7100. Hearing dates are managed by district scheduling at 515-574-3752.

Humboldt County sheriff's deputies serve the court's warrants; call the office at 515-332-2471. Humboldt deputies keep names private; Iowa runs no statewide public search. Iowa Courts Online shows the case. The Clerk of District Court, mailing address P.O. Box 100 in Dakota City, answers at 515-332-1806 and can discuss a new date if the warrant came from a missed hearing.