• Palo Alto County Jail, 2002 10th Street, Emmetsburg, IA 50536; 712-852-3535.
• Emmet County Jail, 114 North 6th Street, Estherville, IA 51334; 712-362-2639.
• Kossuth County Jail, 121 West State Street, Algona, IA 50511; 515-295-9277.
• Clay County Jail, 3115 W. 4th Street, Spencer, IA 51301; 712-264-4242.
• Dickinson County Jail, 1802 Hill Ave, Spirit Lake, IA 51360; 712-336-2793.
• Pocahontas County Jail, 22 SE Court Street, Pocahontas, IA 50574; 712-335-5071.
• Humboldt County Jail, 430 Sumner Ave, Humboldt, IA 50548; 515-332-2471.
• Buena Vista County Jail, 411 Expansion Blvd, Storm Lake, IA 50588; 712-732-2452.

Visits are by video, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day. Schedule one day ahead or earlier by calling 712-852-3535. Each visitor gets one free 15-minute visit a week, and another 15 minutes costs $5 in cash. Bring ID. The sheriff or jail administrator can approve a special visit for someone traveling a long way. See our visitation page too.

Yes. Inmates buy phone cards through their commissary account, and family can order $20, $50 or $100 cards from the jail's phone provider; the card is sent to the sheriff's office and handed to the inmate. Our phone guide has general tips.

Call the jail to ask how deposits for the commissary account are taken. General options are on our deposit guide and commissary page.

Adults convicted of a crime can be billed $50 a day for room and board. People on court-ordered work release pay $35 a day, sign a contract, take random drug and alcohol tests and wear a GPS monitor at $6 a day, paid in advance by cash, money order or card.

Address mail with the inmate's full name, Palo Alto County Jail, 2002 10th Street, Emmetsburg, IA 50536, and a return address. The sheriff's mailing address uses P.O. Box 126. Rules for content are on our mail page and messaging page.

Search Iowa Courts Online under Palo Alto County. Bond details are on our bail page.

Check the Iowa DOC offender search for state prisoners, the BOP locator for federal ones and the ICE locator for detainees.

Emmetsburg-area youth in custody are placed at the Central Iowa Juvenile Detention Center, 2317 Rick Collins Way, Eldora, IA 50627, 641-858-3852. Call there, not the jail.

The Palo Alto County jail in Emmetsburg has no public roster and posts no mugshots. Media may call 712-852-3535. ICE photos need an approved request to ICE. Federal booking photos are private unless the U.S. Marshals Service releases one.

Most people phone the jailer, who is on duty around the clock at 712-852-3535, to confirm the listed warrant, then go in with a lawyer. Turning in happens at the Palo Alto County Jail, 2002 10th Street in Emmetsburg, the same building as the sheriff's deputies. Iowa offers families no statewide search, but Iowa Courts Online shows the case. If the warrant is for a missed court date, ring the courthouse clerk on Broadway at 712-852-3603 first.

In Emmetsburg, most first bonds follow the statewide uniform bond schedule; for serious charges, Emmetsburg's magistrate sets it. Call 712-852-3535 for amounts.

• How to pay at 712-852-3535: cash, surety or Iowa property.
• Guide: our bail guide.
• Hearings: our court guide, or the clerk at 712-852-3603.

In Emmetsburg, 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 2002 10th Street, Emmetsburg, IA 50536 cannot lift a federal hold; only 712-233-3900 can.

1. The Palo Alto County Jail receives DHS Form I-247A from ICE.
2. Iowa Code chapter 27A makes the jail in Emmetsburg honor it, holding someone 48 hours longer at most (8 CFR 287.7(d)).
3. After 48 hours without ICE at 2002 10th Street, Emmetsburg, IA 50536, the hold ends.
4. The ICE detainee locator tracks transfers by A-number or name.

VINELink sends free release and transfer alerts for Emmetsburg. Phone sign-up is at 888-742-8463. The Palo Alto County Jail answers at 712-852-3535.

In Emmetsburg, once bond clears at 2002 10th Street, Emmetsburg, IA 50536, release usually takes a few hours; 712-852-3535 knows. Prison sentences move people to the Iowa DOC offender search. Another county's hold keeps them; ask 712-852-3535. Federal or ICE holds go via 712-252-3077.

In Emmetsburg, new bookings can lag; call 712-852-3535. Anyone moved from Emmetsburg, 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 712-852-3535.

In Emmetsburg, 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 (712-852-3603) has the next date.

Yes. Emmetsburg'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; Emmetsburg's clerk (712-852-3603) has the terms.

In Emmetsburg, the clerk (712-852-3603) refunds cash bail (1010 Broadway, Emmetsburg, IA 50536) at case end, to the payer. A 10% bondsman fee is never returned; call 712-852-3535.

In Emmetsburg, misdemeanor terms are served at 2002 10th Street, Emmetsburg, IA 50536 (Iowa Code 903.1). Longer terms mean prison; see the Iowa DOC offender search. Work release or weekends in Emmetsburg, Iowa, need a judge's OK; 712-852-3535 schedules it.

In Emmetsburg, 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; Emmetsburg's clerk (712-852-3603) keeps a copy at 1010 Broadway, Emmetsburg, IA 50536.

In Emmetsburg, a free lawyer depends on income (Iowa Code 815.9). Ask in court on day 1, or call 712-852-3603. The State Public Defender covers most cases in Emmetsburg; families may hire private counsel.

In Emmetsburg, the Palo Alto County Jail never takes gift cards or crypto; call 712-852-3535 before paying anyone. Emmetsburg's bond goes only to the clerk (712-852-3603) or the jail at 2002 10th Street, Emmetsburg, IA 50536. Report scam calls to the Iowa Attorney General.

• Palo Alto County Sheriff's Office, 2002 10th Street, Emmetsburg: 712-852-3535. Its dispatch center takes every 911 call in the county.
• Emmetsburg Police Department: 712-852-2424. Other town police also bring arrests to this jail.
• Iowa State Patrol District 6, 503 W 44th Street, Spencer, IA 51301: 712-262-1424.
• Emergencies: 911.