• Clerk of District Court: 610 Iowa Avenue, Onawa, IA 51040; 712-433-2491; CountyClerk.Monona@iowacourts.gov.
• Monona County Attorney: first floor of the courthouse, 610 Iowa Avenue, Onawa, IA 51040; 712-423-1728; weekdays 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The office prosecutes criminal cases and handles fine payment plans.
• Monona County Jail: Public Safety Building, 909 7th Street, Onawa, IA 51040; 712-423-2525.

This is the first time the defendant sees a judicial officer, usually in front of a magistrate and often by video link from the jail. The court reads the charge, sets release terms and takes a financial affidavit from anyone asking for appointed counsel. For a warrantless arrest, probable cause must be found within 48 hours.

• Magistrate: simple misdemeanors, many traffic tickets from Interstate 29 and Highway 175, and city ordinance cases.
• District associate judge: serious and aggravated misdemeanors, including most first OWI charges.
• District judge: felonies, heard in Onawa when Third District judges are assigned there.

1. Arrest, booking and the first appearance.
2. A trial information filed by the County Attorney, generally within 45 days.
3. Arraignment, which can be done with a written plea.
4. Discovery, depositions and pretrial motions.
5. A trial date inside 90 days from the trial information, if the defendant keeps the speedy-trial right.
6. A presentence report, then the sentence, if the defendant is convicted.

Search by name or case number for Monona County in Iowa Courts Online. The docket shows the charges, bond amount, attorneys and upcoming dates.

Yes, if you cannot afford one. Ask at the first appearance and complete the financial affidavit. The State Public Defender system assigns counsel, which in Monona County is usually a contract attorney. The clerk at 712-433-2491 can help with the form.

A child accused of a delinquent act goes to juvenile court, a division of district court, with the County Attorney's office handling the petition. Juvenile Court Services for this part of the district is at 822 Douglas Street, Room 201, Sioux City, IA 51101, 712-279-6586. Detained youth from Monona County are sent to the Woodbury County Juvenile Detention Center, 822 Douglas Street, 4th Floor, Sioux City, IA 51101, 712-279-6621. Most juvenile files are confidential.

In the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Iowa, Western Division, 320 6th Street, Sioux City, IA 51101; clerk 712-233-3900. Federal dockets are separate from Iowa Courts Online, and the BOP locator shows federal prisoners after sentencing.

Our Monona County bail page covers the schedule, how to post, the 2026 law change and refunds.

Call the sheriff at the Public Safety Building, 712-423-2525; Monona County deputies serve the court's warrants from there. Warrant names aren't released publicly, and Iowa has no statewide search for the public. The case shows on Iowa Courts Online. The Clerk of District Court at 610 Iowa Avenue in Onawa (712-433-2491) can explain rescheduling a missed Onawa hearing. An Onawa lawyer can schedule a surrender at the county jail in Onawa.