• Polk County Jail, 1985 NE 51st Place, Des Moines, IA 50313; 515-286-3344.
• Polk County Juvenile Detention Center, 1548 Hull Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50316; 515-286-3344.
• Carroll County Jail, 114 E. 6th Street, Carroll, IA 51401; 712-792-4394. Some sentenced Polk prisoners are held here under an agreement between the counties; the sheriff's main line is 712-792-4393.
• Boone County Jail, 1019 West Mamie Eisenhower Avenue, Boone, IA 50036; 515-433-0524.
• Dallas County Correctional Facility, 28985 Thin Blue Line Lane, Adel, IA 50003; 515-993-5815.
• Jasper County Jail, 2300 Law Center Drive, Newton, IA 50208; 641-791-7081.
• Madison County Jail, 1012 N John Wayne Drive, Winterset, IA 50273; 515-462-3575.
• Marion County Jail, 211 N. Godfrey Lane, Knoxville, IA 50138; 641-828-2245.
• Story County Jail, 1315 South B Avenue, Nevada, IA 50201; 515-382-7464.
• Warren County Jail, 115 N Howard Street, Indianola, IA 50125; 515-690-9220.

Every visit runs through the jail's video provider, and visitors must register at least 24 hours ahead. Each person inside gets one free on-site video visit and one free remote visit a week. Extra remote visits from home cost $0.25 a minute and last up to 25 minutes, so the account needs at least $6.25 to book one. On-site hours are Sunday 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 to 2:30 p.m., and Monday through Thursday 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. and 1 to 2:30 p.m. There are no on-site public visits on Friday or Saturday. Remote visits run daily from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Visitors must be 18 to register, with photo ID, and younger children need an adult. All visits are recorded.

Send letters by U.S. mail only, with your full name and address in the return corner, or the letter goes back to the Post Office. Address it to the person's full name, Polk County Jail, 1985 NE 51st Place, Des Moines, IA 50313-2517. Up to five photos, 4 by 6 inches or smaller, may be mailed. Polaroids are refused, and photos are not accepted in person. The jail takes no packages or other property.

Money for commissary, or a ready-made care package, is handled through the funding website named on the jail page. Phone and video accounts are funded separately through the phone provider, whose customer care line, 888-506-8407, is open 24 hours. Our money guide walks through each option.

People inside place outgoing calls through the same provider. Family can also leave a 30-second voicemail at any hour for $0.25 a message.

Property belonging to someone still in custody is released Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. For a person going to Oakdale, a property release must be signed before the transfer, and photo ID is required at pickup. Clothing for a jury trial needs jail approval first. Bring no more than two outfits to Court Staging, 110 6th Avenue, weekdays 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Items left more than 10 days are thrown away.

Minors arrested in Polk are taken to the Polk County Juvenile Detention Center on Hull Avenue, 515-286-3344, and stay out of the NE 51st Place building unless prosecutors file adult charges.

Check the Iowa DOC for state prison, the Bureau of Prisons for federal custody and ICE for immigration holds. A sentenced person may also be at the Carroll County Jail. Our bail guide explains release.

No. Polk's current inmates list is text only, with no photos. Media should ask the sheriff's office for booking pictures. ICE photos need an approved records request. Federal booking images are never released, except by the Marshals Service.

Have a defense lawyer confirm the warrant with the sheriff's office at 515-286-3814 and set a time. Then the person reports to the jail at 1985 NE 51st Place on the northeast side of Des Moines; the jail's line is 515-286-3344. Going in early on a weekday gives the best chance of seeing a judge quickly. No public list exists and Iowa has no statewide search, though Iowa Courts Online shows the case. For a missed date, the downtown clerk at 515-561-5718 can help.

In Des Moines, most first bonds follow the statewide uniform bond schedule; for serious charges, Des Moines's magistrate sets it. Call 515-286-3344 for amounts.

• How to pay at 515-286-3344: cash, surety or Iowa property.
• Guide: our bail guide.
• Hearings: our court guide, or the clerk at 515-561-5718.

Iowa Courts Online lists charges and dates by name; Des Moines's clerk answers at 515-561-5718. Under Iowa Code 815.10 a judge can appoint the State Public Defender; Des Moines's first appearance follows promptly (Iowa Code 804.22).

In Des Moines, federal arrests go to the U.S. Marshals Service; its Des Moines office answers at 515-400-8140. Cases are heard by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa; its clerk is at 111 Locust Street, Des Moines, IA 50309, 515-284-6248. After a federal sentence, check the BOP inmate locator. Bond at 1985 NE 51st Place, Des Moines, IA 50313 cannot lift a federal hold; only 515-284-6248 can.

1. The Polk County Jail receives DHS Form I-247A from ICE.
2. Iowa Code chapter 27A makes the jail in Des Moines honor it, holding someone 48 hours longer at most (8 CFR 287.7(d)).
3. After 48 hours without ICE at 1985 NE 51st Place, Des Moines, IA 50313, the hold ends.
4. The ICE detainee locator tracks transfers by A-number or name.

VINELink sends free release and transfer alerts for Des Moines. Phone sign-up is at 888-742-8463. The Polk County Jail answers at 515-286-3344.

In Des Moines, once bond clears at 1985 NE 51st Place, Des Moines, IA 50313, release usually takes a few hours; 515-286-3344 knows. Prison sentences move people to the Iowa DOC offender search. Another county's hold keeps them; ask 515-286-3344. Federal or ICE holds go via 515-400-8140.

In Des Moines, new bookings can lag; call 515-286-3344. Anyone moved from Des Moines, 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 515-286-3344.

In Des Moines, 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 (515-561-5718) has the next date.

Yes. Des Moines'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; Des Moines's clerk (515-561-5718) has the terms.

In Des Moines, the clerk (515-561-5718) refunds cash bail (500 Mulberry Street, Room 212, Des Moines, IA 50309) at case end, to the payer. A 10% bondsman fee is never returned; call 515-286-3344.

In Des Moines, misdemeanor terms are served at 1985 NE 51st Place, Des Moines, IA 50313 (Iowa Code 903.1). Longer terms mean prison; see the Iowa DOC offender search. Work release or weekends in Des Moines, Iowa, need a judge's OK; 515-286-3344 schedules it.

In Des Moines, 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; Des Moines's clerk (515-561-5718) keeps a copy at 500 Mulberry Street, Room 212, Des Moines, IA 50309.

In Des Moines, a free lawyer depends on income (Iowa Code 815.9). Ask in court on day 1, or call 515-561-5718. The State Public Defender covers most cases in Des Moines; families may hire private counsel.

In Des Moines, the Polk County Jail never takes gift cards or crypto; call 515-286-3344 before paying anyone. Des Moines's bond goes only to the clerk (515-561-5718) or the jail at 1985 NE 51st Place, Des Moines, IA 50313. Report scam calls to the Iowa Attorney General.

Most suburbs route after-hours calls through Polk County dispatch, 515-286-3333, or the Westcom center, 515-222-3321.

• Polk County Sheriff's Office: 5995 NE 14th Street, Des Moines, IA 50313; administration 515-286-3814. Deputies cover unincorporated areas and towns without their own police, such as Bondurant.
• Des Moines Police Department: 25 E. 1st Street, Des Moines, IA 50309; 515-283-4811.
• West Des Moines Police Department: 250 Mills Civic Parkway, West Des Moines, IA 50265; records 515-222-3320.
• Ankeny Police Department: 411 SW Ordnance Road, Ankeny, IA 50023; 515-289-5240; for non-emergencies use Polk dispatch, option 5.
• Urbandale Police Department: 3740 86th Street, Urbandale, IA 50322; 515-278-3938 (administration and records, weekdays).
• Johnston Police Department: 6373 Merle Hay Road, Johnston, IA 50131; 515-278-2345.
• Altoona Police Department: 900 Venbury Drive, Suite A, Altoona, IA 50009; 515-967-5132.
• Clive Police Department: 8800 Hickman Road, Clive, IA 50325; 515-278-1312.
• Pleasant Hill Police Department: 6875 Martha L. Miller Drive, Pleasant Hill, IA 50327; 515-265-1444 (office hours).
• Windsor Heights Police Department: 1133 66th Street, Windsor Heights, IA 50324; 515-277-4453.
• Grimes Police Department: City Hall, 101 NE Harvey Street, Grimes, IA 50111; no separate desk line; calls go through Polk dispatch.
• Polk City Police Department: 309 W. Van Dorn Street, Polk City, IA 50226; 515-984-6565.
• Mitchellville: the sheriff's office covers the city; use the sheriff's number above.
• Iowa State Patrol District 1: 1333 Ohio Street, Des Moines, IA 50314; 515-435-7230.